Today’s ugly leftist anti-military rant is published by the Washington Post. And “anti-military” is no exaggeration in this case; as William Arkin spells out quite clearly, he believes that the raping, murdering, torturing US troops are lucky they aren’t being spat upon: The Troops Also Need to Support the American People. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)

This is in the Post’s “blog” section, which must be why the writing is so sloppy. Arkin skipped all those layers of journalistic oversight.

These soldiers should be grateful that the American public, which by all polls overwhelmingly disapproves of the Iraq war and the President’s handling of it, do still offer their support to them, and their respect.

Through every Abu Ghraib and Haditha, through every rape and murder, the American public has indulged those in uniform, accepting that the incidents were the product of bad apples or even of some administration or command order.

Sure it is the junior enlisted men who go to jail, but even at anti-war protests, the focus is firmly on the White House and the policy. We just don’t see very man “baby killer” epithets being thrown around these days, no one in uniform is being spit upon.

So, we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every possible way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and responsibilities to speak up because they are above society?

I can imagine some post-9/11 moment, when the American people say enough already with the wars against terrorism and those in the national security establishment feel these same frustrations. In my little parable, those in leadership positions shake their heads that the people don’t get it, that they don’t understand that the threat from terrorism, while difficult to defeat, demands commitment and sacrifice and is very real because it is so shadowy, that the very survival of the United States is at stake. Those Hoover’s and Nixon’s will use these kids in uniform as their soldiers. If I weren’t the United States, I’d say the story end with a military coup where those in the know, and those with fire in their bellies, save the nation from the people.

But it is the United States and instead this NBC report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary - oops sorry, volunteer - force that thinks it is doing the dirty work.

No, it isn’t Markos “Screw Them” Moulitsas under a pseudonym.

William Arkin, the former “military affairs columnist” for the Los Angeles Times, has a first-class hard left pedigree, having also worked for the Institute for Policy Studies (an affiliate of the Workers World Party and International ANSWER), Greenpeace, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Human Rights Watch—none of which, oddly enough, is mentioned in his biography page.

So this latest blast of hatred shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Previously at LGF:
Who Is William Arkin?
Connections

UPDATE at 1/31/07 5:33:37 pm:

Others blogging about this disgraceful article:
Hot Air: WaPo blogger to U.S. troops: Be thankful we don’t spit on you, mercenaries
Media Blog: WaPo’s Arkin Slams U.S. Troops
BLACKFIVE: A hearty F*** You to William Arkin
OPFOR: Fallen