WAR: WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, AND THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT KNOW
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE THE WEEKEND EDITION DEC. 19-21, 2025) — One of the pleasures of writing a book for THE PLANET is the sales, marketing, and promotional phase. Many authors hate it, but, having been on the other side of the media for so long and in so many formats (newspapers, radio, TV, internet), we find it invigorating–especially when we speak in person before audiences or hear from listeners and readers.
For our most recent book, dealing with Stanley Kubrick’s definitive war film FULL METAL JACKET, we received a side bonus in meeting, talking to, and hearing from many veterans. This, of course, included the war in Kubrick’s film: the Vietnam “conflict”. What came through, almost unanimously, is the view that America lost the war, that our 10-year expedition there was a waste and a tragedy, and that we have yet to learn the hard lessons it should have taught us. War is a colossal blunder than results in horrible waste.
A great Christmas gift: Dan Valenti’s new book, now on sale at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and worldwide online at amazon.com.
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THE PLANET came of age during the heart of the Southeast Asian mess. That’s when Uncle Sam, guided by vitiated President Lyndon Johnson and blundering business “genius” Robert McNamara, implemented the draft lottery. It was designed to be a more equitable way of forcing young men out of their civilian lives, what we otherwise call indentured servitude.
Rather than blanket conscription, the military put 366 capsules containing 366 birthdays along with 366 capsules with 366 numbers into two spinning drums. Some old, white guy would randomly pick capsules out of each, a birthday along with a number. Those whose birthdays selected within the first 134 picks would be The Chosen Ones.
In 1969, THE PLANET‘s birthday was the 9th capsule drawn. Fortunately, due to the wise timing of our mom and dad, we weren’t on the line that year. Our “lucky” year would be 1970. The notice from our local draft board said that if your birthday came up within the first 134 picks, that meant you were going. We’d then have 10 days to “settle your private affairs” and report for induction.
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If our number came up, would we enlist or flee to Canada? My father had a camp in New Brunswick 500 miles away, and we had many friends, all against the war, who would welcome me. My parents wanted me to take refuge there if selected, adding they would support my decision either way. They stressed the decision would be mine.
Dad had seen war first hand, serving for two years as a rifleman in the Army’s 99th Infantry Division, 394th battalion (“The Battlin’ Babes”). A good chunk of that came on the front lines during the Battle of the Bulge–Liege, the Elsenborn Ridge, St. Vith.
Yeah, he saw war.
It was something horrific, a nightmare he didn’t want me to experience.
What would I do?
He gave me a great piece of advice: “Stop and think. Don’t anticipate. You won’t have to decide until you find out. If you don’t have to go, the decision will have been made for you.”
As it turned out, my birthday drew #253.
Saved by the bell, the calendar, and the capsules.
———- ooo ———-
In talking with the vets, particularly the Marines, we found the most receptive men. They were “gyrenes,” brothers for life. They, too, knew war.
Vietnam became the same trap for the U.S. that it had been for the French, who too were defeated (Dien Bien Phu, 1954). That war could not have been won:
- The battlefield had no front. The entire country, especially South Vietnam, was the “front”.
- The enemy couldn’t be located. Civilian “friends” by day. VC by night.
- The war required a supply line 14,000 klicks (9,000 miles) long. Of the 565,000 troops over there, America never had more than 85,000 fighting men on the ground.
- South Vietnam was governed by corrupt leaders, first President Diem and his ruthless brother, followed by the equally bad Thieu-Ky regime. The “hearts and minds” of the population hated that government, and the Viet Cong had troops and allies saturating South Vietnam.
- U.S. technology and equipment fell way short in dealing with Ho Chi Minh and the VC strategies.
- America casualties: nearly 60,000 killed, 160,000 wounded, 1,600 MIA.
America tried various strategies. First, trying to “win the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese.” Second, a counterinsurgency. Next, the infamous “search and destroy.” Finally, Richard Nixon’s “Vietnamization.” All failed.
War always fails.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
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“War is peace” — George Orwell in 1984.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2025 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights reserved. The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice and available to all. All users of this site — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this site. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
War is big money for big banks.
Your father is a hero from the greatest generation.
War is the universal language. Peace is hope.
Why is the eternal question of 300,000 years of human history.
Humans are one of the biggest killers of humans.
In addition to Vietnam, we certainly can’t forget about the war in Iraq and the Middle East, when war-hawks, George W Bush and Dick Cheney, sent American troops over there trying to find the lockness monst….I mean “weapons of mass destruction.”
