The mission they feel "constrained" on? I don't think any Serviceman will fall for that line.

He really should have said "on their (America's) behalf", and then nobody would have said anything at all.

I knew exactly what was meant by it and if I was in service I would have been proud at the comment. There is nothing wrong with it at all. As a citizen they fight on MY behalf so he can say that too.

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Yes, thank you. Your opinion has been duly noted and recorded. I don't think you're correct, though.

To spread it out then, as our representative, we single-handedly killed bin Laden. Yippee! Hooray!

For whatever it's worth, I have heard a serviceman say that he answers to his superiors in the military, not to the president... and that if his superior officers ordered him to overthrow the president, he would have to do it.

... or maybe that was just in a movie I saw once.
I can't for the life of me remember if that was a real person or an actor who said it.

To say someone does an heroic act that benefits a large group I'm a part of, does so on my behalf means that I really appreciate it to my heart. I'm thanking them.

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In the case of the unlikely happening (along the movie AIR FORCE ONE), the terrorists who would have the president hostage, say on a U.S. Navy warship, would be shot dead, along with the president in their midst. There can be no hostage situations involving a man o' war, and I would venture to say the same regarding the other branches.

I believe the movie where the president is shot dead is TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING.

--sorry about the spoiler

I see the forum has taken a turn south since I've been gone.

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At least you and I can rest assured that neither of us is the densest or the ugliest person on the forum.

Oh I agree, the way our supposedly incredibly articulate President phrased it does personalize it. Our military fights on HIS behalf. Just imagine how wonderful it would have been if Washington had shared the same idea at the end of the revolutionary war, the Continental army had fought on his behalf so why not install himself as king?

Ordering a soldier to kill the president would be an unlawful order and as such, wouldn't have to be obeyed.

Notice the oath that every military member must take when entering the armed forces:

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When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people are going to be disappointed they are not it.

"As democracy is perfected, the office of President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron."
--- H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920