[fintstone]

Originally posted by svandamme
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the concept of war , beeing so noble, i wonder why nations don't strive to be at war continuously... oh wait... never mind...

War in of itself is not noble...and no one has suggested it is... Making the sacrifice required to serve one's country and go to war to defend your country is certainly noble.
The case you make here...is as always, that people join and stay in the military strictly for economic reasons or because they are sadistic bastards...I subscribe to neither theory...and am surprised that you have managed to get folks that have served to agree with you. Perhaps that is why their service was short...or perhaps you misrepresent their position. I, like many others (hence celebration of Memorial Day, etc) consider the service of the American military to be quite noble and worth honoring and emulating. Of course, I certainly would never expect you to understand.