Nope. Not that I'd have to know that war is killing.
Pops did two tours since he was USAF and knew he'd be stationed at Than Son Nut and that way his brother in the Army would do his overseas in Korea (ironically during the Pueblo fiasco). Of course all the great uncles and both grandpas enlisted in WW2. Uncle Donald in at Normandy a month after the landings all the way through the occupation. Grandpa Hicks was USMC and Grandpa Barker was USN (another great uncle as waist gunner, the roles of others I can't claim to remember). My family has the military bit pretty well covered, and doesn't shy from sharing their views.
I don't really understand the suprise expressed. Two guys. It's a tragedy for the families, but it ain't Antietam. What'd you expect to happen when we went to war? Would it be better if the terrorists achieved their killing with satellite guided bombs instead of cell phone activated?
If we're going to station troops in the Middle East there are nutjobs who will try to kill them. 1 billion muslims, it doesn't even take a large percentage to take mortal offense at our presence to keep up the fight a long time. They're looking at this as the Crusades, Part XIVWhatever. They got homefield, and plenty of time.
Do you think China will take up the White Man's Burden and try to post troops in dozens of countries and fight the wars of the local governments? Or are they smarter than that?
"Nope"
figures...
you could have saved the rest of your response...