We Were (Almost) Soldiers Once…and Young at No Man’s Blog

Oh my God! Look at this hilarious story from The Telegraph!

Barack Obama has said he considered joining the United States military when he left school but decided not to because the Vietnam War was over and “we weren’t engaged in an active military conflict at that point”.

The statement is thought to be the first time during the 19-month-long presidential campaign that the Democratic nominee for the White House has indicated he once wanted to serve in uniform. The aspiration was not mentioned in either of his two volumes of memoirs.

Mr. Obama was asked by George Stephanopoulos of ABC’s “This Week” programme whether he’d ever thought about military service and replied: “You know, I actually did. I had to sign up for Selective Service [a means of conscription in case of war] when I graduated from high school.

“And I was growing up in Hawaii. And I have friends whose parents were in the military. There are a lot of Army, military bases there.

“And I actually always thought of the military as an ennobling and, you know, honourable option. But keep in mind that I graduated in 1979. The Vietnam War had come to an end. We weren’t engaged in an active military conflict at that point. And so, it’s not an option that I ever decided to pursue.”

All male American citizens are legally required to register for Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday.

The Illinois senator’s newly-disclosed military ambition came after the choice of Sarah Palin as the running mate of his opponent John McCain ensured that for the first time in modern history three of the four candidates on the two presidential tickets would have a son that had served or would serve in a war zone.

Mrs. Palin’s eldest son Track, 19, is due to leave for Iraq on Thursday, the seventh anniversary of the September 11th attacks on America and exactly a year after he joined the US Army as an infantryman.

John McCain’s youngest son Jimmy, also 19, is a lance-corporal in the US marine corps who served in Ramadi, deep in Iraq’s Sunni triangle, last year. His other son Jack, 21, is currently training to be an officer at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Beau Biden, 39, elder son of Senator Joe Biden, Mr. Obama’s running mate, is scheduled to go to Iraq early next year. Beau Biden is attorney general of Delaware and a captain in the legal corps of the US Army’s National Guard. He is in line to inherit his father’s Senate seat should Mr. Obama win the White House.

Okay, Barry! So that’s like saying:

“I ALMOST got a real job instead of being a community organizer” or
“I ALMOST ran a business” or
“I ALMOST ran for the office of the governor of Illinois” or
“I ALMOST chose a female to be my vice presidential running mate” or
“I ALMOST left the campaign trail to write some actual legislation” or
“I ALMOST got some experience once”

That’s a pretty lame thing for you to say, Barry Obama. So you didn’t enlist because “we weren’t engaged in an active military conflict at that point”? I suppose that means it was out of the question because it wasn’t manly enough for you? Not dangerous enough? And why the hell didn’t you mention it in either of your two memoirs?

Sounds like you’re feeling a little left out, Dude. And this story is about the most pitiful thing I’ve ever heard you say.

What a loser.

Technorati Tags: The Telegraph, Barack Obama, join, United States military, Vietnam War, we weren’t engaged in an active military conflict at that point, presidential campaign, Democratic nominee, White House, George Stephanopoulos, ABC, military service, Selective Service, Army, military bases, male American citizens, Illinois senator, military ambition, Sarah Palin