Surfing around the other day I came across this site about Agent Orange (for those as uninformed as I) and came across a couple of interesting facts. The first is:
"In dense terrain particularly, the use of herbicides to destroy covering vegetation was to protect American and allied troops from ambush or other undetected movement of the enemy."
Which I think is a much more plausible excuse for war than procuring oil or deposing dictators or weapons of mass destruction. Don't like fighting in jungles? Let's go the desert! Heaps easier to blow things up, and better for the environment - gotta have that green vote. The second is:
"No. Title 38 of the United States Code prohibits veterans from suing the government for injuries suffered while in the military."
Total rubbish if you ask me. There should definitely be a workers union for the military, the occupational health and safety standards are abysmal. I also go the tote that all deaths in war should be able to be prosecuted in regular law courts. Unreasonable? Yes, of course, oink oink flap flap you say. Anyone read 'His Dark Materials', by Phillip Pullman? The concept of someone doing penance their whole life for a crime they'll commit towards the end of it is fantastic.
