What the... Hey! - Honesty in journalism

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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Honesty in journalism - What a concept!

Today, Joel Stein wrote a column titled Warriors and Wusses. In it he says something very honest: “… I’m not for the war. And being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken…”.

Bravo (at least half-way) to Joel for telling it like it is. At last, someone on the anti-war side who tells it like it is. You can’t (honestly) be against the war, but for the people performing the war. Come on!

Now, let me be up front here. I’m for the war. Before the war started, I felt that we had worked ourselves into a “fish or cut bait” situation: We either had to accept that there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq (sound familiar? 20/20 hindsight out there?), pick up our toys, and go home… or we had to accept that we had to go to the next step and invade. To be honest, I never expected the President to invade. I expected what we saw during the 8 years of the Clinton administration (and to be honest, the end of Bush 43’s administration): lots of sabre rattling followed by us backing down. But, once the decision had been made, it can’t be unmade: we’re there for the duration.

Back to the central point of this rant: The armed forces in Iraq are doing what they believe their duty is. By and large, they believe that they are doing the right thing. If you think they aren’t, then you’re not supporting them! Be honest about it. As Joel says, this doesn’t mean that you need to spit on them when they come home (as happened way too much during Vietnam), just be honest with them about what they’re doing.

And I’ll continue to disagree with you about that, and support the war…

1/24/2006 11:09:19 AM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

1/24/2006 3:24:12 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

What I do not like about such arguments is that people use the supporting the troops argument to basically shut-down critism of the war and how it is being conducted.

In my mind critism of the government is good and serves an important role.

For my full disclosure:
- troops do what they are told. They are not allowed to make decisions of right and wrong. They are also fighting for their lives.
- the UN should have gone in because there has to be follow through on consequences if it is to be a valid world police. Right now it is nto.
- the US went in but not for the reason above.
- the US did not appear to comprehend what a big mess they were getting into. I was amazed that the casualties were so light early on although distressed that they grow.
- In the end, I was against them going in but am also against them coming out early now that they did go in. You have to finish what you start.

alan fryer

1/24/2006 9:09:58 PM (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-08:00)

I don't support the war. The reasons were thin and it was justified using the American people's fear after 9/11. But for the most part our troops are doing a good job in a bad situation and I support them for that.

From what I've heard from Vietnam vets was that it wasn't rare for our soldiers to kill defenseless people just because they were Vietnamese.

Eric

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