How Liberals Support the Troops

From Opinion Journal by James Taranto:

"Today's Concord Monitor is proving a particularly rich vein for material. A letter to the editor from Jim Davies of Newbury, N.H., explains how he can "oppose the war but support the troops":

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I support the troops, in that I wish each of them well as a self-owning human being, yet I oppose the war. Here's how I do what you said was impossible.

Every single American in uniform joined his or her unit voluntarily. All therefore contracted to submit themselves to government orders for a specified period in exchange for pay and benefits provided by money confiscated under threat of force from friends and neighbors known as "taxpayers"; and in the full knowledge that those orders might include commands to go and kill human beings they had never met. . . .

Like any thinking person, I oppose this and every other war. Do I, though, support those who prostituted their morality for a share of the loot stolen from their neighbors? Yes, certainly. I support giving each the opportunity to correct that gross error and resign immediately from the monstrously unethical organization into which they have sold themselves--along with a ticket home paid for personally by the commander who deployed him or her.

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Jim, we're sure the troops appreciate your support!"