The American Spectator

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Desert Leave

7.7.06 @ 12:01AM

GOOD SOLDIERS
Re: Ben Stein's How Was Your Weekend?:

Another great one by Ben! One request: Could Ben share the article he mentioned by the historian about terrorists paying people to "witness" crimes? Thanks!
-- Roger D. McKinney
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

I want to thank Ben Stein for a wonderful column. I also want to thank him for giving these three good, no, great men an opportunity in Palm Springs that they probably would have never had on a serviceman's woefully inadequate salary. (Unfortunately, the one of the first buildings you see when you drive on to most bases and posts is the W.I.C. and food stamp application center.) As a fourteen-year U.S. Army veteran, I can greatly appreciate your thanks to these men. Your column brought tears to my eyes not only because the candor of these men concerning their jobs and families, but their willingness to face the worst and unwillingness to ask for anything in return. My first to the reaction to the early allegations was that there are always a few bad eggs. I too have become troubled about the number of accusations against our troops in recent days; it has appeared to be all too convenient. I know the matters handled under the UCMJ are quite different than those handled by our civilian justice system. However, with our knowledge that the terrorists will force people to lie and of the acts of the three suicides in Guantanamo Bay we must give these soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen the benefit of the doubt until precise conclusions can be drawn. These accused or suspected men deserve better.
-- Drew Evans

Ben Stein ought to come up with a new formula for his TAS articles. I think the "I'm grateful and proud that these brave Americans are fighting to preserve our frivolous lifestyles back home" theme has worn rather thin. But I guess life is good in Malibu despite the neighbors, and he knows that the people who butter his bread wouldn't approve if he started criticizing AIPAC lobbyists, the Bush Administration, proposed constitutional amendments, or other Republican red herrings. His heartfelt lesson of the week is that terrorists are bad people who lie about American atrocities, and that the Supreme Court offers them greater protection than it does courageous Marines. Never mind that al Qaeda had little relationship to Iraq, and that the Bush Administration has inadvertently fueled a much greater Islamist radical movement than existed before. Never mind that this is an all-volunteer military which would be at his club watching fireworks with him if they could afford it. Ben Stein's credibility might be salvageable if he actually took a trip to Baghdad, where the action is, instead of to the Roves'.
-- Paul Dorell
Highland Park, Illinois

Ben Stein certainly had an interesting Independence Day holiday! Wealth and celebrity are not wasted on this man.

I'd be very interested and grateful if he could share with us a link to the "long article" provided him regarding ginned up stories of American atrocities. This is the sort of thing that needs to circulated as widely as possible.

Perhaps he could send a copy to the White House, which seems to be quite content to allow soldiers accused of crimes against Iraqis to languish in irons in solitary for weeks before even seeing a lawyer. I feel very sure that Mr. Stein carries some influence with our President, who, after all, is Commander In Chief and just might be able to effect some relief for those charged. He might even oversee harsh inquisition and punishment for their tormentors. After all, just look what he did when he was made aware of some Iraqis merely being made sport of at Abu Ghraib. Maybe he'll even promise to tear down the prison at Pendleton and replace it with a new, multi-million dollar facility to erase the shame of this debacle?

My mind reels at the possibilities! President Bush, with all the power of the executive branch at his disposal, could even employ it to bring to the attention of the Supreme Court this travesty of justice. After all, even the Supreme Court still can't decide issues not raised before them.

I fear that our President's store of compassion, however, may be depleted. Aside from the aforementioned Iraqi prisoners, he's spent it most generously on behalf of our millions and millions of illegal immigrants and those of us citizens who balk at doing the jobs those brave illegals do, not to mention their billionaire employers. His troubled heart can't seem to be reconciled to the notion of vetoing the budget busting, pork-heavy budgets sent to him by his pals in the "Republican-controlled" Congress. The milk of human kindness flows from him even to those bent on his destruction, such as the NEA. How exhausting must have been his efforts on behalf of Arab "allies" for whom he labored so tirelessly to deliver control of our nation's ports, when cruel naysayers stubbornly questioned their record? Is it any wonder that the poor man must abandon to a harsh fate those whom he's sent into harm's way, even in the face of conclusions by our allies that the charges against them are likely specious?

It may be that our own President fails to read TAS. If so, we must assume that he will remain unaware of this situation unless bold action is taken.

Maybe Mr. Stein can use his presumed influence to communicate more directly with Mr. Bush and alert him to the information he's set out here, and report back to us the President's response? It should be worth a try, if Mr. Stein would not waste the celebrity and other blessings for which he always gives such abundant thanks. He'd face no danger of disappearing into a "pink mist." His droll influence might be just the thing the President needs to recharge his store of compassionate energy!

Maybe there are dangers in such a course that I can't or don't apprehend, since I don't live in Mr. Stein's world. However, in light of his frequent odes in support of our troops, I see this as a great chance for him to throw himself into the breach and take the risk. I hope he will, and Tyler Jackson and his mother will be grateful.

What's the worst that could happen?
-- Mark Fallert
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I greatly appreciate your focus on our American Heroes. The mainstream media has forgotten who it is that stands on the wall and gives them the Freedom of Press that they enjoy. I enjoy each and every one of your articles that gives honor to these great men and women who wear the uniform for us all.
-- Paul A. Hargraves
Woodland Hills, California

Just read Ben Stein's article "How Was Your Weekend?" I heartily agree with him. Please give us more stories about our Fighting Men and Women! Pictures included, in depth portraits showing these folks as they were before they went to war, what they achieved there and what they have been doing since returning home. Obviously these stories would have to be about people who have been home more than a couple of years to have some perspective. Give us the uplifting stories, save the sad ones for another day, please.
-- Yvonne Wehr
Clackamas, Oregon

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Mainstream Media, Islam, Environment, Books, Constitution, Law, Supreme Court, Military, Iraq, Communism, Energy, Oil