Eleanor Clift displays her contempt for our troops

CNSNews.com ^ | 30 August 2005 | Susan Jones

[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

[F.J. Mitchell]

Sorry, I am unable in my wildest imagination to picture one of that crowd being struck by an actual thought.

[RobbyS]

Clift did. For a wordwonger to use the term thus shows contempt.

[Junior]

Never was a mercenary, either (though I did join the Navy for the money -- it's hard to support a wife and kid delivering pizza). I have, however, been studying them and collecting data to eventually write a series of articles on them for publication (I'm a major procrastinator). An individual's motivation to take up that life is as varied as the individuals themselves. There are some who do it for the money or because that's the only trade they know. Most do it for other reasons, such as adventure, or a cause they believe in, or out of a misplaced sense of chivalry.

There are thousands of mercenaries serving in Iraq at the moment (though they call themselves "security contractors.") Four of them were killed in rioting a while back.

[Howie66]

Just an update on this topic.....

Today I received a solicitation from "NewsWeak" magazine.

I couldn't believe it, because I would never touch that rag even if it was the only thing available in the men's room.

My response was as follows:

"You have got to be joking!!

Give Eleanor Clift my very "best".

Signed: A former active duty Mercenary (USMC '69-'71)"

This was written across the subscription form in black Sharpie, and then placed in their postage paid return envelope.

It will go out in the mail tomorrow.

[luvie]

You go! I hope the stupid rag goes out of business--they are so biased that they don't even pretend to be otherwise!

[StarCMC]

ROFL!!!! Good on ya!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good job, Howie....perfect response! And make them pay for it. LOL!

[Bob]

It will go out in the mail tomorrow.

Sweeeeeet!!

[Eighth Square]

Nah, she is too filled with hatred to even think about the 'BJ' carney. As I said in another post she is constipated and has'nt had a BM in two decades, she hates men, she hates herself - even the 'lessies' don't like her. She needs to drafted into the Peace Corps and remain wherever she is sent.