Posted on 12/23/2005 6:39:07 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
During world war two American troops away from home for Christmas were entertained by Marlene Dietrich, Bing Crosby and the Marx Brothers. Even in Vietnam Bob Hope was guaranteed to put in an appearance. But soldiers in Iraq are more likely to get a show from a Christian hip-hop group, a country singer you have probably never heard of and two cheerleaders for the Dallas Cowboys.
Just as the seemingly intractable nature of the war has led to a growing recruitment crisis, so the United Services Organisation, which has been putting on shows for the troops since the second world war, is struggling to get celebrities to sign up for even a short tour of duty.
It is a far cry from the days following the September 11 2001 attacks, when some of the biggest names in show business, from Jennifer Lopez to Brad Pitt, rallied to the cause. "After 9/11 we couldn't have had enough airplanes for the people who were volunteering to go," Wayne Newton, the Las Vegas crooner who succeeded Bob Hope as head of USO's talent recruiting effort, told USA Today. "Now with 9/11 being as far removed as it is, the war being up one day and down the next, it becomes increasingly difficult to get people to go."
Newton said many celebrities have been wary of going because they think it might be seen that they are endorsing the war. "And I say it's not. I tell them these men and women are over there because our country sent them, and we have the absolute necessity to try to bring them as much happiness as we can."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Guardian is such a rag
In other words, they can't go entertain the troops because they don't like the President. Nice.
And these entertainers are Not Celebrity enough?
Not Patriotic enough?
Not talented enough?
The Guardian wouldn't know the truth if it walked up and bit them in the @ss. Stalin apologists - lowest of the low.
"Just as the seemingly intractable nature of the war has led to a growing recruitment crisis...."
Lie. All services met their recruiting goals this year, and the numbers are getting better, not worse.
In Iraq and Afghanistan, reenlistments are far ahead of the goals, some units near 140%.
The USO shows I see seem to be well attended and the soldiers seem to be having a good time.
The goal of the rabbidly defeatist Guardian is to undermine the war effort in any way possible. Wayne Newton who has done great things for the troops and the USO should have known that the Guardian wouldnt be after a story if they didnt think they could make the USA look bad with it.
Duh!
It just might be that our troops don't want to be entertained by those who are rooting for the other side to win.
I miss Bob Hope.
The WWE went and that was good.
Screw Hollywood. At least Charlie Daniels Band supports the troops, as for the rest of them... RENT movies. =o)
I can swaer that just recently (in the last year) the USO got the likes of Jessica Simpson, Garth Brooks, etc. to do shows for the troops. I think the Guardian has a case of selective amnesia.
My suspicion is they're deathly afraid biting the leftist hand that feeds them $20M paychecks for making those really swell movies & "music" they're grinding out these days. |
Creeps.
Didn't Toby Keith go also?
Ditto.
As are "celebrities/entertainers" who consider taking cheer to our servicepersonnel to be threatening to their concepts of popularity.
It would, in fact, be beneficial to their popularity if they'd just open their understandings to those beyond Hollywood, L.A., and S.F., CA.
Unfortunately, i think the Guardian is on the money
with this one. Most of the present day "stars" are
worthless cowards, who have not one shred pf loyalty
to *anything* other than what's between their legs...
much less their own country, which provided them with
everything they have.
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