The point again was that Bush I was not a military man. Try to twist that point around to it being "pretty riduclous to disrespect Bush I service" if you wish. Prior to the advent of the chickenhawks, millions of Americans served in our wars. To his credit Bush I did not go awol like his son. ACtually Bush I was probably a warmonger by conviction, unlike Obama. I think Bush I would have been a militarist even if he had graduated from West Point and been career military and engaged in years of jungle warfare. His career in the CIA and as president showed that he genuinely like elective wars like Iraq War I.
i guess your point is that carter isn't respected for his military service? anyway i think i remember you being pretty knowlegable on pakistan and it would be appreciated if you provide your opinion on the situation
What larger picture? GH Bush was a commissioned officer and combat pilot. Also keep in mind that both of them held the same rank in the military, Navy Lieutenant. Also LT Carter didn't see combat while Lt. Bush was decorated 3 times for his actions in battle. I don't know why you brought this up (besides praising Carter and taking a swipe at Bush.) It seems to me that you are trying to make a comparison that somehow Carter was a man of peace because he understood the horror of war as a military man while a war monger like GH Bush was just a diletante in the military. If anything GH Bush understood the horror of war having been shot down more than Carter did who didn't see combat. Yes while a rescue mission doesn't equal a war but Carter was no dove. In addition to the attempted hostage mission don't forget that one of the reasons why the Iranians were so hostile to the Carter Admin. was that they continued to sell arms to the Shah even though they knew of his deplorable human rights record at a time that Carter was raising human rights as an issue. Also don't forget that Carter's NSA director, Brezinski was a hawk and that the Carter Admin actually started the military build up that continued under Reagan wish the Russians considered very antagonistic. Don't get me wrong I think Carter is a very good man and wasn't a completely terrible president, he was much more a victim of circumstances than incompetent, but his presidency wasn't the peacenik liberal orgy that critics and admirers make it out to be.
and despite the fact that he was a new england rich boy he still volunteered to put his life on the line. and you want to say his service is not as good as carters b/c he was of a "relatively low rank"? bush could have used his fathers influence to get a "relatively higher rank" and put himself out of harms way - but to his credit, he did not do that. carter was only in the navy for 6 years dude - that hardly constitutes "career military". my grandpa larry was "career military" - he joined after pearl harbor and retired in the early 80's. he served in WWII, korea and vietnam. but he only attained the rank of master sargent, so i guess that makes him a "relatively low rank" and therefore not as valid as jimmy carter. your initial "point" was that carter was the last president "with a military background". instead of admitting that you were totally wrong with this statement you changed the goalposts to say carter was the last "career military" man (even though he actually wasnt) and you denigrate the service of others b/c they were of a "relatively low rank". what does political affiliation have to do w/ this? once again glynch, you are totally talking out of your ass and are showing everyone how clueless you really are. so you think its ok to lie about people and denigrate their service b/c they are wealthy republicans? and its ok to lie about carter and exaggerate his service b/c he is a democrat?
you are claiming that carter was a "career military" man, but he only served 6 years and he never even served in a time of war. bush I volunteered and served 4 years, but by your standards that does not make him "career military" man...what is the cutoff glynch - does 5 years service make you "career military"? 4.5? what is your cutoff glynch?
the only one here acting like an "elitist" is you when you say bush's service was not good enough b/c he was of a "relatively low rank" and only served for "a few years". i will point out again that carter was in the military for 6 years and bush sr. for 4. but you say carter was "career military" while bush was not.
