An article I wish I would never have to write - To those calling for a civil war, this Marine wants you to stop, and think...
It's been said that the military is always preparing for war. That is true. We prepare for combat every day. We ran 5 miles today to the rifle range and shot nearly 200 rounds a piece at targets and then ran back. However, we also pray for peace. I would love one day to be completely unnecessary. But alas, I am a realist, and I know that day will never come.
The headlines of the last week have reminded me more of glimpsing at the S2 Daily Briefing Sheets while in theater or the Al-Jazeera than the NY Times or the Washington Post. Think about that for a moment, let it sink in.
Before I get into the main premise of this article - I need to make two statements here.
First and foremost , when it comes to the back and forth of who did what to whom and why - I don't give a @!$%#. It doesn't change the action. In life we're judged by our actions, nothing more, nothing less. One of the greatest things of the military is when it comes to an enemy, the politics behind the situation - don't matter in accomplishing that mission. For the military , life is simple in that regard.
Secondly, Regardless of your political ideology, you've earned the right as US Citizens to say your piece - no matter how wrong it may be. That is your right, and I will give my life to protect it.
But this government of ours is a democracy. We vote for our representatives, and they vote in our interests. Sometimes, the votes don't go our way. That's life, better luck next time. Exhaust your legislative options, and then focus on gaining the required votes and/or seats to achieve your desired legislative vote next election time. That's the way things work.
But the SECOND you start committing acts of violence and vandalism, then you've usurped that Constitution. You in a way have assaulted it. And then you and I (I being every servicemember who has sworn to defend said Constitution) will have a MAJOR PROBLEM.
For those of you calling for a civil war, I implore you to stop and think about what you're saying. Look around your neighborhood and your city. Now imagine using that terrain to survive. Imagine dodging semi-automatic rifle fire as you scramble from cover to cover, dragging your wounded child behind you. Imagine the deafening report of a mortar as it strikes the ground a 150 feet in front of you, the overpressure enough to shatter your teeth and perforate an ear drum. Try and envision a Stryker rolling through neighbor's front lawn or a F/A-18 making lazy loops over your head in Close Air Support for the troops in the distance.
Now with that vision in mind, stop by your local Marine Corps base, being they will be the first military units you'd face in an all out 'civil war' . Look at them for a moment, examine their 'work environment' . They're running the track, they're climbing ropes, they're grappelling with each other in mock hand-to-hand combat, and shooting targets while moving in raid lines on a daily basis. Nearly everyone on that base, down to our 'secretaries' has a combat award of one type or another, they've faced some of the most stressful situations on Earth where succumbing to the stress can get you killed, and they flourished.
Now ask yourselves and be honest - when is the last time you've run anything other than late to work, climbed anything other than a flight of stairs, grappelled with anything other than a paper jam, and shot off anything other than your mouth? When's the last time you were in any situation more stressful than a traffic jam?
Now I'm not blaming you for your career choice, not in the least. I can't think of a single job that's not useful in some way or another. I just want you to simply compare and contrast your work environment with ours and ask yourselves "Who is better suited to win this battle ?" We both know the answer here, and if you doubt that answer, look at the results from Fallujah in 2004. Over 1200 of them 'lost' and we 'lost only 28. That's a 'win-ratio' of almost 60-1, and they've been fighting their whole lives.
Put this in another scenario. You and your officemates think your local pro football team sucks , so you put together your own team of the best your company has and challenge them to a game. Even if your team might be good, they're professionals. This is their job. Your job is to answer phones and type on a keyboard. In short, they've forgotten more than you will ever know about football. The result, will be a slaughter for you, and a practice for them. But at least you'll get a chance to sit at home, ice your wounds and say 'whew I never should've done that!'
Not so with combat. The results of combat are far...FAR..more permanent. There are no second chances, no time for regrets, and no do-overs. This is not Call of Duty.
Now I 'd like to disperse a myth here - many of you think that US military would not fight civilians. I can't speak for all, but in my case - the moment you declare civil war, you're no longer civilians. The moment you attack the constitution, you're now enemies of that constitution. And I swore to defend and support and if necessary give my life for that Constitution and utilize every tool, technique, and weapon at my disposal to do so. And trust me, I'm not alone.
I hope some of you heed my words and cool the rhetoric and focus on achieving your goals diplomatically instead of physically. It would never want to receive a frag order to Maryland, or North Dakota, or Texas, but it is an order I will follow no matter how much it pains me to do so.
Excellent article, insights the parties on all sides would be best served to heed.
