Romantic Afghanistan

President Bush told troops in Afghanistan via teleconference that he was ‘envious’ of their mission, which he considered ‘romantic’:
“If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed." (March 13, 2008)
Listeners recalled that George W. Bush wasn’t so interested in helping young democracies back in spring 1972 when he had the chance in Vietnam. Instead, he chose ‘do not volunteer’ for overseas service; walked away from the 147th Fighter Interceptor Group, the ‘Champagne Unit’ of the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG); and was grounded in August 1972 for ‘failure to accomplish annual medical examination.’
“It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.” William Tecumseh Sherman (June 19, 1879 address to the Michigan Military Academy)