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Re-reading Chuck's article, I believe that he makes 4 main points; 1. Urging support for veterans, especially disabled veterans (at least the US Gov't is doing something here, (lack of) care for UK disabled veterans is a national disgrace, among many), 2. Commemoration of veterans' efforts, past and present, 3. Admiration for two outstanding military men, 4. Support for currently serving military personnel. Point 4, overlapping with Point 2 is no doubt contentious. That said, I would reckon that Chuck's article is about 70-75% non-contentious, which I sugeest is not bad for any columnist these days. The current Mid-East conflicts must raise concern, however, because there seems to be no foreseeable end to them and Allied lives (not to mention those of Iraqi and Afghan nationals) continue to be lost. For an 'in-depth' biblical (as opposed to the looser term 'evangelical') analysis on war and the current interventionist policy of the US Government, I therefore suggest read the article Christianity and War, by Dr Laurence M. Vance, to be found on LewRockwell.com and delivered as a talk on June 8th, 2008. Whether or not you agree with Dr Vance's analysis, he has researched his subject in some depth. I believe that his essential thesis is summed up by Crimean veteran Sergeant, later Sergeant-Major Timothy Gowing, Royal Fusiliers. He saw action in all the major battles of the Crimea, including Inkerman, where he was severely wounded in close-quarter fighting. He was about 20-21 years of age at the time. "Though a soldier, and fully embued with the spirit of patriotism, I would say with all my heart, ‘From war good Lord deliver us!' The man who delights in war is a madman - I would put him in the thick of it for just one day, and he would then know a little what war to the knife means!…A soldier - it matters not what his rank - must not for one moment, when engaged, think what the consequences are or may be. It is his duty to destroy all he can belonging to the enemy; in fact he is often worked up to such a pitch that he becomes a perfect fiend, or, as the Russians called the Highlanders at the Alma, ‘red devils in petticoats'. None but men who are mad could do in cold blood the deeds that were performed by some of our men." From Gowing's book, Voice From The Ranks. The military machine is clearly one which must be used with great caution. Sadly, in recent times, the US and the UK appear to be throwing that caution to the winds. Especially in view of the availability of the book War Is A Racket, by Major General Smedley Butler, who died in 1940, after 34 years service in the USMC. Commemoration is one thing but the US and the UK certainly have no excuse for misguided patriotism.

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Thanks, Chuck, a fine commemorative article and a fitting salute to those outstanding USMC officers. Today, July 1st, is a day that ought to be officially commemorated in this country. On July 1st, 1916, about 180,000 British and Empire soldiers (including a battalion of the Newfoundland Regiment) went 'over the top' from their trenches in Picardy, France and advanced against the German lines on the first day of what would become known as the Battle of the Somme. Almost 60,000 became casualties on that day, with a third of them KIA or died of wounds. The losses among the actual assaulting battalions were disproportionately higher; 1st Newfoundlands lost 710 out of about 800. Many of the British battalions lost 400-600 out of 700-800 men. These men were mostly volunteers. They had trained for 2 years while the British Regular Army and Territorials (British equivalent of the US National Guard) did the fighting. After July 1st, the shattered battalions closed ranks and filled up with drafts of reinforcements. And they fought on - and won. This should never be forgotten. This year is one of particular commemorative significance for you folks over there as well. 90 years ago, the 'Doughboys' were fighting in France and winning victories, e.g. St Mihiel. But they too suffered the harsh realities of modern war. In his book 1918, The Last Act, British military historian Barrie Pitt writes, "At the end of every battle, [the Americans] lay on the ground in evenly spaced, regular lines, like fallen bean-poles, or corn-stooks blown over by the wind. Or like the British dead on the Somme, in the hot, summer sunlight of July 1st, 1916." Regardless of the cynics (or the politicians), I think there is a special relationship between these English-speaking peoples on opposite sides of the Atlantic. That too should not be forgotten.

