Asymmetric Military

Link: http://www.usarc.army.mil/63rsc/

Asymmetric disclaimer

I just went to the 63rd rsc Christmas/holiday party and it was a lot of fun. The MWR went all-out, providing some legitimately great gifts for the kids handed out by a very nice Santa Claus. I went to the 63rd EN command group after transferrng to the EN branch. Eveybody in the unit is very friendly and the commanders are excellent.

I officered up my uniform as I hadn't worn it since 2004 when I had my commissioning board. The jacket was a little tight and the pants were unwearable as I've gained 15 pounds since I came back from Iraq. I upgraded my rack with my Iraq decorations, bought another pair of pants, and made the required changes to my jacket. This morning I discoved that the officer's jacket had an extra stripe on the sleeve, but since it was Christmas, everybody overlooked my transgression. The turkey and ham were good.

I realize that this isn't the most thrilling post, but I only bring it up because as I make my trudge through the internet to bring my loyal readers the most interesting stories, I often encounter "anti-war" sites that decide the best way to stop the war in Iraq is to disparage the soldiers and commanders prosecuting it as if a) they had any better ideas about winning the war or b) it's wise to make foreign policy based on soldier behavior. Truthout.org is one of the worst offenders, constantly attacking soldiers or worse, demeaning them by portraying soldiers as non-thinking tools of the man. One such article stands out in my memory-not for attacking soldiers, but for its cynicism. In it, a soldier in prison for killing an Iraqi had apparently reformed himself enough for truthout.org to first believe and then fawn over his every word. The reason for his regeneration? The criminal murderer blamed his superiors for his crime, therefore allowing truthout.org to further criticize Rumsfeld and the president. For, truthout, Only soldiers whom they can portray as victims get any sympathy.

So, as I sat amongst my friends at the dinner I thought, "could these fine soldiers, almost all of whom have been deployed, be the depraved madmen and women or the patsies described in truthout.org?" Like many falsehoods believed either because of a credulous disposition or a willful disregard of reality, the truth is the exact opposite. No army in the history of the world behaves itself with more restraint towards both its enemy and the civilian population caught in between. We are one of the few countries that prosecutes soldiers who harm enemies or civilians.

From priests to teachers to congressmen to doctors, who couldn't make a profession seem a pit of evil by focusing on the most negative stories? Who couldn't make a country or a race or a religion seem wholly evil by just mentioning the worst parts of their history?

Moderate cred- Lest anyone think I'm defending criminal soldiers, all misbehavior should be dealt with- especially one that refects on a whole group or even a whole nation like ones perpetrated by soldiers. My only problem is using such transgressions as a club to make a larger and unrelated point.

I wish I would have seen this poster the week before.