WAG, do you happen to know what a T-10 or a MC1-1 is? I sorta suspect you do. If not, no offence is intended. I was just curious. 
askeptic, thanks to Google, yes. Other than that, no. The nick comes from the email I had when I first signed up here, which was where incoming freelance work was to be dropped. IRL I am afraid of heights. 
And, of course, no offense was taken. It is a common misunderstanding and I’ve long considered changing my username. Too long, it turns out, since so many people know me with this name.
Nope, never claimed to. I’ve also never defended an unseemly eagerness to see a massive upsurge in military casualties in Iraq, or engaged in groundless speculation that such was bound to occur.
Sorry, no revisionism allowed. You said “one of my issues with the invasion all along was that it seemed like there was no postwar reconstruction or exit strategy in place. So far I’m right, but Lord knows I wish I weren’t.”
“So far I’m right”??? Which is it, you’ve learned that there was zero planning for reconstruction prior to the invasion, or no reconstruction since then? Indefensible either way.
Apparently you do not understand the meaning of this cliche. You were not misquoted or anything remotely close to it.
If you are going to emote about the value of Iraqi lives, you need to acknowledge the grim reality of life (and death) under Saddam and bear that in mind when looking at current conditions. You’ve been quick to remind others about “forgotten” episodes of genocide; it looks like your memory is a little faulty when it comes to Saddam’s.
The first sentence is called irony. The second one? I am, without sarcasm, proud of what you did. Do you deny the reports I heard on the radio about how members of the Iraqi military were really there at gunpoint?
Esoteric? Esoteric?? How the fuck is deciding not ever to be put in a situation where I’d have to commit an act I’d consider murder “esoteric”? As for whether I’ve served my country, I’m not going to be baited like that. If we meet in person, I’ll discuss my job with you, and not until; for now, suffice it to say that I’ve served my community.
Perhaps one of us is missing the point. Nobody in the US army was conscripted, and every person in that army knew they might have to go put their lives in danger, and put other people’s lives in worse danger, when they chose, without coercion, to sign up.
It’s similar to my choice not to pay child support. Once a fellow gets a gal pregnant, he doesn’t get to choose whether to pay child support. But he DOES get to choose whether to have sex without contraceptives. You get to make your choice ahead of time, and if you choose poorly, later on some choices may no longer be available. But you can’t claim that you never had a choice.
Daniel
Wow. Who forced your nephew into the military?
It amazes me how fragile and easily offended some of you people are. As soon as someone says something you don’t like, you demand action (head on a platter)from a moderator.
There’s no way anyone could’ve actually thought he was trying to encite people to kill americans in Iraq or even sincerely craved their death out of some sick bloodlust.
If he put up such a dumb argument either ignore it or challenge it. Instead you want him shut up, which is different than (ehem) “fighting ignorance”.
Crybabies.
Actually, I don’t blame Shodan for his strong reaction, any more than I blame other members of the board who are or were or have or had loved ones in the military. War is hell, and frankly, if discussion over who’s going to be the ones to die in it DOESN’T get you outraged, there’s something wrong with you.
They’re wrong to call for Dinsdale’s banning or pummeling, but the reaction is certainly understandable.
Daniel
Exit Strategy:
Here’s news; there isn’t one. The US intends to maintain a military presence in Iraq permanently to keep the oil flow secure.
Another Ayatollah
Shodan
Your nephew in Afghanistan: Dinsdale’s considerations are limited to Iraq, accordingly your nephew is outside consideration.
1 That was a cheap shot. You want to question my veracity just state it clearly. You can e-mail me, or better yet my personal file is availible under the Freedom of Information Act, all you have to do is ask the Army Departmen of Personel Records fill out a request form and you will get a full copy.
2 What part of this sentence “when the war started and had been forced at gunpoint to fight against Americans” ? No I do not deny that.
Esoteric? Esoteric?? ** 3 How the fuck is deciding not ever to be put in a situation where I’d have to commit an act I’d consider murder “esoteric”**? As for whether I’ve served my country, I’m not going to be baited like that. If we meet in person, I’ll discuss my job with you, and not until; for now, suffice it to say that I’ve served my community.
3 Well I do not know about you but I joined when I was seventeen, and shipped out one my eighteenth birthday. I hardly knew anything about life much less death. I think that those are in fact Esoteric issues for young people.
4 I was not berating you, I was being sincere
Perhaps one of us is missing the point. Nobody in the US army was conscripted, and every person in that army knew they might have to go put their lives in danger, and put other people’s lives in worse danger, when they chose, without coercion, to sign up.
5 I never suggested anyone was conscripted. I do feel that when I joined, it was for some vague desire to serve my country, I failed to consider that some evil bastards with a questionable agenda would throw me into a situation where I was forced to either kill some poor dumb fuckers, or be killed by them.
It’s similar to my choice not to pay child support. Once a fellow gets a gal pregnant, he doesn’t get to choose whether to pay child support. But he DOES get to choose whether to have sex without contraceptives. You get to make your choice ahead of time, and if you choose poorly, later on some choices may no longer be available. But you can’t claim that you never had a choice.
