An Honest Conversation
Jun 22nd, 2005 at 10:15 pm by Susie
What I want people to do is be honest.
If you will not serve in Iraq, and no one you know will serve, stop expecting someone else to do what you will not.
Therefore, it is time to stop calling for more troops, or the US to make Iraq safe. We cannot do this and even Americans are refusing to join the fight. It is time to look at your actions and realize, that despite your ideals, you oppose continuing this war. In practical terms, you have decided that this war is not worth your life or anyone you know. And million of Americans have joined you in this decision.
So, with this fact evident, it is time to call for US troops to withdraw from Iraq. Not save it, not add more boots on the ground. You have already voted by your actions. It is time that you match it with your words.
The trouble with Gilliard’s argument is that he’s pretty much saying that nobody too old to enlist and, incindentally, no women, because they don’t serve in combat units, are allowed to have an opinion on what to do about Iraq, unless that opinion is his opinion.
It’s a cheap, bullying way to get around making a real case for withdrawl now.
There is a big difference between slowly withdrawing from Iraq and staying there to fight a perpetual war.
And as the guys at Lawyers, Guns and Money have pointed out, Gilliard’s position is pretty much that American lives are worth more than Iraqi lives, so we don’t need to worry about the effects of pulling out immediately.
In regards to the previous comment,
the argument includes you *or* your friends and family–it’s the same reason why men are allowed to have opinions about abortion.
Lance, I don’t agree with that intepretation. When Steve said Iraq is not worth one more American life, I didn’t take that to mean he believes our lives are worth more than the Iraqis. Not at all.
I think he meant pretty much what he said: That it’s just about impossible to accomplish our alleged goals anyway, and since no one is willing to make any real sacrifices to do so, it’s time to cut our losses.
What else would you expect a reasonably evolved Viet Nam vet to say? He’s already seen that movie.
Susan, I don’t think Steve Gilliard is a veteran, if that’s what you meant.
Yes he is.
I lived through the Vietnam War time, by the grace of God and pure dumb luck, I was born late enough that I was still in college when the lottery was started.
I did not want to go. I arrived at a kind of resolution within myself that went like this: you can oppose the war and demonstrate, you can support the war and enlist, OR you can avoid the draft and keep your damn mouth shut about sending anybody to war now and forever more.
The third position was the one I took. Its not the one that the Chickenhawk president took, nor Cheyney or the rest of them.
If you have the chance to go yourself, and you avoid it, you forfeit your right to say war is a good idea for anybody.
I asked Steve whether or not he was a veteran. He replied:
My father was a Marine and encouraged me to go to college. So no, I’m not a vet. I just know a lot of them.:)
My bad. I was sure he was. Must have confused him with some other blogging vet…