The destabilization of the ME started with those two swamp creatures, and it allowed Bathhouse Barry to help fund and create ISIS to further exacerbate the issues in the ME.
The Autopen Administration made the mighty US Military look like a joke during they Afghanistan withdrawal of our troops. Autopen even left the terrorists billions of dollars’ worth of US military grade weapons as a consolation prize.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-war-bush-twentieth-anniversary-b2302031.html
The Biden gifted weapons to the Taliban, turned up in Gaza , in May before the Oct 7th attacks.
Meanwhile Biden resumed aid to Hamas.
and now trump (the five time draft doger) is trying to catch drug dealers using aircraft carriers and 12 warships…cost is one billion dollars a day….what the holy fuck???
Positioned in a broad arc 50-100 miles offshore are roughly 12 U.S. warships capable of enforcing a maritime interdiction. At the core is the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, operating in the central Caribbean after a recent port call in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Supporting vessels include the guided‑missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, cruisers USS Lake Erie and USS Gettysburg, and amphibious ships USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale. The MV Ocean Trader adds surveillance and expeditionary capacity.
Not much different strategy from how China shook off the European heroin cartels, which also forced its product into Chinese homes.
I’m sure you’ve realized Meanwhile suffers from a severe case of TDS.
I mentioned how President Trump gave our deserving military troops a $1776 Christmas bonus, and MW immediately posted a “The View”-like, response about “blowing up narco-boats illegally.”
If he would take a breath, pull up his pants, log off the computer, and take a walk outside to clear his mind, MW could learn it was Chuck Schumer who put this law in place during the FL cocaine days.
But hey, that Bitchfield Pubic Scohol daghree really shines through here in this wise one.
How long ago did you graduate MW?
Maybe the PPD issues go back even further….much further.
Scohol. Still a classic. And classics never age.
They look even better as they go.
The View: “A bunch of pissed-off millionaires bitching about how much they hate millionaires and Trump and men like you and me and everyone else they have a bee up their asses about. It’s pretty funny.” – Thomas Norris
SIR CHAZ
Norris nailed it! Thanks for sharing. And Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thank you, Dan. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well. Warm wishes for the next year as well.
Also, not sure how it is possible for a battleship to blow up a narco boat illegally. Especially on the ocean where law is written by captains.
There is no magical part of the ocean where “law is written by captains.” That’s a Hollywood trope, not maritime reality. International waters are governed by international law, treaties, and rules of engagement — not vibes, not hats, not who has the loudest foghorn.
A battleship can’t “just blow up” a narco boat either. Drug interdiction is a law-enforcement action, governed by strict authority, escalation, and proportionality. If captains were freelancing explosions because “ocean,” we’d have nonstop international incidents and courts-martial.
In short:
International waters ≠ lawless waters
Captains don’t invent law
Navies don’t play GTA at sea
They just blew up lots of narco boats. More to follow. That’s the law now.
Selling drugs on the streets of course is considered a matter of law enforcement and involves police forces, DEA, FBI maybe too. But when a government abroad decides to slip drugs into our country, the President is correct to use our military to respond which is what he is doing.
Narco traffickers are now warned – they are operating on a battlefield where the battle lines are clearly drawn.
Yes the no law at sea was a quip. My point is that it cannot be illegal for a battleship to destroy a military target, unless an admiral goes native.
But to the logic of your post:
your premise is that international waters are governed by international law. You would therefore conclude that a nation MUST not respond with military force if doing so violates an international law?
Define how or which International Law or rules of engagement are permanent and restrictive during war. We agree to assume that the captain diligently determines that the boat is trafficking narcotics and he is aware that his instructions are to destroy them.
Sir Chaz — let’s slow this down and separate rhetoric from reality.
International waters are absolutely governed by international law. That’s not a premise; it’s a baseline. The Law of the Sea, customary international law, and rules of armed conflict all apply — even during war, and especially outside a declared theater of hostilities.
No, a nation does not get a blank check to use military force simply because it believes a vessel is doing something illegal. Outside an armed conflict, interdiction of narcotics trafficking is a law-enforcement function, not a wartime one. That’s why navies conduct boarding, inspection, seizure, and arrest, often under multinational agreements — not summary destruction.
And even during armed conflict, force is constrained. Distinction, necessity, proportionality, and command authorization are not optional or “temporary.” They are permanent principles. A captain does not get to unilaterally declare a fishing boat a “military target” and sink it because he feels confident or has standing orders in the abstract.
