Military wife confronts a war hawk

[enjolras]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/26/kristol-military-wife/

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Transcript:

HOST: You are on the air.

CALLER: Yes, thank you. I do listen to the discussion. I’m a military wife. My husband on the third tour to Iraq. I just want to if I could look Mr. Kristol and people like him from the American Enterprise Institute and the people pushing the war, I’m sure when your head hits the pillow, you know, you have a luxury of dreaming about, you know, anything that your mind will allow you to dream about. I’m waiting — i sleep with the phone under the pillow.

My kids — if someone rings the doorbell, instead of normal kids they freeze. And they’re in elementary school. You all don’t understand. We are military people but we are people, too. And the stress that we are under is tremendous. So I make a proposal before I have to leave the air. If this war is as important as you on the right and the hawks say it is, and if it is truly essential to our vital interest to do this, then institute the draft so we can have a break.

We are at the breaking point. I just had to counsel a friend last night who has had a solid marriage for 14 years because their marriage is falling apart because they’re military and haven’t lived under the same roof together in five years. We’re people. We can’t keep up the stress level. Our children can’t keep up the stress level.

The spouses left behind can’t keep up the stress level and all you all keep saying, you just called my husband and all the troops a liar saying it is mostly the insurgents attacking us. Because when I do get the luxury of speaking to my husband, what I’m hearing is Iraqis let us through the gates, the security forces let us through and 30 minutes after we pass through, they’re laying down IEDs to blow us up if we come back through. They don’t want us there. I understand you truly believe what you’re saying but it’s not working.

We can’t want it for them more than they want it for themselves. Please bring my husband home, the brave troops. We are tired. We’re really tired.

KRISTOL: Well, look. the army some of us that argue — first of all, I respect the service of those who’ve been over there. I just had dinner last night with close friends whose son just came back from Iraq and it is tough duty and now we’re on second and third tours. some of us argued for a long time before 9/11 and very much after 9/11 that the army and marines were too small for the world we are living in. the foreign policy obligations we are likely to have to impose for the all-volunteer military and finally we are increasing the size of the army and the marines and paying a price for that in terms of longer tours and people going back a second and third times and the strains on family life are obviously very real and obviously it’s a tough job over there. so i hope we do more to deal with that.

Filed under: Iraq

Posted by Faiz April 26, 2007 6:41 pm

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1.

the united states is a democracy, not a military dictatorship. period.

the war cheerleaders, therefore, and the administration’s apologists, are all free to move to one, and enjoy.

genuine patriotism will remain the exclusive province of those who abide by the Constitution, and obey the rule of law and will of the people.

advocates of military dictatorship rather than the rule of Democracy are genuine traitors, and are actually guilty of real treason, and are fortunate our laws are liberal enough that they are not rounded up and detained, as anyone who interferes with the Constitutional operation of our Democracy should be.

Comment by tom baker — April 26, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
2.

Pfffttt….way to show that compassionate conservatism there Billy Boy.

Comment by Spudd — April 26, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
3.

would someone please punch that idiot? He couldn’t possibly understand. He doesn’t want to understand.

Comment by Anne — April 26, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
4.

Warmongering chickenhawk. Would wet his pants in an uncomfortable situation, much less life or death. Arrogantly dismissing a woman who is suffering because of his short-sighted policies and stupid recommendations to the boy-king.

Comment by Marie — April 26, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
5.

Bring our soldiers home.

Comment by rfinca — April 26, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
6.

Democratic debate beginning on msnbc now.

Comment by Marie — April 26, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
7.

What an a$$hat. Didn’t even look up at the beginning of the phone call. Until he realized his reaction would probably be scrutinized did he take the time to act like he was even listening. The caller hit the nail on the head. “I’m sure when your head hits the pillow, you know, you have a luxury of dreaming about, you know, anything that your mind will allow you to dream about. ”
And he replys “I just had dinner last night with close friends whose son just came back from Iraq”

Yeah, I bet when he has dinner with friends he doesn’t spend less than $100 per person. These people really just don’t have any concept of what a hard time really is. Period. None at all. And the illusion is that they care. They don’t. He doesn’t.

Comment by Bluedahlia — April 26, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
8.

I hate that little weasel.

Comment by powkat — April 26, 2007 @ 6:56 pm
9.

I watched that live today and hes STILL TO THIS DAY saying that al queda had ties in Iraq.

and some stupid rekneck called in to agree with him. How in the world is this man able to walk the streets or even live with himself.

Comment by old hack — April 26, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
10.

Thank’s for the head’s up Marie…Blessings

Comment by Sharon — April 26, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
11.

Kristol dreams…he dreams of a puppet America that does Israel’s bidding…… wait.. that’s an old dream that’s come true

Comment by null — April 26, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
12.

“But my pet project for this century requires dead soldiers!”

Comment by Yikes — April 26, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
13.

