From: chf0@newshost.gte.com (Curtis Fennell)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.british,alt.war
Subject: Re: BBN II -- Murk-o-Vision World Update (Mau Mau)
Date: 30 Jul 92 16:35:17 GMT
Reply-To: chf0@gte.com
Followup-To: soc.culture.british
Organization: GTE Laboratories, Waltham, MA

In article <1992Jul29.150823@axion.bt.co.uk>, ravis@axion.bt.co.uk (Richard Avis) writes:
|> In article <NIGEL.92Jul28114609@rs733.GSFC.NASA.Gov>, nigel@rs733.GSFC.NASA.Gov writes:
|> This is a moot point. Firstly, the US forces certainly have an abundance of
|> equipment but the quality sometimes sucks. The best example is NBC
|> equipment for protection against Nerve and Bio agents. The US Army issue
|> is crap whereas the British Army spends large amounts of money giving
|> each soldier decent NBC gear. 

The US NBC equipment is not the "crap" that Mr. Avis would have us
believe.  While it may not be the best in the world, it is high
quality gear that works very well.  

|> Secondly, I think questioning the dedication and commitment of the US 
|> armed forces is  VERY valid. As a whole they have no concept of prolonged
|> military commitments and what we might call `low-intensity'
|> warfare.

This is, of course, ridiculous on the face of it. We spent roughly 28
years committed to Southeast Asia, and over 40 committed to South
Korea.  Not to mention the 40+ years of Nato commitment.  

As far as the US military's concept of "low-intensity" conflicts,
the mere existence of the Army's "special forces", shows that the
Army does take them seriously.

However, it is clear that Mr. Avis is referring to Vietnam in his
contention that the US has no concept of prolonged military
commitments and low-intensity warfare.  What Mr. Avis fails to
remember is that the failure in Vietnam was of a political rather than
a military nature.  US forces in Vietnam never lost a major battle.
However, they lost most of the political battles and so, lost the war.

|> However, as individuals the US forces are full of `economic conscripts',
|> many from poorer states, who joined to get money for college.

Yet another ridiculous assertion.  Perhaps Mr. Avis has some
references to back up this claim?

However, it is clear from this statement that Mr. Avis has little or
no first hand experience with US armed forces. Right now, the US
military is getting the highest quality recruits that it has ever
gotten. The percentage of high school and college graduates is higher
than it's ever been and these people are as motivated as any we've
ever had. 

|> The way some of these people tried to wriggle out of their commitments 
|> at the time of the Gulf War was incredible.

Most of the people attempting to "wriggle out" of their commitments
were reservists, who hadn't expected to ever actually have to go to
war. It is a sad fact that some number of americans are very ready to
sign up for the money without actually considering the consequences of
their actions.  That is one of the down sides of our culture.

|> Richard Avis (Mr. Forgettable)

-- 
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