I've tried to be Fair and BalancedTM about the whole letters home debate, but if it's true that the original letter was composed and circulated by the battalion's commanding officer, then it's time for all of us -- left, right and center -- to start asking some tough questions about whether the most basic rights of our young men and women in uniform are being properly protected.
[Link via Hesiod]
Posted by Jack O'Toole on October 14, 2003 09:55 AMrelax, it's likely only the work of a single, local, over-zealous Lieutenant Commander.
In doubt, check whether his two surnames are given, in that case you can rest assured he was acting on his own.
It's the work of the battalion commander: http://counterspin.blogspot.com/2003_10_12_counterspin_archive.html#106612908626439179
I don't understand why the right would get upset about this. As far as they're concerned, any propaganda on behalf of the war is by definition "true" - whether it's accurate or not. Besides, the Lt. Col. who wrote this letter is a hero! He "found" WMD: http://www.sptimes.com/2003/04/15/Worldandnation/Iraqi_site_yields_mor.shtml
Remember, Jack, lying liars don't understand the meaning of "fairness".
Posted by: Mithras on October 14, 2003 04:13 PMActually, I find it kind of annoying a battalion commander would do this- almost as annoying as some on the left's claim that this is somehow an administration embarassment.
Posted by: John Cole on October 15, 2003 10:52 AMApply the Clinton test - what would the rightwingers be saying about this if it had happened when Clinton was in office? "Clinton is turning the U.S. Army into a liberal attack dog!"
As far as I can tell, the left mainly acknowledges this incident was probably due to a *ahem* overzealous battalion C.O.