Why the liberals aren’t enlisting in the military
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Re “Uncle Sam to the liberals: I need you!” Opinion, Aug. 13
An unwillingness to participate in the killing of innocent civilians, known in military parlance as “collateral damage,” is a key reason for low enlistment rates among those who consider themselves liberal. Conspicuously absent from Rosa Brooks’ recruitment broadside is any mention of such killing in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Having a different sense of compassion and a stronger belief in diplomacy, liberals share with revolutionary patriot Thomas Paine a distaste for what he called “offensive war” but would doubtlessly sign up if the American homeland is imminently threatened. President Bush joins Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon as a leader who has failed to make the case.
RALPH GOLDSTEIN
Altadena
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The men and women in the military haven’t moved from their political values; the Democratic Party and the liberals have moved out of the mainstream. The Democratic Party needs to pull back from the brink of irrelevance.
BOB WACHSMUTH
Valencia
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