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Re: Masako Sir; I would not mind much of anything in this country if those who bendfit from it paid for it. And war; the expense of war is born only by the working people. The rich absolutly refuse to spend their money to defend this land. Sure, there are more private police than public police, but that is because the rich find it cheaper to have the best of public protection and their own extra cushion of private protection. If it were their money on the line, and their future wealth on the line you can be certain they would look long and hard at the situation before druming this country into war. Look at our infrastructure. Is it only those who drive to work that have to pay for the roads, the bridges, and the sewers? Don't the rich like the poor all profit from infrastructure? Yet, when the infrastructure becomes difficult to maintain, the rich pack up their companies and move, and if you don't like them moving down South, or out West; then they will move to China. They are loyal only to their money, which ultimately is our money since every one should support the country and the country should support everyone. We are slipping into socialism for the poor. Long lines and poor service for anything necessary, while public property is privatized for the rich to exploit. I think the rich ought to be concerned that they do not teach people that they can actually live with socialism better than they can live with their class of good for nothing, disloyal, thieving rich people. This is our country too. This country has been bought with the blood and labor of many generations, and if the rich are rich out of not paying their fair share; then kick them out. Thanks, Sweeney

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Mr. Norris; It is too bad for reactionary journalist and spin masters that they can't keep the flag bound around every citizen's head all the time so that their rights can be robbed and their pockets picked. These are Americans sent over to destroy private property, and terrorize the population. Do I think we will be successful in stealing their oil and making their government ineffective for or against us? Well, yes. And the same oil our children have bought withtheir blood we will buy from our private oil companies at a significant profit. So why don't you tell the world why I should support the military at all. If the military has crawled into bed with evangelical Christianity for an unholy union; why should I support them? Of course; they do need my support. They are both big enough to take what is mine. I don't have the means to resist them, and I must pay my taxes even when I see the government pursues an illegal war. But I will never like it. And I will never support it; and though many of my people have fought for this country, the flag is only a remider of how they have all been robbed. I am not flying it. I am not ashamed of it. It is just that all the asses who have drained the meaning out of that rag to put themselves in power, or to keep themselves in power, who spew patriotism to drive hotheads into acts of stupidity have taken the glory of the flag and left only the gore. It is a terrible shame. Thanks, Sweeney

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Mr. Norris, this piece is pure celebration of war. The name of the holiday is Independence Day, not Glorious Soldier Day. We celebrated our soldiers last May. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ I wouldn't have a problem with celebrating certain wars if you had it in you to be a little more selective, but you just want to celebrate the whole darn thing. Take World War II, for example. Before we got in, our Congress was a little too cozy with big business in Nazi Germany to want to make any waves, and President Roosevelt had to resort to outright trickery to get those lazy boys to offer any help at all to lonely Great Britain. But after the blood of our soldiers was spilled in Pearl Harbor, Congress finally found its spine. Better late than never. At least we were on the right side in that one. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Then there was the war the Vietnamese fought to bring about their own Independence Day. That's the one where Viet Nam was trying to get out from under the domination of the west and we basically said “Independence is okay for us but not for you.” That war was marketed to the American public as the one to stop the stack of dominoes from falling into the hands of the “communist block.” ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... It was a great gimmick, and it sure fooled a lot of the feebleminded. People like you still go for it to this day. However, the stubborn fact is that neither the Soviets nor the Chinese, who hated each other and were no more of a “block” then than they are now, took over after the Vietnamese kicked us out. Viet Nam finally got its independence. A lot of folks died over that one, and it was a pretty good example of how we sometimes get it dead wrong. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Then there was the war in Kosovo in the 90's, to which we sent troops to stop genocide. That was an example of doing the right thing in the tradition of World War II. It was a time for a brief moment to be proud once again of American military might. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... And, of course, there is the disgraceful destruction we have wrought in Iraq. Not something we should ever want to celebrate, and what a stain on the American soul that will always be. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... The above are just examples of how we sometimes get it right and sometimes get it wrong. The point is, when feel-good word-sellers like you beat the drum and crow about the glory of war in general, too many in the mob, including presidents and vice presidents from time to time, start thinking it's a great thing all around and we should keep on doing it over and over again just cause it's a thrilling way to spend our time and money. You ask us to see patriotism as a matter of supporting war no matter what the reason. That is really a crime.