What do you think of US soldiers?

[JoshGod]

I think that any person willing to give their life in defense of their country, or any country is to be admired.

depends on the country

i got nothing against soldiers considering their country is worthy
i mean do you blame the knife if someone got stabed? no. and that knife doesnt have a life to risk!

 

[ironlordthemad]

I think that any person willing to give their life in defense of their country, or any country is to be admired.

I couldn't agree more. If they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the defense of their home country nobody should have bad thoughts or comments about them.

But that's the problem. In recent times, US soldiers HAVEN'T been used for the defence of their home country. I have nothing against the soldiers themselves, and would think much higher if they WERE defending the country, but as it stands, most of the time they're just 'liberating' countries.

To clarify though, that isn't the soldier's fault, and I have no disrespect for them.

If the war ever reaches home, we'll be in a world of shit. So we root out potential threats before they can attack. The best defense is a good offense.

too right

why bother waiting for an attack when you can just hit them with a pre-emptive strike and solve the problem there and then?
Although I'm in the UK I admire the patriotism of the american soldiers, any soldier willing to give their life for their country is more than worthy of anyone's respect, regardless of your political affiliations or own ideas.
(oh yeah and if you dont respect them just remember that they can bringthe whoopa to you in a heartbeat)

 

[Tiny116]

I think US soldiers are jealous that the British army are better trained. >:

Ironic isn't it? You guys have better training than us, but we have a bigger budget? That reminds me, i nearly laughed out loud when i first heard a British soldier talk. Having grown up listening to various Asian and Pacific languages, i was used to hearing weird accents, but when i heard this guy talk , i was so reminded of Redwall i nearly burst out laughing to his face.

Just remember their are more accents and Dialects in the UK than there are people XD

EDIT: OT I think respect for any armed forces should be unconditional, we all owe them something.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I respect them.

 

[Valkyira]

I think US soldiers are jealous that the British army are better trained. >:

Ironic isn't it? You guys have better training than us, but we have a bigger budget? That reminds me, i nearly laughed out loud when i first heard a British soldier talk. Having grown up listening to various Asian and Pacific languages, i was used to hearing weird accents, but when i heard this guy talk , i was so reminded of Redwall i nearly burst out laughing to his face.

Alright mate, don't start insulting the British... Just because one guy said something it doesn't give you the right to insult multiple countries.
I didn't think they were any dicks on this site, evidentially i was mistaken.

 

[Danny Ocean]

I think US soldiers are jealous that the British army are better trained. >:

Ironic isn't it? You guys have better training than us, but we have a bigger budget? That reminds me, i nearly laughed out loud when i first heard a British soldier talk. Having grown up listening to various Asian and Pacific languages, i was used to hearing weird accents, but when i heard this guy talk , i was so reminded of Redwall i nearly burst out laughing to his face.

Alright mate, don't start insulting the British... Just because one guy said something it doesn't give you the right to insult multiple countries.
I didn't think they were any dicks on this site, evidentially i was mistaken.

He's just joking. Learn to take it, it's a trait most British are proud of.

 

[Valkyira]

I think US soldiers are jealous that the British army are better trained. >:

Ironic isn't it? You guys have better training than us, but we have a bigger budget? That reminds me, i nearly laughed out loud when i first heard a British soldier talk. Having grown up listening to various Asian and Pacific languages, i was used to hearing weird accents, but when i heard this guy talk , i was so reminded of Redwall i nearly burst out laughing to his face.

Alright mate, don't start insulting the British... Just because one guy said something it doesn't give you the right to insult multiple countries.
I didn't think they were any dicks on this site, evidentially i was mistaken.

He's just joking. Learn to take it, it's a trait most British are proud of.

Yeah, it doesn't exactly sound like a joke... Insulting everyone who lives in Britain's accent and the war budget.

 

[funguy2121]

I always wondered what civilians though of us when we go by. Here in Hawaii, military personell are as common as mongooses, but they aren't as common on the mainland. Most people here in Hawaii think of us cordially and think of us very highly. What do you think of US soldiers?

I think the same physical standards should apply for both genders.

 

[Danny Ocean]

I think US soldiers are jealous that the British army are better trained. >:

Ironic isn't it? You guys have better training than us, but we have a bigger budget? That reminds me, i nearly laughed out loud when i first heard a British soldier talk. Having grown up listening to various Asian and Pacific languages, i was used to hearing weird accents, but when i heard this guy talk , i was so reminded of Redwall i nearly burst out laughing to his face.

Alright mate, don't start insulting the British... Just because one guy said something it doesn't give you the right to insult multiple countries.
I didn't think they were any dicks on this site, evidentially i was mistaken.

He's just joking. Learn to take it, it's a trait most British are proud of.

Yeah, it doesn't exactly sound like a joke... Insulting everyone who lives in Britain's accent and the war budget.

