True, Dangerous And Impossible To Ignore

Michelle Malkin points to this video of a graduation exercise at Fort Benning. Lt. Col. Randolph White tells the graduates that they are the best and the brightest and should never apologize for being Americans. He also tells them that they are worth more than all the latte-sipping biscotti-nibbling effete liberals in Hollywood. To my ears, the crowd's reaction starts out surprised and then becomes enthusiastic. We are not used to such bald statements at official events.

I agree, more or less, with everything that Lt. Col. White says. I agree entirely with the Milblogger at Blackfive.net that a soldier, having heard that speech, would follow LTC White into Hell carrying a gas can. But one doesn't have to be an "old pathetic slacker" to worry about a gap opening between the military and the nation. The military, at LTC White clearly acknowledges, is an instrument of policy as well as our protection from our enemies. But how many of his young men understand the importance of civilian control of the military? How many will believe, in the future, that the orders of a President Clinton and the orders of a President Bush are equal, even if President Clinton loathes the military?

LTD White is clearly trying to armor his graduates against the attacks (as they will see it) of the mainstream media just as he has trained them to withstand battle. This passage is particularly strong, but presents the problem most clearly:

YOU WILL OFTEN FIND YOURSELVES AS PART MAYOR, DISTRICT CHIEF, POLICE CHIEF, AND ARBITRATOR OF DISAGREEMENTS AMONGST ETHNICITIES AND TRIBES AS VARIED AS OUR 50 STATES. YOU WILL PERSONIFY DAILY, THE EUPHEMISM OF THE “STRATEGIC CORPORAL”. A DECISION THAT YOU MAKE UNDER DURESS; WITH LITTLE TIME FOR REFLECTION OR THOUGHT, MAY QUITE LITERALLY IMPACT THE ACTIONS OF POLICY CUSTODIANS IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL. - - - - - THAT'S NOT HYPE FELLAS…IT'S A FACT. you're the latest band of brothers miles away from “the flagpole” and making things happen in the very best way that you can…SOMETIMES MAKING IT UP AS YOU GO. THE TECHNO WANNABEES IN THE CORPORATE WORLD CAN'T BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE VAST RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE ACCEPTED. YOU WILL BE scrutinized like no warriors before YOU. Expected to eradicate our enemies, pacify the critics, and abide by the rules of land warfare as we ARE committed to doing. YOU'LL hold more responsibility and do more in the NEXT few years than most people will do in an entire lifetime. High expectations to be sure...but YOU will succeed...BECAUSE YOU ARE THE 21 ST CENTURY SPARTAN....SOMETIMES ALONE, BUT NEVER AFRAID...YOU'LL QUELL ANY STORM AND ALWAYS RIDE THE THUNDER, YOU'LL BE GREAT DAILY, AND ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT WHEN FACED WITH ADVERSITY...THE STEELY EYED, KNUCKLE-DRAGGIN, FLAT BELLIED, OAKLEY WEARING, DOOR BUSTING, AND WHEN APPROPRIATE --- COMPASSIONATE AND KIND UNITED STATES INFANTRYMAN.

We're asking an awful lot of young men.