WaPo Columnist: US Troops 'Naive Mercenaries' -- What Do We Really Owe Them?

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Half-serious warning: those with heart conditions are advised to have their medications handy when reading this.

With Democrats in congressional power, are leftists feeling suddenly empowered to express formerly taboo views? First came a column in the Los Angeles Times arguing we have overreacted to 9-11. Now comes Washington Post columnist William Arkin to express contempt for our troops and question how much we really owe them after all.

Excerpts from The Troops Also Need to Support the American People:

• "I've been mulling over an NBC Nightly News report from Iraq last Friday in which a number of soldiers expressed frustration with opposition to war in the United States. I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people."
• "These soldiers should be grateful that the American public, which by all polls overwhelmingly disapproves of the Iraq war and the President's handling of it, do still offer their support to them, and their respect."
• "Through every Abu Ghraib and Haditha, through every rape and murder, the American public has indulged those in uniform, accepting that the incidents were the product of bad apples or even of some administration or command order."
• "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?"
• DEFIBRILLATOR ALERT: "The recent NBC report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary - oops sorry, volunteer - force that thinks it is doing the dirty work. The notion of dirty work is that, like laundry, it is something that has to be done but no one else wants to do it. But Iraq is not dirty work: it is not some necessary endeavor; the people just don't believe that anymore."
• "They are young and naïve and are frustrated with their own lack of progress and the never changing situation in Iraq. Cut off from society and constantly told that everyone supports them, no wonder the debate back home confuses them."
• "America needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform."

Don't think the Washington Post didn't know what they were getting when they hired Arkin to write a column. Arkin is a man who once wrote a book divulging the secret locations of nuclear bases around the world.

Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Have-defibrillator-handy alert ping to Today show list.

[Rummyfan]

This is a new low - even for Pravda on the Potomac! Some visitors from the 82nd need to drop in on Mr Arkin.....

[BenLurkin]

Sickening.

[wastedyears]

Don't tell them what our Special Forces do. They'll want every Operator hanged for human rights violations.

[JacksonCalhoun]

Is there any question now that our brave soliders and us and the right are fighting two enemies at once?

[Doctor Raoul]

You forgot to post a SCUMBAG ALERT in the title.

[o_zarkman44]

special forces need to clear out the Wa Po because it seems to be a terrorist stronghold of support.

[roses of sharon]

Bush Derangement Syndrome, political porn for these bathhouse boys and their feminist beards.

[indylindy]

Rush just read this piece on his show. This is the enemy folks. According to this lowlife schmuck, our troops are supposed to be grateful to slime like him and shut up. My blood just boils!

[lafroste]

Perhaps the patriots and those who love freedom should just withdraw to Indiana or so, let the leftists have the East coast, then let the muzzies in to celebrate diversity.

10 years later the patriots can re-take the East coast and by then our liberal problem will have been abated.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Death where is thy sting? How much sharper than the serpent's tooth is the word of a thankless Arkin!

[Jeff Chandler]

Where's that Gaydar graphic?

[tcostell]

Ironically, this was the same argument used by general Westmoreland when arguing that the draft shouldn't be abolished, that a volunteer force was basically a mercenary army.

His arguments were subsequently taken apart by Milton Friedman who said that asking someone to choose to work for their own reasons, is almost always better than forcing them to do it at the point of a gun. Patriotic volunteers aren't mercenaries any more than draftees are slaves.

It's really ironic that this weasel um... respected journalist, would be channeling Westmoreland because it's probably the only time in his life he's ever agreed with him.

[RichInOC]

Fascinating...it's not every day you see a full-face Dirty Sanchez.

If you go out on the main forum, he's got a follow-up where he keeps digging. What an idiot.

[RandyRep]

Go read Uncle Jimbo's reply to Arkin at http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/01/a_hearty_f_you_.html

Warning - it's profanity laced.

Blackfive also has several other posts about Arkin's piece (of sh!t).

[paul51]

I can't help but wonder why we tolerate this kind of stuff when we are at war.

[YourAdHere]

William Arkin has body odor.

[RichInOC]

Here's the link to that (I think the barf alert is implied):

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1777454/posts

[ladtx]

clueless

One entry found for clueless. Main Entry: clue·less
Pronunciation: 'klü-l&s
Function: adjective
1 : having or providing no clue <a clueless case for the police to solve>
2 : completely or hopelessly bewildered, unaware, ignorant, or foolish <clueless about what they want>
3 : William Arkin

[ishabibble]

This link might provide some insight for the guys at Blackfive. It seems that Arkin once played the part of a Kofi Toady. Note the reference to the Clinton eavesdropping program.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45614-2005Mar17.html

[mombonn]

I just heard Rush read this. I'm spitting mad.

This man is despicable.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Arkin's ignorance is almost laughable. Our men and women who serve in the military are NOT paid a decent wage. He sits in his comfortable home and doesn't understand the depth of a military family's sacrifice, not only on the front lines, but in the heart of the family, and at the grocery check-out.

It seems too easy to call him an idiot. He doesn't know what he is talking about.

