West Point Cadets React to the President's Speech

[Clio the Leo]

West Point cadets discuss what it meant to have Obama announce his plan in person, and say they are ready to join his mission ...Several West Point cadets in the audience at President Obama's speech announcing a troop surge in Afghanistan told POLITICO they were ready to join the president's mission and talked about what it meant to have Obama announce his plan in person.

"Me and my classmates have come here to West Point knowing full well that this is going to last a long time," Jon Schleef, class of 2011, said. "I think everyone here knows that we?re going end up going over there, maybe, in one form or another. It's just really refreshing that he came all the way out here to tell us, to be direct with us."

Taneshina Wright of Las Vegas, who will graduate in May, said it was an honor to have Obama speak at West Point, the oldest military academy in the country.

"I received the order from him in person," she said. "He made the decision and it's my job to go out there and make it happen."

West Point's 2010 class president, Arron Conley, said the months Obama took to arrive at this strategy gave him confidence.

"I was even more assured," Conley said, "that his course of action was the best course of action for the war in Afghanistan."

"I'm in full support of the decision," he added. "My role is not to advocate policy but to execute it."

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/1209/cadets_react_3d3b9333-ca94-4262-8276-dd3d6ee9b563.html

[MercutioATC]

1. Well-meaning as they may be, they're drones.

It's silly to think of West Point cadets as representative of their demographic.

[phleshdef]

2. Nice way to shit on our men and women of the armed services.

[MercutioATC]

4. Are you illiterate or do you simply lack reasoning skills?

When one enrolls at West Point, one is agreeing to give a minimum 10 years of their life to the military (more, if they're eying a military career).

Such a decision logically requires a willingness to follow legal orders, regardless of one's personal belief structure.


...and that's kinda what a drone does.


It's not "shitting" on anybody, it's reality.

[phleshdef]

5. Being a west point graduate doesn't make one a drone. Only a coward would say something like that.

[Better Believe It]

7. OK How about they are brainwashed? I think that's more accurate.

Making war without questions is their chosen career.

The officer corps is generally far to the right of most soldiers. This was especially true in Vietnam where the grunts frequently ignored the orders of the officers and sometime actually revolted against the most gung ho idiots.

[MercutioATC]

8. I see. It's illiteracy.

...unless you can explain how cowardice is an element of my view.

[phleshdef]

9. Only a pissy little keyboard warrior coward would talk such shit about our west point service people

I don't need to read more into than that.

[MercutioATC]

10. OK, so it's a military fetish.

"Our west point service people" are just like the rest of us. I know, I was nearly one of them. Stop deifying them.

The difference in this particular case is that people who attend West Point agree to accept orders (with which they may or may not agree) for 10+ years. That logically necessitates blind obedience...which is a dronelike behavior.

[phleshdef]

15. Its respect for people who are obviously braver than you, but keep on typing.

I'm sure it makes you feel like such a big, god damn, more liberal than thou champion to insult our men and women of the armed forces and marginalize them to brainwashed drones. Then again, thats a perfect example of why they deserve respect and you don't.

[MercutioATC]

20. How many military academy students have you personally known?

I've known three.

All had certain leanings before they went in, but all were true believers by the time they graduated...and that mindset has stayed with them through the rest of their lives. I'm sure there are exceptions, but in my experience this is the norm.


...but that has nothing to do with your claim that I'm a coward. You made the accusation, support it.

[phleshdef]

24. You don't have to make shit up about your personal life to make an argument.

First you are a coward and now you lie about personal experiences in order to continue your failed argument. Nice.

[MercutioATC]

26. 3 cousins (a lot of my family is military)...but m'kay, you're apparently just an asshole.

...and an asshole who still won't answer simple questions.

(on edit)

Forgive me...I see you're from Columbus. That's south of the Mason-Dixon line (or so you southerners seem to think). Your response is right on track for a Southern-Ohio/West Pennsyltuckian.

[Duende azul]

13. So will you enlist? To not become "a pissy little keyboard warrior coward"?

[phleshdef]

16. I don't have to, I show respect for the ones that have. I back up what I say with my respect.

[Duende azul]

43. Ah, I get it. You have other priorities.

Where have I heard that before?

