European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday april 252007 stars and stripes Page 15 opinion Mccain Honor code frames Iraq debate by Kevin Ferris the Philadelphia inquirer 1 Ohn Mccain speech recently about the War on Ter ror May not win him the White House and if s too soon to Tell whether the strategy Hes endorsed can turn things around in Iraq but the speech at the Virginia military Institute raises the bar for discussion of the War by presidential candidates not because of his assessment of Progress being made or his outline of the consequences of failure or even his at tack on the wars critics those were All on Point and Elo quent what sets Mccain apart is Sim ply How he frames the debate As a matter of Honor coming from a War hero with 50 years of service to his makes a huge difference at Vii he spoke of Gen David Petraeus Honor to Lead troops who show such courage and resolve the duty of finding a Way Forward that Best honors their sacrifices most important he explained Why he was obligated to give the cur rent strategy a Chance to succeed to do otherwise would be contrary to the interests of my country and dishonourable Honor is a recurring theme in Mccain writings and speeches when he accepted a profile in courage award in 1999 for Back ing Campaign finance Reform which haunt yet passed he spoke of the importance of Honor in his life when i was a Young Man Mccain said and All glory was self glory i responded aggressively and often irresponsibly to any one who questioned my Honor i still remember How zealously a boy would attend the needs of his self respect but As i grew older and the challenges to my self respect be came More varied and difficult i was surprised to discover that while my sense of Honor had matured its defense mattered even More to me than it did when i believed that Honor was such a frail thing that any empty Challenge could threaten it Over time he said he had Learned to dread Dishonour above All other injuries he supported Campaign finance Reform because it was a Way to re to a process that the Public viewed As tainted by the relentless Pursuit of Money i believe Public service is an honorable profession Mccain said i believed that when i entered the naval Academy at 17 and i believe it still but the peo ple whom i serve believe that the Means by which i came to office corrupt me that Shames me their contempt is a stain upon my Honor and i cannot live with it in his books Mccain writes about trying to measure up to what he Learned from his father and Grandfather both admirals and from the men with whom he served in Vietnam especially his fellow pos in character is destiny he tells How americans were tortured for military information for de tails about one another for state ments against their country or their Mission if they would just speak they were told the pain would Stop and no one would know they had talked Mccain writes but the men i had the Honor of serving with Al ways had the same response i will know i will know that dear Reader is Good Char Acter and i Hope it is your destiny your Choice your achievement to hear the voice in your own heart when you face hard decisions in your life to hear it say to you again and again until it drowns out every other thought i will know i will know i will know perhaps Mccain heard that voice As he prepared his Vii speech he could have bowed to the polls backed away from this administration and its War he didst instead he countered the withdrawal wave engulfing Congress auce presidential candidate sen John Mccain Ariz right is greeted by War veterans at the veterans of foreign wars Post in Summerville so on april 18 Mccain said recently he was obligated to give the current Iraq War strategy a Chance to succeed because to do otherwise would be contrary to the interests of my country and dishonourable he warned of the results of fail ure for Iraq the Region and the United states he pointed out the first glimmers of Progress from the troop increase and counterinsurgency strategy though the hour is late and we should have no illusion that Success is cer Tain he blasted democrats for their cynicism their cheers while voting to endorse defeat and their refusal to offer an alternative strategy that has some relationship to reality responsible political leaders statesmen do not add to the Bur Dens our troops carry he said granted Mccain is a politician and his goal for 2009 is Clear but on this topic neither polls nor ambition have led him to embrace Dis Honor he May not become president but along the Way hell set the Standard for an honorable debate Kevin Ferris is the Philadelphia inquirers commentary Page editor Well reasoned dissent shows respect for troops by Dorian de wind let me just say it up front i support the troops but i do not support the War in Iraq although millions of honorable americans regularly make similar assertions it is a different Story to make it to a mostly military Audi ence and in particular to those who find themselves in harms Way at this very moment it is also risky to make such a statement knowing that a Good number of troops will at Best reject outright what in their hearts and minds is a contradiction in terms and at worst accuse those who make such a Conten Tion of being disingenuous unpatriotic Etc How do i know that there will be such a sceptical reaction and that i will fully under stand such doubting and criticism As a Young air Force officer during the Vietnam War i was a Tungho supporter of and be Liever in that War although a Volunteer for duty in Vietnam i did not serve there but i did have close friends who did and who were getting shot at and were earning Pur ple hearts there it was perhaps because of those losses that i accused those who opposed the War of being unpatriotic Treacher Ous and even of aiding and abetting the enemy sound Fain liar i also remember calling those who had the audacity to say that they supported the troops but not the War insincere and hypo critical i sadly remember having fierce arguments with my own parents and Sisters and accusing Mem of not supporting our Mil itary How in heaven name could they claim that they supported the troops when the opposed the Mission the War and our very own government that Only wanted to Stop communism spread democracy and keep the Homeland Safe and so it goes today another time another War but the same questions about the judgments and policies that produced this War the same disenchantment with the strategies and the conduct of the War the same Brave troops fighting our Battles and yes the same debate at times accusations r about not supporting the troops and about loyalty and patriotism but there is one Dif Ference during the Vietnam War and for some time thereafter some americans in fact did not support the troops i clearly re member the contempt and scorn with which some treated our Vietnam War Active duty troops and veterans i also remember the truly unpatriotic words and actions on the part of some of the hardcore Antiwar pro testers nevertheless a majority of Ameri cans agonized Over every Battle bemoaned every injury and mourned every death suffered by our Brave troops so while we May debate whether questioning the rationale for the Iraq War or opposing the War itself and whether disagree ing with the War related policies of our government is problematic there is no Debat ing that americans unanimously and strongly support our Brave men and women in uni form americans today stand United in respecting and praising the courage and Dedi cation of our troops performing so Admira Bly under some of the most difficult combat conditions americans have consistently demanded that the troops be Given every possible personnel and vehicle Protection in the Battle Field More recently and in the face of some harrowing revelations of bureaucratic neglect americans in unison Are demanding that our returning wounded receive the Best possible medical care that they and their families Are properly taken care of medically financially and emotionally finally every american is wishing our heroes Suc Cess in Battle and a Safe and speedy return Home As i mentioned i will understand any and All censures and rebuttals of my words there Are Many ways in which opposition to this War can be construed to mean Lack of support for the troops i was at one time masterful at that i just ask that our troops consider the possibility that those americans who disagreed with our government on the justification for this War and who continue to disapprove of the Cavalier manner in which our troops have been placed in harms Way by our Lead ers do indeed respect Admire and deeply care for those who Are doing the actual fight ing in Iraq and elsewhere and making All the sacrifices maj Dorian de wind retired served in the us air Force during the Vietnam War but was not assigned to combat duty he lives in Austin Texas and has had articles published in the Austin american statesman among other publications he wrote this column for stars and stripes prickly City by Scott Stantis Ess