Sometimes the Comments are the Most Interesting Part

I recommend that you read this.  The argument itself isn't particularly mind-blowing, but the many comments include an interesting discussion, and in any case the legality of our off-and-on bombing campaign in Libya doesn't seem like it's been a big issue to many people.  Personally, I think that with regards to Libya, the choice was between blowing shit up and hoping for the best or not blowing shit up and hoping for the best, and given that there's an actual international coalition involved and we had assets in the area, blowing shit up wasn't a terrible choice.  That being said, our commitment should be pretty limited, partly because Libya is likely to turn into a nightmare of sectarian violence, and partly because Qaddafi seems to be running out of money because the West froze his assets.  As far as the argument itself goes, it's a bit of tilting at windmills, but more productive than most of the quixotic causes adopted by college juniors, and it certainly isn't hurting anyone.  


I also recommend that you read this and this, including the comments.  Given that 99 percent of the country isn't in the military, I get the feeling that a lot of people are a little lost when it comes to what service members are actually doing.  Both links include significant discussion on leadership in the military, some of the comments including specific examples, and they'll give you an idea of some of the things that are important to us, a few of the challenges, and most importantly, how passionately we care about our jobs.  Leadership, nebulous though the term may be, is the most important part of my job, and also the most satisfying and frustrating.