[spiritual_gunfighter]

45. If you are so offended by his sentiment

and show respect for your military. You need to go enlist and stop fighting the war from your keyboard. Instead of backing up what you say with respect, back it up with action and enlist now.

[vaberella]

52. I'm not gonna add anything special to this discussion. I love the phrase "keyboard warrior".

:rofl:

[tekisui]

14. It does make them obedient.

They are not going to speak publicly against the CiC, regardless of what independent thought they may or may not have.

[phleshdef]

17. They didn't just NOT speak against, but they spoke FOR, they don't have to speak one way...

...or the other.

Failed point. Try again.

[tekisui]

18. Not a failed point.

They are good soldiers when speaking of their CiC. Nothing more, nothing less. What the hell do you expect them to say when asked?

No comment? Puh-lease.

[phleshdef]

22. They said way more than needed so yea, still failed, miserably failed, pathetically...

failed.

[tekisui]

25. Whatever, dude.

Run with it.

[LiberalFighter]

28. They are not qualified to be anything more than a drone...

until they have gained experience and understanding of the life they have undertaken. They are kids. Some will grow up fast and others may take more time. Some will be leaders and others will be followers. Some will be leaders qualified to lead and others not. (Senator McCain definitely not qualified.)

Some will graduate from being a drone and some will continue to be drones or not fully evolved from the drone stage.

These kids have not gained the life experiences that will make them a full human being that knows their responsibilities and comprehension of life. They are not the cream of the crop as some make them out to be. They are the cream of the crop of those that applied and were accepted. Even then there will always be bad apples just like in any group of people. ie law enforcement, medical, education, government, religion, charity, etc.

It does take courage in most cases for these kids to go to West Point knowing the future it entails. But not all of them do because they have courage. There are a few that do it because of stupidity or other reasons that may not be in their control. It is also easier for kids to have courage at their age.

With all that said. I hope all of the West Point cadets turn out to be fine outstanding citizens and perform admirably in their duties in the military.

[MidwestRick]

38. So anyone who follows it's countries laws are drones?

At least for those of us who don't enroll in a military academy?

[spoony]

12. "My role is not to advocate policy but to execute it."

What do you call that, critical thinking?

[ShortnFiery]

32. No, they are being USED by public affairs. They are under orders to support the

President of the USA, therefore, they couldn't criticize him even if THEY WANTED TO.

It's all staged propaganda, and we all know it. :(

[Captain Hilts]

6. Um, no. There is no consensus on the war in the Army, and probably not among its cadets. nt

[roguevalley]

55. they are young, proud and willing to do their best for the country.

[democrat_patriot]

3. Take that Dick Cheney.

West Point's 2010 class president, Arron Conley, said the months Obama took to arrive at this strategy gave him confidence.

"I was even more assured," Conley said, "that his course of action was the best course of action for the war in Afghanistan."

"I'm in full support of the decision," he added. "My role is not to advocate policy but to execute it."

[Cha]

30. That's way beyond the call of being "a drone".

[chelsea0011]

11. I laughed last night when Chris Matthews said the cadets and especially

the older military people didn't appear none to happy with Obama. But after the speech Obama was swamped by the cadets looking to shake his hand, get an autograph, or have their picture taken with the President. Most looked thrilled to meet him. I'm sure they sat their during the speech subdued as they listened intently because this is their future. What did Tweety expect...champagne?

[Cha]

31. tweety getting it wrong..I wonder if he'll read these

comments from the cadets? Wasn't tweety the one who was saying something about it being a photo op like bush's?

[avaistheone1]

19. They are mind conditioned and physically trained warriors. I would expect this would be their

response. No surprise at all.

[Clio the Leo]

21. And what do you say about those in the military who don't support the deployment?

Are they noble patriots?

(I'd argue that all of them are.)

[avaistheone1]

27. I would say they are patriots for the most part.

Just like any profession or trade there are good people and bad people who are attracted to it. I would reserve the word "noble" for an individual's action. I have a hard time categorizing any group with the word.

[burning rain]

23. Hard to gauge opinions of military people by what they say to the media.

With media around, obviously military are going to speak with utmost respect of the commander-in-chief. But media are rarely around, and the military is mostly an ultra-nationalistic far-right constituency that loathes Democrats. When I was in, few would admit to feeling anything but hatred for Bill Clinton and Al Gore.

