A Few Good Men, But Not Two Women?

Over at the Corner, Jonah writes the following as part of a discussion on the Bush twins and military service:

...did it not dawn on him that perhaps having a couple dozen Secret Service agents swarming around these two girls might be more trouble than it's worth? I'm no expert, but I'd guess the Twins would make a great prize for the cut-off-their-heads crowd and maybe that alone is good enough reason not to have the daughters of the Commander-in-Chief in a combat zone.

Not only is this incredibly lazy thinking, it's a specious cop-out. I explain why in this post from a few months ago. Combat positions---and for that matter, overseas positions---are only part of what is a massive military machine. Our shortage of personnel extends from combat roles in Iraq all the way to the homeland. Military (and particularly reserve) positions on American soil are going unfilled because of recruiting problems---jobs in logistics, maintenance, communications, and computer technology among others. For the keyboard and microphone warriors, the military has jobs in media and public relations. Don't want to serve in a military role but still want to support the war effort and the troops? There are millions of documents and voice intercepts piling up at our intelligence agencies awaiting translation; start with this link. The VA is swamped and in desperate need of people; the link is here. And because of the way the war is going, unfortunately they could probably use some help over at Arlington. Not only is it unnecessary for someone who wishes to serve to do so in combat, he or she need not even leave the United States.

When I was growing up, I went to school with the son of a leader of a non-democratic nation. During vacations---while everyone else went home to sleep and party---he went home for military training, and after graduation he went on to spend several years in a military academy. I asked him about this once, and he explained that with privilege came the responsibility to set an example for his country.

Unlike him, we live in a democracy. Does that somehow obviate the part about responsibility? Why does "from those to whom much is given, much is required" not apply here, even during wartime?