After watching the debate by the Democratic candidates I wish I could truly believe that members of the left truly support the military.
But I just don’t believe it.
I don’t know why but I think it has to do a lot with how those on the left have treated those who serve in the military in the past.
During the Clinton Administration, the left’s hatred of the military was open and out there for all to see. They did not hide their contempt for the men and women who wore a uniform in the Armed Forces. They debated on pay raises and cut funds desperately needed for training. In Colin Powell’s autobiography, My American Journey, he details a visit to the White House where a Clinton aide told then General Powell, “we don’t talk to the military around here”. If that isn’t a snob remark I don’t know what is.
A friend of mine participated in the Haiti invasion in the early 90s and was due to receive a medal for his actions. President Clinton was the presenter. As the President, our Commander in Chief, passed along the lines to congratulate everyone, my friend remarked how he felt as if the President was somehow bored and disinterested in the whole thing. He said that when he shook the President’s hand he could tell that his congratulations were not sincere.
The left’s neat little slogan of ‘Support the Troops; but Not the War’ is just a clever way to behave just like their 1960s era Viet Nam predecessors but be just sly enough where their hatred of the military doesn’t show.
It won’t last though and it will only take time before the first violence erupts between protestors and the soldiers they say they support.
If the Democrats truly support the troops then, as a serviceman, I ask that you do what you complain about: give us everything we need to win. Ensure we do have APCs with increased armor. Ensure we all have keflar vests. Ensure we have the best intel we need to win this war. Give us some credit. Give us the tools and we will give you a victory. You cannot fight a war with one hand behind your back and that is how the Democrats want to fight the War on Terror.
Actions speak louder than words.
Until they do this, I don’t believe they support the military at all. I think it is all just a clever smoke screen.
