Quote:
Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic
I was under the impression that Bush attending funerals would be a really bad idea during war time. Bad for national morale, bad for troop morale, bad by giving publicity to any damage done by enemies, bad by advertising that the US is so casualty intollerant that the President goes to troop funerals, so killing more troops is a good way to pressure the US to cut it out. Presidents don't go to soldiers' funerals during conflicts. They just don't.
Or: anything that calls attention to or highlights troop casualties is, strategically, a bad thing. Meaning strategically in terms of military/war on terrorism strategy. That this also might serve Bush-reelection strategy is a perhaps unwelcome side-effect, but a side-effect nevertheless. I am pretty surprised Clark is the one saying this, but much of the distaste for him in the military runs along the line that he was politically, not militarily, motivated.
I don't think it is a made-up bush bash, but I think (i) it has been a long time since the US has been in any serious longer-term military adventures and people have forgotten how they happen and (ii) the US really has become pretty casualty intollerant and a lot of people think that every soldier death should occasion a national day of mourning. Not that every one of them isn't horrible, but the big picture gets missed.
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After some thought, I don't have any objection to the President not attending the funerals of SMs. After all -- how would be choose which ones to attend? I understand the morale/politics issues too. Attending would make each funeral seem like a huge deal to the nation -- which it is not.
I mean, heck -- Spain declared a National Day of Mourning when they lost the 7 intelligence agents -- as Italy did for their 19(?) policemen/troops. We can't go that far [/sarcasm] -- or we'd never get any work done [/sarcasm] , so the best policy may be not to attend.
I have more beef with the Bush administation rigorously enforcing the policy of no pictures/news coverage of the coffins at Dover.
That strikes me as more objectionable news manipulation.
P.S. How about that US Forest Service? Emmet Sullivan handed them their ass the other day! (Regarding the incomplete and "results-driven" analysis reversing the Clinton-era limits on snow-mobiles in Yellowstone .)
S_A_M
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