Political Crossfire Forums

[Green]

Not a single one has as I've noticed. Not Kennedy, not Eisenhower, not Grant George Washington (he was a great president) worked very hard to stay neutral during the conflict between France and Britain. Bush I think waged a unnecessary war because to see the slaughter of war, you have to be in one.

“Above all the soldier prays for peace because he is the one who bears the deepest wounds and scars of war.” General Douglas McArther

[FCTE]

William McKinley did.

Major in the Ohio 23rd Regiment in the Civil War, served at Antietam.



Spanish-American War during his presidency.



One of America's most underappreciated Presidents.

[Rankor and Pissing]

I get the point - it's perhaps a more grave decision which weighs upon the mind of a soldier who has seen the carnage of war. I for one have not seen that carnage though I've served -

To the point about Kennedy - though it didn't turn out to be a war, I think that JFK was in total anguish during the Cuban missile crisis. Other than being so hopped up on pain pills at the time, he did see action in WWII as a young PT boat captain. He may not have had the full horror but it was pretty damn close.

[Jehan]

FCTE wrote: William McKinley did.

Major in the Ohio 23rd Regiment in the Civil War, served at Antietam.



Spanish-American War during his presidency.



One of America's most underappreciated Presidents.

Keep in mind he did everything he could to keep the peace with Spain, it was only the destruction of the Maine at which point he realized America could no longer stay neutral and asked Congress for a Declaration of War.

[Simon De Montfort]

Green wrote: Not a single one has as I've noticed. Not Kennedy, not Eisenhower, not Grant George Washington (he was a great president) worked very hard to stay neutral during the conflict between France and Britain. Bush I think waged a unnecessary war because to see the slaughter of war, you have to be in one.

“Above all the soldier prays for peace because he is the one who bears the deepest wounds and scars of war.” General Douglas McArther

Please take your political trolling to the Politics Forum. The Historical Events forums doesn't need it.

[Poon]

Simon De Montfort wrote: Green wrote: Not a single one has as I've noticed. Not Kennedy, not Eisenhower, not Grant George Washington (he was a great president) worked very hard to stay neutral during the conflict between France and Britain. Bush I think waged a unnecessary war because to see the slaughter of war, you have to be in one.

“Above all the soldier prays for peace because he is the one who bears the deepest wounds and scars of war.” General Douglas McArther

Please take your political trolling to the Politics Forum. The Historical Events forums doesn't need it. Wheres the troll???

[Simon De Montfort]

TwinkieDP wrote: Simon De Montfort wrote: Green wrote: Not a single one has as I've noticed. Not Kennedy, not Eisenhower, not Grant George Washington (he was a great president) worked very hard to stay neutral during the conflict between France and Britain. Bush I think waged a unnecessary war because to see the slaughter of war, you have to be in one.

“Above all the soldier prays for peace because he is the one who bears the deepest wounds and scars of war.” General Douglas McArther

Please take your political trolling to the Politics Forum. The Historical Events forums doesn't need it. Wheres the troll???

I put the blatantly political statement in bold for you. :roll:

Regardless of ones politcal views this forum is to discuss historical events only. There is a politics forum for those who wish to discuss politics or make political statements. Asking some one to take stop making political statements in this forum and make them in the political forum is not trolling.

[GTTofAK]

Captain Abraham Lincoln (Civil War)
Major William McKinley (Spanish American War)]
Captain Harry S. Truman (Korean Conflict)
Lieutenant j.g John F. Kennedy
or if you prefer
Lieutenant Commander Lyndon B. Johnson (Vietnam)
Lieutenant j.g George H. W. Bush (Gulf War I)
And of Course
First Lieutenant George W. Bush (Gulf War II)

Now go home you bore me. Read a book before you think you know anything about history.

[superskippy]

GTT you just completely and totally :owned: him.

[thundertaker]

He wasn't a president of the United States, but Coporal Adolf Hitler fought in the First World War, and he led Germany into a great big f***ing war alright........

[Jehan]

GTTofAK wrote:
Captain Abraham Lincoln (Civil War)
Major William McKinley (Spanish American War)
Captain Harry S. Truman (Korean Conflict)
Lieutenant j.g John F. Kennedy
or if you prefer
Lieutenant Commander Lyndon B. Johnson (Vietnam)
Lieutenant j.g George H. W. Bush (Gulf War I)
And of Course
First Lieutenant George W. Bush (Gulf War II)

Now go home you bore me. Read a book before you think you know anything about history.

Interesting list, but there are some misrepresentations here and there. Pardon me while I belittle your list.

Abraham Lincoln's unit never saw combat in the Black Hawk War. Lyndon Johnson's record consists of flying a single B-26 mission. And George Bush zoomed around in an Air National Guard jet and never saw combat either.

The rest are valid examples. Zoom.

[Simon De Montfort]

Jefferson Davis, president of the CSA, fought in the Mexican war and was a former Secretary of War prior to secession.

