Can one REALLY support the troops without supporting war?

Question

I'm an Iraq vet and I honestly don't understand the modern antiwar movement. Is this just the politically correct thing to say because of the antiwar movement's guilt over the ill treatment of Vietnam vets 35 years ago? Not long ago I drove past an anti war protest consisting mainly of baby boomers. I saw several signs proudly declaring that the protester supported the troops but not the war. I had and still have difficulty believing the sincerity of such a bold statement......but then again I could be mistaken. Please explain.

Answer 1

Monday, January 30, 2006, 2:44:38 PM | Don Felch

Joel Stein (Warriors and wusses, Jan 24) believes supporting American troops engaged in an unjust endeavor is disingenuous and perhaps politically dangerous to those who oppose the mission. I couldn’t agree more. To hate the war and love the warrior in 2006 is to suggest I have not sworn, with my eyes open and my intellect intact, to defend the constitution of the United States and to obey the orders of the officers appointed over me.

Such counterfeit solicitude is patronizing. Since 1974, compulsory service in the United States military has been history. Each of us who serve does so by conscious decision. Lauding courage and sacrifice in the field, while simultaneously condemning the goal and the outcome, is tantamount to cheering for football players on the opposing team. This, however, is where Mr. Stein and I part company.

The writer also made comments with which I do not agree. He insinuates “fending off invasions from Mexico and Canada” is the only circumstance separating me from becoming a “fighting tool of American Imperialism.” Come on now Joel, your Stanford degree must have involved some instruction in the false dilemma fallacy.

By hinting that American vital interests are confined to the physical borders surrounding our nation, you ignore many grave, global threats to our safety and sovereignty. I choose continued service in my country’s Air Force, not because I believe Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper is plotting an invasion through Detroit. I have stood for twenty-two years to respond forcefully when freely elected leaders determine our livelihoods are threatened. Sometimes that threat involves instability in faraway places, pockets of terror, and yes, sometimes it involves the flow of oil in a turbulent global economy.

So Mr. Stein, I sincerely thank you for not waiving your flag when we do not perceive the same threats against America. I want to shake your hand and congratulate you for having the courage to tell me you disagree with my cause and will therefore not attend my parade. I would rather be surrounded by those who appreciate me for the decision I’ve made to defend our nation’s vital interests against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic.

Answer 2

It's not support or lack of support for either the war or the troops, that kind of talk is political rhetoric, all Americans support our vets, at least with words. It's each individual protester's personal rejection of the horror of seeing a 19 year old quadruple amputee or a grieving group of pre school children being consoled by a young widow. Any reasonable person will instinctually feel the need to stop such tragedy. It's deeper that just moral outrage.

They feel not putting our troops in harms way "is" supporting the troops. They don't understand that their is no safe place yet, and that the battlefield could very well come to them, if we don't go to the battle field.

Any reasonable person wants to end something that makes them feel that way. They can't end the war or the insecurity it brings to them so they protest their own inability to effect the situation by protesting the war or those running it.

Psychological pain is as real as physical. Nobody wants to see soldiers coming home in body bags. The emotions generated from such events effect protesters on a personal level and force them to do what they do even if that action seems ineffective or illogical.

Their motives aren't totally because of moral outrage at a social injustice, there is a psychological and personnel reason for the behavior as well. They don't like the feelings the media images generate in them, so they try and make themselves feel better by protesting what is out of their conrol.

Answer 3

Supporting the troops whether they are in Iraq, some other country, or at home defending our country is, and always has been, the right thing to do. Protesting the War in Iraq is also the right thing to do because our government had no plan to settle things or get our country out of there (whether the new plan will work, only time will tell at this point). It's sad to me that the protestors were mainly baby boomers... but I guess the young college kids don't have to be worried about being drafted, so why worry about our country being at war, right? And, yes, people carry the "support our troops" because of the terrible way Vietnam troops were treated (by both the citizens of this country AND the government).

We are all proud of your service. But do keep your eyes open. It is a good thing to have citizens who question what our government officials are doing. It keeps everyone on their toes. That's what American freedom is all about.

