McCain's support for our troops

Senators James Webb (D-Va.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) have each sponsored bills to boost veterans' educational assistance to cover the cost of tuition at state universities. This update to the G.I. Bill would cost taxpayers anywhere between two and a half to four billion dollars over ten years -- a drop in the bucket compared to what the war in Iraq is costing us. Most members of Congress think this is a wonderful idea. Isn't it the least we can do to "support our troops"?

Guess who opposes this proposal? Senator John McCain. Why does he oppose it? He fears it will discourage soldiers from re-enlisting, leaving us short of warriors to fight our glorious War on Terror. McCain comments, "I want to make sure that we have incentives for people to remain in the military as well as for people to join the military."

Stop a moment and consider: what does this say about why people join the military in the first place? Could it be that a large number of them are essentially economic refugees -- poor people who could not afford college and figured that it was somewhat less humiliating to don a soldier's uniform than a blue Walmart vest? People who, if given a chance for a good education -- and a good job to follow -- will leave the military in a heartbeat?

Rich man's war, poor man's fight. It was ever thus. Perhaps those who call for a return to the draft have a point. If not just the kids of poor folk but everyone was responsible for fighting this war, maybe the war would be brought to a conclusion a whole lot sooner.

Post-script: Last week a funeral at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati for Matthew Maupin, whose remains were finally recovered four years after he was kidnapped, tortured, and killed in Iraq. How did he end up in Iraq? He had joined the Army Reserve to make a little extra money for college.