brass neck said:
People in the armed forces join up to be trained and be available to do there governments bidding. They dont say NO im not going if they dont agree with what the government of the day is doing/what policy they are pursuing. The way it works in our country is when a government gets voted in, according to the size of there majority they can send troops where and when they want. Its not up to people like me in civvy street to say you shouldnt be going on principle, its up to us to vote out the government who is sending them there..... because soldiers dont have principals on policy decisions, they do what they are ordered to do. I cant stand the fact we are fighting expensive, pointless and ultimately futile wars in counties that dont effect me/I personally have no problem with etc etc... But I sure as hell respect anyone who goes to those countries, in my name, under-armed, under-payed and as this sorry affaire in our country's dodgy history carries on will be comming home more and more in body bags.
Anyone who does disrespect our soldiers who are only doing what they have been told and are doing in on a pittance ARE SCUMBAGS. Soldiers facing lead £16k a year. Firemen working part time and under MUCH less danger £40k per year. Funny how many people supported the firemen when they were trying to guild the Lilly, going on strike putting lives in danger but slag our VERY brave young boys and girls off in the name of principals!!!
I think you are being disrespectful to the soldiers by viewing them essentially as mindless robots. They have principals like any of us have. The difference is they get punished for acting on them, so, understandably, few do.
I also think there is a very real difference between slagging the troops off and trying to appeal to them to not join up and become meaningless, expendable, pawns for the ruling class... because sadly that is all they have been since WW2. I mean, we can play about in lala land, throwing principles and morality out of the window, in order to feel good but the more we do the less honourable the deaths of the honourable will be - and the higher the deathtoll will get.
The real Scumbags are the War Criminals, Blair and Bush, who sent these fine, good intentioned, people to fight and die needlessly. I want justice for everyone involved - the troops, the iraqi victims, the taxpayer etc - now! Justice is not waiting around for the government in power to call the election (when they think they can win).
And, yes, they should get paid more. They deserve more and maybe then the Gov would be a little less easy with sending them into needless wars. Making it an expensive business may rile up the taxpayer abit aswell. Tho, no doubt, the Gov. would just print it up and tax us all invisibly. God, I hate Governments... cant we just throw all the fuckers out and bulldoze the damn parliament??
