Pubdate: Sun, 15 May 2005 Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA) Copyright: 2005 PG Publishing Contact: http://www.post-gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/341 Author: Carl Ecelbarger REGARDING THESE GUARDSMEN, SAVE YOUR SYMPATHY The Post-Gazette is completely out of line when it demands that the Pentagon should provide "make work" employment for Florida National Guardsmen ("War of the Absurd: Citizen Soldiers Do Their Duty But Lose Again," May 11 editorial). First, the guardsmen shouldn't have had their extremely well-paid positions in the first place: Operation Guardian was simply a method the government used to surreptitiously transfer money budgeted for legitimate military purposes to the never-ending "war on drugs," a policy that deprives millions of Americans of their fundamental rights of "ownership." Second, it is extremely likely that most of the guardsmen, as Floridians, voted for the Brothers Bush, acts demonstrating support for a general agenda that would deny anyone protection from the talons of the vaunted "invisible hand." Basically, they inhabit a world of their own choosing; they should deal with it. CARL ECELBARGER Moon - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)