Sheehan's "Human Face"

Some say that Cindy Sheehan has placed a "human face" on the suffering of our troops, or of civilian casualties caused in the Iraq war.

To me, this is a bit like saying that "Hanoi Jane" Fonda put a human face on American war dead when she cavorted with enemy troops during the Vietnam war. It's not true, or at best, it's an incidental benefit that is entirely overwhelmed by other effects.

Jane Fonda's gladhanding among the Viet Cong may have brought attention to the war, but it did far more harm than good. What Sheehan has done is similar in principle -- present the enemy with a propaganda victory on a plate. I can no longer stand by idly while she does this in her patently irrational and destructive way.

Now comes to us news that, Susan Estrich, President Clinton's former campaign manager, has hinted that Sheehan may truly have made anti-Semitic comments, as feared. Sheehan's criticism of Israel and U.S. support for it has apparently been cited with approval by Pat Buchanan and David Duke. Need I really say more?