patrick.net

Truthplease says

I don’t understand why the American public doesn’t demand a rapid exit.

We do, but Country pop stars with a cowboy hat and a headset microphone, against an American flag backdrop speaks louder than "THE PEOPLE" do.

Oh wait or am I talking about Monday night football?

After Vietnam, the warmongers realized that a draft army results in demands for results and getting the job done and over with.

The idea of a volunteer army isn't entirely based on the desire for a quality army, there are 'political' concerns as well.

The blood burden of the war sits on a relatively small group of people and their families, and doesn't touch a large segment of the populace.

It will never end. That was the purpose in starting it. You say sure bring the troops home. But do you envision dismantling Homeland Security? Nope. We could be untouched for 3 decades and we'd still be standing at full alert because we are now accustomed to it.

thunderlips11 says

after Vietnam, the warmongers realized that a draft army results in demands for results and getting the job done and over with.

That's a very good point.

thunderlips11 says

The blood burden of the war sits on a relatively small group of people and their families, and doesn't touch a large segment of the populace.

Very true for now. Unless military service becomes very unpopular. Then a draft would have to be instituted at some point. Or, we get into a major conflict again. However, I don't see any major conflicts down the road. The world would have to drop into some serious chaos for that to happen.

shrekgrinch says

Yup, which is why robots will take over on the battlefield. No body bags and they don't mind butchering entire villages and any Western reporter stupid enough to be there. And they won't say a thing to the media about it, either.

^^Agreed - seems like we're transitioning now, in fact. Perhaps it won't be so bad - robot soldiers (hopefully) won't rape and kill out of anger. It will possibly be easier to audit wars, too, to ensure soldiers were behaving as desired. Lots of good could come of this...

Or HEAPS of bad stuff! It's inevitable though, so our focus should probably be ensuring it's in the spotlight and implemented right.

Would our occupations of Iraq and Afganistan still be seen as 'wars' if:
1) No american soldiers were at risk
2) Significantly fewer 'enemy' combatants are harmed - with no risk to our soldiers, it would finally be feasible to start using non-lethal weapons
3) No corruption among soldiers

Of course, that's all pretty unlikely. We'll start with robots alongside humans, and soldiers will command robots to stand guard while they rape and murder innocents, accept bribes, etc. Also, our non-lethal weapon arsenal is not so well developed now (relative to what I imagine the near future holds).