[Boodleboy322]

Regarding the rapists and men/women torturing detainees/POWs, the articles of the Geneva Conventions, Uniform Code of Military Justice and laws exist to provide justice.

Questionable leadership in your Squadron, platoon or company should be addressed via the chain of command. If that is to no avail there are other resources. Any member of the Armed Forces who believes that himself or herself is wronged by his/her commanding officer may request redress via an Article 138 complaint. If such redress is refused, a complaint may be made and a superior officer must examine into the complaint. Also, you may file a complaint with the Inspector General.

Just war is waged in terms of self-defense or in defense of another with sufficient provocation.

The Just War Doctrine, a Christina Medieval theory dating back to Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas with origins as far back as Cicero, sets criteria in the right to go to war as well as the right to conduct war. Just cause is defined as the reason for going to war needs to be just and cannot therefore be solely for recapturing things taken or punishing people who have done wrong. Innocent life must be in imminent danger and intervention must be to protect life. While there may be rights and wrongs on all sides of a conflict, to override the presumption against the use of force, the injustice suffered by one party must significantly outweigh that suffered by the other. Only duly constituted authorities may wage war. The use of Force may be used only in a truly just cause and solely for that purpose. Arms may not be used in a futile cause or in a case where disproportionate measures are required to achieve success. Force may be used only after all peaceful and viable alternatives have been seriously tried and exhausted or are clearly not practical. It may be clear that the other side is using negotiations as a delaying tactic and will not make meaningful concessions. The anticipated benefits of waging a war must be proportionate to its expected evils or harms.

As a military veteran, former Active Navy & Air National Guard, I agree that recruit candidates should be well informed of their choices prior to making any decisions. That decision will affect the rest of their lives. I believe in National Security and the ideals of War. There are always wars to be fought (whether defending a nation or in your personal life). National Security provides the blanket of freedom that many of us take for granted. I salute my fellow brothers in combat and harms way in the past, present and future.

Semper Fi,

Boodleboy322