If this were as simple as “international waters = free fire zone,” piracy wouldn’t be illegal, neutral shipping wouldn’t exist, and every maritime dispute would already be a shooting war. That’s not how any of this works.
So no — it’s not about admirals “going native.”
It’s about the fact that war, law, and command authority all have limits, even at sea.
What law enforcement takes place at sea? I believe that activity belongs to the Coast Guard which is a branch of the US Navy.
Otherwise, we always deploy the military against international criminals such as terrorists when they act beyond the reach of law enforcement abroad. I don’t see a precedent for what you are advocating.
Again – I stated that we assume the command to destroy follows accurately identifying the target as a narco cartel asset. I am arguing the point of view of the military.
They have been warned that they shall be targeted by our military for destruction, not apprehension as active enemy on the battlefield.
That is about as far out into left field as I have ever seen an answer go dude. You need to apply for a FOX news position.
Traitor Joseph Stolen, aka Creepy/Sleepy Joe Biden, has the record for most draft deferments of ANY POTUS.
Better to use our military to interdict drugs, than import them as Biden/Mayorkas did for 4 years. They used USAID as a means to facilitate CRIMINAL ALIEN gangs to traffic BOTH humans and drugs.
Sink EVERY drug boat and protect our , formerly open under Letfists, borders.
I’m for saving money too. Why use a million dollar missile to sink a tiny drug boat? Straf them with a F-18s 20mm gattlling gun.
Did You vote for Kommiealla and Tampom Timmie?
Timmie let CRIMINAL SOLMALIAN’s, imported by Barry Sotero, steal more US Taxpayer $$$ than Somalia’s GDP. That is JUST in MN!
They have been imported by Barry here in MA too, and D-Healey loves them.!
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/12/stephen-miller-puts-size-somali-fraud-minnesota-stunning/
Glad to see you are awake MT. Can you give me any advice on the legality of putting cucumbers on a bowl of cheerios in the state of Mass. (currently out of strawberries) I was once taken into custody for doing it in Georgia during the 1960,s because of their super strict Sunday blue laws but recently had a craving and thought I would check with you prior to putting myself in the line of fire.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter
As Europe gets ready to start WWIII with Russia, the leaders of those European countries are talking about conscriptions for their young, WHITE, male population, because nobody is singing up for military service over there.
Of course, they’re not mentioning making the illegal aliens do military service in Europe. You know, the people (illegals) who should give up everything and join the military and earn citizenship and assimilate into their new country.
Same thing happened in the US during the Autopen Administration. Failed MA democRAT “leaders” like Maura Healey even kicked out US Veterans out of housing, so illegal aliens had to roof over their heads.
Reread that again. Maura Healey kicked out men and women who served our country honorably, in favor of illegal aliens.
The feckless left-loon “leaders” all wonder why military recruitment is nonexistent when they are in office.
Perhaps demonizing white males, prioritizing racist DEI policies against them, and a daily does on MSM that white men are the enemy of the people, wasn’t the smartest idea.
I found a news story that will be sure to make Vendetta Vale, Meanwhile, and Zohran Mammelle, glee with joy.
I posted a link that shows the front-page story on Australian newspaper, “The West Australian,” depicting a young, teenage, white male, with the title of the story, “How do we stop this kid from becoming a monster.”
It talks about implementing domestic violence (DV) training in public schools to address “toxic masculinity.”
Just what our kids need, more liberal indoctrination and less reading, writing, and math skills, to help the person succeed in life.
Just out of curiosity, how come none of these classes ever address black on black violence? The leading cause of death of a young black male 16-35, is another black male. That’s not “toxic masculinity,” but a white male wanting to go to school and learn in school is?
https://x.com/drantbradley/status/2001649818771558503
I agree with some of what you write about misguided Maura Healey, but she did sign into Massachusetts state law the HERO Act that helped improve the lives of our fellow Veterans.
When it comes to homelessness and affordable housing, the working-class family had more real income 90 years ago during the Great Depression era of the 1930’s than today in late-2025 to buy a home.
How could you or anyone else write that Governor Maura Healey caused the current day social crises of homelessness, greater need for social services programs, welfare assistance, panhandling, and so on?
I believe that her policies favoring illegal immigrants did indeed exacerbate the social issues, including homelessness, as well as securing housing for Veterans in Massachusetts.
