Enough to make you sick!

IS-THIS-GUY-FOR-REAL??!!

Like many, I do remember Viet Nam and how our military was demonized. Never again, not on my watch. Till they plant me I'll be one of those fat, middle-aged men who goes to every "Support The Troops" rally he can. Send 'em Christmas cards, tell 'em to their face I appreciate them, buy 'em a steak dinner if I ever get the chance. You bet baby!

Because I never went to combat but sure did get some of the blowback from our civilian sector. Yep, those were the days. The days of the "hollow military", of being treated like you were part of a government workfare program, of seeing how every draftdodging SOB that went into public office would denigrate the military. Yep, been there, done that. God, I could just feel the love!

And just when you think the public might have learned, along comes this clown.

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.

Oh yeah, they should be so glad they're allowed to go over and put their lives on the line for those who don't think the job is worth it. Yeah, means a lot. Can it be phrased this way, "I think you're doing something completely stupid and indefensible but I won't hold it against you. You gotta be dumber than dirt but I support you."? Noted.

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.

Indulged them? What is this? Does he mean they're getting an inordinate "benefit of the doubt"? And by the way, the Haditha 8 have still to go to trial. What ever happened to "innocent till proven guilty"??

Sure it is the junior enlisted men who go to jail, but even at anti-war protests, the focus is firmly on the White House and the policy. We just don't see very many "baby killer" epithets being thrown around these days, no one in uniform is being spit upon.

And that means what? Sounds like he's proud of the restraint shown by the anti-war protestors. Mighty white of them, don't ya think?

So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage,

Try raising a family and living on that "decent wage" slick.

Take care of their families,

That's why it isn't unusual for junior enlisted to receive food stamps. Can't ya feel the love?

provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems

Uh-huh. Medical care that allows no recourse when the doctor screws up, housing that can often qualify as slums and social support systems that attract administrators who are often either incompetent or lazy.

and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them

WTF is he talking about here?

we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead

We can only hope there's no "play" in it.

defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war

Okay slick, if the military is put into a war who would have the most expertise in fighting it? Should they turn it over to cubicle workers like you? When you take your car to the garage do you constantly criticize and carp about how the mechanic works? Or do you let him do the job you're paying for? And as far as it being "their" war, do you THINK every soldier, sailor, marine & airman just woke up one fine day and said, "What a great day, think I'll go to war!"? Hey stupid, in THIS country the military only fights when told to. They don't start their own conflicts. JACKASS!

and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society

Seems those same soldiers have the right to speak up also, wassamatter don't you like it when they do? Did they hurt your sensitive feelings by wanting some backup for what they're doing?

But it is the United States and instead this 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.

How cute. "Mercenary-oops, sorry, volunteer". Hey slick, it isn't about the money. Or the perks. Or job training. Look up the following word in your dictionary;

P-A-T-R-I-O-T-I-S-M

I'll end with this.

"But Tommy ain't a bloomin fool-you bet that Tommy sees"

Amen to that. God bless our troops, no matter where they are. God bless them and keep them safe.