Once you get troops on the streets, it’s only a matter of time before it goes bad. Some kid throws a stone, next minute there’s houses on fire and people getting killed.
There’s a chapter of Nights Watch, by Terry Pratchett, that I wish was mandatory for every cop and soldier. There was a bit about “restoring the peace by any means” that shock me.
Most of us that swore the oath actually meant it, and understand precisely why the Posse Comitatus Act was created. The trouble arises when shitbag civilian leaders get it onto their heads that because we have the most powerful military ever, it can be used to solve any problem. Most of the vets I know are full on liberal and respect the “leave me alone and I leave you alone” mindset, but some are also supporters of the ones who claim to be strong even if it’s all clearly false bravado. Things are going to get very messy if one officer gives orders to fire and another countermands it.
About to finish Discworld for the third time and Nights Watch may be the best of all 41 books.
“You took an oath to uphold the law and defend the citizens without fear or favor," said Vimes. "And to protect the innocent. That’s all they put in. Maybe they thought those were the important things. Nothing in there about orders, even from me. You’re an officer of the law, not a soldier of the government.”
I think I had the awful luck of reading Mort and Nights Watch before any other series book, and they are by far my favorites to this day. Still many to read, and many I greatly enjoyed, but those two are something else for me.
There’s a chapter of Nights Watch, by Terry Pratchett, that I wish was mandatory for every cop and soldier. There was a bit about “restoring the peace by any means” that shock me.
Most of us that swore the oath actually meant it, and understand precisely why the Posse Comitatus Act was created. The trouble arises when shitbag civilian leaders get it onto their heads that because we have the most powerful military ever, it can be used to solve any problem. Most of the vets I know are full on liberal and respect the “leave me alone and I leave you alone” mindset, but some are also supporters of the ones who claim to be strong even if it’s all clearly false bravado. Things are going to get very messy if one officer gives orders to fire and another countermands it.
GNU Sir Terry
About to finish Discworld for the third time and Nights Watch may be the best of all 41 books.
“You took an oath to uphold the law and defend the citizens without fear or favor," said Vimes. "And to protect the innocent. That’s all they put in. Maybe they thought those were the important things. Nothing in there about orders, even from me. You’re an officer of the law, not a soldier of the government.”
I think I had the awful luck of reading Mort and Nights Watch before any other series book, and they are by far my favorites to this day. Still many to read, and many I greatly enjoyed, but those two are something else for me.
Love the Watch but all the books involving the witches are great as well