My Father's generation has rightfully been called the Greatest Generation. Members of his generation in America, Britain, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries saved our World from the tyranny of fascism. There are heroes aplenty and a culture was prevalent in those times that exalted those heroes. In our Country we had the popular images of Audie Murphy, John Wayne, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, and others winning WWII. Fast forward to our generation. We were weaned on the War movies of WWII and popular TV shows - Combat, Rat Patrol, 12 O'Clock High. Yet, when our War came those that had the wherewithal managed to avoid service. And now our generation wields the reins of power.

The folks who tend to be on the Right pine for the simpler days. Black and White, Good and Evil are the coin of their realm - as much as possible they seek to eliminate the shades of gray. I hear it regularly on KVI - the two most popular hosts (Wilbur and Carlson) managed to avoid service yet now they absolutely laud the Military and are some of the biggest cheerleaders for exerting our Military strength in Iraq. Michael Medved is another one who falls into this mold. I was listening to him the other day and he served as the genesis of my thought. He proclaimed that there is only one reason for War - that is to win. At the highest rungs of power, Bush and Cheney, we see people who took great efforts to avoid Military Service during Vietnam. So, now on to my theory.

I believe all the folks that I have mentioned above have guilty consciences regarding their lack of service and active avoidance during Vietnam. They long for heroes. They long for having a "notch on their belt" that will allow them to compare with our Father's generation. They have chosen Iraq as the battlefield. Wouldn't it be ironic and tragic if our servicepeople dying in Iraq are there because my generation needed to bring home a figurative good report card and make our Dad's proud?

I recognize that this is a theory and could easily be jumped on as "psychobabble" by those that support our effort in Iraq. And if you feel the need to flame, go right ahead. After all, I would never believe that I am right 100% of the time but in trying to make rational sense of what this Administration has done, I find myself trekking rather far afield. The reasons they have given me don't hold water at all and in my poor small brain, I feel the need to try and come up with something that makes sense.

Comments?