I have huge respect for the idea of defending ones country and such as you outline. I know I couldn't offer my life up like that.

But Bill Hicks was a comedian with a valid point. On one level you do have a collection of people who are given money to do violent things. He was really talking about the tendancy of the US to use its army in such a heavy handed and unfair manner rather than any individual soldier.

I'd say it would be stupid to join the armed forces in the States right now too. You'd quite clearly be put into harm's war in a war that (from my point of view) shouldn't be being fought as it is.

Obviously in any large group there are extremes.