For those of you who don't know (which is most of you), I served in the 237th Engineers, MGB in what was West Germany, '88-90. At the time, my job was to help us scare our then enemies away from the Berlin Wall. After being here and a few other web sites over the years since, I can see both sides of the coin-- wanting to thank our Men and Women but being at odds with how to do so after finding out why we are "over there". Truth, Justice, and the American Way are long since shattered and have been for decades if not longer. Oil? An Elite "hidden agenda"? Terrorists that don't exist? Something else? It doesn't matter-- there really are causes worth dying for, and these are not it. Period.

For those of you who have not served, in the armed services, welcome to a world where even talking less than highly of one's upper echelons-- let alone the President-- is literally seen as treason. Additionally, the outside information that the troops are allowed to assimilate is controlled even more so than we civilians receive. From a certain point of view, I understand the logic in controlling information-- I didn't say that I agree with it. "Don't talk, don't tell." is the social climate, even if your superiors are doing something wrong (they do).

Thank them for giving of themselves for their country, misguided as it is, for such is a very noble cause. There is nothing wrong with such an honest desire. And if not, if they did join for some other reason, thank them for giving of themselves to learn how to "bear arms" that the tyranny of the politicians today can be stopped once they come home.