*yawn*
If I cant stand anything its those american military types that expect everybody to kiss their feet, for whatever reason. Nobody made you go into the military, dont act like your a better breed of person.

Western democracy is NOT ensured by soldiers alone, or even for the most part. Its upheld by thousands and thousands ordinary citizens, *all* civilians, every day.
In any case, and in my mind, soldiers are regular people too, they dont magically become a better or even good person because they join the service. Dont shut off your brain because people argue against fighting and killing - you should praise them, since most likely their motivation is to not have *anyone*, including *you* needlessly dying.

For those particular military types that deem all peaceoriented civilians as "liberal scum" or worse, please step to the frontline. You will not be missed.

interesting though I half expected a lecture about bottled ginger beer, or chili peppers if you catch my drift...

re 4: "Considerably slower…we’re talking the difference of 300 feet per second and between 800 and 1500 meters per second."

1 ft = 30,48 cm
300 feet/s = ca. 100 meters/sec
Doesn't make your argument invalid, but one of your offered numbers is wrong :-)