"Our Troops Deserve Better" What needs to be said

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/8780568.htm?1c

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The arrogance of the Bush administration is astounding. Never have I seen such sorry leadership in Washington. Never have I witnessed such a complete lack of accountability. It's disturbing. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, and with the grossly undermanned Iraqi occupation, not one high-level military or civilian official has been held responsible for security and planning failures -- across the board, not one.

Before accusing me of being a bleeding heart liberal, know this: I've been a life-long conservative Republican and am a U.S. Army veteran of the Persian Gulf War. I also voted for George W. Bush in 2000.

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To me, supporting the troops means balancing policy with ensuring that our men and women in uniform are deployed wisely, and not for foolish adventures in nation-building and pre-emptive warfare. This is stretching them and their families beyond their limits. That's tantamount to abuse.

They deserve better.

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I am thankful to Ms. Reynoldson for penning an article that speaks truth to power. We see to little of in print journalism today.

always good to read criticism of Bush by a "conservative Republican"

It was worth going through the free registration to read it.

after all, isn't the "you are either with us or against us" mantra still operative?

"Us" no longer means that Bush is synonymous with America itself, and more Americans are turning "against" him.

One may now criticize his administration without the majority calling it unpatriotic.

The argument now is that criticism of the President and/or the Administration is putting the troops in harms way as though they can be put in greater harms way then than they are now by what Bush did. The unpatriotic is now being implied rather than stated outright.

or dissent their actions or policies are still regarded as the enemy and will be or try to be punished accordingly, be it just harassment at the airport or denial of boarding a flight.

Of course the bushistas and their most fervent supporters still cling to the old mantra, but my point is that it's beginning to ring hollow to a majority of Americans. As more conservatives and respected military figures (like Anthony Zinni) speak out against the decision to go to war and how the aftermath was mismanaged, the "unpatriotic" mud slung by the bushistas no longer sticks.

Yes, they still hold the reins of power and can still punish dissenters, but their hold on power beyond next January is beginning to look very tenuous.

And of course, when Kerry takes office it will be open season for criricism of the president, because the right wing attack dogs are much more vicious and unprincipled than those of the left.