On Mon, 25 May 2009 09:39:19 -0400, "mmc" wrote:

The only thing I can see that could be considered as liberal is his fighting
for homeless vets? Is that what irks you?

I've tried mightly to stay out of this, but after reading through all
the posts again, I'd like to say something. Or rather, I'd like to let
Duncan speak for himself.

"Duncan said he came to oppose the war because of how it affected his
fellow troops.

“I continuously saw people being sent back into a meat grinder again
and again and again,” said Duncan, 30. “I saw people dying and leaving
families and distraught loved ones.

“Seeing the degradation of the military, the degradation of the
troops. There’s only so much you can take before you have to begin
speaking up.”

That's the problem - it's Winter Soldier all over again.

Why does Jesse MacBeth, who doesn't claim sacrifice or heroics but
claims to have committed war crimes he never actually committed? How
about Scott Beauchamp who claimed sexually mocking a woman disfigured
by an IED?

It's one thing to be anti-war - I have no issue with those who oppose
war - I oppose war, but I believe it's a necessary evil. It's quite
another to actually lie about your participation, what you've seen and
done and witnessed.

The reason it happens is because the very people writing the stories
and narrative want to believe it's true - it matches their personal
opinion and they don't take the time to do a simple check of
credentials and take everything at face value. Winter Soldier was a
great example of that and it's a lesson I had hoped was learned, but
it appears it's been forgotten.

Duncan at least has the excuse of mental illness and he did good
things wth his temporary celebrity - he has my thanks for helping and
fighting for a worthy cause.

It's the other half of the story that undoes all his good works.

Unfortunate.

And that's the end of my participation in this thread.