If you are anti-war, do you support the troops?

Question

I hear alot of people these days saying they are against the war but fully support the troops and therefore want to bring them home. For parents and others who personally have loved ones stationed in Iraq, I can see how this sentiment can be true. However, for others such as Ted Kennedy (and even everyday people) I don't see how this can be true. Since a recent poll says 95% of our military supports George Bush and also support completing the mission in Iraq, wouldn't we be going against the wishes of the soldiers by bringing them home before the mission is done? Is that support? I think liberals have learned some since they spit in the faces of our soldiers from Vietnam, and now they say they support our troops, but if they want to force the soldiers to do the opposite of what they feel they were called to do, is that really support or just lip service?
Your Opinions? Both Sides.

I apologize. I don't know where I heard 95% and I should have checked first. Most polls have it currently at 60% to 70%. ( In the many soldiers I have spoken to I have never heard anything but support for the mission). I am not here to be right and I admit when I make a mistake. That being said,since 60% 70% is still the majority of enlisted soldiers though, the point still merits a response.

Answer 1

I completely agree with you... I mean, for example, let's look at some of the responses you've got for this question... It's unreal.

dstr: "Every single member of my Sons' platoon hates this president and hates "his" B.S. war!" I can tell you right now that's a load of crap. I'm a service member and I can guarantee you that there's no way every single soldier in the platoon feels that way.

region50A: "If you stop a child from sticking his hand in a fire do you love that child why did you stop him from doing something he wanted to do." So, now, you're telling me that we are just children who need you to guide us in the right direction? Give me a break, I have the right to decide what I feel is the right thing to do, not you. That's a flat out insult to all service members.

kris_ryns: "Those in the armed forces are taught to follow their leader with no questions asked. Making them emotionless, thoughtless warriors." You're joking, right? You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. This is an even bigger insult than the guy I quoted above. Emotionless and thoughtless? Tell us that to our face and you'll see emotion; it's called anger.

One final note... If you call the war a criminal act then you are calling the people fighting the war criminals, not just the president. It's just like if you call a robbery a criminal act, you are calling the robbers criminal and not just the mastermind behind the robbery.

Answer 2

First off I would like to know where you are getting that 95% statistic, it seems highly suspect to me.

Second, I think this country has made incredible strides in separating out the service men and women from the administrations policies and the war. In the vietnam era the people that protested the war also protested the military. Now when people protest the war in the same breath they praise the troops, as a troop I am very thankfull for that basic change in attitude.

The truth is the average troop, regardless of their political leanings, support the mission 100% but that doesn't mean they wouldn't come home the first second they can.

Answer 3

I think you're combining two separate issues. In my opinion, the polls for the support of the "war" by troops and citizens are two different things.

Americans should be proud that their troops support whatever mission they've been sent on. Essentially, that's their job. They (the troops) shouldn't be out there questioning what they're doing because they depend on the people (ie. the government and ultimately the citizens that voted to have it represent them) to make the right decision to send or not send troops to war.

Citizens (in this case non-military personnel) can support:
a) the troops for being who they are, and what they represent
and/or
b) the decision that sent them to war in the first place.

I think citizens CAN support their troops and at the same time NOT support the government's decision that sent them to war. They're two distinct and separate things.

Basically, someone can think the military shouldn't have been sent to war and still think the troops don't suck.

I have a lot of respect for the troops and how dependable and loyal they are to the country (read: support the troops 100%), but may not think they should have been sent on this particular mission, "war in Iraq" (read: supports the GOVERNMENT's decision 50%).

Answer 4

If you are anti-war, do you support the troops?

Yes. It was not the troops' decision to fight an unnecessary war in Iraq, it was the presidents' decision.

However, killing is killing, whether you're in a gang or the military, it's all essentially the same ... murder. It is taking the life of another person and, more often than not, taking some innocent lives in between.

There is also a hidden, underlying christian agenda with these middle eastern wars, which I will never take part in.

