I am not sure what there is to admire about the so called 'patriotic dedication' of men and women in the service who are no better than willing yes men themselves. We have to distinquish between the true patriots who were really just doing their duty before Bush came along and those who act his enablers in the military. They are really no better than any other conservative who supports, Bush regardless of their job.

We have to distinquish between the true patriots who were really just doing their duty before Bush came along and those who act his enablers in the military

Good point, but the finger gets pointed directly at the administration. The joint chiefs laid out a sound plan for the ivasion of Iraq (an invasion I still disagree with, but if you're going, do it properly). The neocon advisors and administrators decided to play war -ala Hitlerian management- and the result is the quagmire in Iraq. It is and was incredible id driven incompetence mixed with unlimited lack of character. The guy in the uniform is compelled by duty to follow their inept directives.

Where that duty ends is when it comes to the protection of the Constitution. Franks was a real 'money boots sojur' when he said the Constitution might have to be voided if there were another terrorist attack. The real military -from the top down- is pledged to protect the Constitution, with force if necessary. Even though the military is currently taking orders from a pack of mankey neocon gits, I certainly hope there is a contingency plan in place to give the power back to the people if these neocon moral midgets go too far.

Phi- not likely, what with the armed forces being overwhelmingly rightist, especially in the Army and Marines, and particularly at the sharp edge- the combat arms.