Why do conservatives insist the US military is necessary for my freedom?

Question

Protecting it from whom, I would like to know? Is there some foreign threat that I am unaware of - perhaps Mexico or Canada - that is going to overthrow our democratic government and nullify our constitution?

Don't they know that our founding fathers opposed a standing army, and believed in a citizen's militia, because they thought a standing army *interfered* with republican government?

And why do they assume that without our military, no one in the world would have free speech? America didn't invent free speech, and there are many other democracies in the world that have a freer media, and a stronger commitment to free speech, than we do.

Mahal - you miss my point. As long as I stay in America, and civilian law enforcement enforces our laws, why should I care what people in the Middle East think?

And to you 911-quoters: what good did our military do on 911? None at all, nor could they have.

Great Mahal - but none of those plots were prevented by the military. But our military adventurism is why people want to attack us in the first place.

Tommy, pre-emption doesn't grate the sensibilities of militarists and imperialists, they long for it. Meanwhile, the sane among us will ask questions like: why don't we just search people who fly here for viral agents in their luggage, and save $500 billion a year we waste on the military?

Alex, if we didn't have a standing military, who would invade us?

Answer 1

Apparently, the word diplomacy has no meaning to them.

Answer 2

Conservatives and liberals both insist the U.S. military is necessary for freedom for all living inside our borders. True the founding fathers did believe in a citizens militia. That's basically what the Continental Army was comprised of. But times change. The build up of our armed forces took place when we were attacked at Pearl Harbor, forcing us into World War II. When we were triumphant the armed forces were necessary to keep order in Japan and Europe as we basically funded the rebuilding of a continent(Europe) and a country that is now, and has been, an economic force in the Pacific Rim. If we hadn't had a U.S. military funded and logistically supplied by the federal government we wouldn't have been able to enter World War II, and I guarantee you we wouldn't be debating right now about whether the U.S. military is necessary for your freedom. We may never have been born and this country might be speaking Japanese or German, and you know what happened to those people's freedoms when the Emperor ruled in Japan and Hitler and the Third Reich ruled Germany and Europe with an iron fist.

Answer 3

Our founding fathers had an ocean that took months to cross protecting them. We don't have that luxury any more. We have so many flights in and out of the country that one man carrying a viral infection could completely incapacitate the country. With threats like that we can't afford to stick our heads in the sand and wait. The only course is preemption as much as it grates on all of our sensibilities.
North Korea is even at this moment trying to develop missiles that can reach our shores,even one nuclear warhead could disrupt our lives and economy so badly that an invasion by even a relatively poor armed opponent could leave us helpless.
We did not invent free speech but we do embody it. What passes as free speech in this country today is a blasphemy of the term. That every moron thinks that they have to be listened to or that words do not have consequence has weakened what was once great.

Answer 4

Hussein, Castro, Hitler, Mussolini, Emperor Hirohito, Attila the Hun, Ug and his blood thirsty tribe of caveman -- how far back do you want to go? As long as there are human beings, there will be dictators and tyrants rise to power. Open a world history book will ya' Any nation historically is only as strong as the strength of its armed forces. By the way, by the Revolutionary War the "citizen militias" were used to supplement the regular Continental Army. one of the first priorities by Washington was to raise a standing army. Great assertion about "freer" media. Totally unsupported but nice try. Why don't you name a few for us all?

Answer 5

Look at history, WW2 when japan attacked us, or during the cuban missle crisis when we were on the brink of nuclear war. We are not untouchable from the rest of the world. If we didnt have a military china or russia could and probably would invade. But then who would oppose them , you i doubt it you would run in fear to another country. We need the military to protect us from other nations. Also we have allies that we get alot of goods from. When they come under attack who is there to help them, we are.

Answer 6

Because it is called a book and in that book is history that tells how the military fought and America became a nation. In another one can find where a military held the Union together and freed the slaves. Yet another will tell how Hitler and Nazism was defeated. The military is a necessity for freedoms, and money well spent, unlike social programs that support the lazy who do nothing more the criticize the government and insist that America is bad for not giving them more. Free speech is a right and not to be abused. To many take rights for granted and they are the ones who refuse to stand up and defend our nation.

Answer 7

If you were to look at the last presidential election voting results. You would see that the states with the largest Military related industries went to the republican candidate. It seems obvious to me that money is to be made when there is an active military incursions somewhere in the world. Iraq and Afghanistan have been ideal cover stories for the conservatives to continue to line their pockets with profits being made by ongoing military actions. It has nothing to do with freedom, more to do with profits.

Answer 8

I'll give you a choice:

You can be alive at the blessing of our military, or you can be dead and have all the civil rights you want.

Who do you think is going to stop the terrorists from coming to America? Democrats? Liberals? Chickenhawk republicans?

No, the men and women in uniform.

If you don't believe me, go to the Middle Eastern country of your choice and every day wear a t-shirt that says "I'm an American".

Meanwhile, here in the states we'll be taking a poll to guess how long you'll last.

(It's funny how George Bush's policies are creating the illusion of peace in America and giving liberals reason to say, "No one is attacking us! Who do we need protection from?" Watch the news, moron. Today in New York, the authorities broke up a ring of fake cops with connections to terrorists. Google "Operation Stinking Badges". My list of foiled terrorist plots on US soil is up to 90, to include this one and "Smoke Screen", a cigarette smuggling ring supporting Hezbollah in the Carolinas.)

And you missed my point: if we don't get them there, they're coming here. Their stated primary objectives are to destroy Israel and to destroy the United States. Their militias are trained, equipped and funded by governments swimming in oil revenues. The US citizens militia of a million rednecks with rifles can't stop trained paramilitary units.

If you haven't figured this out yet, what does that say about your intellectual acumen?

NONE OF THOSE PLOTS WERE PREVENTED BY THE MILITARY?

Tiny point. They were prevented by the combined efforts of the NSA, CIA, FBI, military intelligence services and other minor contributors. All of these are part of the executive branch, and the NSA is part of the Department of Defense--wait a minute, that means that the NSA IS THE MILITARY! (What a clown!)

Answer 9

i think all America is expected to follow bush,,,,or the terrorist will come to our homes and cut off our infidel heads.i sir have no idea why anyone would believe such madness.....here on our own soil ,,it would never happen,,,,free speech ,ya right,,,i got my account deleted today ,right in the middle of a answer,,some free speech,,now i am ,not at liberty to express my views to the letter,,,or its by,by for me again...stronger commitment,,,,sounds good,,,cheers civilian interesting some of these answers reflet the reasons bush supporters are still on the chart,,,they think the terrorist will KILL THEM HERE IN AMERICA,,,and antipathetic not to support bush,,,i do not agree,,,the middle east can be contained with good diplomacy and less gunpowder,,,,

Answer 10

"protecting it from who" "Is there some foreign threat that i am unaware of" where you asleep on 9/11. Are you unaware of the terrorist attacks that happened? And if you want to say that there hasnt been any attacks since then, well the reason for that is our military action.

Answer 11

Read a history book & some newspapers. There always are & always have been those who wish us harm. Does the date 9/11/2001 mean anything to you? How about 12/7/1941?