"J. R. Molloy" wrote:
>
> > What you're saying implies that the vast majority soldiers are cowards,
> > in your opinion.
> >
> > Hal
>
> I don't know if that's Michael Lorrey's opinion, but it is my opinion, based on
> my own experience in the military. Truly brave men and women are truly rare, and
> that includes the military population. I wouldn't have it any other way, because
> it's better to have cowards with their fingers on the nuclear trigger than to
> have cowboys (cowgirls too I suppose) with itchy trigger fingers.
Exercising restraint in the face of danger is actually more brave than just
blazing away. However, each has its place. I would not want a bunny lover in
command of a SEAL unit, for example. Elite combat unit members should be people
who have no compunctions about shooting who they are told to shoot, when they
are told to shoot them, with no compunctions or remorse. I would be worried
about having such a person in the White House, on the other hand. 80% of the
military, and 95% of the general population I would not trust to watch my back
in combat. The nuclear button is such an abstraction from actual killing that it
is rather a testament to how restrained most people are that they can be trusted
with the trigger. I am not worried about missile crews pushing the button, I am
worried about them NOT pushing the button when it is needed.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:50:15 MDT