The Rise of the American Martyr
By: Justin Sane
Not long ago President Bush condemned Saddam Hussein for recruiting Palestinian suicide bombers by offering to pay $25,000 to their families. Last week, Mr. Bush proposed raising the death benefit for U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq to half a million dollars. When I learned of Mr. Bush's proposal, I couldn't help wonder: Will such payouts will create American martyrs?
Don't be tricked into thinking that Bush's proposal is about supporting the troops. This is the same man who sent American soldiers into combat under false pretenses, without the proper gear, and once they were deployed, cut their benefits! The proposed $500,000 death benefit payout is designed only for families of soldiers killed in either Iraq or Afghanistan. It is not applicable to anyone else in the military killed in the line of duty. These benefits offer substantial incentives for soldiers to die in two of the most dangerous places on the planet, and their "reward" is the knowledge that their family will be provided for after they are gone. Sounds like the same thing Saddam did. Hussein paid people who were martyrs for their cause, and you can bet that our soldiers' families will be told that their kid died for the noble cause of ending tyranny. And while they might not be promised a spot in heaven, you can be sure this rhetoric will invoke Bush's neverending themes of freedom--even though Iraq will not be truly free until Mr. Bush executes a real exit strategy.
In his State of the Union speech, Mr. Bush never mentioned this new proposal, but he explained that he knows our inner-city kids are struggling and need "better options than gangs or jail." Unfortunately, I don't think the "better options" Mr. Bush has in mind include easy access to higher education or decent-paying jobs. Instead, his "better options" include using these kids as cannon fodder for the neocon Project for a New American Century.
It's no secret that military recruitment is down, retention is down and our American forces are spread paper thin. The military needs warm bodies. Even with giving military recruiters extra access to students' private records as part of the No Child Left Behind legislation, kids are not signing up in the numbers needed to fight Bush's war. Today's youth are wising up to the reality that $50,000 for college does them no good if they're killed in Iraq. Simply put, $50,000 doesn't go far in a bad economy. On the other hand, half a million bucks dangling in front of those struggling inner-city kids gives them real incentive to join the military, especially when it's one of few viable options of escaping their bleak economic reality. If they're lucky enough to get killed in Afghanistan or Iraq, at least their family will be provided for.
It's no secret that the poor and minorities are overrepresented in the military. How many children of the wealthy sign up to be put in harm's way so they'll have money to go to college? How many rich kids join the military because there hasn't been any work in their community for the last 20 years and there's no sign of things changing anytime soon?
The rich already have money to go to college, and the world is their oyster. You can bet it's never been part of George and Laura's plans to have young Barbara and Jenna join up, but Bush seems to have no problem with poor kids from the ghetto and rural America doing so. Ask yourself, how many people, poor or otherwise, would do this job without the financial incentive? The poverty draft has been around for decades. This proposal simply ratchets it up a notch.
Soldiers who are killed in the line of duty deserve to know that their families aren't going to lose the house and wind up on the street because of their death. The Bush administration, however, is being very selective about who is going to receive this proposed increased death benefit, and they will methodically, relentlessly and with immeasurable cunning create the myth of the American Martyr as they send out those checks. Just like Saddam did.
Justin Sane is the lead singer of Anti-Flag and board member of Underground Action Alliance.org and PunkVoter.com.
Not long ago President Bush condemned Saddam Hussein for recruiting Palestinian suicide bombers by offering to pay $25,000 to their families. Last week, Mr. Bush proposed raising the death benefit for U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq to half a million dollars. When I learned of Mr. Bush's proposal, I couldn't help wonder: Will such payouts will create American martyrs?
Don't be tricked into thinking that Bush's proposal is about supporting the troops. This is the same man who sent American soldiers into combat under false pretenses, without the proper gear, and once they were deployed, cut their benefits! The proposed $500,000 death benefit payout is designed only for families of soldiers killed in either Iraq or Afghanistan. It is not applicable to anyone else in the military killed in the line of duty. These benefits offer substantial incentives for soldiers to die in two of the most dangerous places on the planet, and their "reward" is the knowledge that their family will be provided for after they are gone. Sounds like the same thing Saddam did. Hussein paid people who were martyrs for their cause, and you can bet that our soldiers' families will be told that their kid died for the noble cause of ending tyranny. And while they might not be promised a spot in heaven, you can be sure this rhetoric will invoke Bush's neverending themes of freedom--even though Iraq will not be truly free until Mr. Bush executes a real exit strategy.
In his State of the Union speech, Mr. Bush never mentioned this new proposal, but he explained that he knows our inner-city kids are struggling and need "better options than gangs or jail." Unfortunately, I don't think the "better options" Mr. Bush has in mind include easy access to higher education or decent-paying jobs. Instead, his "better options" include using these kids as cannon fodder for the neocon Project for a New American Century.
It's no secret that military recruitment is down, retention is down and our American forces are spread paper thin. The military needs warm bodies. Even with giving military recruiters extra access to students' private records as part of the No Child Left Behind legislation, kids are not signing up in the numbers needed to fight Bush's war. Today's youth are wising up to the reality that $50,000 for college does them no good if they're killed in Iraq. Simply put, $50,000 doesn't go far in a bad economy. On the other hand, half a million bucks dangling in front of those struggling inner-city kids gives them real incentive to join the military, especially when it's one of few viable options of escaping their bleak economic reality. If they're lucky enough to get killed in Afghanistan or Iraq, at least their family will be provided for.
