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[Matlock]

http://www.nbc4i.com/news/3715145/detail.html

I don't care about politics at this point, but the dude turned down a cushy job to do the duty he believes in...and to say that he's still running to take back his office when he's coming back? Ballsy. Gotta love it.

 

[doncale]

he won't be in direct combat. he'll be safe whereever he is.

nice stunt to get re-elected.

meh.

 

[KingV]

he won't be in direct combat. he'll be safe whereever he is.

nice stunt to get re-elected.

meh.

Disagree, he could've gotten out of it but didn't. Many of the contractors that were kidnapped and killed were supposedly away from the front lines, how safe were they? How safe was that one guy that just went over there and walked around like Kane from Kung Fu? I mean, the guy's been in the Guard for damn near 20 years, he's gotta be 40 or older. I don't think it's reasonable to expect him to storm buildings.

 

[Eminem]

he won't be in direct combat. he'll be safe whereever he is.

nice stunt to get re-elected.

meh.

he's gonna go to iraq just to get re-elected? :lol :lol :lol please

 

[AstroLad]

he's gonna go to iraq just to get re-elected? :lol :lol :lol please

Um... this is exactly what Pat Tillman had to fight so hard against. If you are a big figure, they will put you in a relatively cushy position to encourage others to go (and obviously be put in not-so-cushy positions) and just generally create a rah-rah atmosphere. Tillman said he had to turn them down several times on this and basically force them to send him to the real war soldiers were fighting and not as some protected figurehead.

 

[Eminem]

ok? he's still going, and i'm willing to bet it's for me than to be re-elected. he'll get a comfy post, fine. but at least he's going. he probably could have gotten re-elected without going. to say he's going only to get re-elected is a bit shitty, imo

 

[AstroLad]

ok? he's still going, and i'm willing to bet it's for me than to be re-elected. he'll get a comfy post, fine. but at least he's going. he probably could have gotten re-elected without going. to say he's going only to get re-elected is a bit shitty, imo

I think that's fair enough; I just wanted to point out that there is such a thing as a "celebrity soldier," given far more pampering and accomodating than others of like age and rank, and that Pat Tillman was a damn principled guy (though I shudder to think of all the awards and general manipulation being perpetrated on his legacy since that is that absolute last thing he would have wanted).

 

[KingV]

ok? he's still going, and i'm willing to bet it's for me than to be re-elected. he'll get a comfy post, fine. but at least he's going. he probably could have gotten re-elected without going. to say he's going only to get re-elected is a bit shitty, imo

He's been in the guard for 20 years, I doubt there even are any combat posts for 40 year old men. That doesn't mean it's safe though, depending where he is, what he's doing.

 

[Mandark]

He's the leader of a unit that "keeps track of soldiers in the field, the awarding of medals and contact with families at home." I don't see any reason why he'd leave the Green Zone.

I'm not sure what someone his age and with his training would be able to do, or expected to do. Certainly going to Iraq is something, but he's not forsaking his political career, and he's not putting himself at great risk.

 

[xsarien]

And a Republican too. Wow. I respect him, and I sincerely mean that.