Another cowardly, cut-and-run hippie?

To hear some people tell it, the only Americans who want to pull our troops out of Iraq forthwith are limp-wristers, hippies, women and people who hate our military and our country.

The truth, of course, is something else. For example, check this video for a strong antiwar statement from retired Gen. John Batiste (pictured on the left), a former Army commander in Iraq. It's part of a TV ad campaign sponsored by VoteVets.org.

And check this stuff from The National Security Network, wherein a bunch of retired generals denounce President Bush's recent veto of the war-spending bill with its non-binding timeline for withdrawal of our troops.

The ultimate irony in all of this is that so many of the people who impugn the patriotism of the so-called cut-and-run crowd have never served in the military themselves. Many of them also refuse to acknowledge that the ranks of the war critics include lots of veterans, these aforementioned generals among them. This uncomfortable truth doesn't fit the stereotypes peddled by these chickenhawks.

(Disclaimer: The Rascal hasn't served in the military, either, but neither have I been a cheerleader for either the Vietnam War or this current misadventure.)