Among Stars and Stripes' daily comics lineup is one called Red & Rover, featuring kids. On July 4, the strip had three panels. The kids on this day wore helmets. In the first panel, one character asks: "When exactly are National Guard troops used?" The reply from the second kid in the second panel: "During times of natural disasters and national emergencies, as well as when little old ladies need help crossing a street." In the third panel, the first kid says: "I thought that's Boy Scout territory?" To which the second kid, representing the Guard, says: "We outrank them."

Two soldiers serving with the National Guard in Afghanistan found nothing funny in that cartoon. Writing to the ombudsman, one said: "I would like to say thank you for recognizing what really a national guardsman's life is like. I'm sure the families that have lost love ones here, would love to read your jokes like [this cartoon]. Thanks a lot Stars and Stripes."

The second soldier said he was outraged because the strip implied that "National Guard troops are only used in natural disasters and to help old ladies cross the street." He went on: "This is clearly an insult to the National Guard troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and the U.S./Mexico border. Tens of thousands of Army National Guard troops have put their careers on hold to fight insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan....Army National Guard troops serve in hostile combat zones and are as capable as their regular Army counterparts." The strip was "irresponsible and offensive," this soldier wrote, and should no longer be in the paper.

Being unable to get inside the mind of the cartoonist, Brian Basset, or to imagine what it feels like to be a guardsman in a combat zone who considers himself insulted, I decided to simply ask the provider of the comics strip for comment. That would be the syndicator, The Washington Post Writers Group. Amy Lago, the group's editor for Comics, Graphics and Promotions, said Basset took the complaints "very seriously and is very sorry for any offense taken which, obviously, was unintended."

Ms. Lago then issued her own response, the key parts of which follow:

"Only upon reading their complaints did I realize why readers who are unfamiliar with Red and Rover would take offense at [the] strips....We didn't see that it would look as though Brian Basset were being critical of the National Guard, because we are aware of Brian's great respect for the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country....

"In fact, the opposite is true, and these cartoons were the result of hearing complaints from National Guard personnel who felt their branch was being neglected in the media. Brian's intention was to highlight the Guard's dual role -- both federal and state responsibilities -- in protecting Americans....

"How sad it is that something born from the best of intentions should have had the opposite effect. Both Brian and we at the Writers Group are heartily sorry for any offense taken at these strips, and we promise to edit with a more critical eye in the future."

Red & Rover ©2007 Dist. by Washington Post Writers Group