[strela]

You were my friend before I ever saw your face.

I agree. But to a veteran (and a proud member of the VFW) like me, I believe the term "comrade" to be even more applicable. Although the term has been hijacked by the left, the original meaning of "comrade" is that of one who shares one's interests or activities, and is socially or politically close. A friend is someone you would ask over for steaks and beer. A comrade is someone who might have seen you bleed during war and who you would trust with your life.

(But, if you think I'm going to start using this term that smacks more of Karl Marx than Thomas Jefferson on this conservative website, you've got another think coming) ;)

[Interesting Times]

Although the term has been hijacked by the left, the original meaning of "comrade" is that of one who shares one's interests or activities, and is socially or politically close. A friend is someone you would ask over for steaks and beer. A comrade is someone who might have seen you bleed during war and who you would trust with your life.

That's a clean distinction, though as you noted the word has effectively been rendered unusable.

George Orwell, call your office...