In a syndicated article this week, Andy Rooney explains Our soldiers in Iraq aren’t heroes. I really expect more from a man who spent some time as a combat reporter. Of course, that was in a real war. None of this panty-waist crap for him, boy.
It would be interesting to have a reporter ask a group of our soldiers in Iraq to answer five questions and see the results:
1. Do you think your country did the right thing sending you into Iraq?
2. Are you doing what America set out to do to make Iraq a democracy, or have we failed so badly that we should pack up and get out before more of you are killed?
3. Do the orders you get handed down from one headquarters to another, all far removed from the fighting, seem sensible, or do you think our highest command is out of touch with the reality of your situation?
4. If you could have a medal or a trip home, which would you take?
5. Are you encouraged by all the talk back home about how brave you are and how everyone supports you?
Well, gee whiz, Andy. I think I can answer most of those for you. I have to go by what I hear from my two sons who are fighting this war, and what I believe they would respond.
1. Yes.
2. If we leave now, there would be a civil war in Iraq. (Direct quote from Birdie, who is operating in Baghdad, and spent nine months in Afghanistan.)
3. My orders are general, and our company commander and platoon leaders take input from the NCOs to determine how best to accomplish them.
4. Trip home. I may be crazy, but I ain’t dumb. Which would you choose?
5. Nobody at home tells me how brave I am. They tell me to use my good instincts and lead my soldiers well. That’s real support.
God, I’m proud of my sons. I wish people like Andy Rooney were just as proud of them.
I’m willing to bet that people like Mr. Rooney only compromise less than 3% of the U.S. Population.
The rest of us are as proud of your boys (and the rest of the troops fighting this war on terrorism) as you are.
Comment by Larry — April 13, 2004 @ 6:07 pm
I like, and personally respect, Andy in most ways. He was a genuinely good war reporter…having flown air combat missions over Germany.
But…..he’s gone whacko of late. I think he’s been hanging around with the big city media types just a tad to long.
Comment by Wallace — April 13, 2004 @ 10:00 pm
I’m pretty sure that my sister, and my brother-in-law, both in the army would answer the questions pretty much like you’ve surmised. I’m also pretty sure they would then smack the crap out of the condescending bastards that asked them.
Comment by Blueshift — April 14, 2004 @ 12:59 am
Did you see Tim’s response?
Comment by Sarah — April 15, 2004 @ 12:04 am
Yes. he did a very good job explaining the sense of things in the military.
Comment by Bunker — April 15, 2004 @ 5:45 am
HEROES
Found an Andy Rooney editorial via Bunker, and the headline makes my blood boil. Our soldiers in Iraq aren’t heroes: We must support our soldiers in Iraq because it’s our fault they’re risking their lives there. However, we should not…
Trackback by trying to grok — April 14, 2004 @ 8:25 am