I was reading Richard Marcinko's Rogue Warrior novel Designation Gold, and he reveals something about our favourite limp wristed, pussy chasing ex Commander in Chief of the free world. This was the first novel he actually threw in actual notes from real life, such as the old Russian spy service, at the bottom of the page to better accurately describe what he was talking about, or sometimes it's just a throwaway comment like this one. Anyway, I'll quote what he says below. Before I do, in referrence to what Marcinko says, I'll draw a comparison to the two Drill Sergeants from Full Metal Jacket and An Officer and a Gentleman. To be, Hartman was a just and fair man who did his job to prepare for war. The one in An Officer and a Gentleman (forgot his name) struck me as being sinister and an asshole.
'...under orders from the Clinton administration in the mid-nineties, the Army introduced what it called "Stress Cards." These pocket size, yellow, laminated plastic cards are distributed to recruits just after they arrive for their basic training and indoctrination. If the training becomes too much to bear, or if the trainee believes he is being unfairly singled out by his drill sergeant for punishment, he can hold up his stress card and declare, "Time out." The sergeant must then back off, and leave the trainee alone for half an hour, so the soldier can compose himself. It's this sort of touchie-feelie, feel-good, pointy headed liberal pseudothinking that will get men killed killed in battle. Are things too tough in Bosnia, Somalia, or elsewhere? Just hold up a yellow (yellow for coward-just like the cowardly president who instituted it) fucking card and the enemy sniper will let you alone for half an hour. Right. Sure.'
No, the government is the one constantly talking about how any of us could be next.
. I agree that Australia is not one of them, though. But there must be certain limits to the government's power, precisely so that normal people have no reason to worry about the gov't abusing its power.