ReplyDelete....Looser
ReplyDeletethank you.
ReplyDeleteYou have chosen some ominous words here my friend. I want to remind you that for decades the left has been focusing on non-violent, peaceful actions to try to increase democracy and participation in this country. The government has a history of calling down the military on strikes and protests and infiltrating demonstrations with police saboteurs who purposefully advocate violence to bring repression down on activists and smear our reputation. So I'm coming to this from a very different angle.
ReplyDeleteYou talk about electoral politics like citizens should shut up and vote and put up with the policies that get passed. But that assumes that the electoral system is fair, that politicians represent the interests of citizens and workers. To a large extent these things are not true. And if the government continues to take this country in a direction away from participation and democracy we have the right to collective action. Not to terrorism or violence as individuals but in demonstrations and workplace strikes and occupations. We have the right to express our grievances and NOT have the military called down on us.
When we are told that voting every four years for a figurehead is democracy, that is a sham. There is no excuse to go shooting federal politicians but there is no reason to go threatening your fellow citizens either. Just remember it is the right wing calling for a "civil war," showing up at town hall meetings with guns, taking it on themselves to patrol the borders, and posting cross-hairs on lists of their political enemies. But the government is more than happy to deploy the military against peaceful activists as well.
Good post. Good to hear that the military still tries to adhere to an apolitical view when it comes to domestic terrorism ( back when I was in the Army we didn't have FOX News blaring in our ears 24/7, thank god). And I know who you mean when you denounce those calling for " civil war".
ReplyDeleteStill, I bristle at these calls for " restraint on both sides". Aside from a few vandalized police cars and broken shop windows, the American Left has not commited any acts of violence for decades. In fact I could probably count the number of victims of Left- wing violence throughout American history on both hands- and still have a couple of fingers left. Meanwhile the extremist Right in this country has killed tens of thousands of American citizens. The Klan, militia men, Tim McVeigh and co. are probably responsible for killing more Americans than died in the Vietnam War.
The fact is that American Leftists show incredible restraint in the face of a barrage of threats and outright violence from Right wing extremists from both within the government and on the street. The tired old talking point, " both sides are the same", is always trotted out by spineless moderates who have a fetish for fence sitting at times like these. It is sheer nonsense and needs to be denounced as such.
I cannot applaud the SGT enough for making this post.very well put.Only those who have never been to war clamor for it.It is an ugly brutal event.
ReplyDeleteI can think of only one name to give those who rise up against a country i love and have served for,TARGET.
Think about what you have read today.
As soon as you start defending those in Washington that have already subverted the Constitution, you, my conrade in arms have just become the enemy.
ReplyDeleteRemember what you swore to uphold and defend.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFunny how this Sgt doesn't mention those of us who have served and earned medals in those same places and are in fighting shape and able to lead and train others; while he may believe that all the military men and women would follow orders on that day of a civil war; I'm not convinced that all would see things the same way.
ReplyDeleteWhile I love my country and have fought for her the Constitution the I have defended has been stretched in regards to privacy and personal freedoms. Remember that as Service Men and Women there are unlawful and illegal orders that do not have to be obeyed no matter who gives them. So firing into an area where children were I would think would be an unconscionable offense by anyone.
I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States not the politics of my country. Maybe our Service Men and Women need to learn the Constitution to remember what that oath really means.
Because of certain politicians and a certain type of politician, Sgt. C belongs to a military that has failed to meet most of its
ReplyDeleteobjectives for the past 65 years. However, Sgt. C is very good to caution civilians
because there can be no doubt that those politicians would not hold back when it came to the destruction of their own countrymen; that is, they wouldn't have the same pains of conscience they feel when pursuing terrorists.
Sgt. C gives himself too much credit for not knowing the difference between his country
and its government.
Lol! You'll just leave an attractive corpse "military" man.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the political whores in Washington DC who've not only attacked, but have shown a total disregard for the Constitution? If you aren't blissfully naive or irreversibly brainwashed, you'd be directing this letter at the Federal government, not the American People or civilians as you put it. Little do you [seemingly] realize, the government cares nothing about you. You're an expendable mileage robot.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, you wouldn't have bothered directing this letter at the American People had you ever bothered to read the various [unconstitutional] acts passed since 9/11 in the name of "homeland security." If you had, and assuming that you're a man of sound mind and reason, you'd see that all ex-military personnel are considered "domestic terrorists." How's that for a kick in the balls, soldier? Gonna fire upon your fellow vets; your fellow Americans because you're simply ordered to do so? If so, then you're a disgrace to America, the Marines and the Constitution.
