They Don’t Really Support The Troops, And Now, They Slander Them
“Those on the cutting edge of progressive opinion are beginning to give up on even pretending to support the troops. Instead, they now slander the troops.”
by William Kristol
The Weekly Standard
07/30/2007, Volume 012, Issue 43
h/t John Gill
Cindy Sheehan, mother of a soldier who was killed in Iraq, emerged on the American political scene two years ago. Distraught and unstable, she was shamelessly exploited by opponents of George W. Bush and the war while such exploitation seemed to pay political benefits. When she became an embarrassment, she, like others before her, was tossed onto the trash heap of history by her progressive minders.
Sheehan was useful to the antiwar left in a particular way. As Jonathan Cohn put it in the September 12, 2005, New Republic, “Sheehan’s value isn’t as a barometer of public opinion or as a source of foreign policy wisdom. It’s as proof of one very simple point: that a person can criticize the war and still support the troops.”
It’s unclear that Sheehan was particularly interested in “supporting the troops”–unless one means by that lamenting the fate of the troops as victims. The fact that relatively few soldiers see themselves as victims, the fact that few families understand their loved ones’ service and sacrifices in that light–that didn’t matter. What mattered to the left was that it was dangerous politically not to “support the troops.” Of course the antiwar left hated what the troops were doing, fighting the enemy in Iraq, and they hated the troops’ goal, victory in Iraq. So “supporting the troops” meant feeling sorry for them, or pretending to–something antiwar politicians and media did with great hand-wringing and hoopla.
With the ongoing progress of the surge, and the obvious fact that the vast majority of the troops want to fight and win the war, the “support-the-troops-but-oppose-what-they’re-doing” position has become increasingly untenable. How can you say with a straight face that you support the troops while advancing legislation that would undercut their mission and strengthen their enemies?
You can’t. So those on the cutting edge of progressive opinion are beginning to give up on even pretending to support the troops. Instead, they now slander the troops.
Two progressive magazines have taken complementary approaches in this effort. In its July 30 issue, the Nation has a 24-page article based on interviews with 50 Iraq veterans. The piece allegedly reveals “disturbing patterns of behavior by American troops in Iraq”–indeed, it claims that the war has “led many troops to declare an open war on all Iraqis.” Needless to say, the anecdotal evidence in the article comes nowhere close to supporting this claim. There are a few instances of out-of-control behavior, some routine fog-of-war and brutality-of-war incidents, and much that is simply trivial. The picture is unpleasant, as one would expect–but it comes nowhere close to living up to the authors’ billing: “The war the vets described is a dark and even depraved enterprise.”
Since the Nation has held this view of every American war (except when we were fighting side-by-side with Stalin’s Soviet Union), and loves nothing more than accounts of American war crimes, its story is no surprise. At least they interviewed real soldiers on the record. The New Republic, in its July 23 issue, takes a different tack. Its slander of American soldiers appears to be fiction presented as fact, behind a convenient screen of anonymity.
A column entitled “Shock Troops” is said to be the work of “Scott Thomas”–”the pseudonym for a soldier currently serving in Baghdad.” “Thomas” colorfully describes three sets of alleged misdeeds he and his buddies committed in Baghdad: They humiliate a woman in a military dining hall who has been disfigured in an IED explosion (the woman “wore an unrecognizable tan uniform, so I couldn’t really tell whether she was a soldier or a civilian contractor”); they discover human remains and one private spends a day and night playing around with a child’s skull (”which even had chunks of hair”), amusing his fellow soldiers; and one private routinely drives a Bradley Fighting Vehicle recklessly and uses the vehicle to kill stray dogs.
My colleague Michael Goldfarb raised questions about this account in a July 18 post on THE WEEKLY STANDARD website, asking for assistance from soldiers and veterans in assessing the truth of the stories told by “Scott Thomas.” Within a day, dozens of active duty soldiers and veterans had come forward to point out errors, implausibility, and indeed the well-nigh-impossibility (in the case of the Bradley) of what was claimed. The editors of the New Republic provided to Goldfarb a couple of allegedly corroborating details–for example, the name of the Forward Operating Base, FOB Falcon, where the taunting of the badly disfigured female IED victim was said to have taken place. Soldiers who served at the base have come forward to say no such woman has been seen there. As we go to press on July 20, the New Republic has said they are investigating their own story, and the mainstream media seem to be hoping against hope that they won’t have to cover yet another embarrassing episode of journalistic malpractice.
