salero21 and glasmann,

An even better way to narrow the detachment or the number of degrees of separation:

Raise taxes to pay for the wars as we wage them, instead of charging the costs to be paid later.

I am in total agreement with SALERO21. There was a conscious decision after the Vietnam War to go towards an all-volunteer military. The benefits to the military are clear: committed, efficient, well trained professional servicemen and women, without the downside of draftees, temporary soldiers, broad public protest against the war. During Vietnam, every person in the country had 1-2 degrees of separation from someone in or avoiding military service. I volunteered for the Marines, went to Vietnam, and am proud and glad that I did. However, I did not hesitate to get out early after 3 year, 8 months, and 8 days.

But what are the consequences for our current volunteers and their families: Isolation, and no (real) interest by the American people – hence the easy distractions of Olympic medal count and other trivialities. It is a shame, but it is what it is. As long as a small percentage of citizens bear the burden and the remainder of the country does not (really) care and participate, it will not change. Sorry.

??

Well, the whole issue of the Olympics getting the upper hand in Media reporting, maybe a matter of national idiosyncrasy.

The AVA or AVM has allowed more than ever an endemic perception of the Military being made up mostly of SEOSEC's.

This could probably be a good argument in favor of a return to the Draft. As it is right now vs. the way it was then with the Draft. A military service person is someone down the end of the street, or on the other side of the block.

There is much more detachment from them and their families now vs. the way it was then. Because in those days with so many draftees (I was one), the soldier was someone closer. He was the Son, the Brother, the Husband, the boyfriend, the best friend across the street. A lot more people were aware of the pain going on, in the house next door, or across the street.

That was one motivating factor for more people to be opposed then to the Vietnam war. Which eventually led to real changes in Politics and Policies.

That is Not happening now. Simply because not enough people are being affected and touch by someone close to them being in the Military. Especially in the Army, that was the recipient of the young draftees.

Change that, and you will see a whole lot more people caring enough to go out on the streets in demonstrations and protests against Imperial wars.

??

oops, my heartfelt apology to those who believe in the Second Amendment uber alles for writing "automatic rifles" I meant to write "semi-automatic"
(unless of course you by the kit sold on the internet to make them automatic.

What we need then is gold, silver and bronze medal ceremonies for military actions while forcing everyone to pledge allegiance and to recite the Lord's Prayer, and constant TV coverage, switching from front to front in the Christian Oil Crusades; or maybe Fox News, of course, covering the latest Huckabee / AIPAC pre-emptive attack plans for Iran; CBS covering Iraq, ABC covering Afghanistan, NBC covering Pakistan and maybe the Mexican Network Televisa covering the war against "non-Jesus approved" drugs on the border against Mexican drug cartels armed with NRA gun show automatic rifles and unlimited ammunition from the US.

Focus on the Family could run anti-abortion ads to pay for it all.

"True American" "Christian" Republicans would love round-the-clock coverage since they seem to believe war is only one big global sports competition they can sit back and watch like the Superbowl while counting Halliburton's profits from it and sending someone else's son or daughter off to die.

With all due respect and thanks for his service to our Country, the author of this column needs to pray for Jesus to give him a grip on reality.

"After all, Christ died for me, just like He died for all humanity, because I, like my fellow man, cannot earn my way to heaven through my actions."

Mr. Campbell's essay was very compelling up to this point. It's unfortunate that he had to compromise his entire argument by evangelizing at the end of it.

He could have said simply that his Christian faith helped him to endure his difficulties. Instead, he alienated all non-Christians by asserting that, without his Jesus, were're sunk.

The problem with Christianity is much like the problem with Islam -- both are utterly absolutist and dictatorial.

Donovan,

Bear in mind that it has been almost seven years since "Mission Accomplished."

Bear in mind the corrupt government that we are propping up in Afghanistan -- a government that is extremely critical of coalition errors, but cowardly silent when the taliban kill civilians.

Bear in mind also the Afghani men, who love to play with dead goats, but seem unwilling or unable to defend their own country and people.

Well as a former US Army type, I agree with some of this column but not the following:

"For me, only my Christian faith helped pull me out of my post-military selfish bitterness. After all, Christ died for me, just like He died for all humanity, because I, like my fellow man, cannot earn my way to heaven through my actions. I am imperfect and thus not qualified to spend eternity with perfection, but someone else sacrificed infinitely for me; someone else took the punishment that I deserved. That's far more than I have sacrificed for my countrymen."

Actually, Jesus C. did not die for you or for me or for anyone else. He died because one Pontius Pilate decided that rabble-rousers would not be tolerated during the Jewish Passover. PP could have simply sent Jesus C. to the salt mines and then where would your theology be?

Christianity if you look at it realistically was dependent on the free will of PP and should therefore be called "Pilatianity".

I understand the author's viewpoint and experience very well. The Winter Games of 1984 are the 'missing' games for me because I was a Marine captain flying helicopters in support of the Multi-National peacekeeping force in Lebanon. We went from Grenada to Beirut and we were lucky to get a paper every now and then. Who was winning medals in Sarajevo was not our biggest concern at the time.