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09/24/2004 Archived Entry: "resonse to casey"

Posted by clbloomer @ 09:30 AM EST [Link]

MY RESPONSE TO DOUG CASEY

Dear Mr. Farah,

Doug Casey's column today is an gross insult to every man or woman who has ever served in our military. As a retired Navy officer who served his country for over 27 years, I take his attack on me and my colleagues very personally.

I'm so mad I could spit! Casey needs a strong lesson in "character". That he characterizes military people as "the dregs of society" infuriates me beyond belief. Casey insults me and every other military person when he compares our service in uniform to garbage men. To say that soldiers and Marines are brainwashed to blindly follow orders is absolute nonsense. The US military of all branches spends a great deal of time training servicemembers about what is acceptable and what is not. The military leadership trains us in Rules of War, the Geneva Convention, the Hague Convention, and provides us with clear rules of engagement. Our military people do not go out to the battlefield and indiscriminately kill. Our military people are not in Iraq shooting and killing just because they were told to. Our military is tasked with following lawful orders, not arbitrary, illegal commands from anyone. Does Mr. Casey believe the military is filled with morons?

I don't know if Casey has military experience, or if he ever served his country in a military uniform. If he did, he didn't pay attention to the lessons in character, honor, and duty to country. He has not studied history nor has he reflected on the freedom he enjoys because of the sacrifices of others.

The military does not serve a political party, as Casey alleges. Our oath of office has us swear to defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

I will agree with Casey on one point -- military service is not a necessary prerequisite to be President. So what? I am not basing my choice for President on the 30 year old military records of either candidate.

If Casey wants to know the truth about military service, about the motivations and reasons behind the willingness of servicemembers to put their lives on the line, about the sacrifices others make to preserve the freedoms that Casey and all Americans enjoy, I strongly recommend the Casey go spend a few months with the soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen that are now serving in Iraq or Afganistan. He just might learn something.

But I won't hold my breath.

Charles Bloomer, LCDR USN (Ret.)