1. He's insulting their own war budget. How are we better trained when they have a bigger budget?

2. He's not insulting the whole country, he's joking about one person's accent.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I admire them. Anyone who doesn't can live with that, for my opinion is mine, and yours is wrong.

 

[Frankydee]

I'm pretty neutral on the matter.

I guess going to boot camp in a week has something to do with it.

 

[Biek]

But that's the problem. In recent times, US soldiers HAVEN'T been used for the defence of their home country. I have nothing against the soldiers themselves, and would think much higher if they WERE defending the country, but as it stands, most of the time they're just 'liberating' countries.

To clarify though, that isn't the soldier's fault, and I have no disrespect for them.

If the war ever reaches home, we'll be in a world of shit. So we root out potential threats before they can attack. The best defense is a good offense.

Vietnam: Misplaced fears over Communism. America wasn't under threat. They just hated Communism.
Lebanon: America intervening to help people sympathetic to their world view.
Grenada: No real reason to intervene. America felt like it.
Beirut: American led UN intervention.
Panama: Team America: World Police.
Gulf War: Again, 'liberation'.
Somalia: Peacekeeping.
Kosovo/Yugoslavia: Interventionism.
War on Terrorism: Defending America. Legit.
- Afghanistan: Mostly ending the Taliban reign, but since they're linked to al-Qaida, I'll concede that one.
- Philippines: Invited by government to end terrorists.
Liberia: Used military force to strong-arm a man out of there.
Iraq: Pure interventionism.

In almost all of these examples, America was never at risk . Most of it is America sticking their nose in other people's business. I understand that if war gets to America, that would be BAD, but don't kid yourself in saying that all these examples are to defend America. Because that's just not true in the slightest.

Yes but what about GREAT AMERICAN FREEDOM FUCK YEAH! *crotch thrust*

 

[WestMountain]

Why call them heroes? They get paid and follow orders, it isnt like every soldier does it for their country, they do it because its a job and they get money for it.

 

[NicolasMarinus]

Bunch of noobs! ;p

 

[Grigorius]

It's funny how a few people decide to use this thread as an excuse to spout misinformed and pointless racism, eh?

I respect the US military as a force, but not it's actions. I will not, however, blame them for their actions, because that is US politics. As many of you have said, blame the leaders, not the soldiers.

I'd also like to point out that a lot of people here are treating US soldiers like clones. Not all of them are the same. Of course, some will join because they want to kill people. Some will join because they are specifically, either through some severe mental fault or an excess of racism/faithism, want to kill muslims and arabs. But there will also be many who are genuinely kind people joining to try and help the world, either through the humanitarian aid they give, or fighting the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Of course, there will always be those in the middle, the ones joining for the money, or the products of the "Patriotism-bordering-on-nationalism" attitude the US government appears to support.

My original point being: Don't tar all US soldiers with the same brush. They aren't all good, and they aren't all bastards.

 

[HotFezz8]

too far away to care (australia).

I know that what you're saying is all a joke, but I must say this:

I heard those new-fangled flying machines go pretty quick now?

I strongly advise you to read the logistics chapter of "Lions Donkeys and Dinosaurs" by Lewis Page. in fact i advise everyone to read all of "Lions Donkeys and Dinosaurs" by Lewis Page.

whilst the auzzie special ops are free to prance around where and when they like (like most SF forces) only the US actually have enough flying thingies to keep a armoured division supplied for any lenght of time. let alone transport one, and thats with 300+ super heavy lift aircraft and 700 odd hercules. the brits have barely the capability to keep a battalion supplied, (and it needs to be a light battalion and have friendly air space. and be no futher afield than turkey. and preferably it shouldn't be fighting too hard. and forget about reinforcements...) but largely yes i joke ;-)

that said have australia actually committed a sizeable force to any US/UN venture recently? as in since vietnam?

 

[HotFezz8]

what? that big brother attitude was the only thing stopping ww3. pre Bush the americans were loved for their willingness to step into trouble spots. (even if they didn't fare well in them, beriut, somalia etc).

sodding hell compare them to the UN for humanitiarian aid and the US army are saints. the big brother attitude worked well for everyone until the yanks voted in a retarded pr*ck to manage their country.

Riiight, we totally loved you in Vietnam. You also need to stop thinking that your big guns/tanks/nukes are enough to win a war.

not many people actually really cared about the yanks going into vietnam... the general attitude is one of "war started for (at the time) reasonable reasons let down by poor tactics, a enemy who has a different idea of attrition and poor PR". noone was jumping up and down after vietnam screaming about US interventionalism then. the yanks have only really alienated themselves fromt he rest of the world in teh last 15 years.

oh and big guns/tanks/mmmm not nukes are enough to win a war. war being the operative word. good examples are gulf 1, falklands, korea, the history of Isreal... they just fall down on insurgencies, as are happening now. when you are fighting a guerilla war you require solid infantry. which, by and large, i would say the US has.