Continued:

ever since. Look at Korea, Vietnam, or the struggles we’re apart of now, so yes, even though I am in the military I can agree that war is bad and will need to go. However, I would like to postulate, that if there’s a chance, that I am there, at the right place, at the right time, that I can shoot the next Hitler before he has a chance to kill millions of innocents like yourself and your family and friends. I would do it. In a heartbeat. Unfortunately, to me, and to the world right now. The “greater good” right now just means America. We can’t see beyond our borders, and I wish we could. If I knew that we could just lay down our arms right now and be perfectly safe, I would do it in a heartbeat. And somewhere on the other side of the world, there are people I will fight who feel the exact same way. But unfortunately we will always have those among who crave power. Who rule by conquering. Not us, not them. We. Humans. It’s how we form cultures. It’s how we survived long enough to evolve. I know i’m running out of asks, and sorry to bug you. You seem very… intellectual about the subject which is refreshing. All I’m trying to say that while yes, war is inherently evil, and yes, there are people I serve along side who are just as vile and abhorrent as some of those I am fighting against, but if I can do just one thing. To save one innocent. An innocent you do not know and never will know. And one whom I may never see again. Then my life is complete, to make the world a little more bright. I started this as a rant, and ended philosophically. You gave me a lot to think on. All I can ask is that not everyone has the luxury to yell from the sidelines. Not everyone can sacrifice the way you do, or see the picture from your angle. What I’m trying to say, is if I stop the person who built the bomb who destroyed the plane that you’re loved ones were on, do I at least deserve respect for that? Barring why or who or how it started in the first place? Just a thought.

I’m not sure which two instances of “let’s stay out of it” you think didn’t work, but I’d encourage you to look beyond what you’ve been taught about the United States’ role in the wars it’s been involved in. Regarding WWII, which I’m assuming is one of your examples, non-interventionism was not to blame for Hitler rising to power. After that, the U.S. intervened in all of the countries you mentioned, especially the Middle East, where they’ve been for decades, and which was the cause of 9/11 (if it was even them, which I find questionable).

What if the next Hitler is American? What if you’re fighting for the next Hitler? Do you know that Hitler was democratically elected? Do you know that he had excuses for his actions that covered up his racism and his genocide? Do you know that this is what all governments do? There is no greater good tied up into a country. I could somewhat understand the excuse of self-interest, knowing that your family is in this country and that they’re more important to you than anyone else, but after reading that second link, it’s shown that these wars are only perpetuating the danger they’re in and quickly lowering our standard of living because of the money being spent to fund these wars.

I can’t tell you that we would be safe if the U.S. finally came to its senses and pulled out of the Middle East, but it’s a step. It’s no more secure than them staying there and building up more anger and more hatred and more possibility for another attack on the U.S. Those people hate the U.S. because they’re over there, not because they want to attack us. The U.S. is not protecting anyone. They don’t want to conquer us, the U.S. is conquering them. If you want to fight against conquerors, I encourage you to do so. But right now you’re fighting for them.

The best way to save innocents is to put your gun down. You may not be one of them, but there are troops on “our side” who are hurting those innocents you claim to want to save, and you’re helping them to do so. This entire war (not speaking of war in general) is inherently immoral and its agenda is an evil one. By participating you aren’t saving anyone.

You, as an individual, would deserve respect for stopping bombs that blew up planes, but you would be doing something good by immoral means, so I can’t say that you are inherently moral by doing so. What if that person that built that bomb, that blew up that plane, was on the side you thought was good? The side that you’re fighting on? What would you do then? You can’t stop those kinds of things from happening if you can’t first peg who’s starting them.

I’m aware that not everyone has the luxury of seeing things the way I do, and I don’t look at that as a gift. It’s something I have to do, because if I don’t that’s one less person speaking the truth and defending the innocent, at least verbally, if nothing else.

I appreciate the sincerity of your message, it isn’t often that I get people in the military that consider my opinions without taking it personally and getting defensive of themselves.