To The Post's Arken: Leave The Troops Alone

The following is an open letter to William M. Arken, writer for the Washington Post:
(RE: “The Troops Also Need To Support The American People”)

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Thursday, February 01, 2007

Dear Mr. Arken;

I’m almost not sure what to write, as what I would really like to say is 1.) not (or should not be) printable, and 2.) would be below the decorum of a former soldier who served this great country in Gulf War I, and is now grateful that he did. Your tirade at the American Armed Services “The Troops Also Need To Support The American People” is off-base and ill-founded. I’m not sure what version of the “American people” you associate with, but I can offer this one piece of advice: get out of Washington a LOT more often than you currently are and talk to some REAL American people. I can give you a few thoughts to take back to your “American people” and share with them.

First, your assertion that the “American people” have “indulged” the troops by supporting them through “every Abu Ghraib…,Haditha,…, rape and murder” is a plain falsehood. There was only one Abu Ghraib, one Haiditha, and very few instances of rape or outright murder in this war. If your assertion that our troops were roving bands of pillagers and rapers were true, there would be thousands of cases, not the few you outline. Incidents like you describe ARE the EXCEPTION, not the Rule. In fact, we go to great lengths to make sure that we protect innocent life wherever we can -- as much as one can in a war theater. The training that we provide our troops, drills them on avoiding innocent casualties (versus our adversary Al-Qaeda, for whom killing innocent people is as natural as breathing.) Further, we know that the majority of our troops have grown up in our American society that supports the preservation of human life and the value of people (again, versus our adversaries who train their children from day 1 to kill anyone who is different, doesn’t agree with them and/or won’t convert to their way of thinking.) Our enemies do not value life and use children and young adults – men and women – as human time bombs. It is for these reasons that we support our troops so steadfastly. This is not an “indulgence” it is a confidence in them, their training, and their humanity.

Next, our soldiers are NOT paid a decent wage (especially enlisted personnel) over all, and struggle to make ends meet while not being able to take on part time jobs as regular Americans do because they are considered “on Duty” 24 hours a day, and must be available at a moments notice. As a private (E-2) in the Army in 1988 with a wife and new son, I was eligible for food stamps, and other forms of public assistance because the pay was so low. I never took the government up on it, because I was taught that I was responsible for feeding my family, not the government. Others who came after me are following that same track. Frankly, our veterans and active-duty soldiers deserve more than what they get, for practical reasons, and for reasons of gratitude. Our soldiers certainly aren’t paid well compared to the risks they take with their lives, but they accept this as part of the job.

Further, you say “…even at anti-war protests, the focus is firmly on the White House and policy.” This thought pattern may make you feel better, but it, too is patently untrue. Their have been numerous demonstrations that I have been witness to, and the focus is NOT solely on White House and policy. Many engage in personal attacks, obstruction, and outright physical confrontation. The soldiers in question who earned your ill-placed ire ARE, thought, talking policy and White House. You should applaud them for that. You say “We just don’t see very man[sic] “baby killer” epithets being thrown around these days, no one in uniform is being spit upon.” So, because you chose not to spit on the troops and call them stupid names when they came home they now owe you loyalty to your opinion of the war? That’s insane. You are wrong; people are still doing those same old tired-ass Vietnam era anti-war tactics. A few of you have refined your tactics, though, to use oh, say, a newspaper column.

Soldiers do have a paycheck, healthcare at military hospitals (not all hospital visits and treatments are free by the way.) But these things are not things that require them to cow-tow to public opinion. They are benefits earned by people who do the most important job in this country; protecting us from all enemies foreign and domestic. Thanks for giving the United States a look at what liberal socialists really want in exchange for all the free healthcare, food stamps, and all the other “freebies” the government gives. You are thereby a bought-and-paid-for slave of the ruling class of government utopia, and in exchange they will tell YOU what to think. Anything outside of this earns you a slap from King Arken on his throne at the Washington Post. Long live the dictator.

Sincerley,
Alpheus O. Pope
Formerly; Specialist, United States Army
f22strike@yahoo.com

PS. Should you want to debate this further, you can reach me at the above address. I would be delighted.

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Previously:
WaPo to Military: You Can Help Yourself But Don’t Take Too Much