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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> I don't believe that military service necessarily makes a person better
> suited to serve his or her country . . . .

I think it often does. In addition to a self-image of patriot, a person who 
has been in combat has a keener perception of the awfulness of war. Such a 
person might be less willing to start wars, especially unnecessary wars. 
Wars are obscenely inhuman, terribly expensive, and always cause additional 
problems, the Hatfield-McCoy syndrome of self-perpetuating hatred, and 
unintended consequences. Wars degrade humanity and cause us to have a base 
view of ourselves. That is appropriate.