How do we avoid letting the war industry take control of government?
450192
It's too late. They already have.
1007418
Your are so right!\nThis is a WAR and we can not hold back.\nWe need to operate within the confines of the Geneva Convention, yes.  But we have so far and there is no reason to think that will change.\nThe simple fact is, as simple as it sounds, either fight them there or fight them here.\nWho would not prefer there!\nNo living American remembers but during the War of 1812 we were invaded.  The White House was burned, many Americans died here on their home soil.\nLet us do what we must to prevent the same happening again!
4321
That all depends on what faction of power you are speaking of. If you are talking about militarily it will be a long time before we are surpassed. If you are talking about technology and economy we are already going to the weak side. Asian countries are more disciplined and work harder for what they have and the work ethics here in America are terrible. People want a free ride and that will be our demise. Our goverment should not have to be the driving force behind our economy and style of life. When and if people start taking responibility for their actions and work hard again this country will turn around. Until then we will continue to fall apart at the seams that once made our country strong.
44272
We in the military work for civilian bosses that are appointed by the President and approved by Congress.  The President gives the orders, but Congress controls the budget.   It's the people's money that funds us after all. Furthermore, we are an extension of the government's political strength, often used to secure geopolitical goals rather than strictly to defend our country. As such, we will never be free of political machinations.
512581
Just save your life and Run . That is a better way of doing this. Serve your country is good but occupying other country is bad. Humanity VS. Quick Money hey?  Please think of your family and don't risk your life. Let the Iraqis and Afghans kill their own terrorists. You save your life for you and your family and if your country is attacked defend it. Don't go for a war which was based on a pure lie " Weapons of Mass Destruction",. Remember? USA had given Saddam and Taliban all those guns to fight USSR and Iran back in 80's. Think. Don't waste your young-hood and energy. You won't be serving your country. You will be attacking others to expand the Oil companies over our lives
334713
How can you have a private defense system in this country separate from the military...and expect it to work?
531084
You can't, because conflict is sometimes a positive force.  Look at the revolutionary war.
692613
Because since the inception of our country, we have slowly let corporate and money interests supplant our "representative government for the people".  Our Congress and Senate (your "representatives") currently are not doing their job to check executive power, which means control of the lives of almost 300 million people is being put in the hands of one man or a small group of men and subject to his whims.  Our founding fathers foresaw this great evil and carefully wrote a Constitution to defend against this tyranny of kings, but Bush has pretty much said "screw it, we're at war...forever...and I don't need to bother with it."
1145061
If you truly want to win a war do not let the politicians run the show. The politicians can set the goals and provide the resources, but leave the planning and execution to the generals.\n\nOnce the military objectives are met and security has been established, then nation building (didn't someone say once that we were not going to be nation builders?) can begin. The contracts could have been distributed in a manner that would have multiplied the benifit to the Iraquis by providing jobs to help in rebuilding the infrastructure. \n\nSelf-determination was a big part of US rhetoric during the Cold War. Reconstructing the government should not have excluded groups because we have a knee jerk reaction against their ideas or goals. The people should make that determination themselves. Marginalized groups who are left out of the political system cause internal strife. (Look at the Maoist rebels in Nepal, the Basque Separatists in Spain, the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, etc.)
843511
Never.  The governments make too much money off it.  All the people at the top of the governments (esp US) have shares and holdings in ammunition manufacture companies and gun companies.
789123
I wonder what would happen if a bunch of amateurs started a war for personal reasons and kept blaming their failures on others whilst plundering the Treasury and lying to the public?\n\nThe big problem is getting out of the mess without causing greater harm. It may not be possible thanks to the way it has been botched.\n\nIt's like starting a forest fire, and now they will want to blame the "fire fighters".
301652
How can you solder the government?
754596
war is not new.. and neither is the nazi idea of war.  the thirst for power will certainly always remain in the human mindset, and we will always have a need to keep that in check.
97335
to exploit it in full.\nhow can they make it a safe place by using force and weapons is a way only americans know, or don't wanna know.
643074
The war is wrong no matter who supported it. Besides, you can get yourself into a half-baked idea and later realize it was foolish. That's the real problem with what's going on; we refuse to pull out and spare American lives and resources.
927334
If war was ever a worthwhile venture it would be different. But this is not war, it's a battle ground for control of a region and it's resources.  Unfortunately it's still out of control with no real solution in sight.  The Bush wealth wagon loaded with oil realizes that the loss of control means loss of wealth and the demise of an industry full of greedy corporate fat cats sucking blood from hard working commoners dependent on fuel to eke out a living.  Democrats somehow always seem to botch something and lose their governmental footage leaving the people without a prayer and under the feet of the Corporate based mentality of the Republicans. Hopefully this will change and maybe the Democrats can keep their zippers up. Unfortunately the surplus was squandered by Bush and replaced with a national debt that will trickle down to your great grandchildren.
550385
I don't think it's possible because people want what is no theirs. the U.S. is a prime example. They will keep taking until they have it all and someone is going to fight back.\nthat said we have Bush as a president and the U.S. will keep electing idiots.\nWeapons of mass destruction. HA!!  he just want the oil and people are dying for NOTHING!