[ShortnFiery]

34. Wake up! There are plenty of DEMOCRATS serving on AD within the military.

Here you have the creme of the crop, young men and women at the US Army Military Academy. They will be commissioned into the Regular Army. Those who don't choose careers in the service will, most likely, find lucrative military contractor positions within the civilian corporations comprising the MIC.

The Cadets at West Point do NOT provide a good cross section of those who are presently serving over on their 4th or 5th tours in Afghanistan and/or Iraq. Most of them are junior enlisted and just want to do their time so they can be reunited with their families and/or obtain their discharge and go to college themselves.

[burning rain]

36. The minority of Democrats in the military keep their mouths shut in mixed company.

They know they're outnumbered. Meanwhile, the majority ultraconservatives can't keep their mouths shut, and feel no need to. I know that many liberals have a desperate desire to believe that the military is full of liberals who love Obama, but it isn't healthy to live in delusion.

[ShortnFiery]

39. Newsflash: I'm a liberal and there hasn't been a day of my life that I have not legally

held a Military Identification Card: My father was career military: I served four years as an Army Lieutenant; and I married an AD Marine Corps officer who recently retired.

There's not been ONE DAY that I have not been in contact with those within the Military Community.

In a general sense "The Military" is A-POLITICAL: We train for war and follow orders.

You need to come to the realization that we (Active Duty, Veterans, Retirees) are not one-dimensional.

[burning rain]

42. You're vastly outnumbered by the military's foaming-at-the-mouth right-wingers...

and you know it as well as I do.

[ShortnFiery]

48. Yes, but my larger point is that WE do exist. To flatly stereo-type all troops ...

or even "all officers" as conservative is very unfair.

Yes, liberal democrats may be greatly outnumbered in the military but WE HAVE SERVED and LIBERALS have "fought and died" for their beloved Country. There are thousands more LIBERAL democrats who have returned from "conflicts" less than whole, physically and/or mentally.

Please refrain from such knee-jerk stereotyping the military? Many company and field grade officers have, with time, "wakened-up" and realize that war is INSANITY unless it's directly PROTECTING one's nation.

The Generals and the Military Academy Cadets are, by default, pro-war. War is their culture. I do not blame them for being true believers. However, WAR only benefits the CAREER MILITARY and the private contractors who make HUGE profits within the MIC. Everyone else suffers.

[burning rain]

49. I didn't say all.

I got out of the army in February, 2001, having been a rare Gore voter, myself. Crazy time!

[ShortnFiery]

50. OK, understood.

:-) All the way! Airborne Liberal Patriot ;)

[burning rain]

51. Shoot to kill! Drive on! Hoo-ah!

:hi:

[Cha]

29. In your face tweety.

[ShortnFiery]

33. WTF! This isn't competition with the M$M, these are our youth being used as PROPS

to justify the continuation of an IMMORAL Occupation of a sovereign Nation.

The TROOPS via the UCMJ can NOT criticize the USA President. They could be courts martialed if they did say ANYTHING NEGATIVE.

Propping them up to GLORIFY more "death and dying" is just SICK on the part of this Administration as well as the M$M lapping it up.

[Cha]

37. WTF on your continuing fucking hysteria.

[ShortnFiery]

40. Yes, when I disagree with you and your unilateral cheer-leading in support ...

of President Obama's image, you label it "hysteria." :crazy: You're the one who's making this a competition between Tweety and Obama, not me sport. ;)

[Cha]

46. No one needs to label your hysteria..it just is.

[ShortnFiery]

47. You just negated your original argument.

That makes no sense. :shrug:

[Cha]

53. Nothing makes any sense to you.

[ShortnFiery]

54. Game Over - Try again.

:-)

[Romulox]

35. Who would've guessed that military recruits would be gung ho and easily swayed by rhetoric?

:silly:

[ShortnFiery]

41. Not only that "Pointers" are also under the UCMJ and can NOT openly criticize the President by LAW.

Even though the West Point Cadets have not been Commissioned as Officers yet, they still are legally under the UCMJ's Article 88. How very convenient to PROMOTE jingoistic phrases, aye? :evilgrin:

“Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

[SaveOurDemocracy]

44. What a surprise ... they were just part of the 'staging'...props.