Letters to the Editor
Baldie McEagle
Published Letters: 984 Editor's Choice: 3
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MacArthur vs Eisenhower
[Read the article: Bush and McCain's shared foreign policy approach]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]That's exactly the example I meant: Eisenhower performed his responsibilities as they were given him. The job of being the American satrap in the European Theater, essentially standing in for Roosevelt, was something of a burden. He was well aware of the line.
MacArthur, on the other hand ... right or wrong, he overstepped his bounds.
Regarding American soldier worship: One trope of which I am exceedingly tired is the one that says American soldiers guarantee us the right to free speech. Many officers believe this, and it's even in a poem posted outside some training base in Texas. (LWM, I feel sure you will find a Wiki on this---the whole "I'll fight to the death for your right to blah blah" thing.)
It's obviously bunk. Journalists, not soldiers, fought for our right to free speech. And as for the armed forces defending our "freedoms" ... I can't think of a single case of this post-War of 1812. Can anyone here?
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@jkalos
[Read the article: Bush and McCain's shared foreign policy approach]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think you're entirely right. I've considered that for a couple of years now, and I don't see any other way to account for the fact that the neocons have nearly broken their favorite toy.
Remember, even Reagan's people, as Stockman testified, wanted to break the US government by driving it bankrupt and transform it to a provider of services to corporations and the rich. If that was the goal, it's working now.
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@LWM
[Read the article: Bush and McCain's shared foreign policy approach]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As usual, you have restated my point in an attempt to refute it.
... American troops have been used to defend America and its interests since 1812. It get murky when you try to define "national interests" objectively.
I didn't say "national interests." I said "freedoms." As in, free speech, etc.---i.e., the Bill of Rights.
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@RMP
[Read the article: Bush and McCain's shared foreign policy approach]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Is making money for the greedy corporations so important to them individually or is their place in history more important?
That's exactly the question. One point I'd make is that the neocons are not just an ideologically pure cadre of 20 army officers who have come back from 10 years in the wilderness. The right wing is a hodgepodge of cabals and coteries and a large outer circle. Some individuals are bound to be as smart and quiet as others are stupid and loud. Who can say what the "real" goal is?
Think more of a cancer, I guess, that metastasizes as it evolves, than an alien reptile brain. You can observe it morph to take advantage of any situation.
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An interesting answer, LWM
[Read the article: Bush and McCain's shared foreign policy approach]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Irrelevant to my point, really, but a good true answer nevertheless.
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@ LWM
[Read the article: Bush and McCain's shared foreign policy approach]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Since you're still here: I found the poem to which I referred:
"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.
- Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC (often incorrectly attributed to Charles M. Province)"
Author: - Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC
THIS is offensive soldier worship.
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@LWM, from the last thread
[Read the article: Michael Mukasey's tearful lies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You may not have seen this:
An interesting answer, LWM
Irrelevant to my point, really, but a good true answer nevertheless.
and this:
Since you're still here: I found the poem to which I referred:
"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.
- Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC (often incorrectly attributed to Charles M. Province)"
Author: - Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC
THIS is offensive soldier worship.
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Again, @LWM
[Read the article: Michael Mukasey's tearful lies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's obviously bunk. Journalists, not soldiers, fought for our right to free speech. And as for the armed forces defending our "freedoms" ... I can't think of a single case of this post-War of 1812. Can anyone here?
I gave you an example of it post WWII. Please don't tell me you are going to argue WWII was an unnecessary use of American military force that didn't protect these liberties for Americans here and abroad and even for other nation's citizens. Let's leave the Civil War and WWI out of it for now. If you are going to argue that case, please provide some evidence. Are you one of those who claim that FDR goaded Japan and Germany into WWII?
If I meant that, I would have said that. I'm not going to provide evidence for an argument I'm not making.
Certainly the war of the Allies against the Axis protected the rights of "other nation's citizens" and those of Americans abroad." So what? How does that answer my question, which had to do with American rights---let me clarify, on American soil?
When did Hitler or Tojo ever actually threaten American citizens' rights within the US? Do you see what I'm driving at?
It's a myth that the US armed forces, in practice, primarily protect Americans' "rights and freedoms." Except, of course, the freedom to do as we please in other countries, but that's not what I meant.
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@WT
[Read the article: Michael Mukasey's tearful lies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And now you can likely add to that list the governor of Puerto Rico.