Baghdad, 4 July '08 - largest re-up ceremony in history pt 2

[emilyans]

This is a humbling video to watch I am a platoon leader and I am going to administer the oath of reenlistment for the first time to one of my NCO's. I cannot express how humbled and honored I am to do this for my Soldier. I am part of a unit where most of my Soldiers are new and he is one of the few who has actually deployed with this unit and the main reason he's reenlisting is because he wants to help mentor younger Soldiers before and during our deployment

[wittlesbach]

Our troops are the best! Not one of them was forced into the military, for we have an all-volunteer military. They signed up of their own accord, went into harm's way, and have been fighting the good fight. They are selfless, patriotic, hard working, and brave. God bless our troops!

[Wckid97]

What a humbling event for any American veteran to witness. Whatever political niche you fall into in regard to the merits of today's conflicts, you should take immense comfort in the message this sends to friend and foe alike about the courage and dedication of our fellow citizens who have sworn to defend us.

[tkeitez66]

to "universalflowster" either you are the one of the most naive persons in the world or one of the least informed. Yet, there are too many like you in the U.S.A. and the rest of the free world. Wake up or one day you will be bowing to Mecca and reading out of the Qu'ran ((Arabic: القرآن ‎ al-qur'ān, literally "the recitation"; also sometimes transliterated as Qur'ān, Koran, Alcoran or Al-Qur'ān). On the other hand, maybe that is what you want.

[isle05]

##Ou..Obama!

[hathaway2k]

I served for only three years and I still think it was one of the best run operations I have ever worked for. More discipline, more organization, more esprit de corps than any other company I have earned a paycheck from. I am so proud of this country and what we as Americans are doing in the world.

[universalflowster]

perhaps that last comment was a bit harsh, so I'm sorry if it offended anybody. It just makes me a little uneasy watching this. This is just like a new Roman Empire. Is it REALLY about spreading freedom and democracy all over the world? If not, we're in big trouble! God help us all, General Petraius.

[kate33324]

UNIVERSAL: if the USA wanted to be an EMPIRE, it would own JAPAN and Europe right now, not to mention a few other countries. We don't take countries over, we REBUILD them... we rebuilt Europe and Japan and we rebuilt South Korea....

As Colin Powell said, "THe USA is the only country that LOST territory after WW2 (we gave the Philippines its independence)

We learned how NOT TO DO it from the ROMANS :)

[universalflowster]

Here's some facts to consider:

2/3 of the remaining oil on this planet is in the Middle East.

11% of the oil in the world is in Iraq.

The US consumes about 1/4 of the world's oil, but has only 1/20 of the world's population.

The US spends over half a trillion on defense each year, more than each of the next 15 countries combined.

There are over 700 US military bases in over 60 countries worldwide.

Over a quarter million US troops are in constant deployment.

Empire? you decide.

[universalflowster]

If the US wanted to rebuild countries then why not Sudan? Somalia? Dem Rep of Congo? Myanmar? Lebanon? New Orleans?!

By the way, after WWII the Third Reich lost territory, as did Japan and Italy. The European powers lost territory during de-colonization.

Also, have you ever considered this: How would citizens of Rome have considered the actions of their military abroad? What about the Germans during WWII? Wouldn't most citizens approve of the actions of their military?

[kate33324]

HAHHAHAHA @ you saying the 3rd REICH and Japan and Italy lost land. THEY LOST the war. I guess I forgot to include the word 'WIN'? And the EU GAVE the territory back, silly!

The USA cannot save the world; we, like every other country on the planet does what it does at the time for its own self-interest. We cannot SAVE THE WORLD.. the EU isn't doing anything - why don't they save the SUDAN and Somalia (we did try.. but those barbarians DRAGGED our troops through the streets)

[kate33324]

Oh, and by the way, we didn't take any land from Japan or Italy or Germany. We REBUILT them :) and gave it back. THIS IS TOOO EASY :)

[kate33324]

Also, have you ever considered this: How would citizens of Rome have considered the actions of their military abroad? What about the Germans during WWII? Wouldn't most citizens approve of the actions of their military?

Don't know a thing about the citiznes of Rome or Germany. In Civil War a LOT of people were against it; same with every war. That is why we elect representatives who make those decisions :)

[kate33324]

YOU DECIDE: Definition of an EMPIRE

a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.

If we WANTED to rule the world, we could.. we don't. We cannot be in ANY country without permission. Saudis didn't want us, they threw us out. Iraq wants us out, we go :) Same with Afghanistan

[kate33324]

The US spends over half a trillion on defense each year, more than each of the next 15 countries combined....Yes, we do.. we protected EUROPE for 60 yrs after we helped them defeat HITLER. Our MIGHT broke up the Sov. Union. They sure couldn't do it. THE OCEANS are safe thanks to US!! NATO? If it wasn't for us, it wouldn't BE. Same with the UN. 191 countries in the UN, the USA pays 1/4 of all dues and deployment costs of the UN... same with NATO. It is MOSTLY the USA :)

[universalflowster]

So in your mind, the US' flexing of sheer muscle power abroad does not constitute an Empire. I respect your opinion. Maybe it isn't an "empire." Perhaps it's more of a "global police state." We're the cops. We decide right from wrong.

