By Flowers Bloom
William M. Arkin writes a column on how The Troops Also Need to Support the American People in response to a report that the Troops do not support the very people who pay their salaries.
I would like to point out that I wholly support Americans exercising their First Amendment rights, even if the person doing so is a bloodthirsty mercenary in the military. I realize these young men and women are subjected to rigorous indoctrination by the Military Industrial Complex, and are also not very educated, so I am willing to tolerate it to some extent when Jack Booted thugs realize the error of their youthful ways and join the Anti-War campaign after their deployment, but this is just beyond the pale in it’s utter contempt for the rights of hardworking Americans who oppose Bush’s illegal war.
First up was 21 year old junior enlisted man Tyler Johnson, whom Engel said was frustrated about war skepticism and thinks that critics “should come over and see what it’s like firsthand before criticizing.”
“You may support or say we support the troops, but, so you’re not supporting what they do, what they’re here sweating for, what we bleed for, what we die for. It just don’t make sense to me,” Johnson said.
Next up was Staff Sergeant Manuel Sahagun, who is on his second tour in Iraq. He complained that “one thing I don’t like is when people back home say they support the troops, but they don’t support the war. If they’re going to support us, support us all the way.”
Next was Specialist Peter Manna: “If they don’t think we’re doing a good job, everything that we’ve done here is all in vain,” he said.
I find it to be a shocking and demoralizing “coincidence” that these uneducated, nearly illiterate young men have been so isolated from the sophistication and civility of American Universities that they don’t even realize that they are acting purely as tools of Chickenhawks that “Support the War” but are too cowardly to fight it, even up to and including reiterating the talking points of said Chickenhawk cowards.
I support the troops. I love the Military. I love the military when they airlift food and much needed medicine to poor, helpless people in Uganda, and I support them when they return home and joing the Veterans against the War. I love them and support them so much that I want them to return home and accomplish the goal they set when they joined the military and attend a University, subsidized by their tour of duty, and become the respectable, civil, and educated members of society that they had originally set out to be.
We pay their salaries, and this is how they repay us. We protest so that they can come home and get an education, and they treat us this way? When we indulge them in their terrible behaviors. We look the other way when the reopen the rape rooms under new management. We turn a blind eye when they burn mosques that are doing nothing more than holding multiple wedding ceremonies. We let it slide when they torture innocent civilians at Abu Ghraib and when they Murder soccer playing children in Haditha. I would expect a little gratitude.
Arkin says, “America needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform.” I couldn’t agree more.
*You can’t hug your children with nuclear arms*
(H/t TAIR)
see also, Captain’s Quarters
UPDATE: The fascists are really coming out of the woodwork as a result of Mr. Arkin’s expose. He’s a true patriot, and intolerant Neanderthals on the right are calling him a traitor. He felt the need to respond with The Arrogant and Intolerant Speak Out. I think the point he’s trying to make is a legitimate one.
He never meant to insinuate that Baby Killers don’t have the right to free speech. It’s just disturbing when they exercise that right. After all, he’s but a mere journalist, yet they are the ones with the weaponry to shut him up… permanently. I fully understand, given the temperament and general disposition our military has for murdering innocent civilians, that he feels threatened by the response. I too would fear for my life if I were him.
It’s really quite discouraging seeing a person of such noble cause being attacked so viciously by right wing propagandists, exercising their courage.com behind the anonymity of a keyboard. Why don’t they exercise some real courage and enlist so that we can point out that their opinion is nothing but propaganda, and an attempt to stifle free speech? Can another Kent State be far behind?
Related: Saving the World with Puppies and Kittens
Flowers and Hugs
Promoting Free Speech
Global Warming and Narnia
How You Can Help Save the Planet
2004–2008
15 responses so far ↓
1 fmragtops // Feb 1, 2007 at 3:07 pm
If you’re not over there fighting and dying you have no moral authority to disagree with the troops, you chickenpussy.
2 RT - Chief Mongress // Feb 2, 2007 at 12:40 am
Maybe he should go take a stroll through Arlington.
3 Eileen // Feb 2, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I know you don’t really want “seriousness” here.
But after reading this (and both articles) it occurred to me, that I didn’t receive any training (when I was in the Military post Vietnam and pre this war), on how to deal with the attitude of the Public. This should be mandatory training.
