Is it really protecting "our" freedom?

Question

Ok, before I start, I'm not bashing any military people or veterans, most are very brave, hard working people. They do something I don't think I ever could. And I'm not making this a forum of debating the current war. I just have a question.
People say every war is us protecting our freedom. But this doesn't make sense to me. Most of the wars/skirmishes we've been in have been about protecting other people's freedom. We might be making the world a better place and helping people, but unless we are fighting a war on our own land or against terrorists, is it protecting "OUR" freedom? I just want some thoughts. Be nice and thanks.

Thanks all, some really cool answers so far. Please remember I'm not asking for your opinion on the current war. I have my own and while your's are valid, I don't want this to turn in to an arguement.

Answer 1

I think that your question is very reasonable. I am a veteran and even the troops ask questions like yours. There are ways to fight terror without ever deploying troops. Methods such as restricting entry for people of certain countries or embargo's on all products from those that are known to allow terrorism to exist. Many people look at Iraq and Afghanistan as not protecting our freedom but stirring a pot of hatred against us. Believe me that it is the desire of thousands of people that we all die, because we are "American". They do not care if your Liberal or Conservative, they just want to see us all die.
You are right to say that it is not protecting our freedom, it is protecting our interests. As citizens it hurts, not helps our freedom to be engaged in this current "war". I think that your point is well said, I am with you.

Answer 2

As a Mother of a young Man over in Iraq at this very minute, I really want to believe that "OUR" Freedom is the issue.

My Son, is a Staff Sgt. in the Marine Corp. To listen to him speak of his ventures....and Trials within the last ten or eleven years in the Military has made me realize that no matter what the reasons of the "Powers That Be" have placed him where he is, My Son Believes that He along with all of his Brothers and Sisters in the Corp. are making a difference for all of us back here in the United States whether he be there or here.

Though he is across the Miles on others Land, He is helping to Protect His own Son's Rights, hopefully one day, that he may not have to serve this self - sacrifice.

I, myself coming from a generation where our slogan was "Make Peace, Not War" was and is truly a contradiction.

I choose Peace....within any War!

For United We Stand...Divided We Fall......
Love Always and Forever
xxxooo Mom

Answer 3

the tendency among Americans to say that the problems of the rest of the world are non of their business are quite old, that is probably the reason for the very late involvement of the US in WWII.
Pearl harbor proves the Americans can't ignore the rest of the world, so is 9/11.
The world is slightly better and free, as a result of American involvement in the cold war against communism. a lot of people in eastern Europe know it was America that changed their lives for the better.
what I mean, the US has a responsibility to support the rest of the world in the struggle for democracy, even if Americans don't like it, and more than once the US is acting in a way that seems stupid and maybe is so.

Answer 4

Yes I understand your question, but you have on assumption that is not quite true. You say that the United States is always out in the World trying to help other Countries. Will this is not true. Do you know that the United States overthrow the elected government of Iran in the 1950's, I believe. We did it with our CIA and covert helpers within the Government of Iran.
A few years later, Carter was President and the Islamic extremeist overthrow the Government that we put in power. They held our Diplomats for 444 days, and released them the day Ronald Rergan became President of the United States.
This is one example, there are several others.
Now you hear all this America the wonderful and the honest, will we are not always honest or wonderful. Who do you think supplied the bombs filed with gas that poisened the Iranian's civilians during the conflict between Iran and Iraq?

Answer 5

The theory is this if Iran and Iraq and these third world countries combined they could then launch a attack to take over the united states.

The goal for most is to be the top well the USA is the top country in the world once your the top then you feel you need to police and influence everything which we do.

In practice the US government views the world as ours and that why we are " protecting " our freedom by being over there . The practical reason is all the oil and money we make off them as well.

Answer 6

The people opposed to the war don't believe its for the protection of our freedom. Those who support the war mostly do; and as one who supports the war I do.

You see if we stopped fighting the people who did 9/11 and others like them would gain a significant stronghold in Iraq. They would recruit there, train there, and some day hit us again. These people are on a holly war and have no intention on stopping, negotiating or facilitating a peace. The more negative attention the war gets the closer they are to victory. The more American politicians say quit - the closer they are to victory. If we lose - I think we face them again - probably in NYC.

Answer 7

Whether we were at war or not we would be protecting freedom. Its the way we live in the US and the reason we have a military. We have established ourselves as a country that has complete freedom and we have a military to make sure no one disturbs that. So war or no war, day in day out, the military is here to protect freedom.

Answer 8

Iraq didn't have the mean or a way to deliver or threatened or even thought about attacking the USA. Saddam was crazy but not that crazy.
The same logic was applied in Vietnam that if we dint stop them in Vietnam all Asia will be communist and the USA will be attacked it didn't happen. The same with Cuba, regardless of what you think of communism , Castro was better than the previous dictator.
Now the USA is very very stuck as it was in Vietnam and has made things worse for its self.
A President who is ignorant of history will make the same blunders as his predecessor.
The USA ignored the french experience in indo china and Bush ignored the British and Ottomans.
Bush confused Bin Laden with his enemy Saddam. Saddam was an enemy of radical islamists and had nothing to do with 9/11. Bush is so muddled he cant tell them apart.
Now the American tax payer pays with its wallet and its sons , brothers and fathers

Answer 9

I think the reason people say that it's protecting our freedom, is because when you don't get involved and get someone like Saddam (Or throughout history...Someone like Hitler) out of power, it will eventually affect our way of life. When you allow these horrible, horrible dictators to torture and kill innocent people, especially when it's their own people, they will think this is acceptable and it will only be a matter of time before what they do effects the world, much like Hitler's actions did! And just as Saddam had terrorist being trained in Iraq. I think we all seen what terrorist can do to our country.
By the way, very good question!

Answer 10

The only way to protect "our freedom" is to do the morally conscienable thing. It was never right to begin with. It was all about a bunch of tragically pathetic right-wing zealots deciding "might makes right" believing they could overthrow Saddam and take control of Iraqi oil. The tragedy is the price the American people have had to pay in the loss of freedom and quality of life and what we'll continue to lose over the next several years due to the arrogant and incompetent leadership we've had for almost six years now. Military spending is all about destruction and the deficit it creates precludes positive spending. Its all spin; propoganda; lies. Thank you for trying to see through their spin to try to get to the truth of the matter.