Vexed Vet Wastes Weenies; Some Collateral Damage
John Robb has a point about the weeniedom of warbloggers, although I would qualify that as "many" or "most" warbloggers. But I have some problems with his logic: "These guys didn't spend time in the military or in situations that put them up against terrrorists." It's a similar argument to the one made by, say, pro athletes or symphony conductors when criticized: what do you who have not done this know about it? On some levels, hands-on expertise is a prerequisite for understanding. But I can sit on my couch and identify a dropped pass or an off-tempo performance without logging time in the NFL or an orchestra.
JRobb's contempt for the "softies" who haven't served in the military bothered me because I inferred from it the corollary that military experience confers some expertise on all aspects of a war that involves much more than military strategy. The Constitution mandates civilian control of the military, and does not mandate that the civilians in control have military experience. There are good reasons for that set-up.
I have always cringed at the so-called Chicken Hawks such as Newt Gingrich and George Will, who talk tough but found ways to miss Vietnam. Props and thanks to JRobb and everyone else willing to serve and protect the rest of us. And again, I agree with John that much of the commentary out there is crap. But it's crap because it's reactive and simplistic, not because the writers fail to achieve his macho quotient.
11:12:16 AM 
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