During this, one of the bloodiest months in the Afghanistan war, the spots promote a somewhat comforting, if disturbingly misleading, message — and it is aimed not just at potential soldiers, but also at the public at large.

For the former, the goal is reassurance. As Bush-era attempts to conflate bellicosity and patriotism were undermined by persistent body bags, military recruitment has become more challenging. In response, the Pentagon hopes to make prospective volunteers believe their tours of duty will be as safe as a night on the couch.

Real life: Working with a college student who took a position with the Army.

I asked him, any trepedation that you might be sent to Iraq?

His answer: No, I get to pick where I am going. I will be stationed in South Korea and will be a computer specialist.

I told him: Once you join the military they dictate your choices. You belong to them.

One year later and someone shows me a Facebook page. There is the former college student -------- stationed in Iraq.

Wasn't part of the Honor of being in the military Honesty? hardly.

The U.S. Army is not Starfleet. You go where you are ordered and they need warm bodies in Afghanistan and Iraq, so that's where you go.

Not a game - no regen.

More about the subject at this clipmark: 'Joystick' Warfare Brings Ethics Debate

The rightwing once again trying to demote people of other nations as "not Human" in the eyes of their military, so they can be easily programmed to go overseas and kill people's fathers, mothers and children, all in the name of Corporate Profits.

A standing military is one of the most despicable things in this world. It invites war, death and destruction, and reprograms young people into antisocial murder machines.

Sure, honour your veterans — that makes it easier to keep an eye on them, because with their dehumanizing training, they're the ones that are most likely to snap and kill someone for no reason.