[clamper1797]

The assclown is in serious need of an "attitude adjustment" ... and not the kind you get at the local tavern

[wideawake]

(1) David Bell.

(2) William Arkin.

(3) That guy who wrote an oped last year against the troops whose name escapes me. If anyone remembers, please let me know.

[massgopguy]

I believe he's more illustrative of a Double Back Lumber Jack.

[mystery-ak]

I cannot respond to articles like this anymore....I just don't know what to say.

[USMCWife6869]

I have no words.

[KC_Conspirator]

This is an example of a hate America leftist, who sits around thoughtlessly enjoying his freedoms and lifestyle that was won by men and women of greater courage.

[GulfBreeze]

One of the best way to support the Military and refute idiots like this is to elect one Duncan Hunter to President of the United States.

So because he is solid on:
Life
Borders
Immigration
War On Terror
Strong Military
American Economy
Lower Taxes

FREEPERS WANT DUNCAN HUNTER FOR THE 2008 GOP NOMINEE - SO PLEASE VOTE IN THIS POLL.

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?poll=170

[<1/1,000,000th%]

We need a boot to the behind graphic for this thread.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

What we owe them is to identify each and every entity that advertises in the WaPo and boycott them, after sending batches of letters telling them why, along with a demand that this A**hole be fired. What a smug moronic intellectually challenged lightweight. If actions have no consequences there are no reasons to stop those actions.

[AngryJawa]

special forces need to clear out the Wa Po because it seems to be a terrorist stronghold of support.

People actually think I'm joking when I advocate this strategy in the GWOT.

[Eva]

From the American Standard: (Who is Alan Arkin)

The answer is best found in Arkin's own speech to an audience at the U.S. Naval War College on September 25, 2002. In this lengthy and vitriolic attack on the Bush administration, Arkin admitted to feeling "cynical about the fact that we are going to war to enhance the economic interests of the Enron class," and declared that "the war against terrorism is overstated." Arkin believed, in fact, that the war "is not the core United States national security interest today." He rhetorically asked the audience: "Aren't I just another leftist, self-hating American?" and condemned the administration for taking "enormous liberties with American freedoms."

[Rummyfan]

Hunter, Hunter, he's our man!

After hearing Ann Coulter's rundown of the name candidates last night, I'm more convinced of DH than I was yesterday. But he needs to seriously up his recognition.

[Bahbah]

are leftists feeling suddenly empowered to express formerly taboo views?

Yes, they think the elections prove that the country actually agrees with them, despite the fact that they worked hard not to reveal themselves, and they are coming out of the woodwork all over the place.This could be a good thing.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

"Mr. Arkin served in the U.S. Army from 1974-1978, and was an assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence of the US Commander Berlin. He was engaged in a number of covert intelligence collection projects and was the primary intelligence analyst for the West Berlin command."

Compromised while in this position? Compromised before he took this position? Stranger things have happened (and no, I'm not a tinfoil hat type).

[pankot]

Arkin: Paper asshole alert.

[NEMDF]

WOW I am speechless.

This is UNbelievable.


Marine Mom

[BlueNgold]

I wish, I wish, I wish...

For a dark alley and 2 minutes with this guy, ok maybe 60 seconds. All I want to do is talk - really - that's all.

[Mr.Smorch]

I belive Mr. Arkin was a once and former Greenpeace activist. When he's not out saving the gay whales, he's shilling for other causes near and dear the the leftist heart.

[chesty_puller]

How long until we hear 'Baby Killer'? I kinda miss that term.

[Little Ray]

Ya know, if we were REALLY as we're portrayed, somebody would be visitin' this guy at about, say, 2 AM to have one last dicussion on this matter with him.

Too bad we're not. There is a difference between "freedom of speech and slander and treason. He should pay the price for crossing the line.

[Tzimisce]

Apparently troops are only allowed to speak if they agree with lefties.

[ichabod1]

That applies to everybody. Komrade.

[Candor7]

With Democrats in congressional power, are leftists feeling suddenly empowered to express formerly taboo views?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Here in Vermont, its as if someone popped the cork on a bottle of liberal socialist whackos.They are inundating letters to the editor with their leftist invective, and parade on the street corners on Fridaus with paquards filled with jingoistic anti-Repub,=licanism, desifned to whip up people's emotions against the great Republican satan which had invaded their lives for 8 years.

Before the puling leftists were quieter, but now they are simply off the wall. ANd if you are NOT politically correct, then you are adjudged to be insane, or socially challenged.

The culture wars have returned with a vengeance.

[top 2 toe red]

I'll second that.

[Boston Tea Party]

I suspected that he was one of those people for whom it will always be 1968, and the picture proves it. What classic aging leftist creep. I wish they would all die off as quickly as possible.

[popdonnelly]

Soldiers are entitled to their opinions, as well. Is Arkin trying to shut them up? It wouldn't surprise me. In any event, we owe the military a lot. We don't owe Arkin a thing.

[brothers4thID]

He leans so far left they can't even get a straight picture of him.