[68skylark]

Of all the things I worry about for the future of our country, I don't worry about lack of military experience of future presidents. I think our history has shown that presidents without extensive wartime experience can be some of our best, even in times of war -- like Lincoln, and Reagan, and the wartime policies (not domestic policies) of Roosevelt.

Maybe our worst wartime president was LBJ. He had combat experience, and it made him think he was qualified to do tactical target selection from the White House. Big mistake.

[Vineyard]

LBJ had no real war-time experience. He was a Congressman during WWII, and "volunteered" ... went out to the Pacific, rode a plane on a nominal mission, and came back with a Silver Star.

Later, Pres. Roosevelt insisted that all Congressmen and Senators who were doing the same - go inactive, and return to Congress to do the necessary business of Congress.

LBJ's artificial Silver Star was probably allowed to curry favor (Gen. MacArthur endorsed it). LBJ was an observer, and the only one on the plane that got the award.

So LBJ's military experience was similar to much of his other life - FRAUDULENT!! (He was probably instrumental in the fraudulant 1960 election where Texas - which was expected to go solid for Nixon, ended up in JFK's column after some strange behind-the-door dealings at various polling places.)

Mike