Im a soldier and i see we are doing alot of good in iraq since i been here. why are we getting no support?

Question

I know people say they support the troops and all, but dont the american public know that when they keep the media attention on getting us out then it only screws up progress? i see the good we are doing over here, the media lies!! i see it firsthand and i have to say: we are tough!! we can handle ourselves. there hasnt been a draft in many years. it is our choice to be in the military. let us do our job, our time, and come back home when its over. it does no good to talk about pulling out. we are winning, give us time to finish the job. thanks

Answer 1

Thank you for your service to our country! I solute you and all of the men and women in uniform in harms way. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily. Any time I hear of a soldiers life being taken, I have a heavy heart. You and all the others in military uniform are truly the cream of the crop in America and I wish you all the very best! I am very proud of you!
God bless you and keep you safe!

Answer 2

I'm no more in control of the "media" than you are. In fact most Americans have no control over what the Media reports about, case in point the horridly overdrawn coverage of Anna Nicole's death. The "Media" yes, can be very bad.
Let's not confuse the "media" with Americans. If a foriegner does that, it can't be helped. But every honest American knows the difference.
What "they" print or showcase has to be taken apart and considered on it's individual merits. It's up to the viewer and the viewer's intelligience, to decifer the greater truth.

I'm glad that you believe in the cause for which you fight, as I can't imagine anything worse than being forced to take lives in the name of something you don't believe in.

A person said earlier that it would help if you could share some of the "good works" you've seen done. Because truly, the evidence we have seen to date doesn't show much hope for the future.

Myself I mourn every lost life. Yes in earlier wars many more lives were lost. Does it really make the ones we lost in this war less important? And because I value each and every soul that is out there trying to win this war, or atleast bring it to a satisfactory end, I will question what exactly we are doing over there. I want answers. I believe your life is worth some answers. I want you to be able to come home sometime in the next year and celebrate the freedom you fight for with your family and friends.

Meanwhile all I can do as a supporter of the troops is send word to MY BLOOD fighting on foriegn soil, that he is not forgotten, that he has my support, that I am honored that he's doing something he believes in, and doing it so well. I don't bring up politics and I don't question him. What he wishes to share I am glad to hear. I'll be ever so grateful when he is home for good, alive and well. (I wish the same for you) And if one day many years from now, we discuss the tragedy of war, I'll just be glad he's there to have the discussion with.

Answer 3

First, the vast majority of Americans will hang any politician (R or D, conservative or liberal) if they fail to support our troops. That is not an issue. For the most part our troops have done an exceptionally good job.

Second, no one likes war. It seems to me that Americans have forgotten that when we fight in a war, people are going to die - including the innocents. Americans, for example have forgotten the huge number of civilians that were killed during WWII. Now, because of the press, we are "upset" when we see death on the TV.

We in America have forgotten that we still occupy parts of Europe, many years after the initial war was declared over.

Fourth, we probably (again) made the mistake of thinking we could transplant our form of government to another. This idea has gotten us into trouble more often than not.

Fifth, most Americans do not fully understand that we are at war - not with the Iraqi people - but with those who want nothing more than the American way of life eliminated.

Sixth, we Americans want instant food, instant everything. We have little patience for many things. Ho Chi Ming knew this during Viet Nam. Our enemy today knows this as well.

Seventh, American politics stinks and aways will. It is itself a blood sport - fed by power, money and corruption. When the American public starts holding both the Rs and Ds to the same standards, maybe something will improve. At least we won't be at war with each other.

Answer 4

You are not one of a 100 that feels that way, you are among thousands. (Just wondering if you get your information that americans dont support the troops from the media). I know good things happen in Iraq and I know that it isnt as bad as everyone thinks. My husband has been there already and he is getting ready to go back soon and he tells me what is going on. He tries to help those soldiers who havent been over by telling them that the media blows things out of proportion. The media shapes people's opinions on everything, so the war in Iraq is no different.

Where we live (Ft Stewart, GA), when our troops come home, there is a whooole bunch of fanfare and hoopla. Parades and ceremonies for weeks, even months. Flags are everywhere, ribbons, and ribbon magnets. I think it just depends on where you are. In my hometown (Birmingham, AL) where there are no military installations close, you probably wont find much support. Just keep doing what you are doing and know that there ARE people who support the effort so dont worry about the rest.

