Oliver still refuses to admit that the administration was not behind the ‘astroturf’ letters he accused them of writing the other day, and comments:
There’s the difference between Bush-approved astroturf as we saw before, and this sort of thing which springs up from Bush supporters as well. I never used to be skeptical of our armed forces but they have been so politicized as of late that I have a hard time believing that spontaneously a fradulent letter bolstering the administration’s line on Iraq just happened to strafe across the country. It may not have come from Rove & Co. but the apple doesn’t appear to fall far from the tree.
Was it considered politicizing soldiers when you posted a letter from ONE soldier in Iraq that was reprinted over and over again in left-wing rags, including Common Dreams, the site you used as a source, Oliver?
Soldier’s Story
One of those serving in Iraq tells a story (via Tapped)
With No Plan Apparent, GIs in Iraq Slowly Becoming Frantic
My unit processes incoming soldiers and helps soldiers redeploy for theater. We are doing a great job and are working hard to treat each soldier with care and consideration as they come past our desks. They have spread our 44 soldiers out to replace an active unit that had over 50 and to replace a National Guard unit that had over 60 soldiers. Not only are we running 24-hour operations seven days a week for these two units, but we have four of our soldiers on the redeployment side working validation for another unit! We are spread so thin and are working so hard that these knocks on our morale are devastating.
Yes, we are physically able to finish our mission, but mentally and spiritually we are dying.
If retention for the Army National Guard is of any importance, current members need to have faith in our government and our leaders. Right now, where we are, we can’t see anyone taking a stand for the soldiers (as it isn’t just us being treated this way but many, many soldiers).
This isn’t a simple board game of Axis and Allies, this is a game people are playing with real people – people with families, not robots. You have college students out here (like me) missing over a year of college to sit and get yanked around without explanation. It has been told to the officers I have spoken to that 3rd PERSCOM refers to moving soldiers as “drug deals.” You do this for me and I’ll make sure your soldiers go home, etc.
Yes, without a doubt my duty is to serve my country despite her faults. I have learned I will not be able to get education and training services while I am here and I am accepting that. I am here to serve out of obligation and duty. What I’m wondering is if there are any checks and balances for those who are making decisions here?
At some point, when people continue to regurgitate the DNC line, despite knowing it is false, they are no longer merely wrong but are now appropriately labeled as liars.