More on Major Daniels
(This response was written by Jim Harris, a Hope College classmate of mine and regular reader of this blog)
I sincerely wish I could vote for the army. I am certain that Major Daniels'
accounts of his experiences are true and are significant. I am thankful for men
and women like him who are willing to risk their lives for our country. I am
certain that our military is doing everything within its capabilities to provide
for the security of Iraq. I am not as certain that Major Daniels' experiences
are indicative of how the entire occupation is proceeding.
As for the command assessment of the situation in Iraq, that must be viewed in
light of past performance. My entire life, I have heard military assessments
designed to please the civilian political leadership. Our presidents, secretaries of
defense and state, and other government spokespersons have lied to us and misled
us repeatedly. They lie about the pretexts for war, they lie about what will be
required to win the war, and they very often lie about the events in the war.
Major Daniels is probably too young to remember General Westmoreland's, "I see
light at the end of the tunnel", or President Johnson's ,"win the hearts and
minds of the Vietnamese people." But he surely remembers WMD's and the lies
about Iraq and 9/11.
We know that when military leaders contradict the official government line, they
jeopardize their careers. Even the gentle and forgiving President Carter
wouldn't countenance the second guessing of General Singlaub. Imagine the
reaction of the Cheney-Bush camp if the military command were to make statements
contary to the remanufactured "Stay the Course" policy.
The press is certainly not the final authority when it comes to getting the
facts right. But thank God we have them to challenge the official statements of
government, and to publish the letters of brave soldiers like Major Daniels.
Much like the insurrection in Iraq, the battle to learn the truth about events
in Iraq will continue. So will the debate over what, if any, legitimate
interests and responsibilities the United States has in Iraq.
My only hope is that Major Daniels, and every other American serviceman and
woman, will return home safely and quickly. I vote for the end of war.