We at THE WEEKLY STANDARD are well aware that editors make mistakes. We have made our share. But what is revealing about this mistake is that the editors must have wanted to suspend their disbelief in tales of gross misconduct by American troops. How else could they have published such a farrago of dubious tales?
Having turned against a war that some of them supported, the left is now turning against the troops they claim still to support. They sense that history is progressing away from them–that these soldiers, fighting courageously in a just cause, could still win the war, that they are proud of their service, and that they will be future leaders of this country. They are not “Shock Troops.” They are our best and bravest, fighting for all of us against a brutal enemy in a difficult and frustrating war. They are the 9/11 generation. The left slanders them. We support them. More than that, we admire them.
–William Kristol
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
“Of course the antiwar left hated what the troops were doing, fighting the enemy in Iraq, and they hated the troops’ goal, victory in Iraq. So “supporting the troops” meant feeling sorry for them, or pretending to–something antiwar politicians and media did with great hand-wringing and hoopla.”
Exactly. The left sees everything in life in childish touchy-feely terms. It is if they never grew up or learned anymore than what they learned in Kindergarten(ala Bill Mahr).
They are incapable of cognitive reasoning. After all if all you ever learned, you learned in Kindergarten, then you are too immature to weild power or make decisions of national import.
The French beret was a nice touch. After all a pussy like Hairy Weed might as well look like a pussy, with a nice pussy hat.
Is that his mommy standing next to him? I swear SanFranNan is sure looking old?
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:11 amSheehan looks a mess. Another brain-dead female who can’t seem to grow-up sitting next to another brain-daed female who can’t seem to grow-up. The caption should read dumb and dumber.
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:17 amI respect Bill Kristol and im glad he wrote this. let me give you an example: if the pentagon sends you a letter saying you are undermining our countries efforts during war time ie; hillary clinton, you are doing something really bad. saying these lefty lunatics support our troops is a slap in the face for everyone who is in the military or supports the military. We need to find a way to marginalize them and shut them up..their traitorous words and actions arent fair to the troops or their families
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:20 amLooks like I need to beat the dog for leaving two steamimg piles of shit on the couch!
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:24 amPoor Cindy is attempting to make a comeback starting with her pitiful rallies on the east coast in NC and VA. She has been confronted at every venue by a national pro-American and pro-Troops grass roots organization called the Gathering of Eagles…
This Anti-American, Commie funded traitor has developed a severe case of whiplash from frantically turning from right to left only to see True Patriots swarming to run her ass all the way down to Venezuela where she belongs..
America has no place for this pathetic excuse of a human being to hide anymore…The left-wing loons and the Dem. Party have used her as long as they could and kicked her to the curb like a chunk of road-kill….
Face it Cindy, You had your 15 minutes and now it’s time to carry your sorry ass down south of the border.We don’t want you here.
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:31 amHey Cindy:
Remember Casey? You know your kid that you abandoned when he was 7 years old. Uhmmm…did you buy him a headstone yet? And uhhhh…next time that you walk by an abortion clinic, why don’t you ask one of the butchers there if maybe they can’t abort you. Assisted suicide…whatever…
July 22nd, 2007 at 9:45 amGod forgive me for saying this, but I HATE that woman. She does nothing but cause more strife for our already divided country. The troops need our love and support and she’s out there trying get more Americans feeling bad for supporting them. Shame on her. Shame for causing strife, shame for using her dead son to do it, SHAME ON HER FOR BEING A COMMUNIST LOVING SOCIALIST IN OUR FREE COUNTRY! If I knew how to spit correctly (without dribbling), I would SPIT on her (of course, not if she was on fire).
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:49 amCindy was perhaps the left’s most effective and least costly ad-campaign.
