[thechat] name of Operation Infinite Justice to be changed

[Bill Haenel]

As a P.S. to my response below, I'll share a portion of a message that was
sent to our public radio station's listserv. It almost points out part of
what I was trying to say, but much more effectively, probably because the
sender is about 30 years older and more experienced than I am:

"I hope you all took the opportunity to take in Mr. Bush's address to
congress last night. The use of the word "war" is perhaps unsettling to
many of us familiar with the Second World WAR, the Korean WAR, the Vietnam
WAR, etc.  As this attack represents a new paradigm, perhaps "war" needs
redefining within this paradigm. And I believe we as concerned, thoughtful
citizens can influence this new meaning with the tenants of Islam relative
to evil much in mind.  Peace"

I hope he's right. I hope we're all scared of what's happened before, and
will find out that we can resolve the world's conflicts with a newly defined
sensitive assertion.

...Or something.

BH






> > What makes you say that? When I was 18, US citizens didn't even have to
> > register for the draft, but that was re-instituted quite a
> while ago. What
> > is different now from 50 years ago that makes you think the
> > entire war will
> > be fought by volunteers? Or isn't that your point? [looking for
> > hope, not an
> > argument]
> >
> > spinhead
>
>
> What's changed in 50 years is that about 30 years ago, we went to Vietnam.
> At that time, large numbers of Americans stood up and said WAR SUCKS, WE
> DON'T WANT WAR. Have Americans changed their minds since then? Or will we
> hold true to those ideals that so many spoke out for during our
> presence in
> Vietnam.
>
> We haven't had a draft in over 25 years (or so, right?), because
> we haven't
> wanted a conflict that required more than our existing military -
> it's been
> understood that Americans don't want that kind of war. So why
> should we have
> a draft now? We would do so because we are having the kind of war that
> nobody wants to have, right?
>
> I'm 31. I was taught by the generations that lived through Vietnam that we
> don't want to do that ever again. This I've heard from those that
> supported
> it, from those that protested it, and from those that fought in it. All I
> know is what I've been told by those who were there, because I
> wasn't there.
>
> There's a big chunk of the American population (myself included)
> that hasn't
> ever seen a war like that. We've seen wars that require a small percentage
> of our volunteers only. We've had friends that were those volunteers, and
> who came home safely. For all I and the rest of my generation
> know, you guys
> all decided a long time ago that the kind of war that requires a
> draft isn't
> acceptable. So has that changed? Are Americans now okay with it?
>
> So I repeat my question: Will Americans (especially all of those many who
> protested so many years ago) tolerate that kind of war again? From what
> you've all told us, the answer is NO. You're the ones who have
> given us hope
> by setting a standard that is the only thing we've ever known.
>
> BH
>
>
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>