2000 Soap Box Archives

Standing In The Gap

As I write this column we are getting ready to embark on a trip to Korea to entertain the beloved sons and daughters of America are serving their country with honor and dedication. I was in Korea once before and I can tell you that you’ll never see finer troops than those who guard the 38th Parallel I've been to Cuba and hung out with the gung-ho young marines who hold the line at the northeast gate and been aboard some of Americas most sophisticated ships where bright-eyed young sailors man the latest in high tech weaponry. I've seen the B 2 bomber and talked with some of the young flyers who can handle a jet fighter plane with the skill and agility of Michael Jordan dunking a layup. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard. All time honored and proud outfits. All standing in the gap between us and our enemies. Why then have none of the major branches of service not been able to meet their recruiting requirements for the last several years? Some people blame it on a good economy, with plentiful jobs in the private sector to lure prospective young people away from the military. Some people think that in time of peace the motivation is not as strong. They could be partially right, maybe the private sector is siphoning off a few potential candidates and maybe young people are more inclined to serve their country in times of crises, but there are other reasons. Shortly before Bill Clinton was inaugurated I had a man who had put many years into the military tell me, “I'm getting out, I'll never have to call that S O B commander and chief.” Reluctance to serve under a draft dodging, war protesting president is a factor whether you want to believe it or not. He has proven their reservations to be true by critically weakening the finest fighting force the world has ever known. He has deployed our troops around the world in an effort to bolster his political standing, he has put the well being of our sons and daughters in the totally inept hands of the United Nations, an organization of talkers, not doers. A paper tiger at best. Salaries in the military, while never great, have done a poor job of keeping up with the national average, and that’s a disgrace. When people make their living risking their lives they should be well compensated for it. We have been lulled to sleep by relative peace in our major spheres of concern. The decline of the Soviet Union, diplomatic relations with China and a restless, tentative cease fire in the Middle East has induced false sense of security. Anyone who thinks we’ve heard the last of Russia should immediately make an appointment with a good head doctor. They are still dangerously armed, fully manned Hungary and that’s a bad combination. One of these days I predict that China will make a play for Taiwan. That is bound to happen. I can just hear President Al Gore telling them.” Now you fellas should not have done that. That’s not fair.” And that’s just about all we’ll be able to do if things proceed along the way they’re going. And there’s no need for me to go into the Middle East. Anybody with an ounce of gray matter knows that it’s just a matter of time before it explodes again. A lot has been said about Bill Clinton’s legacy. I've got a suggestion. How about the man who presided over the demise of America?

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

 

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