Someone on the left will set her straight - put her back on the “”left”" track. She will likely comply and become accepted again. I don’t think she will remain a loose cannon.
The hit-pieces by The Nation and The New Republic makes me pissed. The most frustrating element of the left is that every media outlet is towing the line. I often feel like I am on the hilltop taking flack from every possible angle. The conservative base needs to become active enough to shield a few of the angles. I always feel better when come to Pat’s site, because it gives me hope that we can unite.
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:51 amJohn in PA,
I understand your frustration. I think we all feel like “I often feel like I am on the hilltop taking flack from every possible angle”. That’s because we are. We simply do not have the thug mentality the left seems to possess, and frankly, I don’t think we want it. How about, next time you’re on that hilltop, just remember us, and the other conservatives out there, on another hilltop taking it likewise. We may be the “silent” ones, however, they DO NOT have the solidarity we do (no, I don’t know if that’s a word, but I like it!)
“I always feel better when come to Pat’s site, because it gives me hope that we can unite.”…. John, you are correct. This is how we unite. We unite with this site and others. We unite with our radio programs (the libs are just DYING to shut those down). I am a terrible Bible quoter, but I remember reading about the “correct road to follow”. The road to hell is easy, is brightly lit, signs everywhere telling one where to go (MSM?), heck, even water stops and bathrooms along the way! The correct road is not so easy to follow. No lights, crooked paths, no water stops, no signs, and worse part of all, you’re usually alone. Just remember, there are others right behind you going through the same thing.
Big hug for my fellow Patriot!!!
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:08 amDan (the Infidel) (to Sheehag) “next time that you walk by an abortion clinic, why don’t you ask one of the butchers there if maybe they can’t abort you.”
LMAO!
The progressive term for this is “Retroactive Planned Parenthood”. It would solve all her problems. We could even find a another ditch to make permanently hers.
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:14 amLMAO Infidel!!! Hey, I heard Kevorkian is out of jail, perhaps he can help cindy shehag abort herself! Damn, now I’m just gettin mean. Oh wait, we’re in war, no holds barred! Take em down any means necessary!!!! (legally of course).
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:25 amTwo beers for all
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:44 amThe fact that anybody listens to these women shows how bad our education system has become.
Deductive Logic - F
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:03 pmCitizenship - F
Hyperbole - A+ with honors
Introducing… the wicked witches of the East and West. Who has a house to drop on one of them?
All I can say is Cindy Sheehan looks like Jason Robards in that pic, and are they holding hands?
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:08 pmLadyAngler- no, it looks like Madam Speaker (of a still existing D.C. Bordello, BTW) wants to jump up and run away, while Mother Moonbat leans over holding her down.
This picture is from a while back, and foretold the troubles to come….
Sheehag, of recent, has been critical of the Madam’s inability to “end the war of aggression”. So she has denounced the Madam and announced plans to run against her in the next election. So. You can imagine. It’s likely to get even uglier for Sheehag, if that is still possible.
July 22nd, 2007 at 1:13 pmFirst off, it was only a matter of time before the smoke cleared and the true demeanor of the leftists would be seen. In this case, their total lack of respect for anyone in uniform.
Secondly, I am appalled by seeing a picture of Sheehan and Pelosi on a couch together. This is something that would never happen in my house. Why? two reasons.
1) Neither one would be allowed into my home. My morals would not permit it.
2) I don’t let dogs up on the couch or any other furniture.
July 22nd, 2007 at 1:38 pm[…] Having turned against a war that some of them supported, the left is now turning against the troops they claim still to support. They sense that history is progressing away from them–that these soldiers, fighting courageously in a just cause, could still win the war, that they are proud of their service, and that they will be future leaders of this country. They are not “Shock Troops.” They are our best and bravest, fighting for all of us against a brutal enemy in a difficult and frustrating war. They are the 9/11 generation. The left slanders them. We support them. More than that, we admire them. Pat Dollard […]
July 22nd, 2007 at 1:49 pmAlright I have read some really good posts on this subject..my hat goes off to all of you, All patriots in my book. Cheers especially to 31Mike for pointing out Cindy Sheehans commie support, (Hugo Chavez. she most certainly fits the traitor description. that should be enough but it goes way deeper than that even. And JeanieNY for the passages from the bible that perfectly back up what we’re all going through about following the correct road. talk about an encouraging passage
July 22nd, 2007 at 2:19 pmInfidel~ I hope they do run against one another. I hope the vote is split between them to where a Republican can win in San Fran. Maybe Michael Savage will run.
