Island Dweller rests his case on national service by linking up Operative BJ’s observations.

Most August Majesty:

I thought the topic had been laid to rest, however, Operative BJ’s comments are too good to pass up.

I couldn’t have expressed it better myself. He’s done such an able job of encapsulating the argument I am envious. And he’s right – and absolutely right – in every single point, including the bitching part at the end. Absolutely no deferments at age 18, for anyone, M or F – unless they have a provable, permanent debilitating medical condition. I don’t have the ability to fact-check this, but have been told in Israel even paraplegics serve, based on their aptitude; that is, electronics and optics need repair and adjustment, in which capacity they can serve.

And Op. BJ is right re: the complaints we are bound to see. No matter what you do you’re going to piss off somebody. But it’s like a senior NCO explained to me many years ago: “You could offer to hang people with a silk rope, and they’d still bitch.”

It would take some exceptionally strait-laced individuals to administer this program, not subject to being politically or physically threatened, or bought off. I’m not sure many of these people exist in this country any more, but one can dream . . .

ID

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.