U.S. Marines depart a checkpoint and patrol back to Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan, May 30, 2010. The Marines are assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga The War The Election Forgot -- L.A. Times
War sets the rhythm for military spouses like Veda Olechny. But for just about everyone else, it's easy to ignore, and in this turbulent election season there is little mention of Afghanistan or Iraq.
Reporting from Marydel, Del., and Los Angeles — It's easy to tell 1st Sgt. Patrick Olechny is away. The freezer is stocked with single-serving dinners. The TV is off and, at nearly 8 p.m., the living room is dark.
Olechny is at war in Afghanistan, on his fourth tour of combat duty. His wife, Veda, is waiting for his return — in time for Thanksgiving, she prays each night.
Read more ....
My Comment: The war has clearly dropped from the political/media world. It does not suit the Democrats to discuss a war that their large anti-war base is against, and on the other side most Republicans are in favor of the president's war strategy. With no political conflict, there is no point for news coverage (from a media editor's point of view).
If I am disappointed with a group in this year's election cycle, it is the antiwar movement. Unlike previous elections, there were front and center in their opposition to America's wars. In this election cycle, they are completely absent. Why .... I guess it is because because of President Obama. The antiwar movement put an enormous amount of energy, resources, time, and money to have him elected in 2008. To now go ahead and oppose him .... this would show poor judgment and intelligence from their part .... a prospect that they will try to avoid.
"In this election cycle, they are completely absent. Why .... I guess it is because because of President Obama."
ReplyDeleteIt would have been any Democrat in the White House. It wasn't the antiwar movement that "put an enormous amount of energy, resources, time, and money" into the last election. Or rather, it wasn't theirs to begin with (perhaps except for time).
The antiwar movement was propped up, or to be more accurate, invested in. They are absent now, because they can't get the monetary and media support they were getting prior to 2008. It's evaporated because there's no further reason for the investors to do so; there are no further political gains to be made.