Tuesday, June 13, 2006

What they wished for...

This comment at DailyKos is worthy of a response.
Correction. We are not a country at war, we are a country whose military is at war. We have never been asked to make any sacrifices, nor have we ever been engaged on the details of this supposed war, who specifically it is targeting, and what the parameters are for defining victory.

Well, my response to the commenter is simple: During the Vietnam War, the left opted out of defending this country. They spat on the troops who came home, called them "baby-killers", and made it clear through their words and actions that they wanted no part of the military - particularly via the draft. And so, our political leaders and the military proceeded to oblige them in 1975, by making our armed forces all-volunteer.

Fast forward to 2006, and after three decades, the all-volunteer military has proven it is more than equal to the task of defending this country, even with a sizable chunk of it opting out. In fact, we have seen the military thrive as it has become a professional organization of people who believe in its mission. As a result of that change, since the unprovoked sneak attack on our country on 9/11, the United States has been able to liberate two countries from regimes that supported terrorism as a matter of national policy, has done so in the midst of an economic expansion, and without the use of a draft. All in all, I think it has been a good thing for the country's security - even if I do not care for the conduct of those who vociferously opted out during the Vietnam War, and thus have a major role in the creation of the all-volunteer military.

The left has gotten what it wants - they are no longer forced to serve in the military or sacrifice anything other than their taxes. So why are so many of them unhappy now that they have it?

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