July 22nd, 2007 at 2:49 pmLadyAngler….AHHHH!!HAHAHA!!!
I would give money to Michael Savages campaign just to have the chance to see him and that piece of shit Mayor Newsome go head to head at least one time..That would be worth a $1,000 bucks right there
July 22nd, 2007 at 4:04 pm[…] They Don’t Really Support The Troops, And Now, They Slander Them July 22nd, 2007 — budsimmons They Don’t Really Support The Troops, And Now, They Slander Them […]
July 22nd, 2007 at 4:09 pmThose on the cutting edge of progressive opinion…
Isn’t that an oxymoron?
July 22nd, 2007 at 4:51 pmIt’s really sad how they’re trying to destroy the troops. These are the same men and women who are fighting for their own security! I’m really amazed by this.
July 22nd, 2007 at 5:58 pmShehag is a Soros puppet. Soros is American’s public enemy number one. The SOB must be stopped before he buys the Presidency. He tried by backing Hanoi John and by buying thousands of illegal votes. He’s at it again, sending his “Orange Revolution” into Washington to conflict with the report on the progress of the surge. The Eagles and other patriotic groups will face them there and whereever they go but the time for agresssive counter measures grows near. His candidates, the Hilldebeast and Ali Obaba must be defeated soundly.
July 22nd, 2007 at 6:39 pmFrom the mind of the shehag. This woman is hyterically funny and stupid all at the same time. Read this crazy shit:
July 22nd, 2007 at 6:44 pmhttp://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56800
I really appreciate what Pat is doing with this website, I now stop in here as many or even more times per day than Drudge’s page.
However, having said that, when I check in I often go through a range of emotions, from anger to hope to despair.
We are surrounded by buffoonery on display in public office and the MSM is nothing short of Pravda or Goebbels reincarnate. I shudder to think how bad things would be if we didn’t have the “alternative” media to provide the truth.
The above picture illustrates two common types on the stage, a self serving disingenuous premeditating liar and the all to common useful village idiot. I hope the Shehag runs for congress, I really do. I think I might even contribute to her campaign. She needs to be the spokeswoman for the entire left.
July 22nd, 2007 at 7:24 pmI used to feel sorry for,and somewhat indulgent of Ms. Sheehan. However,those days have long since passed, and now I just want to slap the crap out of her…and Ms.Pelosi.
July 22nd, 2007 at 7:55 pmI could never, ever, under any circumstances, dishonor my child the way she has Casey.
Texas Fred and Big White Hat pointed me here…glad I came,read and agree with y’all. Being naturally cranky, I never agree with anyone !
Of course the leftist media is going to spread lies and only display what supports their beliefs about the war. Hell they show Terorists videos and tell the terrorists stories anyway! I was with the 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, and I have done 3 tours, including my last one in Ramadi where I met Pat.
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:32 pmEvery time I came home, I saw more bullshit. Lies about what was happening, and only bad things that will make people loose heart in the war. There was no, and I mean NO coverage of the battle for Husayba, that occurred on my second tour. We went up against 500+ Terrorists, and killed over half of them, and captured shit loads. This never even made it on the news. Wow, 250+ terrorists killed in one battle on the Syrian border? That’s not news at all! Lets make something really interesting up about how the troops are eating babies or something!
Lets not let pussies and liars do our thinking for us! Take it from me, their full of shit!
Cindy is doing what she is doing out of pure guilt. She deserted her family and now wants to show that she was a good mother. She wasn’t then and she is not now. The dishonoring of her son’s sacrifice and spitting in the faces of our troops only serves to amplify the depth of her depravity and the lengths she will go to to recieve absolution. Ain’t happening here!
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:45 am