Stars and Stripes letter: Strong (Bush) Leadership?

[lebkuchen]

Strong leadership?

What an “Alice in Wonderland” country we live in, when — if you have a combat record, served your country honorably and sustained wounds/received medals to prove it (as did John Kerry, Max Cleland and John McCain) — you are subject to dirty tricks and a political smear campaign spearheaded by those who claim to hold “unity,” “family values” and “love of country” in high esteem.

Conversely, you are considered a “strong leader” if you chose not to serve when called upon and have no war record, but rather opted for the “campaign tour,” missing a year of duty in the Air National Guard during a time of war, as did President Bush.

Vice President Dick Cheney’s five deferments during the Vietnam War (his “expectant parent” deferment having been created especially for him) are likewise considered “strong leadership” traits as are the deferments of Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, John Ashcroft, Saxby “bad knees” Chambliss, Tom Delay, Karl Rove, and Rush Limbaugh.

But, oh, how they love to bang the “bring ’em on” war drums, as long as somebody else does the fighting.

Does America wish to imply that it’s better not to serve at all? If so, then something is terribly wrong with how we define honor, courage, leadership and commitment to our country.

Edwin Thornburg
Würzburg, Germany


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=24226

[skygazer]

1. Kick

Good letter. This stuff simply amazes me. My dad is a WWII vet who supports Bush on the "strong leader" stuff and who infuriated me by giving me the line about how Kerry's purple hearts were the result of "mere scratches".

How a fellow vet can be so supportive of a chickenhawk and so derisive of a decorated serviceman is beyond me.

[lebkuchen]

4. I'm sorry your father feels he needs to question DoD policy

ntn

[fdr_hst_fan]

2. Not asking out of bigotry, going a whole differrent direction with this:

Are you a German, or an American living in Germany?

[lebkuchen]

3. American in Germany

working to support the troops, was a soldier, 2 tours, Vietnam