Merkavah - Drive the Lord's SUV!

Walking by the War Memorial here in Ottawa always produces a mix of feelings in me. I wonder if anyone else actually ever takes the time to look at it.

I look at it and I feel... we need this reminder. We need it because people willingly gave their lives for their country, or for the world.

Sure, not every war is justified. Current situations indicate that quite clearly.

Nonetheless, you cannot deny that people are paying the ultimate price for the machinations of their nation. If the war is unneccessary, then their deaths may be unneccessary... but that makes it even more tragic.

And I suppose, that has to be remembered. You can't go on forever thinking that people will remember all their history if you don't have it recorded somewhere.

I guess that's why I feel that in a nation with an international army and government capable of supporting an extended war (by an international army, I mean one capable of jumping into conflicts around the globe, not one controlled by something like the United Nations), it is very important to have a leader who has served time in the army in actual engagements.

(Goofing off and not being able to produce real evidence of service does not count)

Someone who has actually served would not be so inconsiderate in wasting lives on something that wasn't worth doing, and they wouldn't do it without the proper logistical support and proper planning.

If they did, they'd be just... utterly and totally stupid.

I can think of great leaders who've served and used their military might wisely and frugally because of it. Especially when leaders had to go to war with their soldiers themselves.

But even in 'modern' times... we've had leaders like Ike. (He would be the most... well known example I could cite) He ended the Korean war, after all.

Now there's a Republican even I'd vote for.

Yeah. Those are my thoughts for now.