Answer 4

I assure you it IS possible. My husband is deployed right now for the second time to Iraq and I support him in every way. Does that mean I support the war? Hell no. Why would I? For the process of my every day life, what does Iraq matter to me? How does the bickering of politicians, smeared by each other and the media, benefit me? I know their decisions effect where my husband goes to do his job, but I don't give a rat's about oil, politics, presidents, or foreign leaders. I just want my husband to come home safe. My support is what helps him focus on his job so he has a better chance of doing that. His family feels the same way.
You said you're an Iraq vet. If that's true, and if you have any family whatsoever, wife, parents, siblings, children, you should understand that. Our troops are doing the jobs they volunteered to do, but volunteering to be a soldier doesn't automatically mean they like having to do the things they do in combat. Volunteering to be a soldier also does not comfort the family at home, the mothers, the wives, the children who miss their father, any more than it comforts the soldier who misses being able to watch his children growing up.
I think a Vietnam vet actually has more right to feel this sentiment of supporting the troops but not the war as so many of them were there by chance, not choice, but they went, they did their jobs, and they came home to a torn country that pleasured themselves in making life miserable for the troops who served just because they disagreed with the war.

Answer 5

You did not mention if you are still in the military, but you should know by now that the war in Iraq was based on misinformation and deceptions made by those in power to "justify" the war in Iraq. Afghanistan was needed to rid it of the Talibans, but Iraq did not have anything to do with the 911. Instead of concentrating on hunting down Bin Laden, who was the responsible person in the 911, George W. Bush went after Saddam Hussein. Made war on Iraq knowing with the mighty U.S. Armed Forces could beat the hell out of Saddam's armies, but the commander-in-chief, who was by the way, a vietnam war dodger, never had a definite plan on how to get out of Iraq once Saddam was gone. The bullshit of forcing democracy on the Iraqi people is never going to happen. Iraq is thousands of years older than the United States and with the strict Islamic religion, is set on its path. Therefore I can, with head held high, support the troops but not the war. By the way, I also felt that way about Vietnam and can see very well the same outcome to be. Just for your information, I am once one of the troops, serving from June 1956 to July 1976.

Answer 6

Yes.

I support the troops with all my heart. I actually cry every time I see or hear about the deaths, I have a terrible hard time reading or listening to the news about the war.
I believe you can't make peace out of war, and killing. All that will become of that is more killing and war.

Something different, and more effective I think could have been done.

That would have been to close off trading with any and all country's that have ties with terrorists in any way shape or form. Until they helped the cause of fighting terrorism themselves by turning in any and all people who were and are involved and all info they have about them.

Yes, we do need to protect ourselves and so on and so on, but I think that every other option of peaceable or non violent means should be explored first.

And I don't feel that was done in this war.

Just my humble opinion.

Answer 7

YES. Overwhelmingly yes. Many Military personnel themselves do not support the war. They support each other every day though. Is that insincere? No.

So why would a civilian not supporting the war not be able to support the troops?

I'm just a dumb grunt. But I know that good people are capable of having an opinion and being caring at the same time.

If other people can't see that...I blame it on subjective close mindedness.

Answer 8

I support every service person who has served in any war that this country has sent them into. Any man/woman who is willing to put their lives on the line for this country deserves my support.
When any person enters the military, they take an oath to protect this country, there have been wars in which that was not what they were sent to do. Iraq was one of those wars. So was Vietnam. I honor & support the troops who are doing their duty by following orders. The troops don't have a choice, the people who send them do. By voicing our disagreement with the ones who have sent troops into harms way in no way detracts from our support of the troops who serve. I have no guilt over Vietnam, I never showed any disrespect to any service person in that Police Action. In fact, I had two sons who served in that war. They had no choice. How could I not support my own sons?
I respect you for going to Iraq, I do not respect the man who sent you there for no reason.

Answer 9

First off, thank you for your sacrifice and service.

I am a Viet Nam Vet - 1968-69 - and, in my honest opinion, anyone who claims to support the troops while protesting the war is delusional.

Simply put, the United States is at war - as an American, you are free to protest - write to your representatives and let them hammer it out in congress, we are, after all, a representative government.
You are not supporting the troops when you protest in the streets and proclaim the war is unjust. You are, in fact, supporting the enemy.
We did not start this war - in fact, we pretty much ignored the Islamic terrorists and their acts of war for over 25 years, and this policy culminated in the events of 9/11.
Your alleged support for the troops is nonsense when you undermine their mission and provide morale boosting propaganda to the enemy.
If you really want to support the troops, you would rally behind them and demoralize the enemy.

Answer 10

Is this just the politically correct thing to say because of the antiwar movement's guilt over the ill treatment of Vietnam vets 35 years ago?.....That says it all. But to answer your question? Yes..you can support them and not thier mission. They are going there and dieing because the goverment that "you" elected ordered them to. They might not agree but thats thier job so they say yes sir no sir three bags full sir and do thier duty. It is that simple.