I remember when the Iraq war was kicking off I was about the right age for recruitment. I was in Walmart and a USMC recruiter walked up to me. He starts off telling me all the benefits for joining the Marines. Education and so on. He had another Marine guy hovering over his shoulder kinda eavesdropping. I asked something like "Do you think we should be in Iraq? Is the war worth it? What's it for?" At that the eavesdropper kinda looked away and pretended not to listen for a minute.

I'll never forget what the recruiter said to me next.

"I think starting the war was a mistake, but now that we're there we have to see it through."

I guess that's the best answer from his position. But the look on his face was so dejected, almost embarrassed. It was plain to see that he didn't believe in his own cause, and in that moment I just felt so bad and sorry for him.

I said "I'm sorry, I don't think this is for me... But thank you for your service."