Peace Sells, But Who's Buying?
"But you tell me over and over again, my friend. Ah, you don't believe that we're on the eve of destruction" - Barry McGuire
Freedom of Speech, Normal Rockwell, 1943, Oil on canvas
We interrupt our weekly scheduled shitshow for some soapbox time. I guarantee there will be some hurt feelings here. If you want to bail out, now is the time.
Last Chance…
Ok, here we go…
Once upon a time I was a soldier. Nothing special. Certainly not a Ranger, or a Space Shuttle Door gunner, or anything like that. But I did volunteer, and I did deploy. Multiple times.
Bosnia
Kosovo
Iraq
I will admit that as a younger man I really didn’t care about the righteousness of the cause. I was raised on a constant diet of John Wayne, Rush Limbaugh, and “Be all you can be”. I wanted to be Lee Marvin. I was a soldier, and I wanted to do soldier things.
There goes my Hero, watch him as he goes…
Not a single one of the conflicts I was party to had ANYTHING to do with the security of the United States. Period. Full stop. As a matter of fact, I will say that the US is less free now then when I joined up to Protect our Freedoms©. Or something. I’m a different person now. Maybe that’s good…maybe it isn’t, but that’s not what this is about.
This is about pattern recognition.
I’m noticing a very familiar pattern happening right now in everybody’s favorite sandbox. You know the one… where the Religion of Peace and the Chosen People engage in never ending “conflict resolution sessions”. They have been doing this for a while now.
This time….it’s a little different…and…kinda the same…
Let’s Cut the Crap — They’ve Wanted Iran for Decades
Certain elements in the U.S. government have had a hard-on for Iran since 1979. Ever since the Shah was ousted and the embassy seized, and… they were embarrassed. Every administration has been itching for a reason to strike. Any reason will do. Doesn’t matter if the president has a D or an R next to their name. Sabotage. Sanctions. Covert ops. They are itching to “teach them ragheads a lesson they will never forget.”
The 40-Year Boogeyman
Iran has been “two weeks away from nukes” for about two decades — and they’ve been the boogeyman for over forty years.
Since 1979, every president, every intelligence agency, and every talking head has taken a swing at fearmongering over Iran. Here’s just a sample:
1984 – CIA warns Iran could get a nuke “within the decade.”
1992 – Israeli officials claim Iran is “three to five years away.”
1995 – U.S. intel: Iran could have the bomb by 2000.
2005 – Condoleezza Rice: “No peaceful rationale for enrichment.”
2007 – Bush intelligence: “Tehran is determined to develop nukes.”
2012 – Netanyahu’s UN speech: “Red line in months.”
2023 – Gen. Miley: “Less than two weeks.”
2024 – Blinken: “Iran could break out in one to two weeks.”
That’s 40 years of ‘any minute now.’
Meanwhile, the US invaded four countries, destabilized an entire region, and spent trillions… but Iran? Still no mushroom cloud. Iran has been “two weeks away” from nukes longer that most of us have been out of high school. If that seems ridiculous, it’s because it is.
Hot take: The Iranians are one of 4 countries in the world that possess hypersonic weapons. This is cutting edge tech. Like real “rocket surgery” shit. Nukes are 80 year old technology. In many ways, basic physics. Do you really think they don’t have one? Really?
By the way, there is currently no defensive system on the planet that is capable of stopping a hypersonic weapon once it is in flight. Once launched, unless the weapon malfunctions, it will hit the target.
Russia and China both possess these weapons.
They are also both allies of Iran.
You do the math.
The US Government Lies To Start Wars
They Lied Then — They’re Lying Now
"Remember the Maine" — Lie.
"Avenge the Lusitania" — Lie.
"Gulf of Tonkin" — Lie.
"Operation Northwoods" — You really need to look into this one. Like seriously.
"Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq" — Lie.
Thought Experiment
Are you ready to engage in a thought experiment? Hey…too late!
They say one of the signs of an intelligent person is the ability to consider ideas that you do not agree with.
So…. Let’s posit a theory:
Say for the sake of argument…. you really wanted to get into a war (not you personally…but you want to be in charge), but you know your population, particularly recent veterans are opposed.
Lets say for the sake of argument….that you are on record saying things like “I will end {insert name of foreign proxy war here} on day 1” and also said things like “America first”…so…you really can't like start a war out of the blue.
But, at the same time - maybe you owe some people say… 100 million dollars for your campaign, your donors need to sell weapons, and you like the idea of being a war chief.
Lets be honest here: you also happen to be an adulterer and a cutthroat business guy…so your morals are…shall we say…”flexible”.
Well, the best way to start a war in this case is to have the other guy start it for you. You can be all “Day of Infamy” and all morally righteous and shit. The best part is that your generals and admirals have a track record of doing this kind of thing already….so…no biggie right? Sounds to me like you need a scapegoat. Something big. Something that will really rile up the population, you know… like “Operation Northwoods” was supposed to.
