I posted a couple of times about a column by Richard Cohen in the Washington Post. Mr. Cohen implied that only the retired generals speaking out against the war were telling the truth, and decrying the fact that more troops were not speaking out. I posted links to some active duty personnel that were, indeed, speaking out. I asked Mr. Cohen if he was happy. He hasn't replied, so I presume he isn't.
Today, there's a little thing in Mr. Cohen's own paper that he might actually see, if he actually reads the Post himself, of course. It's by Wade Zirkle who was wounded in Iraq. It pretty well puts paid to the The Army Is Broken™ meme that Mr. Cohen apparently believes. It's also rather hard on good old Representative John Murtha (who we at Blue Crab Boulevard have a very special title for that we can't print because of our policy).
In view of his distinguished military career, John Murtha has been the subject of much attention from the media and is a sought-after spokesman for opponents of the Iraq war. He has earned the right to speak. But his comments supposedly expressing the negative views of those who have and are now serving in the Middle East run counter to what I and others know and hear from our own colleagues — from junior officers to the enlisted backbone of our fighting force.
Murtha undoubtedly knows full well that the greatest single thing that drags on morale in war is the loss of a buddy. But second to that is politicians questioning, in amplified tones, the validity of that loss to our families, colleagues, the nation and the world.
While we don't question his motives, we do question his assumptions. When he called for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, there was a sense of respectful disagreement among most military personnel. But when he subsequently stated that he would not join today's military, he made clear to the majority of us that he is out of touch with the troops. Quite frankly, it was received as a slap in the face.
Sorry, Mr. Cohen. We here at the Boulevard really tend to take the word of a marine like Mr. Zirkle over almost anything an overly politicized retired general has to say. We're funny like that.
Happy yet, Mr. Cohen?
UPDATE: I missed this one from Mudville Gazette. Like he says. Sit down and shut up, general.
