WTF is going on here? Please don't incite myself (or heaven forbid, Shuugo) to intervene directly.

While everyone is entitled to a viewpoint/opinion on matters, you're starting to seriously veer this thread into a personal rant blog.

STOP.

While I am prior military as well, I don't have the same experiences as you. However, I do sympathize somewhat with your disillusion of the world and the US in particular. That said, you of all people should know there is a time and place for that type of discussion. This thread is not one of them. This thread was already partially derailed earlier because of the MegaUpload situation. I let that slide because I was stupid enough to fan the flames and that it was peripherally related to the topic at hand. HOWEVER:

I will NOT have this thread turn into a bloody rant thread.
I WILL lock this thread if called for if you can't control your emotions and behavior. Get sober first, THEN post.

If you INSIST on debating the issue in your current state, use dmail.