I cannot stand William Kristol. This piece of s**t has never served. His daddy didn’t serve. And his kids at least 2 of whom are eligible won’t serve. This piece of s**t will even write columns about lowering taxes because he has no qualms about not paying for his crappy war. This pos couldn’t care less if there was a Kristol War Vet crawling across the street on his knees with torn clothes on because that would “their own fault.” I would be willing to bet that William Kristol only donates money to conservative causes. I am willing to bet he hasn’t donated a dime to the Fallen Heroes fund because he couldn’t care less that all those Fallen Heroes died for his crappy war. William Fuzzy KKkrystal ball has no balls and can go eat s**t.

Comment by ann dover — April 26, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
14.

That woman was very brave.

Hopefully more military family members will speak up.

Comment by trueblue — April 26, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
15.

Yup, the people on this thread get it. And the American people get it…more and more. Kristol is a modern American traitor.

Comment by s — April 26, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
16.

umm not only did his father not serve but he was a billionaire advocating communism!

Comment by old hack — April 26, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
17.

Withdrawl dates are moot. “The troops will be coming home soon. There simply are too few to sustain the surge for very much longer. ” Robert H. Scales, Maj.Gen. (Ret.) See Sic Semper Tyrannis

[TailgateNut]

No comments from the BushBots? I'm sure they pull out the ol' : "well they volunteered" bs. , but they wont carry their asses down to the recruiters office to do their part, because they are just cheerleaders, not players!

[Spider]

I was listening ot one of the shows on talk left Radio on sirus , I often flip back and forth between fox and talk left , One of the guys on talk left had active duty , and vets calling his show ,I didnt hear the topic , but it struck a nerve ,Something McCain said on the daily show , anyway , you could see the real lines between Reps and Dems , on Fox, people were calling up making excuses for McCain , while on talk left ,Military people didnt find McCain to damn funny ....... there were a few callers on fox that blasted McCain ,but not enough to take notice ........and you see the same kind of stuff here , there are people that will defend what a Republican says or does no matter what .....

[Spider]

No comments from the BushBots? I'm sure they pull out the ol' : "well they volunteered" bs. , but they wont carry their asses down to the recruiters office to do their part, because they are just cheerleaders, not players!

;D Iam expecting the ole , when in doubt blame Clinton tactic .........

[defenseman]

No comments from the BushBots? I'm sure they pull out the ol' : "well they volunteered" bs. , but they wont carry their asses down to the recruiters office to do their part, because they are just cheerleaders, not players!

Because one believes in the war, does not mean they need to go down to the local recruiting office and join. If that were the case, alot of dems in DC would have resigned , gone down to their local recruiting office and joined in 2002 when they voted for the war, republicans too. that said, lot's of wives in the military don't necessarily agree with what goes on sometimes. There were numerous occassions where I was deployed literally at the drop of a hat. It's part of the life, either you are in and understand the sacrifice, or you are out. Simple as that. I empathize to a point with all military families though, however, the wives not quite as much as the children. The kids can have it very, very tough. I was pretty fortunate though, my wife is extremely capable and can handle pretty much anything thrown her way whether I'm there or not. I'll agree with her that the stress can be significant, again handling it has alot to do with the individual (wife), in addition to how they (couple) deal with it as a team. It can be challenging, there is no denying that. However, this particular wife, she isn't unique from numerous other wives in all the armed sevices. Seen many like her in the sub community, fortunately the infrastructure built into the sub community for family support has always been very strong........dman

*As far as the soldiers comments, that's an interesting take. Haven't heard about that. However, if such is the tactic de jour being practiced, I'm thinking the leadership on the ground know about and are attempting a correction. Patreus said september, they approved him for the job, now let him attempt to do what he says he can, don't pull the rug out from underneath.

[TailgateNut]

Dman, the ones' who are most affected are the "young" wives of the "groundpounders", those same groundpounders who generally sustain the most casualties. It's those I'm most concerned about, day in, and day out.

I also served under C-1 readiness status for years. It's no fun when you have to have you bags packed 24/7/365 for years. It's part of the game, but the 1st timers do not understand, and you and I know, the recruiters paint a beautiful picture of travel and glory!

I got plenty of travel!:~ohyah!:

[clarkster]

No comments from the BushBots? I'm sure they pull out the ol' : "well they volunteered" bs. , but they wont carry their asses down to the recruiters office to do their part, because they are just cheerleaders, not players!

careful, i think the majority of the "bushbots" here actually are serving or recently did.
and for the record, they did volunteer, as i did, 4 times over. as a few of the anti war folks also have. ill emphasize FEW however.

[Spider]

careful, i think the majority of the "bushbots" here actually are serving or recently did.
and for the record, they did volunteer, as i did, 4 times over. as a few of the anti war folks also have. ill emphasize FEW however.

GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you mean people are not signing up to fight a war they dont believe in ?
What in the hell is this world coming to ? .......