Blind Loyalty Latest US War Casualty

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/07/20/2663/

Blind Loyalty Latest US War Casualty
by Ian Munro in Pemberton, New Jersey

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Pemberton’s streetscape might appear frozen in the 19th century, but the views of its citizens on the role of the military in Iraq, and on President Bush are shifting more rapidly. Local Methodist pastor Jare Hopkins-Doerr has seen a shift in the six years she has been in the town.

The congregation she led at the time of the outbreak of the first Gulf War in 1991 insisted on a community-wide prayer vigil. When the US went into Iraq there was no groundswell for a corresponding time of reflection and hope in Pemberton.

About one-third of her congregation is military personnel and their families, and there was probably 90 per cent support through the church for Mr Bush’s move into Iraq. Now, it might, just might, be 50:50, she said.

“About two years ago, I began to hear some of our military people questioning overall. They were disappointed in the lack of planning and strategy, but I did not hear any question as to whether we should be there,” Ms Hopkins-Doerr said.

“This is a military town. There’s an ingrained nature not to question military authority. Questioning the involvement in Iraq would not have have been there four years ago, and it sure is now. And mostly, what I hear is that there are no good solutions. People also distinguish between Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Military people mostly shy away from commenting, as do their spouses, who say they would not like to cause embarrassment for their partners. But even among this group, there is a suspicion of the President’s motives for going into Iraq.

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