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GAsux · #26

Capt. Obvious,
I wasn't born yesterday. I'm quite sure that everyone here has at least a quarter of a brain and is well aware of the fact that the military keeps secrets, and that forth the most part it is beneign (although I'm sure there are cases in which there were sinister intentions).

Regardless, military doctrine and philosophy, which are the heart of what's being discussed here are not in the realm of "secrets". Your implication that the military hides it's doctrine and historical philosophy is ridiculous, and makes me seriously doubt your credibility on the subject.

Zebra 3 · #27

You can find it here.

KevinTheOmnivore · #28

That doesn't appear to get to deep into "philosophy."

AChimp · #29

Thanks for ruining a perfectly good hoplite thread, you assholes.

ItalianStereotype · #30

we know you are a nerd chimp, there is no reason to show it off

ItalianStereotype · #31

ok, can anybody tell me any countries that have a universal military service policy, besides israel?

ItalianStereotype · #32

ANSWER ME, YOU WHORES!

GAsux · #33

Are you talking about cumpulsory military service?

KevinTheOmnivore · #34

I think either Sweden or Norway has it. Japan might, too.

Miss Modular · #35

Switzerland (I think) has it, too.

GAsux · #36

I suppose there are lots of places that have it. Iraq is one.

I saw it first hand in Turkey. Men are required to serve a year with the armed forces. It produced less than satisfactory results. It's hard to feel safe thinking that there is some 18 year old kid who was forced to serve sitting out there on the fence. The Turks would often have "accidents" whereby there weapons would mysteriously discharge, shooting themselves in the feet or legs, and thereby rendering them unable to fulfill their service obligations.

Never the less, any time your talking about conscipts you're going to find a military force that is less that professional.

KevinTheOmnivore · #37

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAsux

Never the less, any time your talking about conscipts you're going to find a military force that is less that professional.

Not to get all "theoretical," but at least using Machiavellian logic, your other options are just as bad, if not worse. Sure, you can ask for volunteers, but what if none come along? Secondly, your other option is a paid military. But that means you employ a bunch of capitalists who will turn on you if the money is right (this was particularly a problem in Machiavelli's day).

Not that I'm 100% pro-conscription, I just see the civic merits in it. In Israel it's a part of the political culture, and you can be sure that most hih level politicians have served in a high ranking military position, perhaps have even led a battle charge or two. I find a LITTLE bit more comfort in this than, for example, having a leader who's glad to send our men and women off to die, but when his time came, he joined the coast guard, or national guard, whatever.

EDIT: For as much as I dislike Ariel Sharon, if the PM in Israel held the same entitlements as our President (not sure), you can at least be sure that he would have the military record to be calle "commander-in-chief."

GAsux · #38

As you can imagine, I certainly agree with your sentiments with regards to having a commander in chief who's gotten at least a remote taste of what war entails.

I think conscription works well in times of peace. There are certain aspects of such service that would probably do lots of young folks well.

I suppose the point I was getting at is that with a "draft", or forced service, you lose the ability to at least attempt to weed out people with certain negative qualities, and you also find yourself trying to compell folks to fight who may not necessarily have much motivation to do so.