Letters to the Editor
-
Cosmetic Surge-ery
Bush, Biden, Kagan, Generals, Congress et al, can debate all they want about a surge, but the reality is that they are not talking about fresh, rested, trained "top of the line" new troops to go in and kick some insurgent butt. They are talking about stop-loss and extended tours, accelerated rotations and curtailed training. The "additional troops" are the same troops who have been risking their lives and wearing down their physical and mental strength for four years.
This is the reality. It's time someone started talking about that, rather than pontificating about "how many" troops we should send in.
In an unprecedented move,(the nearest thing was active military publishing a full page letter in the NY Times during the Vietnam War), a hefty group of active duty military (including senior officers) have signed an "appeal to redress" to Congress asking to bring troops home. They did this at great risk. The military believes in retribution not only for failing to toe the line, but for questioning it, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that suggests the contrary.
No one knows the reality or futility of this charade better than the boots on the ground. If the most invested and dedicated of the people associated with the war in Iraq say "get out"...the White House should be listening rather than trying to save Bush's failed "legacy" at the expense of more troop lives.