Arkin’s Last Stand

William Arkin, the cowardly lion in Vermont’s frozen interior has written for the last time (he says) on the subject of his blog piece last week in which he called our military “mercenaries”. He titles the latest piece “Demonization and Responsibility”, and I guess he’s not talking about his own demon behavior or taking responsibility for his ill-considered military bashing. 

The many e-mails I’ve gotten privately from people serving in the military are, not surprisingly, the most respectful and reflective. Some correspondents are downright indignant, some are sarcastic, and most are hurt by the “mercenary” epithet and my commentary. But they are philosophical about their service and where we are in the war and the country today.

The torrents of other mail — biting, fanatical, threatening — represent the worst of polarized and hate-filled America. I’m not complaining about being criticized or being made the latest punching bag for those who subsist off of high-volume conquest. Nor am I apologizing for addressing, however imperfectly, the questions I did last week, nor for being critical of the military.

(Emphasis mine)

We probably didn’t expect that you would, given your past “work” in the field of criticizing Republican Administrations and doing your best to obstruct any sort of functioning foreign policy.

Note: On the advice of my editors, this is the last column I will post for awhile on this subject. My impulse would be to continue to fight back and answer the critics, but I see the wisdom in their observation that nothing new is being said here and the Internet frenzy is adding nothing to the debate or our understanding of our world. I also see that I cannot continue to write about humanity and difficult questions if indeed what I wish is to vanquish those who attack me.

Your editors were wise in giving this advice, because you were getting your ass worn out worldwide. But you actually accomplished what you set out to do; you made it fashionable and acceptable to criticize the troops again. I’m sure that those who follow you will appreciate it. 

I can see, in the military blogs and in the comments of those who have written about my posts last week, that those who refer to themselves as Vietnam veterans still yearn for the recognition and thanks that they believe they haven’t received. There is no question that Vietnam is still an open wound for them, and that they therefore only recognize the worth of fellow veterans, of those who have been through exactly the same experience.

Yeah, the way you Leftists treated Viet Nam veterans was a crying-ass-shame, and I don’t imagine many will ever forgive. But I guess you feel slighted because you didn’t get your chance to criticize them then, so you’ll take your chance now. Take your chance to beat up on the generation of soldiers who served despite the criticism and abuse.

A chickenshit, sideways glancing blow in another non-apology. When you’re ready to take responsibility and stop demonizing the troops, let us know.

So Little Billy Arkin’s last stand on this subject is that we should all shut up and let the Vermont ski bum exercise his right to free speech.

Category: Antiwar crowd, Media