Give Thanks

For America's military, and the men and women who serve. And for those who've given all for our nation, both servicemen and others, including diplomat Jim Mollen, the U.S. Embassy's senior consultant to the Iraqi ministers of education and higher education, murdered by terrorists Wednesday.

In particular, I'm thankful for the skill of today's all volunteer service, as Max Boot reminds us in today's LA Times:

Entry standards for volunteers were higher, the quality of recruits improved, and the first-rate military we know today was created — a military force that is better educated than the civilian population, whose enlisted ranks are composed of high school graduates and whose officers are college graduates (many with graduate degrees). A force in which drug use has fallen into insignificance and morale and discipline are sky-high. A dedicated, courageous, professional force capable of knocking the stuffing out of just about any foe, anywhere in the world, at a moment's notice.

Some antiwar protesters want to spread the idea that the military is composed of victims who have no alternative but to become cannon fodder. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially in front-line combat units in which everyone is a volunteer twice over.

Why do they do it? Why have 1.5 million men and women enlisted in the active-duty military, and 861,000 more in the National Guard and Reserves? The reasons vary, of course. Many are drawn by the prospect of learning a trade or earning a college scholarship. Others want an adventure or a sense of purpose. Once they spend some time in the service, the pull of camaraderie leads many to reenlist.

But it would be a mistake to overlook the simplest and most obvious motive of all: patriotism. People pull on their BDUs (battle dress uniforms) out of a desire to defend a great nation. Such sentiments can sound corny in today's ironic culture, but the military is one place where old-fashioned pieties are uttered without a subversive smirk.

Irony is a defense mechanism: useful in moderation; abused by today's po-mos. No defense mechanism, including irony, will stop terrorism. Only an actual defense can--by killing terrorists. Just because it's old-fashioned and a piety doesn't make it any less true.

Members of the United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines: For protecting America, thank you.