Posted on 07/24/2005 1:37:50 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Well, you know the New York Times - predominantly Democrat, from the party that defended the institution of slavery, so it's not surprising they're trying to agitate for the return of modern-day slavery in the form of the draft.
"More pus from the chancre"
Chancre has no pus. Syphillis, caused by Spirochetes Treponema Pallidum, attracts no neutrophils and thus there is no pus. That is why chancre was called "cold sore" - without neutrophils, there was no pain or heat, the classical signs of inflammation.
Sorry to bring medicine into this.
I do find it curious that the same people who would never "negotiate" with fundamentalist Christians when it comes to school prayer, abortion or evolution want us to "listen" to people who blow up our buildings and themselves in order to create a worldwide Islamofascist state. THAT crowd we to communicate with.
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.
LOL! Yeah, I have a feeling in this writer's past is a line similar to "We're paying through the nose for Bush's war."
Just like during the election campaign,the MSM was bitching about the cost of the war,they kept throwing those numbers out there on the one hand,then they'd turn around and raise H about there not being enough bullet-proof armor at the start of the war. Well duh,which is it?
And that's a good point you make,about how they think we should have empathy for the Islamomurderers who want to destroy us and civilisation,nothing less,but they can't try to see the argument of people who don't want babies murdered and who want to be free to worship OUR God without having to hide it as if we're ashamed(they'd like us to be,but we're not). They don't even want us to be free to raise our families according to our beliefs-in private,at our own expense-look at the grief they give homeschoolers.
They treat homeschoolers like they're one jallopy ride from Waco 2. I don't have a dog in the homeschool fight, but I am amused at the left for its hatred for these folks who don't just SAY their kids are the most important things in their lives, they actually behave as if they are.
Wouldn't have anything to do with taking them out of the schools libs control curriculum-wise, I'm sure.
I believe that that's the root source of almost all the left's most recent most vituperative hate and venom and slander,because they ARE losing ground,and they know it. Between an alternative media,small but growing,more people homeschooling or otherwise exercising a choice about their children's education,the right gaining some ground politically(incrementally,to be sure-we go from Reagan to Bush 41 to Clinton to Bush 43),and the new-found respect amongst most Americans for the military,they're losing ground. It's killing them,that they there's some place else to go.
You're 100% right.
The only ones who POed me when I was down range (15 months) were jerks like this reporter who is trying to sell some deranged perception of his personal reality.
If you go out from the premise that something is a certain way, you can find data, witnesses, or other pieces to prove nearly anything.
Here's reality for him. Reenlistment is not bad. Over 75% of the military voted for Bush. We made our recruiting goal again. After announcing to the world that we didn't make it for some time they won't report on the fact that we are back on track again and made the quota. I guess good news is no story for the NYTs? But sure, our young, inner-city minority soldiers, who all feel disenfranchised and smoke pot and have sex with local woman are fed up by a pointless war that is fought for some interests (oil) and led by incompetent officers and abusive NCOs. Did I miss a stereotype? I wasn’t able to stuff jungle, drafted, average age 19, and fragging in there (sorry). All he did was to dig for some new dirt that really isn’t new. The same old liberal slanted “force fed” crap.
Red6
Thank you for your service.
Here's reality for him. Reenlistment is not bad. Over 75% of the military voted for Bush. We made our recruiting goal again. After announcing to the world that we didn't make it for some time they won't report on the fact that we are back on track again and made the quota. I guess good news is no story for the NYTs?
I'm sure they reported that recruitment was back on track, I just must have missed it. Uh huh.
But sure, our young, inner-city minority soldiers, who all feel disenfranchised and smoke pot and have sex with local woman are fed up by a pointless war that is fought for some interests (oil) and led by incompetent officers and abusive NCOs. Did I miss a stereotype?
LOL It's amazing how the libs, who are supposed to be so anti-discriminatory, are the ones who trade in cultural stereotyping ALL THE TIME. Meanwhile in my 40 years on this planet I have found more conservatives in the blue collar jobs I've had, coming from the most "diverse" group you could imagine--of course I'm using the NYT version of diversity, which is skin color. Amazing how the libs are all for diversity of skin color but not of thought, as in my experience veterans of the American military I've known over the years are a lot more diverse thought-wise than the NYT editorial offices.
I wasn’t able to stuff jungle, drafted, average age 19, and fragging in there (sorry). All he did was to dig for some new dirt that really isn’t new. The same old liberal slanted “force fed” crap.
I guess since Jason Blair (sp) isn't around to invent new crap for them they have to go back to the old reliables.
"Flashbacks of when I returned from Nam."
A little late I know, and you deserved a hell of a lot more, but "WELCOME HOME NY ATTITUDE!"
Thanks.
Dear NYT: If you you would like to help share the burden, drive your kids down to the recruiting station. In other words, PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
"Well, the NYT and its ilk have had a lot to do with making people feel distant from or even ashamed of the war. Who better than the Times to now write an article pretending to be "concerned" about having achieved their goal?"
Well then shame on us for reading that anti-American, anti-military, anti-Veteran piece of trash.
"Well, the NYT and its ilk have had a lot to do with making people feel distant from or even ashamed of the war. Who better than the Times to now write an article pretending to be "concerned" about having achieved their goal?"
Well then shame on us for reading that anti-American, anti-military, anti-Veteran piece of trash.
Some issues I have with the Admin. Since it all starts from the Top.
1. They need to start using more propaganda posters in all Federal Buildings. Since we are at War, we need poster and such depicting our enemy. More stuff like WW2, posters describing how all Americans can help the cause.
2. I think PGWB’s new campaign is the Nation at War theme. But, the MSM once again has not put it out enough. I hope that, perhaps, he is doing a Base type tour program. Maybe he can hit as many Military Bases in the States using Military Transportation only. Then head overseas.
3. GWB needs to go to Iraq more often. How many times has he been to Iraq? He needs to show the public that it’s safe there. By him going there, it will give the public a showing that it is indeed safe. He needs to go there at least once a month. By doing that he shows us troops that he’s willing to risk his safety to see us.
4. More forums instead of speeches. Talk to the common guy and discuss his agenda. I just don’t see the Admin doing much of this.
5 Go visit the countries that have supported our Coalition in Iraq. Go thank them personally in their country.
.
WALTER CRONKITE, 2008 Presidential Candidate HILLARY's No. 1 Media Defensive Linebacker, publically called for our Southern States to secede from our Union at a year 2000 World Conference held in London, England.
WALTER CRONKITE, most believed Media voice during the 1960's, was on the side of our Terrorist Enemy Communist North Vietnam Dictator HO CHI MINH and against us who were fighting for the Freedom of others during the Vietnam War.
WALTER CRONKITE has not changed since, even in this new LIBERTY Century with our own Freedom directly at stake here at home.
The Enemy is now Within...
and always has been.
.
Interesting cross-reference to nearby article:
"We're at war, but at the same time, we're not at war," said McKeon, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee.
McKeon: 'Wake up' on illegal immigration (Buck McKeon -CA)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1449599/posts
Yep, I think the NYT wants to use the draft scare for it's own agenda, which as we all know is anti-American.
Some uninformed people actually think that a draft is going to happen. Some are praying it will and some are just silly paranoids-see the "DU Draft Group", that's a laugh riot.
It's not going to happen for a thousand different reasons.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.