The Roll of Drugs in Warfare

In addition to all the death and destruction, drug use is an integral part of warfare. Both the Germans and the Japanese handed out millions of doses of methamphetamine during WWII. An energetic and alert military was desirous. Of course, the Americans got on board. Meth was widely available to pilots, especially those on long duration bombing runs. Troops had access but nothing like the Krauts and Japs.

Booze and amphetamines were the prefered drugs in Korea. At the same time suburban use of diet pills was peaking. Doctors considered speed to be a miracle drug, it made the housewives happy, much like the valium explosion during the 70's. To the troops uppers were as available as the free cigarettes.

In Vietnam it was marijuana and heroin, often used in tandem. A temporary suspension from the fear, from the anticipation of another day of horror. In Nam the drinkers didn't dope and the dopers didn't drink. When the guys got home it all reversed, drinkers didn't stop drinking but added drugs to the mix. The dopers found heroin less available and stuck to pot smoking and beer guzzling. Everything about Nam was stupid. Troops went through their year stupid on booze, stupid on smack or dead in a sack. The saddest thing about that war was nothing was learned from it.

Iraq 1 happened so quick the drug was Adrenalin. One day you are eating crab legs and drinking champaigne in Kuait, the next youv'e over run a country. The only one the Saudi's paid was Bush 41.

Iraq 2 is a different story, Bush 2 was not as smart as his Dad so he gets us mired down in two countries with no plan of victory. Over the unending duration of the conflict troops are deployed and redeployed 2, 3, 4, 5 times. The mental and physical toll is unbearable. Active troops live on a cocktail of anti-anxiety, anti-depressive, uppers, downers and high grade hashish. When they get home they are so screwed up the military just seems to through up their arms. Lot's of our troops are Ritalin kids. We've modified their behavior from childhood with drugs rather than disipline, love and understanding.

It's always the schmucks on the ground, idiot patriots willing to be fodder. Young men never seem to get smarter. What if service to the world was once again an option? The Peace Corp was a failure because the Republicans turned it into a Chamber of Commerce outlet. I mean, enlist kids and parents to serve refugee camps, starvation compounds in Somalia, all the dire straights. Pry the spoiled brats from their couches and away from their distacting elelctronic devices and send them into the world. Reemploy the military to make the peace. End war forever.

We need a leader. A national sobriety and a new willingness to sacriifce not for war but for good The failed Congress should be suspended and the old idiots in the Senate retired. We need a reboot, a reattachment of the populace to Democracy. If not we will see a civil uprising at home born out of self interest rather than our original ideals.