To volunteer for the armed forces is not to say, "I will die on the presidents whim."
Volunteering involves a sacred contract. A man or woman will agree to sacrifice their life if necessary in the defense of the United States and its Constitution.
In return, the government will pay, feed, and clothe the volunteer. In addition, and most importantly, there is an understanding that volunteers will only be called upon to make the supreme sacrifice when it is absolutely necessary and after all other options have been exhausted.
There is a third party in this contract, and it is the American people. We are responsible to insure that the CIC is the best man for the job and that he is a man of honor and integrity.
When any one of these parties does not follow through on their responsibilities, the foundation on which the idea of a volunteer army (which can produce the best possible army) rests is shaken.
The reason the case of Cindy Sheehan is so newsworthy, is that it touches on questions regarding all three of these parties in the contract.
Let's break it down.
Cindy, this can not be denied her as an American citizen, has an unassailable right as an American citizen to question the performance of the CIC using any media available to her. Does the CIC have to answer? Nope, but he should listen to her and to the many people who agree with her. Bush has done this, there is no way he could not have heard at this point.
Further, and this is where it gets controversial, she has decided that she has a right, in the name of her son, to demand to know if Bush has truly fulfilled his part of the contract the United States made with her son. The question she wants answered is, 'Was the mission my son was on critical to the security of the United States and its constitution?'
Now, of course, in the absence of WMD it is clear the invasion was not necessary. However, if Bush had good evidence that there was a clear and present danger, the sacrifice of Cindy's son was worthwhile. Cindy wants to know if such evidence exists.
Now, thems the facts. Cindy may be insane otherwise, a 'barking moonbat' as they say. However, she raises valid questions that are important to this country.
There are plenty of pissed off mothers of dead soldiers (and plenty who don't have the same feelings as Cindy) but Cindy was the one who had the skill to make a media firestorm.
Well, you go to anti-war protests with the protesters you have, not the protesters you want.
