A must-read article from Andrew J. Bacevich—a writer and vocal critic of the war—who lost his son in Iraq. The article is from the Washington Post, discovered via digg.com.
From the article:
Memorial Day orators will say that a G.I.’s life is priceless. Don’t believe it. I know what value the U.S. government assigns to a soldier’s life: I’ve been handed the check. It’s roughly what the Yankees will pay Roger Clemens per inning once he starts pitching next month.
Bacevich goes on to write:
Money buys access and influence. Money greases the process that will yield us a new president in 2008. When it comes to Iraq, money ensures that the concerns of big business, big oil, bellicose evangelicals and Middle East allies gain a hearing. By comparison, the lives of U.S. soldiers figure as an afterthought.
Just an excellent article. Just goes to show how politicans don’t have to actually support the troops, as long as they say they do.
By the way, if Roger Clemens makes his 22 scheduled starts this year, he stands to make $47,979.79 per inning. It’s the going price for an American life.
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