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Date: 29 Nov 1995 10:58:52
Reply-To: Conference "zamir.chat" 
From: CNAEF@CENTER.COLGATE.EDU
Subject: Re: http://mediafilter.org/SJ/Pages/Another Vietnam ??
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From: CHARLES NAEF 
Subject: Re: http://mediafilter.org/SJ/Pages/Another Vietnam ??

	Firefighter get killed in the line of duty, as do policemen.  Truck
drivers and others risk their lives and livelihood in pursuit of their 
occupation or profession.  And none of these men and women are trained as
fighters, as people whose ultimate job is to kill and destroy and to avoid
being killed.  Nobody in today's volunteer armed forces serves as a soldier,
airman or sailor against his will or better judgment, as was the case with
the majority during the Vietnam War.  We do need the military, and I cannot
think of a nobler mission than that the 20,000 American soldiers will perform
in maintaining the truce and hopefully creating one of the preconditions for
peace in Bosnia.  If you do not want the United States as the leader of the
NATO alliance intervene in the Bosnian conflict in a truce-keeping role, give
some better reasons than the possibility that a few "innocent young men" may
sacrifice their lives for a noble cause.  If you are a pacifist I respect your
conviction not wanting anyone to bear arms.  In fact, pacifists who are working
in Bosnia and elsewhere in the former Yugoslavia to bring humanitarian aid and
assist in the process of reconciliation are placing their lives at far greater
risk than our GIs.