The rational counter to “The Point,” “The Counterpoint”
critiques and corrects the daily editorial by Sinclair Broadcasting's
corporate vice president, Mark Hyman, that is broadcast on all
Sinclair-owned television stations across the country. 

by Iowa's Ted Remington

Mark Hyman has a good idea. No, that’s not a typo – he really
does. In his latest commentary, he points viewers to the website
Anysoldier.com, a site that helps folks here at home send letters and care
packages to men and women in the field in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
This is a good idea, and one that anybody, regardless of their position on the
preemptive invasion of Iraq
or the manner in which the war is being carried out, can get behind.

But it makes us wonder: why is it that Hyman and his friends
at Sinclair only speak on behalf of the troops when it serves their political
purposes? Why do they attempt to bask in the reflected glory of the men and
women on the ground, yet refused to honor those who had paid the ultimate price
by barring their stations from carrying an edition of Nightline that simply and
movingly honored those who have given the last full measure on behalf of their
country? Moreover, why does Hyman insist on labeling anyone who doesn’t voice
full-throated support for the war in Iraq a “friend of the terrorists” or
someone who “hates our troops” (as he’s said of Ted Koppel on numerous
occasions simply because the respected newsman thought it was about time those
who’ve been killed in Iraq received the honor and recognition they deserve)?
And why is it traitorous to point out ways in which Washington
policy makers have let down our troops.

This seems a particularly odd position for an arch
conservative like Hyman to take. After all, one of the cornerstones of
conservatism is a healthy skepticism of the federal government. Conservatives
warn us all the time that decision makers in Washington
are out of touch with the lives of those whom their decisions affect. But for
some reason, when it comes to the most important and awesome decision the
government can make, sending our young men and women into harm’s way, we’re
just supposed to go along with whatever those in power say and give them
unquestioned support (or at least keep our mouths shut). This doesn’t make
sense. 

This is particularly true given the current war in Iraq.
There’s evidence aplenty that the bigwigs at the Pentagon and White House have
little understanding of the situation on the ground and are putting their own
political needs ahead of those of the troops. Rumsfeld’s cluelessness
concerning the lack of armor for Humvees is only one example. We now know that
despite being told it would take at least 250,000 soldiers to effectively
secure Iraq,
only half that were sent by Rumsfeld and Co., assuring the insurgency that’s
now killing our troops on a daily basis. Children of Republican insiders get
jobs “rebuilding” Iraq
despite having no experience, assuring the lack of progress in putting Iraq
back together (and again assuring that there will be plenty of disgruntled
Iraqis to swell the ranks of the insurgents). 

Even the website Hyman directs viewers to reveals problems.
Not only are soldiers requesting home cooked goodies, music cds, and books (the
stuff you’d expect soldiers to ask for). They’re also asking for things like
soap, towels, flashlights, t-shirts, and other items that they should be
supplied with. Most ominiously, an LA-based police gear surplus supplier is one
of the sponsoring links of Anysoldier.com, and touts their supply of items like
body armor and pepper spray as things that can be sent to troops in the field.

This was a war that was planned for months and months in
advance. The number of troops involved is miniscule compared to World
War II, Korea,
or Vietnam. We
live in the richest nation in the history of the world. Yet our men and women
are still reduced to begging folks back home to supply them with basic
necessities. And people like Hyman have the gall to suggest anyone who
criticizes the war effort “hates our troops”? Shame, Mark, shame.

So send soldiers a letter, card, or even some body armor.
Whether you think the war is a good idea or not, the soldiers deserve support,
the kind of support their own Secretary of Defense and President aren’t giving
them. But also keep criticizing those who are making the decisions that put our
soldiers on the ground but don’t give them what they need to win. Point out
those who use “supporting the troops” as political cover for themselves, but
don’t follow through when it counts. And stay educated on what’s really going
on. Soldiers for the Truth.org is a site sponsored in part by David Hackworth, America’s
most decorated living veteran, and Operation Truth was started by a vet of the
current Iraq
war. They offer a true soldier’s eye view of what’s going on and the many ways
the administration and Pentagon are falling short in their duties to our men
and women in uniform. But of course, I’m sure Hyman would say that soldiers on
the ground who voice complaints about what’s going on, just like everyone who
voices the least bit of dissent, are just doing so because they “hate our
troops.” 

And that’s The Counterpoint.

Mark Hyman

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