how do feel about the troops?

Question

i want to clarify. THIS IS NOT A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR STANCE ON OUR (AMERICAN) TROOPS IN IRAQ. IM ASKING DO YOU SUPPORT THE TROOPS IN GENERAL. i have heard some of my classmates say that they hate them because they support the war. ive heard some say that they are in iraq because they support the war and they obviously want to be fighting. i dont support the war in iraq at all. i think its totally unjust and a reflection of how retarded bush is and what a terrible leader he's proven to be. i do not support the war. but i do support the troops because the reality of it is regardless of whether or not they support bush (you'd be surprised- or not- by how many are sent there and dont support the war) we owe them the utmost respect because they are dying everyday in reprsentation of the american people. i am disgusted by the situation but even more so by the ignorant hatred of our troops. they are being slaughtered by their own leader's hands because they simply do what they must.

Answer 1

I support them and I think it is time for all of them to come home!

Answer 2

I do NOT support the idea of this war nor do I think we are doing a thing by being there that will not be entirely GONE in less than 2 years...BUT I absolutely support our troops. America's fighting men and women are the reason you and your friends have the RIGHT to sit in some comfortable spot with running water and flushing toilets, heat and food while you yack about what our troops are doing...without them you would NOT have that privilege look at the rest of the world and TRY to comprehend what a privilege it is...Just because some group or person with power e has an agenda and LIES to get it going does NOT mean the Men and Women dying over there are responsible in any way for anything but protecting OUR rights and freedom that allows us all to sit HERE and B*tch...

Answer 3

You're in a difficult position. If you understand 4th generation war, which most Americans don't, then you also understand that it's impossible fully to support the troops and at the same time publish anti-war sentiments. Troops and civilians are going to die, and it's a matter of whether that should be now in Iraq or later either there or someplace else. A certain bloody-mindedness is unavoidable. I'd be especially careful about words like "slaughter," when the casualty rate is not that high considering the overall strategic goals and historic comparisons. It does a great disservice to the troops to publish your political ideas in this circumstance, so please be circumspect in what can be read by those who would like to see us fail, as it encourages more bombings, shootings and kidnappings.

Answer 4

Good answers by most of you. Except for Cantcu. You said you think that “most” troops are brainwashed. Is that 50% or more? Man, you sound just like Sen. Kerry. Stupid soldiers. You say you are for the troops, but then you slam them by stating you think “most” of them are brainwashed. Then you throw in your Vietnam experience and graduate education. Big deal. I have served over two decades in the Army and now in Iraq. I am surrounded by America's best. Brave and honorable men and women with intelligence and common sense. Most became soldiers out of patriotism or for economic reasons. Like the other responders said, once you join you can't choose your war. Those who joined as a result of 911 didn't know what was going to happen in Iraq. No one did. In fact, the majority of Congress voted for the war. It wasn’t until later there were allegations that the intelligence was deceptive or flawed. However, repeated Congressional investigations never proved that anyone lied or was intentionally deceptive. Now, you mean to tell me that all those bright Congressmen and Senators who voted for the war in Iraq failed to find out the truth first. I promise you, “most” of our troops over here are not brainwashed by any means.

The_pot_a: Thank you for defending your guardians, and your opinion. Believe it or not, many troops in Iraq support this war to some extent because they are experiencing it first hand. Many over here do not appreciate the way Bush and Rumsfield have handled things, but politics are understood. It happens in every war and every peacekeeping mission by every President and SecDef.That is typical Bush bashing. I am very thankful by the support shown by most all Americans back home. Some people make insensitive statements out of ignorance. That is to be expected. Sometimes young people do not even understand all the sacrifices that their parents made until much later in life. With time and experience comes wisdom. The other day I was talking to a British Officer. He commented how amazed he was by the discipline and politeness of the American Soldiers. That may my heart swell with pride. I look at our younger Soldiers (meaning all the troops) everyday with admiration and amazement. They are as warriors should be; professional, smart, courageous and even compassionate. God Bless all of you and our great country.

