What's the difference between a soldier and a junkie?

[Ja'chyra]

Yeah....Because if nobody had a military, everyone would invade each with their....uhm.... Junkie brigades....?

There is absolutely no reason to die "in defence of Norway", and not a single Norwegian soldier in action today are even remoltely close to defending anyone at all, and as for our ideals, well, they're stomping all over them with their idiotic actions.

There's too much common economic interest in Europe to make war a possibility. And thanks to the EU, we'll all live in the same country soon anyway.

Nobility and soldiers; the lowest of the low.

Can't believe I wasted my time posting the first time, but if you are ever over my way let me know and I'll introduce to my para friend and you two can discuss your opinions.

[HoreTore]

Can't believe I wasted my time posting the first time, but if you are ever over my way let me know and I'll introduce to my para friend and you two can discuss your opinions.

Ah yes, the british soldiers... I've met a few of those, are there any of them nowadays who are not criminals?

Fine snow camo though, nobody ever saw them when they were dressed in....Black....

[Fragony]

Fine snow camo though, nobody ever saw them when they were dressed in....Black....

I could make a very obvious joke here.....but..I................wont't

[Ja'chyra]

Ah yes, the british soldiers... I've met a few of those, are there any of them nowadays who are not criminals?

Fine snow camo though, nobody ever saw them when they were dressed in....Black....

What's wrong you? Have a bad experience with a squaddie when you were younger?

You're not worth the infraction points but let's just say I wouldn't be inviting you for a drink.

[rory_20_uk]

I understand that Norway is a frigid dump whose only redeeming feature is that it floats on oil. Since the need for U-boat pens has passed any other use for the country has long passed.

In the UK with the starting salary of 16k, they get to go to war often without adequate equipment, and some die because of this.
They are not book smart, but they are not idiots. They often know the risks yet they still go and die. Some even die whilst trying to save their friends.

There are many different soldiers, and their motives are bound to differ, in the same way that people undertaking any other job do.

I admire someone who apparently is there for the good of all mankind yet who is prepared to rely on hope to solve conflicts - not contribute money and certainly not place his own life on the line. Some might view this as moral hypocrisy or cowardice, but I am impressed how one can maintain these two points of view simultaneously.

Norway's only real contribution to modern warfare was the term "Quisling", and if you're a representative of the populace I can see why.

[Fragony]

Oh common don't be so sensitive no free pass for anyone

[Viking]

Norway's only real contribution to modern warfare was the term "Quisling", and if you're a representative of the populace I can see why.

If he was, the term 'Quisling' wouldn't actually mean anything, would it?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

According to google, 35 billion NOK is ~6 billion dollars.

If that's right:

[miotas]

According to google, 35 billion NOK is ~6 billion dollars.

If that's right:

The population of the country is less than 5 million, if they were as populous as the US, then it would be more like 360 billion USD.

[Hax]

As I said, if you want to pay the teachers more, then cut your BS socialist programs and you will be able to afford to. What good does having a well paid teacher do you if you are conquered by Nazi Germany (to use a historical example) and those teachers are then made to teach Eugenics to children?
The military should not exist solely for killing people, it should exist for exactly the opposite reason: saving people. As I said, the best military is one so powerful that it is never used. Better not to have an institution devoted to that though and then have another country come in with a butterknife and take you over, and then draft you into their military anyway, right?

Saving people by shooting others. I wonder about the exact difference. People will suffer, whatsoever. Also, the Nazi Germany analogy is worthless, since we are not living in the Europe of 60 years back. I mean, be honest, what European country would attack another at this point? We're not exactly living in a tense area, so to say. Now, if there was a nutjob rightwing political party on the rise (like the PVV here, but that's not suitable for this topic), we're talking about a different situation. At the moment it's simply not feasible.

As I said, if you want to pay the teachers more, then cut your BS socialist programs and you will be able to afford to.

What "BS socialist programs" are you talking about, exactly? Healthcare, public transportation, subsidizing sports clubs, that kind of stuff? Because honestly, I think it's a brilliant idea. You should try it once.

Think of it like this. If you live in New York, would you always keep your windows open and your doors unlocked when you were away? No, of course not, because someone could steal your stuff. It is sick that you have to worry about that, but making yourself defenseless to it is not going to make it stop happening, it will only drastically increase the chances of it happening.

See, the thing is, the Netherlands is incomparable to New York. The Netherlands is comparable to a little house in a friendly village in southern Alabama (save the lynching of black people and the country music, of course).

[Strike For The South]

You Europeans are lucky we pay for NATO.

I mean I don't mind if you get rid of your militaries if you let us put bases wherever we want.

[Hax]

HoreTore, there is nothing wrong with an institute that solely exists for killing people!


...wait, perhaps there is.

I agree though, first and foremost, if any department of the government is lacking funds, cut the Defense funds first. What the heck, millions of euros spend on what, making helictopers sound less loud, while teachers work twice if not triple their shifts?

There's a flaw in that logic. I don't see this obsession with the military. Not at all. Actually, in Vuk's words, the very thought that we actually give people money to go and shoot others makes me, what was it, sick to my stomach.

EDIT: Besides, the Freudian explanation is of course, guns are just penises. In the words of George Carlin, you blow other people (up) because their genitalia are larger than your own. (Saw that brilliant pun? That was vital.)

[Vuk]

HoreTore, there is nothing wrong with an institute that solely exists for killing people!


...wait, perhaps there is.

I agree though, first and foremost, if any department of the government is lacking funds, cut the Defense funds first. What the heck, millions of euros spend on what, making helictopers sound less loud, while teachers work twice if not triple their shifts?

There's a flaw in that logic. I don't see this obsession with the military. Not at all. Actually, in Vuk's words, the very thought that we actually give people money to go and shoot others makes me, what was it, sick to my stomach.

EDIT: Besides, the Freudian explanation is of course, guns are just penises. In the words of George Carlin, you blow other people (up) because their genitalia are larger than your own. (Saw that brilliant pun? That was vital.)

As I said, if you want to pay the teachers more, then cut your BS socialist programs and you will be able to afford to. What good does having a well paid teacher do you if you are conquered by Nazi Germany (to use a historical example) and those teachers are then made to teach Eugenics to children?
The military should not exist solely for killing people, it should exist for exactly the opposite reason: saving people. As I said, the best military is one so powerful that it is never used. Better not to have an institution devoted to that though and then have another country come in with a butterknife and take you over, and then draft you into their military anyway, right?


EDIT: And yeah, I agree with you, war ****. War makes me sick too. The sad thing is though, that it is not something that getting rid of your military is going to stop. If anything, that will just make it more likely to happen. It is sick that countries NEED militaries at all, but unfortunately they do, and there is nothing wrong with those who serve.
Think of it like this. If you live in New York, would you always keep your windows open and your doors unlocked when you were away? No, of course not, because someone could steal your stuff. It is sick that you have to worry about that, but making yourself defenseless to it is not going to make it stop happening, it will only drastically increase the chances of it happening.

EDIT 2: And as far as Freudian analogies go, sorry, I refuse to consider them. Freud was a racist, sexist, degenerate scumbag, and would prefer not to think like the likes of him.

[Fragony]

As I said, the best military is one so powerful that it is never used. Better not to have an institution devoted to that though and then have another country come in with a butterknife and take you over, and then draft you into their military anyway, right?

But that is M.A.D.ness!