It just struck me how many things are so related these days. This morning, before seeing this post, my coffee group was discussing micro-management of combat situations. I was the only one there that had actually experienced combat and the real effects and feelings of what comes down to the men actually doing the work.

In Vietnam, my Colonel came out to the field several times to chew my butt in person for firing artillery missions without getting official clearance from Battalion and Corps HQs. Of course my disobedience was the result of our lousy radios, we just couldn't hear Battalion yelling "Cease Fire, Cease Fire", while someone behind a desk was trying to decide what to do. We could only hear the Marines yelling, "Fire Mission, Now, they're killing us". I had the utmost respect for that Colonel, after chewing me out for not adhering to the rules, he'd pat be on the back and say, "Good Job Lieutenant". His sincerity was proven by Corps HQ One Star General actually coming out later to personally thank me, "for saving a lot of lives". They realized there really are no rules in war. Although a comparatively small example of dereliction of duty, it can easily apply to many other combat situations.

Today I believe our policy towards war should be simple and direct, "Don't make us come over there!"

Say no more, period. In my units in Vietnam, and I would guess in most others, it was impossible to differentiate draftees from volunteers, from lifers, except possibly by rank. My company clerk, a draftee, came out a Lt. Colonel. And they could not tell that their XO and later their CO, I was also a draftee. I almost stayed in, however an RA commissioned Major changed my mind in an isolated incident.

When I was drafted, it was every other man step forward. Those that stepped forward were to become Marines, the rest of us were to become soldiers in the Army.

I did not know some of these things.
But I think the draft made it possible. It is not in effect now. And I hope it never will be again.
Of course, technically it was abolished in 1865,(see the Constitution, Amendment #13), but the Supreme Court never has admitted it.

I thought men were drafted into the Army, not the
Marines.

While it might seem you were doing everything on the ground tactically strategically America was doing everything to ensure the war would not be won and could continue using war materials at an incredible rate. Many bombing runs in the north were forbidden to attack tactical or strategic targets until they were operational. A bombing mission in the north might go on for a little while but then would stop while the north rebuilt. In the south if a hill was strategic and was taken it was often abandoned shortly afterwards allowing the enemy to retake the position with no resistance and no casualties and reopen supply lines. Sometimes the American forces returned, recaptured the hill then left again. The NVA and VC learned when they were seriously out manned and maneuvered to relent quickly, wait and return. American armies never entered the north, if they had and swept through the country it could have been won. It was never the intention. As far as tonnage and number of bullets shot, this number always makes it seem the war was really being fought. In all wars weapons designed to kill by the thousands or even hundreds seldom kill more than a few or a dozen. Unless there is a large group standing exactly where the bomb will fall it only catches a few in the open.
Strategically the war was fought to never win just consume material and men for as long as the countrymen back home would put up with it.

We who lived through the Viet Nam debacle, learned of many of the American participations in atrocious behavior. But not while it was happening. It would have been fairly easy to find out as while it was covered up, many wounded and troubled soldiers told their stories, and are still telling them today. But few people listened. Who could blame them? The non military dads wanted their weekend day at the beach playing with the kids, or working through the weekend trying to make their new enterprise prosper. Busy.
That's the sign of a capitalist country. Opportunity requires commitment to work and also to pleasure.In order to carry out the dream, they must be able to trust their government to do the right thing. Too bad. We haven't been able to do that for quite a while.

Me dino was drafted in 1969. Those who enlisted were required to give the oath of enlistment at the army base where the Greyhound took us.
The draftees just stood in a line and listened. The draftees were then told to take one step forward. We all did and I was thinking, "Is that it?"
Later it hit me that, if I had not taken that step, I'd be going to jail.
Then it was announced that five had been selected for the Marines. One was yours truly.
Taken aside to a private room, we were told we were selected because examinations showed we were the five smartest dudes of the busload.
All five of us were draftees.
Cough! Cough! Say no more . . .

But it happens.

Recent wars results.. death and injuries touched many lives , even the physically sound return many with PTSD. This results in more casualties.
These wars are all created to enrich the elite scumbags. Most gulchers use reason to evaluate a situation. What is very difficult is to comprehend in the mind of most people is the evil who will send countless thousands to their doom for profits. See Cremation of Care ceremony Bohemian Grove. If you don't care what happens to people, well then anything goes
It is a hard pill to swallow. It also goes against all conscious reason.

Thank you. My viewpoint on America's recent wars does not always hit a receptive audience here in the Gulch.

Thanks Robert for this essay, well written as always. The military's upper echelon clearly were all about procuring more expensive death tools. Many were and are glorified gun dealers.
I read a story that after the Japs surrendered after WW2 , two ships filled with armaments arrived in Okinawa. the officer asked his superior if he should turn them around and send the weapons home. He was told send one to S Korea and the other to Vietnam. The deep state scumbags need conflict to distract all from their evil. Military intelligence is all about trafficking ...you name it and if is profitable they are all in. See Kay Griggs
Expose' on video. May napalm fry them all.