Heh...let 'em...

War Critics Try to Recruit Military

Anti-war groups are trying to rally active troops to speak out against the war in Iraq _ a political tactic they hope will sway voters Nov. 7.

A small group of active-duty members opposed to the war created a Web site last month intended to collect thousands of signatures of other service members. People can submit their name, rank and duty station if they support statements denouncing the U.S. invasion.

The electronic grievances are then passed along to members of Congress, according to the Web site.

"Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home," the Web site says.

Jonathan Hutto, a Navy seaman based in Norfolk, Va., who set up the Web site a month ago, said the group has collected 118 names and is trying to verify that they are legitimate service members.

There are 1.4 million troops on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserve.

I wonder if they don't realize something about the military...well, at least the politians do:

But at least two senators _ both critical of the administration's handling of the war in Iraq _ said they were concerned that service members speaking out against the president may undermine the military's apolitical status.

The military is overwhelmingly conservative. The last study I heard had the figure at 75% republican. I suspect the politicians are afraid of the large number supporting the war regardless of how they see it being run. There are a few that don't agree with it, but the vast majority will support the war. If active-duty personnel begin to say what they think, the anti-war crowd will be sorely disappointed...and the anti-war politicians realize this as a pandora's box for them.

I say, let us talk. We've got lots to say...

Edit: Dishonest headline of the day. Reuters (aka al-Reuters by some) posts this cute headline: U.S. troops on active duty call for Iraq withdrawal. I'm sorry, but 218 signitories is rather insignificant considering the current number of active and reserve duty military is 1.5 million. Throw in IRR and that gets closer to 2.5 million. I suppose it catches attention, but the dishonest isn't cool.