There will ALWAYS be those who oppose the cause, and the less obvious it is that our country is in peril danger, the more there will be opposition.
I get that it would be difficult to keep up moral if one does not believe their cause is worthy.
But the defense of free speech is one of those things worth fighting for.
However, often people jump on a stance, without really knowing much about it (and I admit to some guilt here).
I think that it would be interesting to have someone start asking questions, to determine what actual facts those protesting know. I saw someone from the news, interview someone at a protest once, which was protesting the World Trade Organization, and the person being interviewed seemed to know so little (if anything) about the cause they were protesting.
4 Skul // Feb 2, 2007 at 5:33 pm
“I know you don’t really want “seriousness” here.”
Shoulda stopped while you were ahead.
Are chickenchickenpussies edible?
Can you get Bacon from a Groundhog?
Can we feed Arkin to the pigs?
Forget the last one, the pigs would find him “unclean”.
5 RT - Chief Mongress // Feb 2, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I thought Arkin was a pig.
There is free speech and then there is free speech to say that someone is hurting the morale of those protecting the free speech. Just as Arkin is exercising his rights, those that oppose Arkin can speak on the behalf of those dying to protect his rights.
Now about that bacon…
6 bob k // Feb 2, 2007 at 8:26 pm
The soldiers posting here are simply conditioned slaves who have murdered 600,000 thousand Iraqi men, women and children for a predatory elite who wage war by deception. You will soon be called upon to arrest and kill American citizens who disagree with the dictatorship introduced in this country with the false flag operation 9-11. Consider soldier boy, that the executioneers in Karbala spoke perfect english and arrived in black suburbans. Some of those mercenaries must have gotten a better offer. You are being used to destroy the home you love in your ignorance and suggestability. Think about mass hypnosis and mind control. Watch the runup to war against Iran. Before this is over we will see tens of million of dead and our country destroyed by your own hand. You are manipulated and don’t even know it in your limited experience and ignorance of history. Seek and ye shall find. Knowledge protects.
7 FIAR // Feb 2, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Skul, chickenchickenpussy is edible, but not recommended. It is very bland and has a mushy texture.
8 Mark Greco // Feb 2, 2007 at 8:53 pm
So, let me get this straight.
1-Only people who have joined the military have the moral authority to support war and active deployment of our troops (the chickenhawk argument)
2-People who have joined the military should not voice their opinion in matters supportive of war or deployment
3–THEREFORE, only people who are against the war have the moral authority to speak.
That’s a nice bit of self-serving “logic” constructed by Arkin and other left-wing ideologues. I’d be impressed if I weren’t so sickened.
9 Yarrr // Feb 2, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Wow. WOW! I never knew that I was so indoctrinated! Funny, I don’t remember killing any innocents when I was in Iraq. I also don’t seem to remember intentionally terrorizing civilians, although I’ll be the first to admit that waking up to see foreign troops in your neighborhood is not the best way to arise in the morning. I spent my entire tour trying to help people, to protect the innocent, and all the while I never knew I was busy slaughtering 600 thousand innocent civilians. Thanks for clearing that up for me!
10 Eileen // Feb 2, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Mark,
You have (2) slightly wrong.
The article only suggests that those NOW in the Military should not voice their opinion.
Therefore, those who were in the Military, but are no longer in the Military might have the moral authority to speak, despite their stance on (3).
I am starting to question the right to free speech. I am wondering if knowledge should be a requirement?
11 Eileen // Feb 2, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Actually I am wrong, I think that Mark’s (2) does reflect the article.
12 Skul // Feb 3, 2007 at 12:42 am
Heh, I think bob k did a pretty good job up there. Howz about some Bacon fer the guy.
13 Skul // Feb 3, 2007 at 12:45 am
Oops, forgot.
No Eileen, knowledge is not a requirement.
That’s why you see me commenting here.
14 fmragtops // Feb 3, 2007 at 10:40 am
LOL @bobk, that’s the best crazy-ass conspiracy nut imitation I’ve ever seen. That was hilarious. Thanks for the laugh.
Greco: You got it. That’s what the left is all about.
15 Fred Thompson = Hitler // Aug 22, 2007 at 7:58 pm
[...] KBR is Halliburton - Yes, that Halliburton. The same company that profits from our barely literate bloodthirsty babykillers murdering brides and bridesmaids at weddings in Iraq, is giving special favors to Fred [...]
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