The “Big 3” lifelines for a strong middle-class family structure are: Housing, Healthcare, and Public Education. This is NOT anything new, but rather, it has always been the same social policies going back many generations in time.
What do I think about Governor Maura Healey’s close to 3-year tenure? My answers are that she was wrong to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding for social services programs; she is wrong for under-funding state aid to local governments; she should be calling out state lawmakers for doing little to nothing (but DISSERVICES) in 2025, and she should publicly denounce their 6-weeks long taxpayer-funded holidays vacation while so many people and families are struggling to survive.
One thing that I read a lot about in Massachusetts is that the state government has many revenue raising resources, including, but not limited to, the surtax on millionaires, the Opioid Settlement Funds, the 3 casinos, the state lottery (voluntary) regressive taxation SCAM that greedy lobbyists such as Dan Bosley love to pretend to hate, and so on. Governor Healey and state lawmakers either do nothing with the big MONEY or underfund state aid for social services, local governments, and the like.
Massachusetts is a one political (Democratic) Party state full of corrupt career political insiders who only care about big MONEY and POWER for the benefit of the financial, corporate and ruling elites. The Have NOT Veteran named “Jon Melle” is never taken seriously by the elites, who probably would prefer me to shut up or pretend that they are wonderful.
The ruling elites can never take away your being a damn fine cook in the us navy or on a cold rainy morning at PHS you came up with the idea of cutting the bottoms of your front pants pockets off to allow for maximum pocket pool practice. A rub and a tug later you won back to back Mass State High School State Championships in pocket pool 1992 and 93.
Do I get one of them “thar” NDA’s that cost Pittsfield’s taxpayers 6-figures like the other PHS Hall of “Shamers”?
I know where you get off. Picking on Jon Melle over masturbation instead of master “debation”.
Now I am need of some of that “thar” stress relief so I can relax about Pittsfield politics’ mean-spirited jerk(s)off.
Perhaps the listened to Trump when he called our members of the military “suckers and losers”? They are simply taking to heart what their adored leader said.
Plus, he set an example by dodging the draft during wartime. And he did it five (5) times to make his point about suckers and losers in the military. As our leader he sets an example for others to follow.
Pittsfield Suns may sign contract with city. And who owns the Pittsfield Suns? Dan, do a little digging on this subject. Who is wagging the dogs tail?
The Goldklang Group
The Pittsfield Suns are owned by the Goldklang Group, which is a sports entertainment management and consulting firm. The Goldklang Group has a long-standing relationship with the Pittsfield community, and they are involved in the renovations of Wahconah Park, the team’s home field.
https://www.goldklanggroup.com/about/who-we-are
Does this mean that the investment group that owns the Pittsfield Suns and other teams also builds sports stadiums and now is involved with building one locally?
It’s Christmas time! How about giving Trump and Jon a little break on here and take a line from Barry McGuire’s Eve of Destruction
“ And you tell me
Over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction
No no, you don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction
You can bury your dead, but don’t leave a trace
Hate your next door neighbor but don’t forget to say Grace “
A break from the Tediocracy.
I emailed blogger Dan Valenti a picture of Santa and I today (Saturday, 12/20/2025). I hope it got him into the Holidays Spirit.
When you sat down on santa’s lap and asked him if he had a roll of quarters in his pocket or if he was just happy to see you santa didn’t look happy in the picture.
How large was the lump of coal, from Santa?
Probably not as big as that tumor on your brain.
Ms. Halls sex story just went national.
Elite Massachusetts boarding school rocked by teacher scandal and institutional cover-up allegations
Meanwhile, the Pittsfield school story remains buried in the bowels of city hall never to see the light of day.
Merry Christmas kids…and watch your back cuz the school committee might not do it.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/elite-massachusetts-boarding-school-rocked-teacher-scandal-institutional-cover-up-allegations
I happened to get my hands on the Bitchfield Pubic Scohol Wabstars Dectionairy new list of definitions being taught in your Bitchfield scohols today:
https://x.com/Sadie_NC/status/2001726095087812752
**Meanwhile and Vendetta Vale give their full approval of this new democRAT list of definitions.
In fact, this is VV’s “go to,” when you disagree with her on any of her political views. I’ve been tagged a “transphobe” and more recently, Dan was labeled a “misogynist.”
You poor thing. Perhaps Santa will bring you a violin and you can play yourself a sad song from the Titanic movie.
Welcome to Taxachusetts where government officials are not required to be fluent in English…..
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/12/watch-mayor-massachusetts-city-needs-translator-during-hearing/