All Quiet on the Home Front, and Some Soldiers Are Asking Why

NY Slimes ^ | 7/24/05 | THOM SHANKER

[lowbridge]

The Bush administration's rallying call that America is a nation at war is increasingly ringing hollow to men and women in uniform, who argue in frustration that America is not a nation at war, but a nation with only its military at war.

From bases in Iraq and across the United States to the Pentagon and the military's war colleges, officers and enlisted personnel quietly raise a question for political leaders: if America is truly on a war footing, why is so little sacrifice asked of the nation at large?

There is no serious talk of a draft to share the burden of fighting across the broad citizenry, and neither Republicans nor Democrats are pressing for a tax increase to force Americans to cover the $5 billion a month in costs from Iraq, Afghanistan and new counterterrorism missions.

There are not even concerted efforts like the savings-bond drives or gasoline rationing that helped to unite the country behind its fighting forces in wars past.

"Nobody in America is asked to sacrifice, except us," said one officer just back from a yearlong tour in Iraq, voicing a frustration now drawing the attention of academic specialists in military sociology.

Members of the military who discussed their sense of frustration did so only when promised anonymity, as comments viewed as critical of the civilian leadership could end their careers. The sentiments were expressed in more than two dozen interviews and casual conversations with enlisted personnel, noncommissioned officers, midlevel officers, and general or flag officers in Iraq and in the United States.

Charles Moskos, a professor emeritus at Northwestern University specializing in military sociology, said: "My terminology for it is 'patriotism lite,' and that's what we're experiencing now in both political parties.

[Polybius]

The Bush administration's rallying call that America is a nation at war is increasingly ringing hollow to men and women in uniform, who argue in frustration that America is not a nation at war, but a nation with only its military at war.

Actually, the liberal news media is in all-out war mode.......to undermined the morale of the U.S. Home Front.

Josef Goebbels could only dream of such a thing.

[mrsmel]

As if this author or The New York Slimes gives a about our military,supporting them or the WOT,patriotism,or America. As if they didn't lie during the whole Presidential campaign that Republicans would reinstitute the draft,and not because they were for the idea.As if they don't constantly declaim the idea that it's "patriotic" to slander and oppose our troops and the job they're doing in Iraq.As if they're ANYthing except hopeful that the war effort fails,the military and our C-in-C fail,and that America fails.As if anyone with the sense God gave a pea doesn't know all this.

[mrsmel]

My brother is almost 44,married app twenty years,has a lovely wife and three lovely daughters,and is now in Iraq,having volunteered to return to full-time active duty in order to go. He's only one guy,but I can assure this wad of puss that my brother was NOT thinking "Damn it's so unfair that I'm going to that hot dangerous hell hole on behalf of my country,but my family gets to stay home and be comfortable and live it up while I do so".And I would think that he's fairly representative.I know he is of the guys in his unit.This POS writer chooses to ignore that we have a volunteer military,and that the right-minded section of America whole-heartedly supports them,and that their families ARE making sacrifices just by their being there,just for starters. What a hypocritical worthless waste of breath he is,as if he supports the troops and gives a hoot in hell about them.He'd like to sow dissension,as IF they're not smart enough to take with a grain of salt any phony "concern" coming from someone like him,who could care less about the welfare of our military.

[lowbridge]

[livius]

Well, the NYT and its ilk have had a lot to do with making people feel distant from or even ashamed of the war. Who better than the Times to now write an article pretending to be "concerned" about having achieved their goal?

[LibFreeOrDie]

"There are not even concerted efforts like the savings-bond drives or gasoline rationing that helped to unite the country behind its fighting forces in wars past.

This, from the same idiots who ridicule displays of patriotism, despise flying the U.S. flag, or go bonkers at the sound of "God Bless America"!

This, from the media who decided not to show photos/video from 9/11 ever again because it would just agitate the masses and upset the Muslims.

This, from libs who don't want military recruiters at schools and colleges.

Concerted effort? Haven't they noticed the security checks we all have to go through at airports (and now at some trains/subways)?

Saving aluminum foil and growing victory gardens is not what the country needs to do.

What the NYT needs to do is get out of NYC once in a while, where the elite chattering classes are NOT united with our troops, and travel to some red states/counties, where we've never wavered.

[iconoclast]

Do you have a family member over their, roses?

[expatpat]

And some soldiers are asking The NewYork Times is still in existence.

[Stu Cohen]

I don't belittle the optionions of soldiers who have actually seen active duty just because they don't mesh with my opinion.

They fight for their own freedom of speech too.

And frankly, they have a point. Shooting the messenger is a "liberal" tactic. So it's printed in the NYT instead of Soldier of Fortune magazine. A point is a point is a point, and is either valid or invalid or somewhere in between.

[King Prout]

more Slimes draft noise

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Personally...

...this is one Freeper who has spent much of his time since the Attacks of September 11, 2001 supporting our Hero U.S. Military members' bringing Freedom to the opproessed Peoples and cultures of the world ...as our own best self protection against future terrorist attacks here at home.

Personally...

...this is one Freeper who incessantly applauds our U.S. Military's sacrificing their all on behalf of others worldwide.

Personally...

...this is one Freeper who has also sacrificed some to be able to do so, mostly full time, on line.

....But there is one of us supporters who has sacrificed much, much more.

He's...

England's new KING ARTHUR

He's...

America's new Hero for the new Mellennium

He's...

911 Lifesaving Hero RICK RESCORLA

http://www.RickRescorla.com

http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361


...just for the LOVE of it.

.

[Nita Nupress]

Ok, when pigs fly. :-)

[DouglasKC]

"Members of the military who discussed their sense of frustration did so only when promised anonymity, as comments viewed as critical of the civilian leadership could end their careers. The sentiments were expressed in more than two dozen interviews and casual conversations with enlisted personnel, noncommissioned officers, midlevel officers, and general or flag officers in Iraq and in the United States. All were carefully screened so that the views they expressed would jibe with the story we wanted to write."

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

Because Sacrific begets Sacrafice:


MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.Freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085111/posts

.

[John Lenin]

[infocats]

"America is not a nation at war, but a nation with only its military at war."

It is precisely because our military is at war over there that America isn't at war over here.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

ALOHA RONNIE Freeper Page

http://www.Freerepublic.com/~aloharonnie


See: 'Links'


...just for the LOVE of it.


.

[Wolfstar]

From bases in Iraq and across the United States to the Pentagon and the military's war colleges, officers and enlisted personnel quietly raise a question for political leaders: if America is truly on a war footing, why is so little sacrifice asked of the nation at large?

Thanks for the ping, Peach. They're right, of course. As much as I admire them, President Bush and Prime Ministers Blair and Howard keep telling the general public to get on with their lives. I understand what they mean, but unfortunately there's an unintentional consequence. People not only go on with their lives, but they become psychologically distant from the war effort.

The authorities simply cannot be everywhere. It's vital to enlist thie public's help today just as every earlier generation did in times of war from the Revolution forward.

[lowbridge]

[tillacum]

Well we can thank the presstitutes of the msm for not cheering our troops on. We are. Most FReepers know what these men and women are doing, but not the presstitutes and their bosses. But then these numbskulls have little use for the men and women who allow them the privilege of writing scathing reports about the military's sacrifices. I imagine if Thom Shanker visited Iraq or Afphanistan he would only write about the things not done for these people, or report only the death count.