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March 22, 2005
Educating Private Rita
Thanks to our, er, friends at FreeRepublic.com, who absolutely hated this column and called the author every name in the book (primarily variations on "liberal" and "commie"), I have a good piece of writing to share with you.
Cook College senior Steve Meck writes:
Ever since the phrase "Support our Troops" was coined, it took on the twisted meaning of supporting the troops as blindly as they follow orders. For some reason, cheering for these disillusioned troops as they destroy other countries and in turn endanger America is the politically correct thing to do. If the troops were educated about the damage they are causing, perhaps the men and women who are willing to risk life and limb for the people of this country could actually put their efforts toward defending the American people.
The first thing that the troops need to learn is that their actions in Iraq and Afghanistan are not "defending our freedoms" or "deterring terrorism." The truth, by the government's own research, is that the wars are making the United States less safe by turning Iraq into a breeding ground for terrorists. The CIA report, "Mapping our Future," details how the war in Afghanistan, and Iraq especially, is creating and emboldening new terrorists and, thus, making America less safe. . . .
It is ironic that the average American soldier would have so much animosity for the average Afghan or Iraqi fighter since they both share so much in common - both believe they are fighting for justice and against tyranny. The American soldier believes he is fighting terrorism as he spreads it and the Afghan or Iraqi combatants fight to avenge U.S. terrorism but are simply causing more. Both have been led to believe, by their higher powers, to fight for what seems to be a just cause, but both are just causing more injustice.
But whether the murder of civilians is done under the guise of American freedom or under Islamic jihad, it is still, by definition, terrorism. Until U.S. soldiers realize the lies they are being fed, they will only continue to add to the cycle of terrorism.
It's a very good column, made all the better by how much the Freepers despise it.
Posted by Mike Tennant at March 22, 2005 09:36 AM
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