Hanoi Jane and Freedom of Speech

I recently received an email rant from a very right-wing friend of mine the other day in which he held forth against Jane Fonda being named one of the 100 Women of the Century. Upon doing a little research, it would appear that the subject of his email was actually a retread about the Barbara Walters special on the 100 most influential women of the 20th century that aired way back in April 1999 (I don't think my friend was aware that this was old news—oops).

Turns out that the story about Hanoi Jane asking the POWs, "Are you sorry you bombed babies?" and, "Are you grateful for the humane treatment from your benevolent captors?" and turning over the POWs' secret messages written to their loved ones to their North Vietnamese captors is patently false. Granted, she was a moron to go over there and make such a spectacle, but isn't it amazing how some stories get blown out of proportion? C'mon people, let's try to get over the Vietnam War.

Speaking of getting over it, while some were outraged by Maggie Gyllenhaal's remarks about our country's culpability in the 9/11 attacks, she has every right to speak her mind about America's foreign policy. It's her unalienable, American right. Of course, I suppose it would follow that it's also everyone else's unalienable right to eviscerate her for her "radical" point of view.

War is a Racket

I just ran across this anti-war essay by famed U.S. Marine Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler. First published in 1935 as trouble was brewing in Europe, it is as relevant today as it was then. In it, Butler expounds bluntly upon his premise that wars are waged solely to serve the interests—financial and otherwise—of the privileged few. Nothing new there, but the fact that it was written by a highly regarded two-time Medal of Honor recipient who had actually seen real combat has me doing pirouettes and singing "Joy to the World."

I will state for the record that I was against invading Iraq, especially for the pack of lies (to quote George Galloway) put forth by the Bush administration. And I really get peeved at those who would point their finger at me and call me "un-American" or even a traitor. (I work for a defense contractor and believe me, I have had more than one heated discussion on this topic.) Listen, just because I was against this war doesn't mean that I don't support our troops and love my country. As a training developer I take pride in contributing to the readiness of our troops. Of course, when it comes to matters of our foreign policy, that's another matter: I think our foreign policy right now is like a bull in a china shop, and that needs to change ASAP.

Now I'm really going to rant: every day I see dozens of "Support Our Troops" magnets on peoples' cars. What does that really mean? How does a magnet on the ass end of your car really mean that you support your troops? Sending them good vibes just isn't enough. How about supporting your troops by voting those who don't have their interests at heart out of office. In the meantime, you can start by sending a soldier a care package.

Abu Ghraib Revisited

The consensus in my office here at NAS Jacksonville is that Lynndie England is very definitely a scapegoat who is being railroaded by the U.S. Army. At least the judge had the sense to declare a mistrial the other day.

I'm not defending the despicable actions of the seven MPs who have been tried for their involvement in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, but these were mostly low-ranking, undertrained reservists who had been ordered (read: pressured) to make their prisoners as miserable as possible to induce them to talk. Having said that, as human beings the accused should have had a better idea of what was appropriate and inappropriate treatment of the prisoners. What we have here is a case of some morally ambiguous people who, without proper direction, allowed a darker, baser side of human nature to surface.

Although the CO at the top of the food chain is ultimately responsible for this behavior—and brigadier general Janis Karpinski has taken the fall and been demoted to colonel—the inquiry shouldn't stop there.

Wikipedia.com has an excellent and very objective section on the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.