Joel Stein: "I don't support our troops."

A columnist at the LA Times shows his true colors:

I DON'T SUPPORT our troops. This is a particularly difficult opinion to have, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to put bumper stickers on his car. Supporting the troops is a position that even Calvin is unwilling to urinate on.
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But blaming the president is a little too easy. The truth is that people who pull triggers are ultimately responsible, whether they're following orders or not. An army of people making individual moral choices may be inefficient, but an army of people ignoring their morality is horrifying. An army of people ignoring their morality, by the way, is also Jack Abramoff's pet name for the House of Representatives.

I do sympathize with people who joined up to protect our country, especially after 9/11, and were tricked into fighting in Iraq. I get mad when I'm tricked into clicking on a pop-up ad, so I can only imagine how they feel.
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I'm not advocating that we spit on returning veterans like they did after the Vietnam War, but we shouldn't be celebrating people for doing something we don't think was a good idea. All I'm asking is that we give our returning soldiers what they need: hospitals, pensions, mental health and a safe, immediate return. But, please, no parades.

Seriously, the traffic is insufferable.

Some reader comments:

Joel Stein is an ivory tower dwelling Marxist punk. His use of the word "Imperialism" with a straight face alone shows his lack of any connection with reality. He should just go get a pedicure with Zsa Zsa and leave politics to the adults.
Submitted by: Matt Dedinas 3rd ID ('96-'99)
2:25 PM PST, Jan 24, 2006
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RE: Joel Stein. Tell me again why the written opinions of an overeducated, underexperienced, snotty little prick are vital to the image and mission of a major US daily newspaper? Glenn Perry Colonel, US Air Force (Ret)
Submitted by: Glenn M. Perry
2:14 PM PST, Jan 24, 2006

Check out Hugh Hewitt's comments.