Oct. 27, 2004 - 19:56 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Good Questions

There is a man with whom I agree a good part of the time and at other times we think differently. So be it. Guess he draws more water than I do, he is a professor of law at the University of Colorado. His opinion in this article seems to me to be right on. In whole.

Ante up, armchair generals

"Few things are more absurd than the posturing of armchair generals. At present, an army of draft-dodging politicians, fierce-sounding media pundits, and pajama-clad bloggers -- almost none of whom have ever been within a thousand miles of an actual batle -- are bomarding us with messages regarding how "we" are fighting an enemy who is as great a threat to America as the nation has ever faced."

"We are told that Iraq is the front line in a global campaign against this enemy, who threatens the very existence of Western civilization. The war on terror, we are assured, is a battle for our very survival; and success in Iraq is crucial to that battle."

"A glance at the behavior of those who are making such claims reveals that either they don't believe what they say, or (more likely) they have failed to consider that their claims, if taken seriously, might require some sort of action on their part."

"Let's take their claims seriously. A simple question ought to arise far more often than it has over the course of the past two years: Has even one of these rhetorical warriors volunteered for military service ?

"If "we" are truly fighting for our survival, what possible justification could there be for failing to volunteer to take part in the battle itself ? Those who aren't eligible themselves for military service could demonstrate the sincerity of their beliefs by exhorting their siblings and children to join the armed forces: yet you will need to search long and hard to find such a plea among the millions of words published in support of the war."

"Indeed, it's almost impossible to find a hawk who advocates reinstating the draft, despite the critical personnel shortage caused by the Iraq war -- a shortage that now limits America's military options in many dangerous ways."

"Those who produce rationalizaions for excusing themselves from the risk of being called to serve in our armed forces could at least volunteer to take part in the reconstruction of Iraq, which everyone agrees is a crucial to the war effort. Yet our government has been reduced to paying marginally qualified private contractors enormous salaries to carry out the most basic work."

"How can those who claim we are fighting for our very survival explain their almost universal failure to accept huge sums of money in return for exposing themselves to a modicum of risk and inconvenience in Iraq itself ?"

"One could go on. How many hawks have visited a wounded soldier, or written to our troops in the field, or contributed time or money to (tax deductible) charity organizations dealing with the carnageof a war that has killed tens of thousands, and left even more orphaned and destitute ?"

"Speaking of taxes, how many supporters of the war have asked that their taxes be raised, or at least not cut any further, so as not to expose themselves to the disgrace of leaving their children with the bill for a war that they themselves did not have the courage for; let alone fight ?"

"To paraphrase Lincoln, a willingness to part with a few more dollars is surely the first half measure of devotion that ought to be asked of those who claim "we" are fighting for our very survival. Yet, judging from the indignant squeals that escape from the average war supporter whenever anyone hints at such a thing, even this seems too costly a sacrifice to lay on the altar of liberty."

"Talk is cheap. Underneath all the stirring war rhetoric, an unspoken message comes through loud and clear; No sacrifice is too great for someone else to make."

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It keeps coming back to my mind, that appearance of our peerless leader showing up on the deck of a carrier, in flight gear, smirking his head off, with "Mission Accomplished" blaring at us from all sides. Hell, looks to me that our troops are still struggling to finish a mission ill begun.

Mr. Campos is so very good at saying exactly what I think and feel -- only in much better English and applied grammar.

He can be reached via e-mail at:

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Yep our leaders can talk big when they are safe behind the lines and don't have to suffer the wounds and privation attendant as well as death. I wonder how they would be if they were forcibly placed in such a position ?

Mr. Campos asks some very Good Questions . . . . . . .

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