Tobiasly’s Blog

Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war protestor who has set up camp outside President Bush’s ranch in Texas, asks the following of the President and Operation Iraqi Freedom: “If it’s such a noble cause, why aren’t his daughters over there?”

I hear this rhetorical question a lot from the anti-war crowd. Michael Moore tried to ask the same of Bill O’Reiley while on his program — if O’Reiley thinks the war is worthwhile, would he sacrifice his own kid for it?

Well, Sheehans of the world, here’s your answer: because the United States has what we refer to as an "all-volunteer army". That means that no one in the armed forces joined against their will. They were all made aware of the consequences of their enlistment or commission before they ever signed on that dotted line.

So regardless of how heart-moving or thought-provoking you think that question is, the answer is just as simple. That’s just not the way it works. And just as Bush can’t "send his daughters to war", your son also knew full well the consequences of his actions when he joined.