OK, so last Saturday I'm watching the Fox baseball game of the week and the annoying Fox ticker begins, which during sporting events tends to feature scores and highlights from around the sporting world. Out of nowhere what do I see trundle across?
"Show your support of the troops. Log on to americasupportsyou.mil."
Hmmmm. That's a bit, ah, forward, I thought. But whatever. I guess Fox has decided to embrace Gov. Dean's characterization of them as the White House's personal tool.
But then a strange thing happened. Bush mentioned this web site in his speech last night:
In this time of testing, our troops can know: The American people are behind you.<snip> This Fourth of July, I ask you to find a way to thank the men and women defending our freedom ... <snip>The Department of Defense has set up a website - AmericaSupportsYou.mil. You can go there to learn about private efforts in your own community. <snip>
So I went there. And you'll never guess what I DIDN'T FIND.
The main page of
americasupportsyou.mil is anchored by a giant logo that says "Thank the Troops for Your Freedom/Send a message." The rest of the page is filled with various other "support activities" you can engage in. There are links to Video Tributes, Musical Tributes, and, even more to the point, there's a link that directs you to more "helpful" activites:
Here's how YOU CAN HELP.
Click that link and you'll see that Americans can "donate computers, frequent flyer miles, gift certificates, and a whole host of other nifty ways to support the troops.
But try as I might, guess what isn't to be found anywhere on that web page? No where, no matter how far you drill down, you won't find this:
YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU: ENLIST HERE
You read it right. There isn't a SINGLE LINK on the entire web site that Jonah Goldberg can click and begin the process of ENLISTING in the United States Armed Forces.
Let me say that again: With Fox news pimping the site, and Bush referencing it in his speech -- in the context of more faux support during the Fourth of July -- if a patriotic American wanted to enlist he WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO from this web site.
Now, there are people on this site who are far smarter than I am -- and maybe I'm missing something re: what's allowable on these government web sites (and if I am, please correct me) -- but it is completely indefensible that a Department of Defense "Support The Troops" website, being pimped by the President during a prime time speech, does not have the facility to enlist would be soldiers.
So the obvious question: Why not?
Anyone? Buelleur?
I'll hazard a guess in my one tinfoil hat moment: Is it possible that the DoD is gathering information about those who visit the site -- as they may very well be folks more open to recruitment -- so they can perform some "targeted marketing" strategies? Is it possible that Karl Rove is implementing a way to run some of his patented "direct mail" campaigns at these would-be supporters of the troops?
Honestly, I don't know the answer. But something is definitely going on here, and it is much more than a call for "telephone minutes" for the troops.
Where's the "Support Your Country by Enlisting" link, Mr. President?