Arkin - Can't Move On

William Arkin the writer of such enlightened material as A Note to My Readers on Supporting the Troops, The Arrogant and Intolerant Speak Out, New Middle East Commander Correctly Stays in His Lane and The Troops Also Need to Support the American People continues his whine fest, even though he claims he isn't upset at being criticized and attacked for speaking his mind writes Demonization and Responsibility:

I've been making my way through the mail and online comments I've received in response to my columns last week.

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.

Mr. Arkin grow up. In a country where the First Amendment guarantees that Goverment troops won't come kicking in your door in the dark of the night because of what you write, there is no guarantee that you will not be subjected to the same vitriolic writing in return.

As I stated in my previous post concerning your disrepect towards those who willing volunteer to wear their country's uniform and go where they are told:

I suppose that you believe that by writing these post you are somehow speaking truth to power but in reality you are only hurting the endeavor, adding fuel to the fire and making it harder for those troops you don’t believe in to do their job. Perhaps if you put into practice those “policies of tolerance” you claim are so important and engaged those of us that have other beliefs then maybe, just maybe we could come to a consensus on Iraq and the War on Terror and we could have a tolerant discussion without your arrogant hierarchy of ideas raining down on us.

As your editors have so succinctly pointed out, you are adding nothing new to the debate, so how about you get down off your high horse and come to the table ready to discuss the merits of your beliefs: if you truly know of a better way to achieve victory in Iraq please let us know, and stop attacking those honorable men and women in uniform that are simply serving at the will of the Government. The US Military does not make foreign policy they implement it at the request of the President and the Congress of the United States; someone who covers Military Matters for the Washington Post should know that.