Are we really fighting to protect our freedoms?

Hello CW2 Kantor:

I agree with you 100%. We are overseas fighting wars and defending nations that have nothing whatsoever to do with our personal freedoms or the freedom of our own nation. Since the attacks on 9-11 we have been slowly losing our personal freedoms, We have elected officials who are doing their best to deny us our 2nd amendment rights because the fear that we will or may use those very same weapons to take our freedoms back. Our phones, whether hard lines or cellular are subject to monitoring for no good reason. The fact that the "Patriot Act" is still in effect shows us that we will lay down and not question the bullshit that our government is passing on to us.

Your quote from Benjamin Franklin is spot on. There are 86% of us who willingly lay down, sit, roll over, speak, and play dead while the other 14% do as they please. While I can understand the need for some of the regulations that have been passed down are for our own good, but elimination of the Bill of Rights has begun and the 86% need to stand up and do something about what is going on here at home. I will never be elected to any public office, which is fine with me but remember this people. These things I will defend:
1) My God
2) My Country
3) The Constitution
4)  My Family and Friends
5) My Guns
6) And the rights of some people to be stupid
I fought and served my country because I believe in this nation. However over the past 12 years since I left the service I have lost faith in the leadership of this great nation. Once again the Rally Cry should be "DON'T TREAD ON ME" and do what needs to be done to regain control. I am not advocating anarchy or rebellion, but obviously something needs to be done here.

These are my opinions and I expect to get slammed, voted down, or outright ridiculed for them. But give me your best shot, I have heard it all before.

Just to add a bit more to this response:

"If ever the time should come, when vain & aspiring Men shall possess the highest Seats in Government, our Country will stand in Need of its experienced Patriots to prevent its Ruin."

                                                           Samuel Adams

Well let's back up.   You said that you are an historian so what is your take on the Philippines?  Considering that we cannot change the past,  would it be better that they continued in slavery?   Are they better off now being free or being overrun by China,  Japan or some other Asian country?

The next question could be,  is our way of life best?  I happen to think so.    I will agree that many wars seem to be ill-advised and poorly executed.  Why?   Vietnam comes to mind.   Robert S. McNamara especially.   He was for limited war and a flexible response.    We saw how that worked out.   Involve our military and then vacillate.  Tell that to the dead warriors and their families.

The Cold War was very nuanced and you are left wondering if the buildup really brought the USSR to it's knees?   Was freedom an important enough concept to die for?   I am pretty sure that South Vietnam felt betrayed by our leaving.  Broken promises and faulty tactics (Agent Orange comes to mind) that inevitably made this war hated and damaged the American psyche.

War sucks but it's aims can be noble.   That is we wanted to save Jews and stop the massacres in Europe and parts of Asia.   Regardless of what politicians did like firing General McArthur,   we must be inspired to carry through.   Communism is not good but certain liberals and libertarians disagree.   This is all too complex to break down in neat little terms,  talking points and political sloganeering.