An
article by Uwe E. Reinhardt, a professor of political economy at Princeton University, ran yesterday on page A17 of the Washington Post. In it, Reinhardt excoriates America's politicians for insulating 95% of voters from any real sacrifice or cost for Bush's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (in part by using borrowed money to finance the war off the books) -- and he takes the public to task for its widespread indifference to the plight of US troops other than to purchase a cheap yellow ribbon to paste on their cars.
In quoting the advice he gave his son on joining the Marines, the professor nails it:
"Do what you must, but be advised that, flourishing rhetoric notwithstanding, this nation will never truly honor your service, and it will condemn you to the bottom of the economic scrap heap should you ever get seriously wounded."
Reinhardt concludes:
"Unlike the editors of the nation's newspapers, I am not at all impressed by people who resolve to have others stay the course in Iraq and in Afghanistan. At zero sacrifice, who would not have that resolve?"
National Debunker