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Answer 5

i absolutely agree i do not support the war but these are very brave soldiers the only thing wrong here is when people say the troops are dying to protect the u.s from fighting the war at home ..i disagree with that they are dying by the dozens because the y wer misled by this president.abviously every america(which i am not) felt a strong sense of patriotism during the aftermath of 9/11 so many of them joined not out of fear but a slight anger yes and just plain patriotism ,g.w sw that and capitalized on it he cooked up a story on wmds andsaddam and bin laden being linked .that was a lie but he sold it to the country and the troops and they all joined and went there in hopes of doing whats right and coming home when the job is done ,instaed 4 yrs and 500 billion dollars later well out of 40000 troops 3000 have died senselessly and the rest are being told to stand in the middle and play referee to 2 waring factions that have definetly started a civil war .that to me is unfair .its a senseless war and a terrible policy he has .
but to remain on point here i support the troops but as you said i dont suppotr the war or the policy of this man.

Answer 6

I'm from Guatemala, during 1954 to 1996 was an internal war (I don't know if that's correctly spelled), and during those years the Government received help from USA's troops, there were massacres, villages completely erased from the maps, with the people, there were holes where they put the bodies from those people. There were 440 villages erased like that, 200,000 dead, 500,000 disappeared, the politics were to exterminate the indigenous people. Being a student, being young became a crime, to see groups larger than 3 people was a crime... there is a dark and bitter history here, and the troops were responsible for it, as were the USA's troops.

Answer 7

There actually is quite a bit of support for the troops in this war as contrasted to returning Vietnam vets, who had to endure a whole lot of scorn by some groups upon returning.

You are right though, they deserve our full support. They are serving our country, and in almost all cases, serving it well.

Tell your classmates to put the blame where it belongs, and that would be Bush, and a wishy-washy congress that authorised the use of force - sort of.

The troops deserve our admiration and support.

-Dio

Answer 8

Yes I support the troops! I don't like the war or anything that has to do with it, but the troops need all the support they can get. My husband is in the National Guard and I'm really hoping he doesn't have to go there. But I would support him if he did, of course.

Answer 9

The troops are doing exactly what they swore to do when they joined the military. They are going where they are told to go and fighting who they are told to fight. Many and probably most hate it but they made a deal and are honor bound to stick to their agreement.

I fully support the troops and the work they do. It is hard and dangerous work.

The ones that swore an oath then refused to honor that oath are despicable though. They have no honor.

Answer 10

I agree with your assessment, however blaming the military, who have had 3,240 (3 Today) brought home in body bags, is anger vented at the wrong people!

True that many of the military are pro Bush, however I believe that most are brainwashed and they, by necessity, will back their president, Republican or Democrat! While in the service, and before I was as Conservative as anyone. My experience in Vietnam, working with corrupt businesses and working with the poor and with abused children, and taking graduate courses in business and economics, opened my eyes as who is for their pocketbook and who is for helping our country by helping others!

This military are all volunteers, unlike many of the 58.229 who were killed in Vietnam!

The irony is those who profess that they support the troops really dont as saying it and proving it are 2 differnt things. They don't go to bat for the troops making sure they have the best equipment, many who's parents had to buy body armour at $600,00 a pop and are still using unarmored Humvee's! They don't show up on Memorial day to pay homage to those who paid the higest price with their lives. A yellow ribbon bought at Walmart for $4.95 is not supporting the troops!

George Bush tried to cut combat pay for those in Iraq! Bush cut Veterans Hospitals by $100,000,000,000.00 beginning in 2006, that is after a war which had been going longer than WW II and have over 47,000 wounded while giving tax cuts to the rich, not once, but twice! He also cut widows benefits in 1/2 who's spouse has been killed in Iraq. The conservative answer for them is to "Get a job"!

I support the troops! I call my Senators and Congresspersons for them to provide protective equipment, to restore benefits and to get them out of a quagmire Bush built!

Bush doesnt even like the troops. He's more concerned at trying to rehabilitate his presidency which is the worst this country has ever had!