CSPAN callers never cease to amaze me — caller on astroturf soldier letter

[prolesunited]

Man phoning in this morning said the astroturf letter-writing campaign by a commander on behalf of U.S. soldiers was a success because only two of 500 complained.

Story here if you're not familiar with this situation:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-10-14-letters-usat_x.htm

Let me get this straight:
It is NOT a problem that a military commander writes FAKE letters on behalf of people, commits FRAUD by signing other people's names to them and tries to shape public opinion through overt propaganda of which Goebbels will be proud.

It is suddenly OK because only two complained — like that is a big surprise. You are a soldier sitting in a war zone. Who honestly thinks that would be conducive to speaking the truth or standing up for yourself? I'm sure most were counseled just to keep their mouths shut.

These people truly live in bizarro world. My litmus test is often how I would feel if a Dem did this and I can honestly say that I wouldn't tolerate this behavior from them either. For all this talk of "moral clarity," the Repugs certainly seem to have NO standards of behavior.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. It is absolutely sickening. If I were a soldier, or the parent of a

soldier I would be livid. How can a lie be labeled a success. Why the need to send out bogus letters if all is going as well as they say. Grrrrrrrr. Yes, I am fearful that the right gets crazier every day.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. You forgot that this administration was going to launch a Ministry

of Truth or some equally Orwellian name, that was intentionally going to spread misinformation. The idea was shot down, but I think they're still doing it.

[bobthedrummer]

14. Pedagogical obsessed command influenced by Neo-con traitors

eom

[bushisanidiot]

3. Only 2 were BRAVE Enough To Complain. Others Were Scared To Lose Their Job

s.

rumsfeld has made it clear that he doesn't like his toy soldiers to tow any line other than the party line.

[LuminousX]

4. Two Complained?

You know in a war zone there is a lot of friendly fire. Accidents happen.

[Rashind]

5. Oh, please!

Haven't you heard, LuminousX? The war is over! :toast:

[prolesunited]

6. Oh, yes

How could we forget: "Mission Accomplished" :eyes:

Welcome to DU, Rashind! :hi:

[Starpass]

7. Yep, was sitting there with a cup of coffee and

said to myself "these people think being lied to is great and we should have more of it"!!!! So in other words, dead soldiers who were sent their on an outrageous lie is also a-okay. I am stunned at the people who really want lies. A few days ago a mother of one of these soldiers whose name was used on the fake letter thought it was grand because it supported our troops. Maybe a bodybag delivered to her front lawn would wake her up.

[Kolesar]

8. "only 2 complained" -- that sounds like a white house talking point

The caller is either a political type or a zealous republican who picks up on stuff like this on talk radio or at GOP websites. (My hunch)

[DemBones DemBones]

9. Then there was the Republican senator who said that the letter

writing campaign was organized by a low-ranking officer, as if that made it unimportant. I say it would be important if it was done by a noncom, if said noncom had any power, was a platoon leader or whatever. Anyone who has command over troops shouldn't be having them write political letters. It doesn't matter if the people involved thought it was political in nature or not. It was, and therefore violates military rules. Republicans are big on applying rules to everyone but themselves.

The letter-writing campaign was in fact organized by a Lieutenant Colonel (or at least he has taken the blame for it.) I grew up in a Navy family so perhaps I'm misinformed about Army rank. . . but doen't Army rank go Lietenant, Captain, Major, Lietenant Colonel, Colonel, General? Thus, a Lieutenant Colonel is NOT a low-ranking officer, suggesting to me that the Republican senator in question (whose name I have forgotten, as I'd never heard of him before) is another GOP chickenhawk who never served but is overjoyed to see young men serving and dying for the U.S. today

[OldSoldier]

11. In Bush's army, a lieutenant colonel is a low-ranking officer

And in Bush's navy, a rear admiral (lower half) is a low-ranking officer.

You don't become a "high-ranking officer" in Bush's military until you reach major general or rear admiral (upper half).

[Love Bug]

13. If the shoe were on the other foot...

If some officer had done the same thing with letters CRITICAL of the war I bet that same R senator would be calling for his Courts Martial. For that officer to "ask" his subordinates to sign these letters is an abuse of his power and probably in violation of the UCMJ.

[w13rd0]

10. SpikeTrees posted something up regarding this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=536637

Seems that the officer 'taking the blame' has been VERY active in 'positive propaganda' efforts...

[Kolesar]

12. You folks can start your own "letter writing campaign"

Steal my ideas and write to your local newspapers if they misreport this story. Whatever you do, don't copy it word-for-word, only republicans are allowed to do that (!).

[prolesunited]

15. Thanks!

You've seen the excellent writing around here. No one will copy it word for word. They don't need to! :P