Waiting for the wealthy to sacrifice in this war (Good Zinni Quote)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.tucker26jan26,0,1968643.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

IN HIS STATE of the Union address, President Bush declared the nation still at war. That's not quite true.

A part of the nation is at war - a slice of America where patriotism runs deeper than pockets, where parents don't belong to country clubs and children don't attend exclusive private schools. The duty of defending the nation has largely fallen to the less affluent; the all-volunteer military is disproportionately drawn from blue-collar homes.

If the war on terror were as important as the president claims - and the threat of Islamist fanatics a danger that will confront us for at least a generation - you'd think that military service would have taken on more urgency among Americans of all income brackets.

<snip>

Retired Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, a critic of the Iraq war strategy, has noted the lack of combat experience in the White House and among the Defense Department's top hands.

"They were my contemporaries. They should have been there , and they found a way not to serve," General Zinni has said. "And where are their kids? Are their kids serving? My son is in the Marines."

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. Don't forget the tax cut

that was forced on those unfortunate rich families.

[Merrick]

2. at the very least

these rich families could pitch in, maybe arrange a food drive to provide some meals for the wounded soldiers while they're in the hospital so they can stop having to pay for their own.