I find it more and more frustrating over time to continue to see Germany and France labeled our "allies" in the "War on Terrorism." As I've said in the past, I don't believe that we're in a War on Terrorism, and whatever war we are in (I think it's a war against fundamental Islamism and Arab nationalism), they are clearly not behaving as allies, in any sense of the word. The label seems to be a holdover from the Cold War, and with that conflict well over a decade behind us, it really no longer applies. I wonder who would complain if reporters at the NYT and WaPo simply stopped using this term as descriptive to countries that don't walk the walk?

Of course, as Stephen Den Beste points out, continuing use of such a label makes it possible for the press to help reign us in, and prevent us from intensifying the war with Iraq (which never really ended), by making it appear that we are in it alone, which is of course unacceptable.

Which, of course, makes it clear that many in the mainstream press are not our "allies" either.

I occasionally check in at Quark Soup, linked in your Science Blogs list. He, like many specalized bloggers, has taken to posting on political matters as much as on his particular speciality.

Mr. Appell's web log has a much more leftward (or at least pacifist) leaning than, say, your blog and has started what he calls the "Andrew Sullivan fund" where he offers $50 to anyone who, like Mr. Sullivan, feels that war with Iraq is necessary and inevitable and desirable, and then enlists in the US military to put their politics into practice. Since Mr. Appell's blogsite seems to have no facility for recording comments except his personal e-mail address, I figured I'd post a response to this pernicious and asinine position over here:

If I have an ailing septic system I don't run out and rent a backhoe and try to fix the problem myself. I hire a professional with the equipment and expertise to do the job right. Just because I am unwilling to get my hands dirty doesn't mean that the job does NOT have to be done, and as soon as possible, nor does it mean that I should be castigated for wishing it done or refuse to get it done because of my desire to have it done in a proper manner.

This is perhaps an invidious comparison, given the difference in kind of the matters under discussion, but not, I think, without some merit. I am considerably over the age, for instance, where my contributions to a military situation would be anything but ludicrous. I spent my military-age years IN the military during the unpleasantness in Southeast Asia and do not regret one bit my efforts in support of the US role in that conflict.

I've seen arguments similar to Mr. Appell's before and they are nothing but cynical attempts at guilt-mongering which deserve only contempt. Whatever Mr. Appell's qualifications otherwise, his politics stink.

> Mr. Appell's web log has a much more leftward (or at least pacifist) leaning than, say, your blog and has started what he calls the "Andrew Sullivan fund" where he offers $50 to anyone who, like Mr. Sullivan, feels that war with Iraq is necessary and inevitable and desirable, and then enlists in the US military to put their politics into practice.

Someone claims to have done exactly that over on Sgt. Stryker's blog. He was a bit long in the tooth to get back into the traditional armed forces so he went into the merchant marine.

FIFTY BUCKS? Only $50? Sheesh, about $1500 was raised just to send Philip Shropshire of WBW over to Iraq. Of course, he demanded even more.

Certainly if someone feels moved to participate in the coming conflict that's their choice, just as I could take classes in backhoe operation and septic field maintenance to better feel the pain of mucking about in raw sewage. To say, though, that someone who feels some kind of military action is necessary to rid the world of various scumbag dictators should therefore be willing to grab a rifle and gasmask and hitch a ride to the battlefield is ridiculous.

"To say, though, that someone who feels some kind of military action is necessary to rid the world of various scumbag dictators should therefore be willing to grab a rifle and gasmask and hitch a ride to the battlefield is ridiculous."

Not to mention the fact that, some 16 months ago, the battlefield was here.

There are many of us who have already done our time in the service and are now to old to do it again, but who STILL support the efforts building in the Gulf. I am however heavily leaveraged in the current build up. BOTH of my sons are in the military.

I'm in about the same boat as you, service- and age-wise. My sons are still a little young (not much) and my daughter, though supportive of any military action, is more interested in getting her degree than the service at this point. My wife is also a veteran, but, like me is superanuated as far as additional service is concerned. I work as a civilian for DoD (25 years) so I continue, as much as I can, to support the services.

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