How about an aircraft carrier? Maybe an old one that is set to be retired this year anyway? Like…. the USS NIMITZ. Wouldn’t want to risk your new toys right? I hear tell that boat is ready to be decommissioned next year. I also understand that it’s on the way to the Persian Gulf right now. Maybe you could say…. park an older REALLY BIG ship in a small space with limited maneuverability….like….the Persian Gulf. You could totally dare the other guy to start shooting anti-ship missiles at your boat. I mean modern anti-ship missiles are pretty good….and it only takes one. If you were a particularly vicious bastard you could do it yourself. Or…maybe one of your “allies” does it without telling you.
Stranger things have happened.
Then…you could totally have your war….and get to look like the victim!
Justsayin’. From a certain kind of cold, Machiavellian logic, this makes sense.
End of thought experiment. I sure hope it’s a crazy one.
I WANT TO BE WRONG.
Fortunate Sons and Tom Clancy Patriots
I’m pretty sure I invented a term. I even gave it a definition:
Tom Clancy Patriot (noun)
Pronunciation: /täm ˈklan-sē ˈpā-trē-ət/
Definition:
A person, typically male (but not exclusively), who declined the opportunity to serve in the military—most often during the Vietnam era (1960s to early 1970s)—only to undergo a sudden revival of martial spirit during the 1980s, coinciding with the rise of Reagan-era nationalism, military-themed entertainment, and Tom Clancy novels.
Characteristics:
Often seen quoting patriotic slogans while never having worn a uniform.
Enthusiastically supports military action, as long as someone else fights it.
Highly aroused by complex military hardware, maps of invasions, video footage of combat, and grainy photos of elite units.
May own several challenge coins despite never having earned one.
Believes reading “Red Storm Rising” counts as foreign policy expertise.
Wears flag apparel on holidays and refers to veterans as “you guys”.
Usage in a sentence:
“Bob talks tough about war with China, but he got out of Vietnam with a student deferment. Total Tom Clancy Patriot.”
Examples:
Bill O'Reilly
Sean Hannity
Ted Nugent
Donald Trump
Bill Clinton
Joe Biden
Dick Cheney
Bill Kristol
Mark Levin
Not one of them served. But every one of them wants you or your kid to.
“George W. Trump”, The Author, 2025, Internet Art
A Simple Test
The next time one of these badasses starts telling you how we need to get involved: Google their name and add “military service” afterwards. If they didn’t serve, they don’t mean we, they mean you.
Real Talk
For some of these guys, war has become an almost cuckold-level fetish.
They didn’t fight. They had their shot and passed. But now they sit at home, soft and safe, getting off on the idea of younger, stronger men bleeding in their place.
It’s not patriotism. It’s proxy masculinity.
They watch from the sidelines, cheer the uniforms, worship the violence — but they’ll never pick up a rifle, never bury a friend, never wear the cost.
It’s bloodlust cosplay with someone else’s life on the line.
They don’t want to fight. They want to feel like they could have.
And that’s not courage.
That’s a fetish.
Who Actually Fights?
Let’s ask the question that we aren’t supposed to talk about. When was the last time a Trump wore a uniform? Or a Pelosi? Or a Schumer? Or a Huckabee? Or a thousand other “Fortunate Sons” from the Upper West Side, Whidbey Island, Pacific Palisades, Wayzata, or a thousand other places where the suits are designer, the booze is expensive, and the drugs are top shelf.
You already know the answer.
It’s always the working class folks. People from towns nobody in DC has ever heard of, or “that guy from Texas”. Folks that the Sky People in their designer suits pay lip service to every once in a while on their way to….well….more important places to visit more important people.
It’s almost like they really don’t care about the American people and are just trying to make a buck.
So…. What’s The Point?
I’m glad you asked. This is the part in my rather long-winded essay that I get down to what I like to call “the point”. My point is this:
I am nothing special. I did what felt was my duty (and the thing I kinda wanted to do my whole childhood) and served in the US Armed Forces. In the course of my duties, I participated in barbarism on behalf of the worst people in the world. Just like Gen. Smedley Butler, I helped to make the world safe for purchase.
I learned a few things along the way.
It was, and is about money. It’s always about money. For some, it’s about feeling like a tough guy.
The war machine is gearing up right now, as we speak. Today. And if we don’t say something NOW, they’ll roll the US into another war. In case you haven’t been paying attention, the last few haven’t gone too well for us.
Those EXACT SAME PEOPLE are still in command of the US Military forces. You know…the ones that have failed to win a war since 1945. Yeah…those ones.
If I, as a multiple time combat veteran, cannot in good conscience pick up a rifle on behalf of this government as it stands today - then I have no business encouraging anyone else to do it either.
It would be hypocritical, and morally wrong for me to support this upcoming war.
So, Here It Is
I will not support wars on behalf of other nations
I will not support wars for bankers
I will not cheer for warmongers wrapped in flags they never served
If this makes me “unpatriotic” in your eyes? So be it.
I would rather be called unpatriotic than watch yet another generation of young men and it is mostly men get chewed up on behalf of foreign interests, defense contractors, and politicians who would never in a thousand years lead from the front. Like a man.
