A common bit of disparagement among some journalists, especially at the New York Times and among their peers in the Democratic Party, is that soldiers are dead—enders: people from underprivileged backgrounds forced to fight a rich man's war because the Republicans are greedy and have so ravaged the economy. Many people have no hope of getting jobs in the private sector and thus are forced into the military, goes the narrative.

Surprise: as is true so many times when the media covers the military, they are wrong again. Kudos to USA Today.

Ed Lasky   11 29 05