Victor Davis Hanson: Response to Readership 5/5/04

VDH ^ | May 5, 2004 | Victor Davis Hanson

[quidnunc]

Q. – Is the ban on pictures of coffins by the press a new policy? Does it compare with any past wartime policy?

A. – Xerxes tried to hide his dead after Thermopylae, and war losses historically have been used for and against continuing the struggle. I think that the policy really is supported by the families and not simply a Pentagon conspiracy. When Ted Koppel omitted reading the Afghan theater dead…

Q. – Europeans seem to hate America more ever and would in fact like to see us hurt badly, which is in line with what Islamic radicals want. Could you comment on such political trends and what we might expect if you believe this shift becomes more divisive?

A. – Cry the beloved continent. Let us hope they wake up at the 11th hour, and see that America for 50 years has protected them, ensured their democratic rebirth, and stopped every –ism of the twentieth-century …

-snip-

[68skylark]

Good post. I like these answers of VDH even better than I like his columns, becuse these answers are short and focused.

I like his columns. But I think they'd be better if they were edited to be about half as long.

[Billthedrill]

New VDH book. (Sigh!) You just cost me money...

[cwb]

Re: question #2:

European's are a funny people. It's almost as if they have amnesia about their own storied history in world affairs. Not only have we protected them from every -ism that threatened their lives...they were the very breeding ground for those -isms, as they produced some of the worlds most dangerous tyrants. They, of course, also seem to forget their own place in colonization...and thus, the anger that permeates from much of the Mid-East.

While I actually support what was done to the Ottoman Empire after WWI, it's as if Europe has forgot, as it bends over backwards to make amends for their liberal, guilt-ridden society. Not only have these people failed to learn the lessons of the past, they continue to make the same mistakes, all over again. Ironically, when they talk about Mid-East anger and American Imperialism, it was the US after WWII, that sought to push for Arab independence from these former mandates. From the Atlantic Charter to the Suez Canal, it was America who helped these ingrates. And yet, Europe just casually omits its place in world events.

[saveliberty]

I disagree. Europeans are locked in neofeudalism which poses as social-democrats, fabians,socialism or fascism (which also is for wealth redistribution, which is why it belongs there). Their idea was, let the Americans bail them out and then Europe can resume its authority. But even though we tossed millions into their greedy hands, they were incensed that we wouldn't step back and let them call the shots.

They are determined to create permanent underclasses in the pretext that this will establish Utopia.

Credo
The responsible are not responsible
Those not responsible are responsible, unless there's something gone wrong, in which case they are not responsible.

[cwb]

"I disagree. Europeans are locked in neofeudalism which poses as social-democrats, fabians,socialism or fascism (which also is for wealth redistribution, which is why it belongs there)."

OK...which is different from what I said in what ways? I noted their fascination with the social-isms, which has been historically a part of their societies since those feudal days. The French Revolution was the same song with different singers...as was much of every other so-called reform that came out of Europe.

"Their idea was, let the Americans bail them out and then Europe can resume its authority. But even though we tossed millions into their greedy hands, they were incensed that we wouldn't step back and let them call the shots."

Ahh...we had a bit of a catch-22 following WWII with the Cold War. Europe was completely decimated and the Soviets were selling communism as a cure-all for economic instability. Heck, people were trying to sell it to us in the 30's as a cure for the GD.

It's sad to say, but the Marshall Plan was necessary to not only help rebuild Europe, but to keep several countries from falling prey to communist expansion. Our problem was that we didn't cut the umbilical cord earlier...and as a result we helped feed the socialist beast, allowing them to save billions in defense spending, which they could reallocate into an ever expanding welfare state. Unfortunatley, we may not have been able to stop it either way...but at least the temporary alliance allowed us to defeat the Soviet Union and keep them out of Western Europe.

"They are determined to create permanent underclasses in the pretext that this will establish Utopia."

Liberals are the same the world over.

[ravingnutter]

Q. – Is the ban on pictures of coffins by the press a new policy? Does it compare with any past wartime policy?

A. – Xerxes tried to hide his dead after Thermopylae, and war losses historically have been used for and against continuing the struggle. I think that the policy really is supported by the families and not simply a Pentagon conspiracy. When Ted Koppel omitted reading the Afghan theater dead…

Why beat around the [pardon the pun] bush, just tell the facts...

In 1991, the media used a split screen to air a Bush Sr. news briefing with reporters (in which Bush Sr. was seen to laugh at one point), and the coffin ceremonies during the 1991 Gulf War. Families of returning soldiers were outraged that their loved ones were being used in a partisan manner and demanded that the DoD do something, hence the ban. This ban is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Military Family Association, two of the largest military organizations in the country, as evidenced in the following article excerpts:

The 2.6 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars supports the ban. ``It's not a media thing,'' VFW spokesman Joe Davis said. ``It's a solemn occasion. These are our fallen heroes.''

Tampa Tribune

The National Military Family Association, one of the largest military-advocacy groups, supports the policy. "The families that we've heard from are more interested in their privacy and would hope that people would be sensitive to them in their time of loss," said Kathy Moakler, deputy director of government relations for the organization.

Seattle Times

[lainde]

bttt

[saveliberty]

I guess I was trying to make the point that the problem is the inability to tolerate anyone who has something more (materially) and the inability to tolerate dissent.

I totally agree that the Marshall Plan was necessary and only for a short time. I would like to add that the Marshall Plan was important to the US economic recovery as European and Japanese markets were destroyed and the infusion of capital provided a customer base. The US just didn't recognize that this would be a one time event. And the country forgot the old saying that no good deed goes unpunished.