Blog Me No Blogs: WHY WOULD I LIE?

WHY WOULD I LIE?

AFTER ALL, I'M NOT A REPUBLICAN

So, I Have Nothing To Fear From The Truth

I posted this on a number of websites the other day, because it kind of surprised me. I didn't solicit this type of comment, these guys volunteered it, and their personal information. I'm an ex-marine; so, what with the Semper Fi and all, I hear things. I've been hearing from Marines coming back from the Middle East since some time after 9/11.

They told me they knew, roughly, where Osama was and that they weren't allowed to go get him. They told me Afghanistan and Iraq were clusterfucks, and nothing was being accomplished there. They were mostly short-timers and one-hitchers, non-lifers; all enlisted, no officers. They had no idea of my politics, and no motivation to lie. They went over there, they fought hard, and they came home. And they went back again when called.

That's their job. But they don't go around with their eyes and ears closed, and they don't turn off their minds. They read the papers, watch the news, correspond with friends and family back home. They're people; good people, most of these kids who are fighting and dying in our name; whether we like it or not.

They know what's going on and, increasingly, they don't like it. They're Marines: They always do their duty; but they don't have to like it. And nobody can tell them otherwise, or shut them up. What surprised me was hearing any of the same discontent from Navy men; lifers, with air-conditioned jobs in the rear, out of the line of fire. To me, that says that, if we do have a free and fair election and tabulaton, there may be some unpleasant surprises in store for Bush, in the military vote. Here's what I posted:

I happened to run into two different career US Navy NCOs, separately, today. Both were Republicans from Texas. NEITHER one is voting for Bush. Conduct of the war, and bread-and-butter issues dominated their concerns. Talk about alienating your BASE! Up until VERY recently, all military personnel I spoke to were knee-jerk Bushites. Be afraid, Lt. Dubya. Be VERY afraid.

The first hints of dissatisfaction I heard were from Marines who'd already fought on the front lines in both Afghanistan AND Iraq, and were on their way back for a third tour. They were sick of the shit, and sounded much like those jarheads who mouthed off not long ago [in the media], about having to fight the same battles over and over, for no apparent reason (Hamburger Hill, anyone?). And they were also clear on the lack of WMDs, Al Qaida, and any real threat to the US homeland.

It was the troops in the rear, out of the fighting, who held out longest for Dubya, especially the lifers. But that may be collapsing now, too. Guess we'll see, next Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Or Thursday. Or...

Oh, By The Way...

Check out how many conservatives, versus how many liberals, actually ever served in the U.S. military:

Who Performed Military Service

Links:

ratboy's anvil

Just A Bump In The Beltway

Shining Light In Dark Corners

The American Street

georgewbuy

americablog

daily kos

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