OYE Bitch-Slaps the True "Chickenhawk Crowd"

Thanks very much to Yankee Sailor for posting a DoD study purporting to show that military recruits are more broadly representative of the U.S. population as a whole. Here's our "spin:"

Operation Yellow Elephant supports broad participation in our all-volunteer military by all parts of our society. If more real Americans personally knew real servicemembers, officer and enlisted, they would be more concerned about what our national (political) leadership is asking our military to do, and the circumstances under which our military is following its orders.

This applies all across the political spectrum. If "The Left" personally knew enlisted servicemembers, they would realize the futility of protesting against military recruiters on college campuses, and would instead patriotically urge the College Republicans and others eligible to serve [healthy heterosexuals under 40] who support our military engagement in Iraq to "Be A Man! Enlist!"

We know that studies can be manipulated. [Easy question: How does DoD define "wealthy?"] But let's accept not only the validity of the study, but also Yankee Sailor's implied conclusion: that rich people also serve in our military.

OK, Yankee Sailor, CENTCOM wimped out, so we'll ask you:

Please identify one member of the enormous Bush clan with recent service in Iraq or Afghanistan, including the servicemember's connection to President Bush and what he/she is/was doing.

Please identify one servicemember with recent service in Iraq or Afghanistan who is closely connected to a Bush Ranger (raised $200,000+) or Bush Pioneer ($100,000-$199,999).

Please identify one servicemember with recent service in Iraq or Afghanistan who is closely connected to an important official in our governing party establishment.

Please identify one servicemember with recent service in Iraq or Afghanistan who is closely connected to neoconservative think-tanks or right-wing media.

Please identify one servicemember with recent service in Iraq or Afghanistan who is otherwise closely connected to our national leadership or political establishment in some other way.

We've been on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere long enough that publicly acknowledging patriotic service there, by someone who recently departed, presents no security issues.

If "wealthy" Americans really are participating in the fight, can't you persuade even one to step forward to take deserved and justified credit?

We know that three Members of Congress (Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) is one.) have adult sons who are enlisted servicemembers. A small number (fewer than ten, I think) of Members of Congress have adult sons or daughters who are junior officers. The national media have reported on this, which is why we focus not on Members of Congress themselves, but go beyond them to the broader national political establishment supporting our governing party.