As civilian resentment grows exponentially with the mass destruction and death brought to Palestinians by US-led forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tries to give US troops a pep talk.
At Camp Buehring, Kuwait yesterday (12/7/04), disgruntled soldiers gave Rumsfeld an ear-full as they openly voiced complaints about inadequate armor and lengthy deployments.
Rumsfeld retorted with an unsettling "win the test of wills"-themed speech aiming to butch-up the troops.
It's no surprise that US troops would be frustrated with the constant fear of losing their lives to hostile occupants in a war zone--especially during the holiday season.
While I am sympathetic to troops longing to return to their families, or even quit altogether, their plight should in no be given greater importance than those of the civilians that occupy
war-torn areas. They did not choose to be entangled in combat zones, or to see their families, friends and homes destroyed.
Voluntarily enlisting in the armed forces (no matter how limited one's options might be) is ultimately a choice with inherent risks.
And let's not kid ourselves about Rumsfeld's empathy for the plight of US troops in war zones.
It's very easy for him to dole out cursory remedy monologues to troops with the comfort of knowing that he's got a guaranteed private plane ride back home in time for the holidays.
None of his children have been deployed and sentenced to unpredictable life-threatening combat zones.
