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2015-01-09 -Short Attention Span Theater-

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Posted by badanov 2015-01-09 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

The many who lie here along the Hudson, killed in action in our nations conflicts might take exception to the claim of a "cheap education."

Posted by Besoeker 2015-01-09 02:48|| 2015-01-09 02:48|| Front Page Top

#2 Yes - these 99 (since 9-11) only paid the blood price: Three of the 99 were civilians at time of death, and one (a full Colonel)was a suicide - but none of the rest died as REMFs in some backwater.

I doubt that the author could find an ROTC REGION - or a string of 35 years of OCS classes - since the Vietnam War - with that level of mortality.

I'd be interested to see the wartime casualty roll for the Ivy League since 2001.

Posted by Lone Ranger 2015-01-09 03:58|| 2015-01-09 03:58|| Front Page Top

#3 Well, the web-link function did not work in my original post. Here it is: http://www.westpointaog.org/inmemoriam

Posted by Lone Ranger 2015-01-09 03:59|| 2015-01-09 03:59|| Front Page Top

#4 Yes let's make cheaper (in money) military caddemies and pay a higher price in blood. How about the authoir of the article serving under one of the ninety days wonders he is advocating?

Posted by JFM 2015-01-09 04:06|| 2015-01-09 04:06|| Front Page Top

#5 There are arguments both ways.

p.s. High casualty figures are not, IMO, a pro argument---think about it LR.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2015-01-09 04:29|| 2015-01-09 04:29|| Front Page Top

#6 Raising and training of armies is mandated by the Constitution. Taking money from wealthier Americans to give health care to those who choose not to work is not.

This guy's whole argument, is, therefore, irrelevant and wrong.

Posted by no mo uro 2015-01-09 05:53|| 2015-01-09 05:53|| Front Page Top

#7 Well we could try the French system. To get into the French military academy you already have to have a four year Bachelors degree. The military academy adds the equivalent of a Masters to it. Of course the leftist infiltration has caused complaints from even the left oriented students.

Posted by Vespasian Sholuting3430 2015-01-09 05:56|| 2015-01-09 05:56|| Front Page Top

#8 ...I will give the guy this: get rid of the high-profile sports programs. You want to be a (FILL IN THE SPORT HERE) star and an officer, go to a Division I ROTC school.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2015-01-09 06:48|| 2015-01-09 06:48|| Front Page Top

#9 Sorry #5, (IMO) your table wins the FOAD award for imbecilic poor taste this morning.

Posted by Besoeker 2015-01-09 07:05|| 2015-01-09 07:05|| Front Page Top

#10

Actually Officers and leaders at all levels of gov't should be directly appointed by the Champ. University of Memphis grad Fatima Noor is a perfect example.

Posted by Besoeker 2015-01-09 07:21|| 2015-01-09 07:21|| Front Page Top

#11 How about this, Mr. fake conservative-Gramscian-Quaker school (Haverford grad) professor?

If you agree to do the cuts to the social welfare state and government run healthcare FIRST, I'll agree to do some fat trimming to the military after.

What's that? I have to accept that the things I like get trimmed first, and trust that your side, which has NEVER cut the size of government, ever, will honor your commitment to trim also, and will do the right thing and get rid of the 50-75% of the nonmilitary public sector work force that needs to go away just to get to 1960 levels of government?

Sorry, Lucy. I think I've seen this football before. You'll get rid of the military AND use that money not for a tax rebate, or to pay down debt, but to hire even more useless government workers who will be lifelong Democrat campaign workers and voters.

Yes you will.

Liar.

Posted by no mo uro 2015-01-09 08:09|| 2015-01-09 08:09|| Front Page Top

#12 Can't have schools based upon merit and hard demanding work, no social promotion, no affirmative action, makes the civies look bad. The civies have got to protect their legacies (which is about the only thing they have to sell now).

Posted by Procopius2k 2015-01-09 08:20|| 2015-01-09 08:20|| Front Page Top

#13 The academies were established, not really for warfare as the author asserts, but because there was no institution providing the engineering training necessary to conquer the continent as well as fight wars, a process the military led, barely, through the 19th century. 100 years later this process was complete and the academies unnecessary.

