[fire_eye]

I would not send Jews to kill Jews. I would not send Christians to kill Christians. I would not send Hindus to kill Hindus. Etc, etc, etc. Does this make sense to you?

No.

I don't care which invisible man in the clouds they worship - if they're in the American military, they'd better be ready to kill anyone who's threatening this country without hesitation, and without regard to race, religion, creed, color, sexual orientation, or choice of breakfast cereal.

That's what *I'm* paying them for...

[so_real]

I don't care which invisible man in the clouds they worship - if they're in the American military, they'd better be ready to kill anyone who's threatening this country without hesitation, and without regard to race, religion, creed, color, sexual orientation, or choice of breakfast cereal.

"better be" and "paying them for" Those are the key phrases that you would risk the lives of our soldiers over. You are an idealist, and there is nobility in that. I am a realist. I know that no amount of training can prevent a soldier with deep theological convictions from hesitating when killing his bretheren. I know that no amount of pay can buy a soldier with deep theological convictions into killing his bretheren. (And, besides :-), the pay we offer our soldiers isn't all that grandiose anyway.) Count on an idealist to write good laws; count on a realist to enforce them.