This country is a cream puff compared to many.

Our military prowess has made us be able to avoid a lot of conflicts and have kept many other countries from overflowing their banks and destroying their weaker neighbors. Man's inhumanity to man is part of the human condition. I am so thankful to our military because without it, a lot of people would be sliced and diced simply in land grabs.

I personally don't see militariam as cool and I live in an area that is filled with military folk. They take it deadly serious and are well aware of what a sacred trust it is. What always amazes me is the willingness of the military rank and file to lay down their lives for people, like myself, who sleep in soft beds and fill up at starbucks. I am so grateful that I was able to raise my children without the fear that someone would be knocking down my door in the middle of the night or that my house would be blown to smithereens because a local warlord wanted to expand his power. I feel so sorry for weaker countries who are out there at the mercy of predatory nations and evil men.

There is no "law" between nations, no courts, no judge, no jury. It is all about force, ultimately, if the nations don't want to be civilized. Absent the risk of being swatted by a bigger, more powerful nation, there is not much out there to keep one predator from destroying its neighbor. The fear of war has its place. So while I am as horrified as the next person at the death and destruction, part of me hopes that the silver lining will be that predators will see that and think twice, or three times, before being aggressive.