"His [Jefferson Davis] decision to re-enter military life was quickly carried into effect by resignation of his place in Congress June, 1846, and the joining of his regiment at New Orleans, which he conducted to the army of General Taylor on the Rio Grande. He had succeeded in arming his regiment with percussion rifles, prepared a manual and tactics for the new arm, drilled his officers and men diligently in its use, and thus added to Taylor's force perhaps the most effective regiment in his little army. He led his well disciplined command in a gallant and successful charge at Monterey, September 21, 1846, winning a brilliant victory in the assault on Fort Teneria. For several days afterwards his regiment, united with Tennesseeans, drove the Mexicans from their redoubts with such gallantry that their leader won the admiration and confidence of the entire army. At Buena Vista the riflemen and Indiana volunteers under Davis evidently turned the course of battle into victory for the Americans by a bold charge under heavy fire against a larger body of Mexicans. It was immediately on this brilliant success that a fresh brigade of Mexican lancers advanced against the Mississippi regiment in full gallop and were repulsed by the formation of the line in the shape of the V, the flanks resting on ravines, thus exposing the lancers to a converging fire. Once more on that day the same regiment, now reduced in numbers by death and wounds, attacked and broke the Mexican right. During this last charge Colonel Davis was severely wounded, but remained on the field until the victory was won. General Taylor's dispatch of March 6, 1847, makes special complimentary mention of the courage, coolness and successful service of Colonel Davis and his command. The Mississippi regiment served out its term of enlistment, and was ordered home in July, 1847. President Polk appointed Colonel Davis brigadier-general, but he declined the commission on the ground that that appointment was unconstitutional."

LINK

Another hole in the troll's theory that former soldiers avoid war when they become national leaders.

How about Winston Churchill?
In India he participated in putting down the Pathan Revolt. He served under Kitchner at the battle of Omdurman during the Sudan war. During the Boer War he fought at the battle of Spion Kop. As Prime Minister he did everything he could to keep Britain at War with Hitler while men like Lord Halifax sought appeasment with Hitler and Halifax had no military experience.

[FCTE]

Jehan wrote: Keep in mind he did everything he could to keep the peace with Spain, it was only the destruction of the Maine at which point he realized America could no longer stay neutral and asked Congress for a Declaration of War.

The Maine was not destroyed by Spain. The boilers had a severe flaw that did not tolerate the regions temperatures. The severe heat caused the boilers to rupture and explode. Of course we didn't know this until recent dives to the wreck using modern science, However, It made a great rally for war and one McKinley and TR could bank off of.

Relunctant or not, the war happened and the question of this thread was answered.

[Jehan]

FCTE wrote: The Maine was not destroyed by Spain. The boilers had a severe flaw that did not tolerate the regions temperatures. The severe heat caused the boilers to rupture and explode. Of course we didn't know this until recent dives to the wreck using modern science, However, It made a great rally for war and one McKinley and TR could bank off of.

Relunctant or not, the war happened and the question of this thread was answered.

I don't buy that the Maine exploded because of a torpedo. The American public did, however.

[Dr. Righteous]

Green wrote: Not a single one has as I've noticed. Not Kennedy, not Eisenhower, not Grant George Washington (he was a great president) worked very hard to stay neutral during the conflict between France and Britain. Bush I think waged a unnecessary war because to see the slaughter of war, you have to be in one.

“Above all the soldier prays for peace because he is the one who bears the deepest wounds and scars of war.” General Douglas McArther

Kennedy sent the Green Berets into Vietnam. Eisenhower just finished up the Korean war and had a few dictators overthrown.

[Peacekeeper]

The Spanish American War was caused by the same plague we have today, Yellow Journalism. The Maine has been studied using modern forensics and whatever caused the explosion (the powder magazine was right next to the coal stores), it blew from the belly out.

I think its a more viable argument to say most of our 20th Century wars started after a massive demobilization of our Defenses. (In respect of Simon's anti-trolling wish, I wont mention which party has a habit of dismantling our Armed Forces)

[thundertaker]

Quote: How about Winston Churchill?
In India he participated in putting down the Pathan Revolt. He served under Kitchner at the battle of Omdurman during the Sudan war. During the Boer War he fought at the battle of Spion Kop.

He was also part of the last full cavalry charge in british military history at the Battle of Omdurman, later, as Prime-Minister in 1952, he armed Britain with the Atomic Bomb.
His career began in an age of lancers and charges on horseback, and ended in the nuclear age.....

[Peacekeeper]

I read Churchill's biography, and the incredibly huge "History of the English Speaking People" which he authored. It left me thinking he was one of the greatest Americans who never was.

[thundertaker]

Peacekeeper wrote: I read Churchill's biography, and the incredibly huge "History of the English Speaking People" which he authored. It left me thinking he was one of the greatest Americans who never was.

If you've read his biography, you'll know he was half-american on his mother's side.....

[Peacekeeper]

Yes I do know that, but he wasnt a citizen