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Opinion: An unpopular proposal

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As alert readers of our Sunday Current section are aware, we run a recurring feature called ‘Modest Proposal,’ named after this old column about eating babies. Recent examples have advocated making ethnic jokes, not war, and waterboarding members of Congress.

On Sunday, Paul Whitefield, who supervises the editorial pages’ copy desk, wrote one headlined ‘Apocalypse again -- call up the Vietnam vets.’ Here’s how it starts:

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Listening President Bush’s speech on Iraq earlier this month, my first thought was: ‘Where the heck are we going to get 21,500 more soldiers to send to Iraq?’ Our Reserves are depleted, our National Guard is worn out, our Army and Marine Corps are stretched to the limit. Then it hit me: Re-up our Vietnam War veterans and send them.

The reaction has been, well, swift, starting with conservative talkshow host Hugh Hewitt. Excerpt:

I am betting he’s around 30, graduated from a small liberal arts college, and knows no one in the military today, much less any Vietnam veterans.

One outta four ain’t bad! For more vitupertastic response, read on after the jump.

The Gun Toting Liberal:

Paul Whitefield Can Take His L.A. Times And Stick It Where The Sun Don’t Shine

Sister Toldjah:

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Absolutely disgusting.

This ain’t Hell:

Where do they find these peckerwoods?

Ken Prescott:

(EXPLETIVE DELETED) the LA Times

Carol Platt Libeau:

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such a piece of garbage

Release the Hounds!:

What An Asshat!

Patrick ‘Patterico’ Frey:

[J]ust what the hell is this guy’s point?

Tanker Brothers:

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In my country this asinine fool would be knocked to the floor of any pub for showing such disrespect while a Vietnam Vet would be brought ten rounds by the rest of the bar to aoplogise for such insults.

Buffalo:

As I said, I have a sense of humor. I also know a significant number of Nam Vets in California who ride Harleys, own a weapon or two just in case, are pretty salty dudes and they, unlike me, don’t have a freakin’ sense of humor. Now that, Mr. Whitefield, is an amusing thought.

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