In light of the controversies surrounding the MoveOn.org “Betray Us” ad and Rush Limbaugh slamming U.S. troops who support withdrawal as “phony soldiers,” you’d think Fox News wouldn’t publish a piece called, “Top Military Officials are a Disgrace to Those They Lead.”
And yet, as Glenn Greenwald noted, that’s the headline on the latest piece from Col. David Hunt, who wrote, “Our generals are betraying our soldiers … again”
Now, Hunt’s argument is that the “politically correct” U.S. military shouldn’t punish troops for using tactics such as “baiting” — leaving munitions in a public area, and then shooting those who try to pick it up. Because top officials are cracking down on these tactics — something about winning “hearts and minds” — Hunt is condemning U.S. generals, accusing them of “betraying” the troops.
Indeed, the rest of the Fox News piece continues in the same vein. Hunt argues that our generals “have cared more about their precious careers and reputations than their soldiers and Marines under them,” and deserve to put “on trial” for their decisions.
Given the current climate, I don’t imagine the Fox News contributor could have chosen more provocative language. As Glenn argued:
To accuse a general of “betrayal” is, in military parlance, the equivalent of accusing him of treason to his country. Yet that is what this Fox News article does in the very first paragraph with regard to many of our brave Generals risking their lives for our country in a Time of War — and it not only accuses Our Military Commanders of “betrayal,” but betrayal of their own troops.
I shudder to think what the reaction would have been from our friends on the right if an outlet other than Fox News published this right now.
Indeed, the resolution passed by lawmakers condemning MoveOn insists that we must never “attack the honor and integrity … of members of the United States Armed Forces.” If you wear the uniform, you deserve respect, not condemnations.
Here’s the perspective of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.):
It’s been more than a week since the Junior Senator from Texas offered an amendment condemning an ad by MoveOn.Org that appeared last Monday in The New York Times.
The ad was, by any standard, abhorrent.
It accused a four star general who has the trust and respect of 160,000 men and women in Iraq of betraying that mission and those troops, of lying to them and to us.
Who would have ever expected anybody to go after a general in the field at a time of war, launch a smear campaign against a man we’ve entrusted with our mission in Iraq.
Any group that does this sort of thing ought to be condemned
Isn’t Hunt’s Fox News piece just as bad?
I really don’t want a never-ending argument about every military criticism from anyone in public life. This is pointless and exhausting, but if the right thinks this is a worthwhile endeavor, the left can give as well as it gets….