It is kinda of funny though how a lot of the pro-war people who vote for the wars rarely have the courage to actually fight in the wars. It's mostly poorer people who sign up for the military for financial benefits, like college money, etc. and some do it because it's a family tradition, etc.

Conservative cowards: For once, get on the front lines of the wars you vote for!!

Answer 5

Did that poll also say that nearly 70% of troops believe they are in Iraq avenging the attacks of 9/11? I totally support our troops. My father is a Marine and I have much respect for our armed forces. They are doing their job, what they were told to do. I do not support the President's war / occupation in Iraq, though I support and bless our troops. They are risking their lives, for you and I, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for that. Judging from your above details, though, I doubt that you will be able to grasp this concept. I never spit on any soldier, nor would I ever.

Answer 6

What poll? I'd like to see what your source is otherwise I'm assuming you're making it up.

I am anti-war and I fully support the troops. I have no doubt that many of the soldiers do feel they are over there doing the right thing. The extent of what people want as far as "bringing the troops" home varies. Some want an immediate pull out, while others want a scheduled withdrawl as we hand over control to the Iraqi government and want to see that schedule laid down now rather than simply waiting for "we'll leave when it's done". I fall into the "I want a schedule on how you expect to progress so I can judge your actions as either being well executed or you having failed at your job" camp which I believe is in the majority.

Answer 7

The feelings of the armed forces aren't a factor.
'Our is not to reason why..."
'Soldier, ask not'
The armed forces go where they are directed to go by the government, and the government is directed by the will of the people.
This is the way it's supposed to work. If America truly does not support the war in Iraq, then they will (in theory) elect politicians who will enforce their will and bring the troops home.
Personally, I'm not thrilled with the war in Iraq, but I don't think walking out is the right option here. I also think 'Stay the course' may be a bad idea because 'the course' doesn't seem to be doing much. We need to re-think our mission and either decide to take the gloves off and win or pack up and withdraw. I'd like to chalk one up in the win column if possible, but either way let's do it or leave.

Answer 8

I remember when the news had LOTS of soldiers commenting on air how much they loathed the administration and the war...The admin. squelched that Ina hurry and lots of soldiers were rep remanded. The truth about polls like the one you mention is the only soldiers that take the poll support the president. Patriotism does not mean that your face has to go half way up George
bushes *** when he makes a sudden stop. It in fact is our constitutional duty to question authority and get real answers..we now know that the reasons we went to war were all lies....I know someone will mention the 50 or 500 whatever it was ricin or mustard gas that was found..but if you go to a reputable site like the defense dept or library of congress you can find that we knew that was there the whole time..the bush admin simply brought it out conveniently to make it look like they had been right by god!...Remember the picture of Rummy shaking Saddam's hand? Did you know that according to library of congress that was the same year we gave those same weapons to him to use against Iran?..how moral of us.!!!! Its okay to gas the Iranians though ..right?..There are no Iranian mothers and children they are born old and male and mean..

Answer 9

Interesting question, I think people who don't support the war can still honor our servicemembers. I don't know where you get your stats, but I can tell you from my experience it is pretty close to being accurate. My husband is a soldier in the Army. I have had the opportunity to speak with his co-workers. They really do believe in what they are doing. They want to finish the job. They have firsthand knowledge of positive things that we never hear about in the media. For those who want to support the troops, the best thing you can do is walk up to one, shake his or her hand and say thank you for your service. It really does impact soldiers when citizens do that.

Answer 10

Let's put it this way. I am anti-stupid-lack-of-strategy.

I fully support the people on the ground, who are doing their jobs as best they can. They swore an oath to follow orders, and they deserve respect for following those orders.

That says nothing about whether the orders they are being given are intelligent or effective. I think that if we are going to respect the military, then we should be making rational decisions about tactics and strategies. Making coherent plans based upon the current factual situation, and with clearly defined objectives.

That's not what we're doing. We've boiled the debate down to second grade level. It's "stay the course" or "cut and run" with no logic or planning or strategy involved. And that's not respect.

We're blindly crossing our fingers and hoping things will work out in the end. And that's probably the stupidest military strategy ever.