Don't allow blind patriotism and obedience to dictate your thinking.
As a fellow soldier ex(US Army) Im disturbed at your words. You would support the government, who makes changes and constantly tries to change the constitution, the very same thing you took an oath to protect. The constitution represents the people. You seem to forget many ex military folks such as myself see just how corrupt things have become and yet you would support the corrupt persons. Understand you will not be just facing civilians. You will be facing militias, and ex military who have trained those civilians using the very same firearms you will be. The difference is. While you have tens of thousands if there is even that many left to stick around, when the government calls upon the military to turn against the people. In turn we will have tens of millions. So choose your side wisely. Cause if we the people face the some of the military in battle. I assure you, most of you wont live to see your grand children. Because and along with so many of my fellow soldiers would train Americans to defend themselves at all cost and just like at the start of our country. Those very same farmers,militia men stood,fought and defeated the most powerful Army in the world.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, choose wisely, Im for the people, are you?
I'm glad I got out of the service when I did. Sound like things have gotten significantly worse with our nation's military in recent years. This guy sound like he's one step away from being another Major Hussan. This "Sgt" has probably been completely brainwashed, likely holds anti-white sentiments, and is clearly unable to think for himself.
ReplyDeleteThe US Marine Corps has basically become another means for our corrupt government to stealthfully change the demographics of our country by recruiting foreigners who would be more than willing to obey orders to fire upon innocent, indigenous American civilians (obviously this mainly implies innocent "white" people, who this Sgt Wacko and others like him who, no doubt, would have no trouble killing) without a second thought.
This guy cares more about worshipping the first black president than he does about upholding his oath to defend the constitution.
If nothing else, there will be politically-driven violence in this country very soon; this man sounds like the infamous Lincolnites that cropped up during the Civil War.
ReplyDeleteThey will protect the wishes of a single man, in this case Barack Obama, over the wishes of an entire congregation of men and women; it's sad but it also shows how hopelessly brainwashed he is with his multiCULTural lifestyle.
Perhaps you could actually name some of the people who are supposedly calling for civil war?
ReplyDeleteCertainly some people are _warning_ of civil war. The nation's economic foundations are eroding, we have lost control of our borders, and Washington is logjammed because of ideological rigidity and deeply entrenched special interests. There is no reason the United States could not collapse as the Soviet Union did, and when people have to compete for desperately needed resources, they're likely to choose up sides and start fighting.
In saying this, I am not _calling_ for civil war. I am only afraid for my country's future.
Constitution is very clear about using violence if necessary to remove tyrants. We are at that stage. Obviously, the vaccines have destroyed your ability to embrace complex societal issues, process them rationally and act appropriately.
ReplyDeleteIf the Commandant wasn't such a sell out traitor, the central bankers and ceo's of the G20 would all be swinging from a rope or in a dismal prison.
Do me a favor, numbnuts. Don't tell people you're a Marine. You're blanketing shame across the entire Corps with your defeatist post.
Instead of getting a platoon together and arresting the Rothschilds, the Rockefellers, the Blankfeins, the Feinsteins, Levins, Liebermans, Cheney's, Bush's etc....you tell us to put on our knee pads, grease up our colons and take the elitist cocks up our ass. Fuck you and your sissified, brain dead, fake warrior...murderer of goat herders, while leaving the apex criminals free to reign terror over the planet, punk ass. I shit on you, mother fucker.
I'm a veteran. I swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That does NOT necessarily mean the GOVERNMENT of the United states.
ReplyDeleteA few years before the Constitution was written and ratified, another document said:
"... We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government..."
Freedom is a platform whose corners rest on four boxes: Soap, Ballot, Jury, and Cartridge. We're still at the Soap and Ballot stage. Sometimes, the Jury box has been needed, as in DC vs Heller. We're a LONG way from opening the Cartridge box.
I'm old, and fat, and I ETSed in 1980, after serving under one of the most miserable Commanders-in-Chief in the past century. I shoot more in a month now, than I did in my whole Army career.
Sergeant, remember: Quantity has a quality of its own. You scored a 60:1 casualty ratio in Fallujah. The entire US armed forces amount to 1% of the population. I'd wager that the average American vet probably shoots a hell of a lot better than the average Haji.
