One interesting thing I learned is that not all U.S. Embassies get Marine guards. What makes the difference in almost all cases is whether or not they have a CIA station there. Embassies without CIA activity are guarded by locals, as was seemingly the case in Benghazi. There was CIA activity in Benghazi, but not in Stevens compound. The two SEAL’s who were killed, and the people with them who were not killed, were from that activity, which was at a distance of a mile or two.
What he pointed out that was interesting to me is that two members of the Delta Force got commendations for their actions in Benghazi: http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/25/delta-force-commando-awarded-second-highest-milita/#.Vjqs7zQ2xnA.facebook I had not known this, and it contradicts what I thought I knew, which was that there was no response from Tripoli.
The other thing I mentioned was 9/11. Here he got defensive, and what I realized as we discussed it is that most member of the military seem to assume that if someone questions 9/11 that they are questioning the military and their loyalty. That I am lumping patriots quite willing to die for their country with people who are trying to destroy it. Some do. Some people spouting these things are incapable of nuance. But I am not one of those people.
He had participated in Jade Helm, and said it was just a training exercise. I don’t doubt this. I don’t think the guys on the ground are thinking they are preparing to invade Texas. But somebody somewhere IS testing methods for using some element of the military to suppress by force domestic dissent. You don’t need many conspirators for a conspiracy. You just need a good cover story.
And the other issue with the military is they have by and large sacrificed immensely. They know people who have died, their families suffered, they went through traumatic stress that in many cases continues to haunt them, and they worked HARD, much harder than civilians can imagine. 48 hour days are not uncommon while deployed. Going for many months working 20 hour days 7 days a week is not uncommon.
These people do this for love. They don’t show it, but most hard core soldiers are very sentimental, and extraordinarily protective of those they love.
To state that 9/11 was an “inside job”, or that people other than Islamists associated with Bin Laden carried out this attack is to question the entire structure and point of the “War on Terror”. It is to moot their sacrifices to an unknown extent, and murky what had been clear waters. I have realized I have inadvertently committed acts of cruelty on several occasions by sharing my ideas with recently returned soldiers.
When you are being insensitive you are by definition not aware of it. You are ignorant, and ignorant of your ignorance. Stupidity feels just the same as wisdom. It is merely the case that the former is corrected by time and circumstance.
We do have many millions of current and former military and law enforcement who absolutely love this country, and who remain willing to defend it. Our problem is that the battle that matters most is being fought on the airwaves and on the internet. We lost the Vietnam War over here. We won it over there, but it didn’t matter.