He is clearly taking a jab at Rumsfeld. I have no problem with that, and I am sure, neither does Rumsfeld. It goes with the territory. I am so damned angry at this I can barely type.
When I came into this forum earlier today, I could not view the cartoon, since the original poster (with the best of intentions) did not have a clear idea how to do it.
Well, I got an eyeful when I got home.
When I was 10 years old, I lived in Yokouska, Japan, my dad was the Security Officer for the base. I used to spend a lot of my time at the yacht basin, where I obsessively learned to sail.
It also happened to be right next to the heliport, where casualties were flown in from Vietnam.
I watched those olive colored tadpole shaped helicopters with the white squares and red crosses fly in and out of there all day long. One every 15 minutes or so, if my memory serves me correctly. So I would watch. The helicopter would land, all the people would run out, ducking low, grab the stretchers and, ducking, run back and load them in the ambulances.
Their loads consisisted of stretcher-borne dark green blankets with human heads poking out the end, often with tubes coming out the sides into containers and down from bottles carried high.
I watched that a lot, but I don't really think I got it. My buddies and I would play "Army", figuring out new and innovative ways to fall when we "got shot".
But I did get it, as soon as I got old enough to really think it through, and it haunts me to this day, all those young men, their lives changed, some dramatically, all for the rest of their days. I think of them often.
Then, to see a piece of CRAP like this "cartoonist" author something like that, well it just sends me off the end.
And, by the way, thanks for your service. I DO appreciate it, and there are many more like me (as I hope you know). When you ever hear the phrase "The thanks of a grateful nation..." you know why.
I love wearing the uniform and appreciate the recognition by so many FReepers. As I always say: I wouldn't have any other career. Many Army brats understand what it's like to serve, because they also suffer by being sent all over the world, attending DoD schools, not having the Grandparents right around the corner for emergencies, etc. Most Americans have little knowledge of how MUCH sacrifice is made by soldiers and their families even when we're not at war.
As another poster said, your anger could be better used elsewhere. Simply remind all your friends to not read that paper. I do- every day I remind other soldiers of anti-military actors/writers/musicians/media and that they should think about that before supporting any of these people with the money they earned by putting their lives on the line.
Have a great evening.