Military service as a political football

[Rhah]

I've just read this article, by James Webb (former secretary of the Navy under Reagan) about politically active veterans service records being questioned, or slandered, as a politcal tactic. First off, i'm not American, and i'm not claiming to know much about the subject matter, but from my limited knowledge i've seen what happened to Kerry, and also McCain. Now it seems this Murtha guy is getting the same treatment.
Also, to be fair, Bush also had his service record seriously questioned (although, IMO anyway, there was more reason to questions Bush's then Kerry's, but i digress)
Anyway, if figured there would be a fair few people on here that would know a lot more about this than i would, and it might make an interesting discussion, so do you think this is a valid political tactic or do you think its dishonourable?

here's the article

James Webb Article

[JayR]

Pretty strong words from the former secretary of the Navy. The sad thing is that he seems to be correct. The politics in the US is a pretty nasty business. I still wonder how the people making these accusations can do it without losing votes/popularity themselves. If the best argument against a political opponent is to attack his person and especially his military service to his country (the most demanding and patriotic thing to do in my opinion) then you are already in deep trouble.

[Kanaric]

Its funny, clinton was a draft doger and people complained about that all the time in the 90s. Then Cheney, who did everything he could to avoid service, nobody even mentions.

IMO you shouldn't attack people's records who served though unless they did something like commit genocide, which you would be hard pressed to find in a US politician. You should focus on what YOUR going to do for america, not what the other guy isn't or is going to do or has done. I HATE it when these idiots do that kind of thing.

[Rhah]

Thankfully we dont have that problem in the UK, mainly because most of our politicians have never served, but US politics is definitly a nastier business.
As James Webb wrote though, will soldiers currently serving in Iraq that have political aspirations be thinking that their military career will be used against them in the future? Seems a bit hypocritical for an administration (and the republican party in general) who hold military service up as this great patriotic beacon, to be turning against vets who disagree with them (not that the democrats havent tried to do it as well)
Saying that, the people who are trying to dig up dirt on Murtha, Kerry etc arent directly affiliated with the GOP, which is conveniant.
Politics is a dirty business, but some things should be out of bounds