Scott Thomas Beauchamp: John Kerry-Lite

Profiting from war is nothing new. I seem to remember a candidate for president awhile back who enlisted in the Vietnam war to further his career. Whether he was fabricating atrocities or re-enacting non-existent battle scenes, it was painfully obvious to the most casual observer that John Kerry was not there for his men nor his country.

The same should be said of Scott Thomas Beauchamp. Yes, he may be a plant for the MO.O people and yes, he is endangering his unit with his ulterior motives but even that is not the lowest of the low. The reason he and others like him are so despicable comes from the simple fact that they joined the profession of arms for purposes other than military.

Killing is bad enough when it is righteous; when you have a mission and your countrymen have christened you with the ethical and moral obligation to rid the world of a tyrant and defend their freedoms.  But when  this commission to kill is exploited for your own personal gain, you are no longer a soldier, you are a murderer.

I don't know if this young man has been in combat yet. I don't know if he has been responsible for the death of another. But if he can ever learn to silence his guilt-ridden conscience like John Kerry has, I'm sure Scott Thomas Beauchamp will make a fine president some day.

UPDATE: Ed Driscoll links STB to Oliver Stone's Vietnam exploits here. Also posted at weekend Sister Toldjah. Patterico think's he just a big jerk.

UPDATE: Captain Ed calls it petty mischief.

UPDATE 8/8: Ann Coulter picks up on this via a post I left in her chat forums. Ed Driscoll, two years ago.