The Tennessee Liberal

There's been a lot of attention paid to the Pentagon's 9/11 commemoration that is, in fact a pro-war rally that has nothing to do with 9/11 at all. The event is ostensibly held to "support our troops," though there is really no cogent explanation what that has to do with remembering the 9/11 attacks.

Today, The Washington Post backed out of it's sponsorship of the event, coming too late to the conclusion that this is not a 9/11 memorial, or even something designed to neutrally support our troops, but is instead a full-on political event in face the of declining poll numbers. The Post's union makes the best point:

"The Guild supports The Post's stated intention of honoring the nation's veterans, including those who have served in Iraq. But the Post undermines this goal by lending its support to a political event that links the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to the war in Iraq -- a link that The Post, in its reporting, has shown to be false."

Good point. And if you needed any evidence that this is not an event where those who support our troops but oppose this war will be welcome, check out the latest lyrics from the event's big star, Clint Black:

YOU CAN WAVE YOUR SIGNS IN PROTEST
AGAINST AMERICA TAKING STANDS
THE STANDS AMERICA'S TAKEN
ARE THE REASON THAT YOU CAN

What a damned twit.

So, anyway - good for the Post for backing down from this ridiculous endeavor, and maybe the Pentagon will wise up to the fact that come this 9/11 when we look back on the last four years since the attacks, we aren't going to be looking for rah-rah politics. We'll have a chance to evaluate whether we have done right by those who lost their lives, and whether our country is safer now that it was then. I'd imagine the Pentagon probably wants us to think about that as little as possible.