Just saw an excruciating report on ABC World News, on members of Apache company, which a reporter followed around for a while. I can't figure out how to link to the video directly, but if you go to the ABC News site and look on the right side of the frame, you can watch the video yourself. It's also going to be on Nightline tonight.
The effect of the report is to show how tense and worn out the soldiers are. One of them says that they never have time to rest -- that every day they have to go out and move in this constant state of extreme readiness, and that their bodies never have time to rest before having to wake up and do it again. Another soldier says that members of Congress and the president ought to be out there doing what they're doing. They're getting worn down from the lengthy tours.
The video shows them rushing to the aid of fellow troops burning to death in their overturned Bradley vehicle, which has been upended by an IED. Then they burst into apartments and houses nearby, terrifying the residents, in a fruitless search for the bombers. The next day, they're patrolling the neighborhood and see a car circling the block. They call out for it to stop, but for some reason the driver doesn't. They open fire, killing him. They drag the young man's body out. A terrified woman stands on the sidewalk with her kid, saying that the man was a taxi driver she'd called to come pick her up. He was looking for her house.
The American soldiers shot and killed an innocent man. Yet you can understand why they did it.
This is what our men are living with. Why? To what end?
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Cleveland - They fight because they are professionals and because they do what is asked of them. They aren't ideologically or politically motivated.
Ag04 - So you know what the consensus of the American soldier is? The opinion of the military generally reflects the opinion of the country at large.
Per John: "Cleveland - They fight because they are professionals and because they do what is asked of them. They aren't ideologically or politically motivated".
John, I know what you mean, but it would be even more correct to say our guys fight for each other once the fit hits the shan, not because some newly minted officer told them to fight. Yes, they follow orders because they are pros, but they are not mindless ideological or political eunuchs. As you probably know, there is fighting and there is fighting.
What keeps a man's spirits up is knowing he is fighting for a worthy cause, e.g., preventing more 9/11s and killing evil of the kind I mentioned in my post. I think the fighting in Vietnam, after it became clear the Democrats were not going to permit a military victory, was the professional fighting you have in mind.
I'm not so sure that there isn't a consensus. According to a recent survey of all the money donated to GOP candidates by persons in the military, more than half of the donations went to the most anti-war candidate, Congressman Ron Paul.
"I'm not so sure that there isn't a consensus. According to a recent survey of all the money donated to GOP candidates by persons in the military, more than half of the donations went to the most anti-war candidate, Congressman Ron Paul." Kristen M.
I just peeked at your anti-war blog source. Paul ($25K) got just a hair under, not over, half, and the stats include "employees", whatever that means. The numbers also include the $20K Rod donated to Paul.
Just kidding, Rod
...the stats include "employees", whatever that means.
Main Entry: em·ploy·ee
Function: noun
: one employed by another usually for wages or salary and in a position below the executive level
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