So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?
Those "obscene amenities" help keep our troops alive. So I guess that's one category of items that Arkin doesn't want to support our troops with.
As for civilians rolling over and playing dead, no, that isn't the issue. For me, the issue is that the declaration of war on Iraq had no expiration date. I assumed we fight until we win. Arkin doesn't think that way.
And that's his right. His complaint that he and his ilk are expected to give up their rights is silly given the volume and shrillness of their constant complaints about every plastic turkey issue they can make up. If the anti-war people feel under pressure to shut up, they don't show it. They really just don't like anybody disagreeing with them. But the key point is that dissent as practiced by the anti-war crowd has a price.
And finally, no, the anti-war people are not supporting the troops in every possible way. The anti-war side is actually feeling fairly superior just for not spitting on wounded soldiers they see on the street. The anti-war side does not support our soldiers in the one way that they'd really appreciate--by wanting America to win the war against bitter enemies who will kill us whether we fight them in Iraq or not.
Lileks has a great take on Arkin's apparent view of our troops:
They ought to be damn glad we don’t regard them all as man-stackers and baby stabbers, I guess. Every time they’re not spit upon in an airport, they ought to offer up a silent prayer.
That indeed is the impression Arkin leaves. The Washington Post should be so proud of their national and homeland defense analyst.
I've never thought much of Bill Arkin as a military analyst. Now I don't think much of him as a man.