The academies foster a military caste distinct from the civilians they serve. After all, flag officers get almost guaranteed admission for their children. Some perk. We should be seeking to diminish the military-civilian divide, not widen it.

Nothing in the Constitution says the federal government should be in the education business. Time to get the government out of the unconstitutional degree granting business and into the constitutionally mandated military training business.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2015-01-09 09:16|| 2015-01-09 09:16|| Front Page Top

#14 The academies foster a military caste distinct from the civilians they serve.

Frontier Regulars: The United States Army and the Indian 1866-1891 by Robert M. Utley.

Chapter 4. The Army, Congress, and the People. Sherman’s frontier regulars endured not only the physical isolation of service at remote border posts; increasingly in the postwar years they found themselves isolated in attitudes, interests, and spirit from other institutions of government and society and, indeed from the American people themselves...Reconstruction plunged the army into tempestuous partisan politics. The frontier service removed it largely from physical proximity to population and, except for an occasional Indian conflict, from public awareness and interest. Besides public and congressional indifference and even hostility, the army found its Indian attitudes and policies condemned and opposed by the civilian officials concerned with Indian affairs and by the nation’s humanitarian community.

There has always been a disconnect as they're two different cultures, that's why that same Constitution calls for a separate set of laws governing land and naval forces. It is a different society. Too many people think WWII and that was the 'norm' when it was very much the exception to the American experience.

Posted by Procopius2k 2015-01-09 09:48|| 2015-01-09 09:48|| Front Page Top

#15 A cost-benefit analysis is needed. Just how many 'food stamps' could be purchased from the annual budget of West Point.

Posted by Besoeker 2015-01-09 09:52|| 2015-01-09 09:52|| Front Page Top

#16 Should've stopped to think---instead of emoting, besoeker.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2015-01-09 10:15|| 2015-01-09 10:15|| Front Page Top

#17 It's salon.
The article (and magazine) was already set on fire and pushed in a canoe into the lake bu military tweeters.

Salon is another marxist rag.

Posted by newc 2015-01-09 10:24|| 2015-01-09 10:24|| Front Page Top

#18 Can't have schools based upon merit and hard demanding work, no social promotion, no affirmative action, makes the civies look bad. The civies have got to protect their legacies (which is about the only thing they have to sell now). Posted by Procopius2k

A lower [or elimination] of existing standards will accomplish the much needed 'leveling of the playing field.' BTW P2k, for a score of 300 on your next PT test, your time for the two mile run must be 13.5 minutes or less. Her's is 17 minutes. Please get on board.

Posted by Besoeker 2015-01-09 11:30|| 2015-01-09 11:30|| Front Page Top

#19 Well, I click on the link and:

1. It's Salon
2. The guy's a dick

Buh-bye...

Posted by tu3031 2015-01-09 13:12|| 2015-01-09 13:12|| Front Page Top

#20 Maybe some sort of compromise. Let the Citadel and VMI run 'em.

Posted by Shipman 2015-01-09 14:01|| 2015-01-09 14:01|| Front Page Top

#21 College English departments should be abolished. If one doesn't know English by the time they enter college, they don't belong there.

Posted by Daffy Angaigum8797 2015-01-09 14:14|| 2015-01-09 14:14|| Front Page Top

#22 ...which brings up this point.

Posted by Procopius2k 2015-01-09 15:38|| 2015-01-09 15:38|| Front Page Top

23:48 badanov
23:21 CrazyFool
23:18 CrazyFool
23:12 Super Hose
22:58 Super Hose
22:38 Super Hose
22:01 Fred
22:00 Fred
21:27 Frank G
21:23 Frank G
20:37 Raj
20:13 newc
20:00 Barbara
19:38 KBK
19:18 Bright Pebbles
18:32 Pappy
18:09 chris
17:58 chris
17:54 chris
17:53 Procopius2k
17:48 Procopius2k
17:46 KBK
17:44 KBK
17:21 Besoeker