The Valor-code (McCain's puffed-up POW experience).

”You see Barack Obama at that rally surrounded by all those Kennedys? Man, I couldn’t tell if he was running for president or bartender.”—Jay Leno

An article by Ted Rall from 2/08 offers up an interesting take on McCain's time at the Hanoi Hilton (that said, Contingencies does not affirm the eco-leftism of Common Dreams across the board). As Rall shows, McCaint, like most Miles Gloriosos, exaggerates the heroics, and leaves out the details, nor are his supporters overly concerned with historical accuracy (Fred Thompson greatly embellished McCain's POW experience during a RNC-Rant). AS with the stoical astronaut-heroes of space opera (Viva Johnny Rico!), a McCain may hint at the sacrifice demanded by War--reiterations of "dulce et decorum" etc.--during his Ode to Valor, yet rarely if ever addresses the real carnage.

Unlike most of the flagwaving pundits and bimbo commentators---including the Demo ones too spineless to take on the 'Nam---Rall addresses the historical context of Commander McCain's capture and imprisonment:

"McCain is lucky the locals didn't finish him off. U.S. bombs had killed hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese civilians, many in Hanoi. Ultimately between one and two million innocents would be shredded, impaled, blown to bits and dissolved by American bombs. Now that one of their tormentors had fallen into their hands, they had a rare chance to get even. "About 40 people were standing there," On later recalled. "They were about to rush him with their fists and stones. I asked them not to kill him. He was beaten for a while before I could stop them." He was turned over to local policemen, who transferred him to the military."

During his ‘Nam rants, for instance, McCaint generally neglects to mention that while those few dozen POWs were suffering at the hands of the Viet Cong, the US military (with many LBJocrats at the helm) killed hundreds of thousands of north Vietnamese, mostly civilians (many with napalm, against Geneva accords). McCain's heroism and "scars" may be legitimate, but there's a certain honesty lacking. It should also be kept in mind that the anti-war movement of the 60s (rather different circumstances than present IWE) had broad support, and was not merely some SDS freaks, marxist drudges, or college kids on cannabis. Bertrand Russell for one supervised an important investigation into US Govt. war crimes. While some gauchistes were involved (such as Chomsky), that does not negate the force of the admonition. When Lord Russell takes up his bullhorn and and barks "chandala" at some yankee generals, the rational person does well to listen.