It's no secret that the poor and minorities are overrepresented in the military. How many children of the wealthy sign up to be put in harm's way so they'll have money to go to college? How many rich kids join the military because there hasn't been any work in their community for the last 20 years and there's no sign of things changing anytime soon?
The rich already have money to go to college, and the world is their oyster. You can bet it's never been part of George and Laura's plans to have young Barbara and Jenna join up, but Bush seems to have no problem with poor kids from the ghetto and rural America doing so. Ask yourself, how many people, poor or otherwise, would do this job without the financial incentive? The poverty draft has been around for decades. This proposal simply ratchets it up a notch.
Soldiers who are killed in the line of duty deserve to know that their families aren't going to lose the house and wind up on the street because of their death. The Bush administration, however, is being very selective about who is going to receive this proposed increased death benefit, and they will methodically, relentlessly and with immeasurable cunning create the myth of the American Martyr as they send out those checks. Just like Saddam did.
Justin Sane is the lead singer of Anti-Flag and board member of Underground Action Alliance.org and PunkVoter.com.
posted by Conor at 11:02 AM
17 Comments:
It's sad how a politician, or anyone, can care so little for human life. The value of life to Mr. Bush is only as much as it can benefit him and those who pay him. Not only the military, but consider the fact that he will still not allow a cap on prescription drug costs or importation of the drugs from other countries to lower costs. He is putting the profits of the drug companies before the elderly Americans who consumer most of the drugs. To top it of, he then scares those elderly people with his terror warning system. It's amazing how when his ratings would go down in the last several years the rating would go up. He is not evil, but greedy and uncaring.
Boy... you may be legally retarded...
The mind of an angry liberal is amazing to behold.
It's quite incredible that from the President's proposal to give security to the families of soldiers who are killed you are able to spin it to spew your anti-Bush rhetoric.
It's quite admirable really.
It's funny that those calling me retarded and hurling insults aren't even intelligent enough to read the by-line. Lets get a round of applause.
Also, let it be known that greywar's insult is the last one you will ever see here. I'm only letting it stand because it reflects his inability to read, the rest will go if they lack substance.
The Iraqi war has its pro-bush and anit-bush cult-like groupies. Whatever the case, the facts that you present cannot be disputed. I admire you for your stance. Peace
Excellent point. We need to be aware of the outer interpretations of our policies...
A perspective on it I had not considered. most interesting....
I couldn't agree with you more. My hubs is fmr military, enlisted after HS, served 6 years, got out to go to school. He went to school (on his Mont. GI benes) to become a fireman/EMT, but after 2 years he's going back into the military because he cannot support our family in the FF/EMT world. The heros that protect us on a daily basis are paid such a pittance with horrible benefits that he'll be making more money going back to the Army. He'll almost definitely be going to Iraq at the end of this year, but that's the sacrifice we make to put food on the table for our family. Here's a post I wrote about it. http://twinsmom603.blogspot.com/2005/02/on-my-mind.html
As a military man who has been to Iraq, and will be going back, I can tell you that US warriors are not going to be strapping any explosives to their chest, walking up to a crowd of civilians, and blowing himself up in the name of "Allah" or "juda" or "god". No matter how much you liberals try and make the US military out to be monsters we are not.
warrior jason, i'm not sure where you're getting that idea, since nowhere does justin say anything about US soldiers blowing up themselves and civillians.
Karl Rove is an excellent teacher, and a role model for many reichwingers, which is why they cannot fathom a rational argument against their cause. Moreover, their plan of attack - with no basis in reality - relies on smear and run tactics taught to them by their "American Idols" Karl Rove and co.
See my post for an analysis:
http://educationalwhisper.blogspot.com/2005/02/underlying-humor-in-reichwing-argument.html#comments
That was a great post, Bush's action really show how the class divide created by capitalism is really screwing up society.
God, do you libs always have to put down the military? It's people like the ones in Iraq, Afghanistan, on the border of North/South Korea, and the millions here who VOLUNTARILY ENLISTED for their LOVE OF COUNTRY who defend your right to say whatever the hell you want to say. But yet you, and all your Ted Rall fashion, compare them to mindless drones who don't have a career chance other than being in the military. Shame on you.
And the guy above my post who is bashing capitalism... well, you wouldn't be able to say word one against the administration under a Communist regime. So STFU
Wow are You people warped? I truly feel for You. To think You are so enlighted but to be blinded so. Peace
You want some substance? Okay, how about this: ANYONE who finishes a piece of commentary by coyly suggesting that any American president is in some relevant way similar to Saddam Hussien is just a cheap demagogue.
The far-lefties always act as if they have some great, deep insight into people's "real motivations." No, they just hate America so much they are completely blinded by their hatred.
Comfort yourselves, though, with the self-assurance that you are so, so cool for hating Bush.
That is what it's all about, isn't it?
Well Gary, that was a nice try, but not quite. How about, if you weren't so blinded by patriotic love of Bush you might see that he isn't some angel.
Blinded by hatred? Maybe you should try saying something original instead of just spouting the inane talking points that every person on the right says without any real backup.
Um, we don't opppose Bush because "its cool." Maybe some people genuinely don't like what he's doing. Ever conside that bright guy? Ever consider the fact that not everybody loves the government like you do?
The two payments are entirely different... for two reasons
1 The suicide bombers dont expect to come back alive
2 The american military (though they do bad things) dont intentionally (well that may not be 100% true) attack civilians
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