I tend to hate the phrase "Thank-you for your service," but know I have the utmost respect for the time you spent in uniform. Indeed you may be the only one in this circle that has been in an active theater. Like it or not, you're our expert.

I chose to not serve in the military. I could have walked into a service Academy for college but I had had enough of the military life just being an military brat. For 18 years I had been seeped in the culture, had a military ID, shopped in the BX, bagged groceries at the commissary, was a lifeguard at the officers' club... But I was a hippie and the Vietnam war was still fresh in my memories. My brothers and I were lucky. Too young for 'Nam, too old for Desert Storm. Burning my selective service card when I was 25 was a great moment. I like to think that if I had served they'd have sat me down at a desk with a stereo plotter with a fresh set of photos.

As I have said, I am no military expert. But I read a lot who are, and this "operation" in Ukraine is FUBAR. And likely to get even more so. At this point, it is important to not do something stupid.