I vote, I'm constantly pulling the chains of my Policritters - Congrescritter, Senator, Delegate, and State Senator. I'm active in my community. I contribute to political groups, and legal defense funds. Oh, one other thing: I'm about to get up from the computer, start the crockpot for dinner, and then I'm going to run a couple hundred rounds through my AR15. Gotta keep that 34-year-old Expert badge shined up.
Totally agree with the post.
ReplyDeleteAnd to all of you dismayed at what's written.
Constitution is NOT being subverted today. It is not being changed or challenged today. We have no tyrants in high places today. G. W. Bush, who was the biggest threat to our Rights in the last 50 years IS NOT IN OFFICE TODAY.
We have the right to elect citizens whose politics and thinking is the same as yours and THEY can attempt to effect the changes that you think are needed to fix whatever you think is broken. This is how democracy works.
There is no evil buearacrat out there destroying our Constitution. Government does what the legislative bodies filled with elected officials tell it to do.
Your solution is simple - ELECT YOUR CANDIDATES. You start a Civil War, I will fight against you.
Sgt, you need to reread your history.
ReplyDeleteLet's go back to the last Civil War. The South didn't attack the North, the South simply said "we quit, we're outta here." The North disagreed, and attacked.
At that point, it wasn't the U.S. military vs. civilians in the South. It was large parts of the former U.S. military fighting as the South vs. the current U.S. military.
While I don't consider Civil War at all likely today, if it does happen, it'll be along the same lines. Large blocks of states will simply say "we quit."
Then your Marines, if ordered into operations to invade these states and arrest their legislatures and reassert Federal authority will see the following: (and I'm only outlining this in gross detail, because you did in your original post)
-Your F/A-18s circling overhead in a CAS role just got shot out of the sky by Colorado ANG F-16s.
-Your mortar teams just got eliminated by Idaho ANG A-10s.
-Your resupplies are continuously intercepted and taken by civilians. For awhile, they're getting resupplied better than you are.
-Your infantry is advancing through infrastructure that makes Fallujah look like Disney world. How much fertilizer does an agricultural community have? How much good effect could they get with ANFO, after being trained by Utah's 19th Special Force Group?
Sgt, there will be no civil war in this country. You're correct that those advocating it are out of line.
There may very well be massive civil disobedience, and do you really think Marines are going to drive tanks across lines of protesting civilians? Do you think we'd have a Tiananmen Square here?
If you really think so, remember that all the "war is hell" you've professed to learn, plenty of others have too...by those who don't take kindly to watching their family and neighbors being subjected to it.
I like this write-up. I think the SGT makes a great point: anyone calling for civil war doesn't know wtf they're talking about. In their minds, war is something that happens to someone else, I'm sure. Show me one American who really wants his home and family destroyed in the name of politics and I'll show you a nutjob.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time (this is the "however" part...), I think the Marine oversimplifies the situation. He seems to assume that the "domestic" enemy he has sworn to protect and defend the Constitution against will be civilians. This is a common assumption in the military, I've found, and I think it's a very bad one. The way our government works, I think the group who are most likely to violate the Constitution are the people in power. IOWs, the "domestic enemies" we are most likely to have to defend the Constitution against are our own leaders.
Perhaps the SGT will simply follow orders and be apolitical while doing his job, but if he does so, he has forgotten what his oath means. We didn't take an oath to follow all orders. We took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. It is a huge mistake to confuse Constitution with President. What I'm saying is that the oath REQUIRES thought and taking sides, no matter how much we've been trained to just follow orders.
"One of the greatest things of the military is when it comes to an
ReplyDeleteenemy, the politics behind the situation - don't matter in
accomplishing that mission. For the military , life is simple in
that regard."
You're such a tool :D This shows exactly how needed it is that people keep their arms and go all the way when necessary. You and your goons will be tried and hung after the revolution.
Sgt C,
ReplyDelete“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom,
go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.
May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
If there is a civil war, it will people like you who brought it on.
If I'm not mistaken, you took an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies - foreign domestic. If you want to talk about fragging civilians, where were you when the Patriot Act was passed? Where were you when the NDAA was passed? Apparently you don't even know we're NOT a democracy. Democracy is mob rule. We are a REPUBLIC and the Constitution you swore to defend is no better than toilet paper in the hands of the kleptocracy you serve.
ReplyDeleteSecession is not a violent act, but false flag operations are hardly unknown. Do you really put it past those fiends we 'elected' to send some people in to get shots fired? How clean will your hands be then? Hell, they don't even have to do that - they can just TELL you shots were fired and you'll be happy to gun down your friends and neighbors. Classy.