Marble Composition

Here's A Reminder

I thought this would be easy to sort out, but apprently not. The U.S. military is an apolitical organization. Everyone got that? They don't make the ultimate policy choices about where they're to go, or who they're to attack. The guys in the suits do that, and lately, really rather poorly I might add. This is really second grade elementary, but if you're in the military, you receive orders. You're not asked whether you think plan A or B is a good idea, you do what you're told.

That should be the dividing line between people that oppose this failed project in Iraq, and those who support it. Sadly, it's not.

So, we have a woman who lost her son in the Iraq War camped out in front of the President's ranch in Texas protesting the war. Need I point out she's not camped out in front of Fort Bragg yelling "baby killers" and spitting on people? No, she's camped out where the Big Suit lives. He decided to send troops to inavde Iraq, and she wants some answers to her questions. She believes, as I do, that there's no need for any more of our military personel to die in a war we've already lost. The folks who support staying want to believe that the sons and daughters they've lost weren't sent on some fool's errand, and that their service was worth giving their lives for, and rightly so. And they have every right to speak their minds and counter-protest down in Crawford, TX. (ain't America great?)

Here's where the disconnect comes in. Why would anyone go and smear this woman? Just who are these people defending? They call her a media whore, a crack-pot, a bitch, and say she's nuts. Why? The only plausible reason is that they can't bear her critisizing the president and his decision to launch this war. But let's get this straight for all time, it's okay to critisize the President of The United States.

I wonder why people like that have forgotten recent history so quickly. Vietnam wasn't long ago, but apparently there are still many lessons to be learned.

There was a protest down in Crawford today, and it was matched with a protest of its own. Supporting the president is fine by me, but you better know what the cost is likely to be. Calling for a staged withdrawal is a different viewpoint, but one I believe will save more lives.

Update: This from a person serving in Iraq:

The main thing I've learned has been about the men and women who I am proud to serve with. Although I don't always agree with their opinions and many of them can frankly be very annoying, I have also met some very interesting people who love their country very much. The men and women here all seem to have the best interests of America in their hearts. I'm of course talking about the people who aren't making policy decisions; I'm talking about the people who are told to implement those decisions...

And this from James Wolcott of Vanity Fair:

...

Moreover, perhaps Lowry was absent when they taught this in school, but the 82nd Airborne doesn't "decide" what the US does about rogue states. The guys and gals of the 82nd don't wake up in their barracks one morning and kibbitz amongst themselves. "What the hell, maybe it's time we took out Iraq. Let's get our gear together and requisition a transport plane, treat ourselves to a few kickass months in the Sunni triangle."

The 82nd Airborne goes where the Pentagon decides it should go, and that strategic decision is made by the civilian leadership. When the quality of the civilian leadership is corroded by arrogance, ignorance, and ideology, it is a formula for catastrophe.

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posted by FuzzFinger @ 8/27/2005 01:30:00 AM