Maybe Ms. Clift is jealous.
Strange, Clift with Rummy.
Newsweek columnist Elinor Clift,
Donald Rumsfield and Sen.
John McCain in San Diego in 1996.
Posted on 08/31/2005 10:46:46 AM PDT by Howie66
Excerpted from article:
"A group that supports the U.S. military is demanding an apology from Newsweek magazine's Eleanor Clift, who recently characterized America's armed forces as a "mercenary Army."
Her comments -- made this past weekend on the syndicated TV program "The McLaughlin Group" -- were "unfounded and grossly inappropriate," said the Freedom Alliance.
In an Aug. 30 letter to Clift, Freedom Alliance President Tom Kilgannon asked her to retract her comment and apologize to the armed forces and their families.
Clift made the comment during a discussion about military recruiting efforts:
"But I think what we're coming to grips with is the fact that we actually have a mercenary Army," Clift said, according to a transcript of "The McLaughlin Group" program.
"And it doesn't have a nice ring to it. We call it 'volunteers,' but we're basically paying people to serve their country. And if you're going to pay people and have a mercenary Army, you're going to have to pay the market rate. And so the bounties are going up -- more money for tuition, higher enlistment bonuses -- and I think it's appropriate."
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=\Culture\archive\200508/CUL20050830b.html
heh, heh, heh, that's good.
Wonder if Clift still has the hots for Bill Clinton?
Mercenaries were in abundance during the Revolution (von Steuben, Polaski, Lafayette, J. P. Jones). A French mercenary was among the defenders of the Alamo (but he stole away before the fort fell). Several European mercenaries served on both sides during the War Between the States.
In WWII, the Flying Tigers were probably the most famous mercenaries, outside of the French Foreign Legion (which fought on both sides).
Biblically, David served as a mercenary to the Philistines before he became king.
"Mercenary" is not a perjorative. Indeed, mercenaries have often played pivotal roles in fighting for freedom. The most famous example might be Count Carl Gustav von Rosen, who flew gratis for the Biafrans during their abortive secession from Nigeria.
"Anti American" idiot is far too kind, I'm assuming she has'nt had a bowel movement in decades, she exudes the pained and uncomfortable expression of the constipated!
Eleanor Clift is Cindy Sheehan with a sprinkling of sanity.
"But I think what we're coming to grips with is the fact that we actually have a mercenary Army,"
Eleanor...I'd like to "Come to Grips" with Your scummy greasy, chicken ......naaah, I wouldnt soil my hands.
"Wonder if Clift still has the hots for Bill Clinton?"
Gee....ya think? I'm betting that she'd "take one" for him any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Just a hunch, ya know.
"Eleanor Clift is Cindy Sheehan with a sprinkling of sanity."
One would have to wonder just where the "sprinkles" landed, eh? Or..........just where did the aforementioned "sprinkles" come from...? You don't think.....nah.....Clinton is supposed to be on vacation with his wife and daughter in Hawaii....
""Anti American" idiot is far too kind, I'm assuming she has'nt had a bowel movement in decades, she exudes the pained and uncomfortable expression of the constipated!"
I know...I just worded it this way so that I would not get permanently banned from this site. If you want to know what I really think of this slime laden, treasonous POS....just take a que from any George Carlin diatribe on words that you can't say on tv....
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
A smile would rip the hide right off their numb skulls.
"A smile would rip the hide right off their numb skulls."
Just imagine the complete and total devastation that would result if one of these liberal/socialist knobs were to ever be struck by an actual thought.
Sorry, but the term does not apply to American forces. And it is perjorative when applied to them. The lady should should know that the present structure of the US military can be dated back a hundred years, when after the disorder of the Spanish-American War Elihu Root was brought in to effect reforms. But the US has never used troops like the Hessians employed by George III or even had anything like the Foreign Legion, or even the Ten Thousand Greeks protrayed in the Anabapsis. People join the milititary for the today for some of the same reasons that they joined in 1935. Don't dare call the American soldiers whom Wainwright surrendered "mercenaries."
Let's examine this, shall we?
Take your standard issue E-5 with 6 years of active duty, shall we? The monthly salary for this soldier, sailor, airman, coat guardsman or Marine (in caps because I'm a Marine) is a whopping $2,205.30. This translates to $26,463.60 annually. Or since our military personnel are "on duty" 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year, a princely sum of $3.02 per hour.
I don't know about you, but I can't imagine in my wildest dreams where any "self-respecting" mercenary would put his keister in harm's way for this kind of money.
Then again, it is painfully obvious that liberals/socialists like Eleanor Clift think that our troops are basically dumber than a box of rocks.
Amen!
Most mercs don't do it for the money (what kind of money would make you put your life on the line daily?). They do it for a cause. One need only look at the various folks that rallied to the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War, or Count von Rosen to see this.
I never called the folks serving today "mercenaries." I did say that mercenaries have served in U.S. ranks throughout history. The two are not synonymous.
Having never been a "merc" I can't argue with you one way or the other. Having served in the Corps, I know that I sure as hell didn't do it for the money.
Maybe Ms. Clift is jealous.
Strange, Clift with Rummy.
Newsweek columnist Elinor Clift,
Donald Rumsfield and Sen.
John McCain in San Diego in 1996.
In this time of national disaster, Elenor Clift is sooooo insignificant, along with the Hollywood left-wing losers, who incidently have said absolutely nothing about the terrible tragic event in the South.
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.