Daniel
[/QUOTE]
I sure as shit can. Yes, I chose to join the military, but I did not choose to be sent off to fight a war that was not in defense of my country, sure I guess I knew it was a possibility. I Grew up during Vietnam, but at 17 I did not expect it, I was naive enough to think this country had improved. I now know better.
Do not get me wrong. I don’t complain about being sent to the Gulf, I accept the fact that I volunteered, just as the soldiers over there now did. I am just saying that it is no more appropriate to say that they chose to go. Than it is to say that a person who is killed by a drunk driver chose their fate. Sure they knew the danger, sure they got in the car, but thats where the choosing stops, the rest is in the hands of the drunk.
Sigh. Forgive me, if you will. I just finished wading my way through taxes, and I’m afraid I was quick to take offense, but not so quick to read carefully. I, due to carelessness, missed the bit about the guy forced at gunpoint to fight against Americans; when you told me I ought not talk out my ass, I thought you were referring to my claim that Iraqis weren’t coerced into fighting, and didn’t read the rest very carefully. My apologies.
Note that I did not intend to question your veracity; I’m not sure how I managed to suggest that.
For some, yes. For myself, this was a very real issue. I was seventeen during the Gulf War, and spent a great deal of my time involved in the anti-war movement then. I’ve never doubted that joining the army meant signing away your right to protest if a scumbag politician decided to send you overseas to kill folks that didn’t need killin’.
Overall, I think we can both agree that American soldiers in Iraq had far more choice about being in the war than many if not most Iraqi soldiers; at the same time, there are many factors, ranging from idealism to need for cash, that lead young Americans to the army, where they too often find themselves fighting fights that they hadn’t meant to sign up for. Iraqis face “fight or your family will be killed”; Americans face misleading advertising and propaganda that hides what they’re really signing up for.
Again, my unconditional apology; I really jumped the gun there, and it was unfair to you.
Daniel
Not a problem. I have gotten overly worked up about this issue in other threads, and regretted it. It is just a personal issue that I need to work through, and keep it off the boards. So I to apologize if I came off to antagonistic.
Consider checking out the Veterans Against the War web site
Jason
My, how this thread has mellowed.
Are you shitting me? The number of people defending this fucking cumstain is making me stomach turn. I can’t believe I paid money to be a part of this gang of cynical, callous fucking assholes.
So if I were to wish that more homosexuals get dragged behind trucks so that gay marriage legislation gets passed, that’s OK? Woohoo!! Go rednecks!
How about if I look forward to more civilian casualties from those brave bomb totin’ 12-year-old Palestinians so the Israeli government is toppled?
Or maybe I place my hopes in greater infant mortality in poor neighborhoods so Medicaid funding is increased?
How about I pray for the death of your mother, 'cause she was going to vote for Bush and we can’t have that, can we?
I’ve been reading this board less and less over the last couple months, but I thought there was something here worth supporting, and the past enjoyment I’ve had here was certainly worth the five bucks. But seeing so many people band together to defend someone who advocates the murder of Americans, or anybody else for that matter, so their guy gets fucking elected(?!?), makes me want to fucking puke.
You all should be ashamed of yourselves.
Goodbye.
Good Riddance. Thats one less fuckstick that cannot read English.
Christ, skep, you’ve only been here a couple weeks? Seems longer.
[best John Wayne immitation]You better smile when you type that, pilgrim. ;-)[/best John Wayne immitation]
But really DZ are saying that like its a bad thing? 
Y’know, as a person who is not planning to vote for Bush, it would be a lot easier to stick with that resolution if supporters of “the other guy” didn’t come across as heartless, amoral assholes whose complete inability to recognize, much less honor, the concepts of “duty” and “sacrifice” sullies the very man they allegedly support.
To paraphrase Groucho Marx: I wouldn’t be a member of a club that would have DINSDALE as a member. So, politically speaking, where does that leave me? Wishing I’d never opened this thread, that’s where. But I’d be a hell of a lot more pissed if I were a Democrat, because with friends like DINSDALE, you all sure don’t need enemies. Or maybe he’s a Republican spy: I can’t think of a more effective strategy to throw votes Bush’s way than for a Kerry supporter to wish for the deaths of American servicemembers.
If you know anything about the military, then you know Jodi ain’t the best handle.
[that was not meant as an insult to you. Just a reference to the significance of Jodi to military folk] 
forgot to add this:
ruat caelum considering your sig you should understand this
It’s not my “handle,” it’s my name. If you don’t like it, take it up with my mom. Though I think I can safely speak for her as well as myself in saying that neither of us give a rat’s ass what it may mean to military folks – other than my dad, who likes it.
There is a very fine line between the argument Dinsdale has proposed and saying, “Someone should just shoot so and so - in the long run we’ll be better for it.” It’s exactly this sort of vicious utilitarian calculus that led the more extreme members of the Vietnam Veterans Against The War to seriously propose killing U.S. Senators to end the war.
It is the same calculus that many terrorists use to justify their acts of barbarism.