"You can support the troops but not the president". -Representative Tom Delay (R-TX).
2006-10-31 07:50:09 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Sure. The president pulls the strings. So, most of the time, it is ultimately his choice/decision to pull the troops. We cannot blame our troops for following orders. They are simply doing what they've been told to do. We, therefore, should support the fact that they are doing the best they can with a difficult decision. Their other choice is disobedience which can lead to court martial and possible jail time etc... We can disagree with the president's choices, but support the men and women who are doing their best to represent what our country should be standing for.
2006-10-31 07:54:57 · answer #1 · answered by nmtgirl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's a difference between appreciation and support. Appreciation is an expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude. So walking up to a soldier and saying "Thank you for serving to protect us from harm" is an example of appreciation. Supporting is to promote the interests or cause of or to hold up or serve as a foundation for. So when you say I support the troops you have to be clear on what you mean. If you are sending care packages and part of groups like Soldiers Angels you are supporting the troops. Otherwise you may be really appreciative but ultimatley not helping anyone.
With the definitions out of the way I would say it is possible to support the troops without supporting the president. Because you can help out the troops(as I mentioned above) without contributing to Bush in a supportive way(campaign contributions, expressing views for/against him).
2006-10-31 16:09:14 · answer #2 · answered by jr_g_2006 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course you can support the troops without supporting this president. There are many anti-war groups who provide kevlar vests, gift packages, and care and support to troops and their families. This is a way of supporting the individual troops needs even if you disagree with the overall war policy.
I would say that anyone who blindly supports the president for *any* reason betrays the troops, the constitution, and the American tradition. The history of man is filled with immoral leaders who use war as a tool to squash dissenting voices by declaring the country to be under attack by enemies, and denouncing their critics as unpatriotic and unsupportive of the troops. Often the welfare of the troops themselves is not as important to these leaders as making a grab for power. Statements like "you must support the president if you want to support the troops" are just a rehash of this old political strategy.
Think for yourself!
2006-10-31 16:13:26 · answer #3 · answered by Cyrus A 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am the very proud wife of a Marine and I support my husband and all the rest of the troops through all of this thats going on, I do think that its time our troops returned home but I dont get to make the decisions. All of our husbands and brothers and fathers and mothers and sisters and dads knew what they were signing up for when they enlisted and knew the cahnce they were taking to be sent to war. we should all support them and have respect for what they do. You dont have to agree with Bush or support this war but considering he was voted to be our president by the majority fo the voters he should still be respected.
Also heres some interesting info for those of you that dont know. Our president is only in control of bringing teh Marines home, they are the only branch he can send or have returned on his own. All the rest of the branches answer to congress. Thats why it amuses me to see so many blame Bush for the troops being over there still, He has no control over returning our troops (other than Marines) its all up to the entire congress
2006-10-31 17:15:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a good question,
In a sense it is impossible to support our troops without supporting the President. The President is the top of the Chain of Command for the military, he gives the orders. So if you support the troops the whether you want to or not you inadvertently support the President and Congress on their decisions. This also goes both ways, if you don't support the President, then you cannot fully support the troops.
People may not like the decisions the President has made, but as long as he is the Commander in Chief then they will be supporting him by supporting the troops.
2006-10-31 15:56:47 · answer #5 · answered by wolfman72585 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Of course you can support the troops without supporting a politician (regardless of what position he holds)
What does one have to do with the other?????
The ultimate way to support the troops is to put on a uniform and pitch in.
2006-10-31 16:43:44 · answer #6 · answered by tom l 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely yes.
I do not support Bush. He lied endlessly to our country to get us into this war and to stay in Iraq.
I support my country, and I support the troops. They did not choose to go to war, but they go anyway. They have incredible honor and respect for duty. And many are fighting a war they don't believe in because of that great honor.
I only pray that we can find a way to leave Iraq, so our proud soldiers can stop dying.
2006-10-31 15:54:28 · answer #7 · answered by jemmy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely
2006-10-31 16:00:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you can im sure the troops have 100% support they are doing what they were sent to do god bless them
the pres, thats another story
2006-10-31 16:09:09 · answer #9 · answered by daisymayNY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can support anyone you want to with the exception of our enemies.
You are in the United States.
2006-10-31 15:57:51 · answer #10 · answered by DW 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