All Quiet on the Home Front, and Some Soldiers Are Asking Why

NY Slimes ^ | 7/24/05 | THOM SHANKER

[lowbridge]

The Bush administration's rallying call that America is a nation at war is increasingly ringing hollow to men and women in uniform, who argue in frustration that America is not a nation at war, but a nation with only its military at war.

From bases in Iraq and across the United States to the Pentagon and the military's war colleges, officers and enlisted personnel quietly raise a question for political leaders: if America is truly on a war footing, why is so little sacrifice asked of the nation at large?

There is no serious talk of a draft to share the burden of fighting across the broad citizenry, and neither Republicans nor Democrats are pressing for a tax increase to force Americans to cover the $5 billion a month in costs from Iraq, Afghanistan and new counterterrorism missions.

There are not even concerted efforts like the savings-bond drives or gasoline rationing that helped to unite the country behind its fighting forces in wars past.

"Nobody in America is asked to sacrifice, except us," said one officer just back from a yearlong tour in Iraq, voicing a frustration now drawing the attention of academic specialists in military sociology.

Members of the military who discussed their sense of frustration did so only when promised anonymity, as comments viewed as critical of the civilian leadership could end their careers. The sentiments were expressed in more than two dozen interviews and casual conversations with enlisted personnel, noncommissioned officers, midlevel officers, and general or flag officers in Iraq and in the United States.

Charles Moskos, a professor emeritus at Northwestern University specializing in military sociology, said: "My terminology for it is 'patriotism lite,' and that's what we're experiencing now in both political parties.

[Darkwolf377]

I thank you, your family and your brother for his service.

A combat veteran of Vietnam I know is no conservative; he said that whatever the flaws and problems he could point out about Bush post 9-11, he did not hesitate for one second to vote for him last time. Anyway, he tells me that he knows from experience what stories relating to the military to ignore as the work of people who have zero clue about the genuine concerns of the military, and simply twist the same complaining we all do at our non-military jobs into whatever fits their particular point of view.

It does amuse me, however, how the NYT is so concerned about the rest of us not "suffering" enough. Shades of the great Vonnegut short story "Harrison Bergeron."

[Peach]

It is vitally important and there are many ways we could all be involved. I wish the government would at least appoint someone within each state to work with citizens to get involved.

I think I'll write our Governor Sanford and see if there is something he can suggest.

[maestro]

.....All Quiet on the Home Front, and Some Soldiers Are Asking Why.........the 'ACLU'....is in control of this ___________?

......and exactly,....what is,.... the 'Internationale' Anthem... of the 'ACLU'....?

/truth and 'patriot'....ism?

[Wolfstar]

I think I'll write our Governor Sanford and see if there is something he can suggest.

That's a good idea. I think I'll write my own governor. The states don't need to wait for the feds before setting up civil defense programs.

[roses of sharon]

Yes in Iraq and in Afghanistan, AND THEY ALL WORK FOR HALLIBURTON!

You see, I'm personally in on the evil plot by Bush and Cheney to kill soldiers for oil money and contracts!

[adam_az]

"Members of the military who discussed their sense of frustration did so only when promised anonymity, as comments viewed as critical of the civilian leadership could end their careers. The sentiments were expressed in more than two dozen interviews and casual conversations with enlisted personnel, noncommissioned officers, midlevel officers, and general or flag officers in Iraq and in the United States."



Members of the NY Times staff who discussed their sense of frustration with the Old Grey Lib-Whore did so only when promised anonymity, as comments viewed as critical of the Times editorial policy could end their careers. The sentiments were expressed in more than two dozen interviews and casual conversations with Times writers, section editors, midlevel stringers, and Op-Ed writers.



Amazing how that works, huh?

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

NEVER FORGET


Members of Congress
Governors of States and
Presidents of the United States

...all support our Freedom Fighting Heroes, and say so, in the inspiring book titled:

'MODERN DAY HEROES: In Defense of America'

...by Pete Mitchell & Bill Perkins

http://www.ModernDayHeroes.com/aloha

Hit: 'Resource Center'

Hit: 'Aloha Ronnie'

.

[mrsmel]

Thank you:) My brother feels like he's just putting his money where his mouth is. He's very proud that his oldest daughter will be going to West Point.

I haven't read that story,but I think I understand what the gist must be.I'll find and read it.

That stupid writer would(and probably has been)the first to raise the hue and cry if the WOT WAS affecting the home front any more than it has. And most likely being at a far distance from actually knowing any troops or their families,HTH does he have any clue as to what sacrifices they are making,or what Americans in general would do if the neccesity presented itself? It's pretty unfair to judge America generally by his socialist anti-American circles.I believe that if we were called upon,there might be some grumbling(hey we're Americans,that's our God-given right:)),but we would come through-maybe HE wouldn't,he would know best about that.

[mrsmel]

Thanks for the links, I'm looking at some now,and bookmarking them.

[marty60]

When people get quiet they are THINKING. London did a number on a lot of peoples minds.

[Nita Nupress]

When lowbridge gets taken by a Nigerian scammer. :)

[Gunrunner2]

What. . .are you saying they would make up a source. . .say it isn't so.

I'm shocked. . .shocked, I say.

[Darkwolf377]

That stupid writer would(and probably has been)the first to raise the hue and cry if the WOT WAS affecting the home front any more than it has.

Excellent point--notice the deafening silence since the deficit numbers came out? Remember before how we kept hearing that the WOT was being paid for on the backs of our children and blah blah blah?

It used to be that when a Republican was in office suddenly every social program was massively underfunded; they can't pull that with Bush (somewhat to my chagrin) so what do they do--compliment him on this? Nope--they hate him more, and go the OTHER way--we're living too well!

The obstinance of those who "think" with their feelings never ceases to amaze--they hate Bush, so all logic flows from and to that one belief, and anything that might mitigate it is ignored, and logic is twisted to support it.

[TheDon]

The Bush administration's rallying call that America is a nation at war is increasingly ringing hollow to men and women in uniform, who argue in frustration that America is not a nation at war, but a nation with only its military at war.

I find such arguments ring hollow, and not only when they come from liberals.

[denydenydeny]

I note that not even one currently-deployed member of the military is quoted in this article.

[iconoclast]

I appreciate the full disclosure. ;-)

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.


Thank you sharing, mrsmel.

Appreciate your caring.

AR

.

[mrsmel]

Kind of along the lines of types like this writer and their pretzel "logic" that we brought this on ourselves in the first place,if we would just appease the terrorists,they wouldn't kill us. As if they would negotiate,when their demands are domination and destruction of all but Islamic rule.

And this writer was probably one of the leftists bitching about the WOT raising gasoline prices.I don't doubt it at all.If it has or not,well, OMG,what a huge and terrible price to pay for our freedom and to not be worshipping the moon-demon or getting our heads hacked off.

[Texas Eagle]

"Nobody in America is asked to sacrifice, except us," said one officer just back from a yearlong tour in Iraq.

Uh-huh. I'll bet Mr. Shanker has a bumper sticker on his car that says, "I just write what the voices in my head tell me to write."

[mrsmel]

You're welcome,and I believe that most Americans do care,you'd just never know it from the MSM and their hate-filled traitorous agenda. Politics before patriotism,with them.