Do you think the "Army of One" mentality is to blame for the "bad apples"?

[Paragon]

I mean, we all know the orders and instructions came from the higher-ups, but if Bush still wants to go with the "few bad apples" excuse...

Just sayin'. :)

[aquart]

1. And you want to aid Bush, WHY?

[Paragon]

3. I don't, ya goof.

Do you really think Bush would apologize for anything, much less the Army's ads?

I was being facetious.

[underpants]

2. No, it is only a marketing scheme to get them in the door

I do understand from people still in the Army that it isn't what it used to be but then it never is and your last duty station is always better than the new one, change unnerves many people.

I was in 90-93 so there was a mix of the people you would normally expect in the service and many you would not-especially myself.

You can say that it is from increased violence in the society but people have said that forever. The difference is in leadership plain and simple. No means no-if they don't have control of you there is no control. Leadership comes with a slight bit more money but much more responsibility.

[Solly Mack]

4. the "Army of One" slogan is a huge joke in the Army

the most common comeback is "if you're (point to company jerk) an army of one, can I stay home?"

"SGT, I need help" "Hell no. You were an army of one a minute ago"


All that aside - I take your point.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Rummy of one?

>>I mean, we all know the orders and instructions came from the higher-ups, but if Bush still wants to go with the "few bad apples" excuse...<<

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Don't be foolish.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1246083,00.html
>>The most damning document is an August 1 2002 memo from Jay Bybee, then assistant attorney general, which argues that torture - and even the killing - of prisoners could be justified to protect US security. It gives the president legal authority to override rules on torture. The memo proposes a narrow definition of torture, saying it would apply only to excruciating pain. Officials tried to distance the White House from the memo. But its author was made a federal judge last year.<<

[guitar man]

6. My Dad

Dad made a very astute observation years ago over something that happened in and around the rural community where I grew up.

We had a renegade county sherriff who got elected and all hell broke loose. The dept. turned into a bunch of vigilante thugs and got into drug running and all kinds of shit. Finally, someone blew the whistle and the Feds stepped in, sending the Sherriff and some of the deputies up to do some time. One of the deputies was a childhood friend of mine and a friend of the family.

I was living out of state at the time and when I got home, I couldn't believe my friend who had always been a great kind and gentle soul had been sent up for some brutal shit. Dad helped shed a lot of light on my confusion over the whole thing.

He said " Son, if you have a pack of dogs that have a visciois leader, the tendency is for the rest of the dogs to follow suit and turn viscious themselves. The worst culprit in this deal is their leader, the sherriff. He is supposed to be in charge and the buck stops with him. He led them wrong."

That simple reasoning from the old man has always stuck in my head and rings true to this day. Booshco may try to shift the blame downward, but anyone with half a brain should be able to figure out where the blame lies, at the same place the buck is supposed to stop.

[underpants]

9. That is a fantastic example

The Army unit I was in literally was the monkeys running the monkey house and I was one of the lead monkeys. No leadership after my first CO left (Tons of leadership from him) and all hell broke lose so everyone tried to find their spot and make sure they had a buffer to the sides and from above.

Yes people tend to follow the trend, whatever it is.

[stavka]

7. Individuals believing they should have power over others is to blame

The Military and our Government work hard to make every American feel better than any "Other"....

[sendero]

8. Those ads...

... are among the most misleading commercials on TV, and that is no small feat.

The Army isn't remotely interesting in a bunch of Ones. It wants cogs for it's wheel. Too bad lots of dumb kids fall for it.

[MGKrebs]

10. No. The military has to train people to kill other people.

That's what they do. And in order to get them to do it, they have to be trained to follow orders, not ask questions. It is easier to do this with younger minds, and that's why you can join the Army at 17, but can't drink or vote until 18, the generally accepted age for making reasoned decisions. I think this is why there is supposed to be civilain oversight/control over the military. It's a different perspective. (By the way, i think this is a large part of Zell Miller's problem. He was a Marine, and he seems to be unable to defy his Commander In Thief... I mean Chief.)

Not that military folks can't think, it's just that, given the training, the atmosphere, and the task, it can be dangerous, difficult, and definitely discouraged, to question authority in any meaningful way. It can't be any other way. But the civilians (Secretary of Defense, Senate committees), have to respect their responsibility and keep things from getting out of hand. That has not happened with this "glitch" of an administration.

That's my opinion.