Consider this:

What if WE'RE wrong?

What if what WE'RE doing to environments, cultures, governments, economies, and ourselves is actually WRONG? And we're out not only defending it, but imposing it on other people.

Oh my...

[universalflowster]

this is all just relative to how you see the world. Imagine being an Iraqi who has just watched his child explode in an American bombing raid... Or imagine you're a Muslim who sees the bolstering of Israel with western money and guns. Watch as those guns and bombs are used to destroy your loved ones. Watch as the rich and powerful do what they want with your land, your life, you family. Watch as your world is invaded and used by the men with strange accents and big guns. No wonder...

[kate33324]

Fact is: if Iraq wanted us out all they have to do is say the word and OUT WE WOULD go. The Iraqis are leading the fight now in Iraq... A soldier friend of mine said that the SONS OF IRAQ are amazing and are signing up in DROVES to fight for their country :)

IMAGINE! just IMaGINE! are you one of the BEATLES?

oh, and all the palestinians have to do is stop the SUICIDE bombings and stop lobbing daily rockets into Israel and things would be fine. They don't,so Israel protects itself.

[universalflowster]

fucking tools

[foxhillsnd]

daaronad...I bet you ended up with a dishonarable discharge from service...if not you should get one now!!!! I'm a vet from the late 60's to early 70's....we could not wear our uniforms on the plane home, we got spit at, we got yelled at, we got threatened.... I just do not comprehend your mindset. These Men & Women are our future, the ones who protect you right to be a total butt head. grow up and love your country, or you can leave.... don't let the door hit your sorry behind as you go!

[universalflowster]

Hi foxhillsnd - let me try to help you understand the mindset of a person who basically thinks this whole war thing is dumb. Here goes: Really, these troops are protecting us? From whom? Iraq? Did Iraqis do a single thing to the US? Oh, they killed American troops... Oh, well why were there troops there in the first place? Oh, WMD's. We didn't find any WMD's? Ooops... So why don't we leave? Oh, they don't want to "cut and run?" Oh, okay. Well shit.

[kate33324]

After 911 we could take no chances; domestic and international intel pointed 2 WMD. We gave Saddam 4 months 2 let UN inspectors back in the country; he wouldn't. We could take NO chances after 911. Saddam took a chances and HE lost

We bombed the hell out of YUGOSLAVIA... did they bomb us? Same with Germany, did they bomb us? Same with Korea (a UN initiative).. did THEY bomb us? Iraq has a govt now; if they tell us to leave, we leave. Same with any other country, including Afghanistan!

[universalflowster]

Perhaps there was an "imminant threat" of WMDs.

Where did that intel actually come from, though? A man was tortured (waterboarded) and gave this story about "yellow cake" uranium being imported from Africa into Iraq. An Iraqi official allegedly met in Prague with a member of Al Qaeda. There were some aluminum tubes. All of these things were VERY flimsy pieces of evidence, but all were used to make the case. And the verdict? A PRE-emptive strike, i.e. UNPROVOKED INVASION of a sovereign nation.

[universalflowster]

Really? 911 was connected to Iraq? Or was it just FEAR created by the media and the government that convinced us (me included!) that we should invade Iraq? Was there any actual hard evidence supporting this MAJOR military effort that has lasted longer than the American involvement in WWII? Or is it just geo-politics, a giant game of Risk. The object? To secure resources, install military bases, and impose western capitalism? Really its up to you to decide.

[DW8814]

God Bless each and everyone of them and all the others, who give up so much for us here at home.

[daaronad]

Dog and Pony Show.I've seen enough of them to know that the true energy in this place comes from the soldiers fearing the repercussions that come from their superiors. The mindset of the soldiers during this show is"I can't wait till this is over with, when will they shut up so we can go back to our barracks,and Why are we forced to do this to simply put you on a pedestal, when, if you cared about us,you would not have us standing and rehearsing for days, for a speach that we don't want to hear?

[jaybreak]

Overgeneralizations. Get lost.

[AnalMart]

You weren't there, you don't know what goes on in Iraq. Those brave men and women are not victims and idiots in need of your "enlightenment", they CHOSE to re-enlist. And finally, you do NOT speak for those who serve in the military.

Fuck Off.

[daaronad]

Thank you, AnalMart, for your educated comment. However,as a prior retention nco, recruiter and veteran. I do know what goes on over there. I have first hand experience.

[Yesica1993]

How dare you assume what these people are thinking? Take your condescension elsewhere.

[universalflowster]

i didn't detect any condescension.

[ChicoEdge]

Thank you, brave souls.