NOTR has a cartoon printed by the Washington Post about injured Troops. I personally am appalled and disturbed that a major media publication would actually print this garbage.

ROFASIX – the CAV man!

Update :BlackFive Feb. 3rd: Matt has posted 4 do not miss items on Tole and the WP: A letter to the WP from a Marine Mom, a letter to the WP from a Marine Sgt., a letter to the WP from a retired Master Sgt and finally MilBlog poet laureate, Russ Vaugh has a poem to the WP.

Washington Post response on Feb. 2: Joint Chiefs Fire At Toles Cartoon On Strained Army

The Tom Toles cartoon, published Sunday, depicts a heavily bandaged soldier in a hospital bed as having lost his arms and legs, while Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, in the guise of a doctor, says: “I’m listing your condition as ‘battle hardened.’ ” Toles said he meant no offense toward American soldiers.

In response to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Letter to the Washington Post here’s what Toles had to say:

Toles called the letter “an understandable response” but said he did not regret what he drew. In thinking about Rumsfeld’s remarks, he said, “what came soon to mind was the catastrophic level of injuries the Army and members of the armed services have sustained . . . I thought my portrayal of it was a fair depiction of the reality of the situation.

“I certainly never intended it to be in any way a personal attack on, or a derogatory comment on, the service or sacrifice of American soldiers.”

From the editors of the Washington Post:

Fred Hiatt, The Post’s editorial page editor snip…….Asked about Sunday’s cartoon, Hiatt said, “While I certainly can understand the strong feelings, I took it to be a cartoon about the state of the Army and not one intended to demean wounded soldiers.”

Ah, what the hell, the response of the WP and Toles really shouldn’t be a surprise. Think about it, what is the favorite story of the NY Times, WP, LA Times…et al? It’s the KIA numbers from the GWOT. It’s the number of IED’s and bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan. How could the WP see this as offensive considering they look on Soldiers as nothing more than a number anyway.

2 Responses to “Washington Post – Beyond Tastelessness!”