The military exists solely to serve the will of the civilian population, unless its a military dictatorship obviously, thus most countries have a military from long standing tradition, needed or not.
Using us as an example our military originally came from the IRB, who were the prelude to the IRA, and came into existence as a terrorist guerrilla paramilitary (The first in existence I believe) with the aim of removing the monarchy from here.
Now the Irish defense forces serve no true purpose, because we aren't likely to be invaded, are completely neutral (in theory) and are on very good terms with our neighbors. However we still have a military, air force and coast guard who generally back up our domestic civil services, and serve as peace keepers in conflict zones such as cyprus, kosovo chad, etc. Actually we deploy loads by comparison to our population.
We also have one of the best trained and equipped (and smallest) special forces units in the world, again used mainly for peace keeping and anti-drug and terrorist actions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Army
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Army_Rangers
if your interested
Originally posted by MexicoEvery time I think of it I get equally amazed at the fact that I am
The military exists solely to serve the will of the civilian population, unless its a military dictatorship obviously, thus most countries have a military from long standing tradition, needed or not.
Using us as an example our military originally came from the IRB, who were the prelude to the IRA, and came into existence as a terrorist guerrilla paramilitary ...[text shortened]... pedia.org/wiki/Irish_Army
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Army_Rangers
if your interested
actually paying taxes (!) to support the training and acquisition of
guns to an organisation full of paranoid, hyper tense, sneak-faggots
trying to pass themselves off as manly-men! Incredible, isn't it?
Can't wait 'til the day when the military is a thing of the past; something
we read about in the history books, like when we Scandinavians chewed
death caps, got into our boats to go slaughter men and rape women all
across the continent. Embarrassing legacy, but at least it is a thing
of the past.
Well, minus the death cap chewing, of course. I don't think it's possible
to do without that.
GAAAAAAARRRRRR!
Oh! Oh! Oh! And the helmets!? Don't get me started on those helmets.
That's the most insane idea ever: "Uh, let's go kill a cow and put its
horns on our heads, hu-hu", and: "Look ma, I'm cow. Mooo!"
I bet the historians got it all wrong too. It wasn't about getting women
and resources. They came to the mainland and people laughed so hard
at them, they were like: "Stop it! It's not funny!!! You know how much
time I spent making this helmet? Well, do you? DO YOU? STOP IT! I will
kill you and rape your wife if you don't stop laughing at me!!! I will too!
STOOOOP IT!!!!"
And the rest is history as they say.
Originally posted by rwingettMaybe cause it's better to go down fighting to protect your family and country than to walk to the open pit with your drawers around your ankles ready to get a bullet put in your head. Maybe you should die the same way you live, with dignity and self respect. Nah! second thought, dead is dead, who cares.
If you can't win a war, why waste money on a military?
GRANNY.
Originally posted by zeeblebotHistorically, nations without armed forces have become slaves of those that did!
free for the picking!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_without_armed_forces
The virtual disarmament of Europe following WWI provided the opportunity for Hitler to roll over most of the Continent in short order. The heavily armed Swiss and Balkans were the exceptions.
Originally posted by JigtieIt might be interesting to note that the US Constitution, Article one, Sec 8 required that the Army be reauthorized annually.
Every time I think of it I get equally amazed at the fact that I am
actually paying taxes (!) to support the training and acquisition of
guns to an organisation full of paranoid, hyper tense, sneak-faggots
trying to pass themselves off as manly-men! Incredible, isn't it?
Can't wait 'til the day when the military is a thing of the past; somethi ...[text shortened]... p chewing, of course. I don't think it's possible
to do without that.
GAAAAAAARRRRRR!
It was thought that armed citizen militias were the best defense against foreign aggression, and would protect the government from the notions of getting involved in foreign wars.
This is most likely a noble and good idea, long forgotten.
Originally posted by normbenignThe problem with citizen militias is that they lose to professional armies. That's why we chose to have such a professional military.
It might be interesting to note that the US Constitution, Article one, Sec 8 required that the Army be reauthorized annually.
It was thought that armed citizen militias were the best defense against foreign aggression, and would protect the government from the notions of getting involved in foreign wars.
This is most likely a noble and good idea, long forgotten.