Added: Whoever thinks troops dont have access to internet are misinformed. The internet is up and running all over Iraq. No, troops dont have internet when they go on missions, but when they return to the FOB there IS internet. Some soldiers have individual rooms with internet and there are haji cafes with internet too. Last deployment, my husband shared a room and had internet. While the connection can get weak when there are many users and there are blackouts, THERE IS INTERNET!!! Geeeesh.

Answer 5

Most of the media only shows so much of the actual troops are doing over there. In other words, the media only shows part of the story and the people of the U.S. don't really know what is going on. If the media had only shown more of the story of the troops over in Iraq, and so forth, then more people would support the troops a little more.
Also, the government is also part of the story here. Most of the time, the government doesn't want to reveal to much of what is going on. My uncle was a soldier (and he is retired now) and he said there was a lot of miserable things that went on over there, but he said that he only did it because he wanted to have more freedom for the U.S. and I don't think he wanted to be in the war any more than any of the soldiers currently over, and most of the troops want to come home, which I believe they do because most of our troops are dying because of the war.
I know what you mean with the explenation, but I really only can speak for myself at this point because I only know what I think. I appologize if this isn't what you aren't looking for, but this is only my opinion.
Also, I support the troops (which means I try to pray for all the troops that are still living over there in Iraq).

Answer 6

From a fellow troop and OIF vet...Thank you. It is tough, but you have to know that most of the public is kept ignorant by a biased media. We, the troops, need to ge tthe word out (without violating OpSec)
Personal testimony is very effective. When you get back be a good representative of the truth. Don;t let the ignorance get to you - it not their fault. I am kind of anxious to see how different the country has become in the months since I have been there. Scheduled for another tour later this summer.

Answer 7

I agree we should support the troops. The reason most people disagree with the war in my opinion is first we never found any weapons of mass destruction. Bush said that was the reason they were a threat to us. Second a lot of people disagreed about pulling troops from Afghanistan to go to Iraq. People really want to see Osama Bin Laden captured or killed. Several people think if we wouldn't of pulled troops from Afghanistan he would be caught by now. Also some people think we have no business interfering with other countries problems when we have problems in our own country. Some people also think the only reason we are there is for oil. Other people think since Saddam was executed we should leave. Some people think that way too many troops are being killed. Other people believe the media in that we are losing the war on terror. etc.. Most of the people that disagree with the war are Democrats I know quite a few Republicans do too.
I believe we should support our troops they chose to be there we need to support them whether you agree with the war or not.

Answer 8

It seems like you're getting no support because you only see what the media wants you to see. It is true that the majority of Americans want us out of Iraq but there are plenty of us who appreciate the hard work you are doing. We realize that if we bring our troops home then the terrorists will be more capable of coming here to fight us. It is sad when we hear the numbers of troops that are killed and injured but I understand that freedom comes at a high cost. Bottom line, we can have brave men and women fighting the battle at the source or innocent US citizens dying here because we stay at home and let them plan and finance their evil plots. God bless America and God bless our soldiers.

Answer 9

you are probably one out of 100 soldiers who feels that way ( if you really say u r a soldier). How can the public and Especially a soldier fight , when there is no legitimate cause to fight. YOUNG men and women in their 20's and as young as 18 are being killed, so that iraqis can get their freedom? the same Iraqia who despise us being there in the first place. Its not that the public doesnt support the troops, we dont support the adminsitration, and no the MEDIA doesnt lie about everything, the BUsh adminsitration does. About weapons of mass destruction, about saddam having connection to 9/11, about saddam buying uranium from niger. ALL LIES!.

After all this, u expect the public to support this war? And please explaine to me HOW we are winning. When peace is nowhere in sight, when u dont even know who ur enemies are ( how are u suppos to defeat them). When the country is in a civil war, What are our soldiers doing there? Babysitting the shiia and the sunnis? And with Iran breathing down our neck, a regional war is a possibility. and How can a soldier be motivated to fight knowing how dredfully wounded soldiers are being treated at Walter Reed Medical center.

IF u r a soldier, do not think i dont appreciate ur effort, I do. You guys are bravest of the bravest and theres no medal of honor that can ever thank your enough. Ur right there hasnt been a draft since vietnam, but the fact that, our military is being stressed so thin by this war, its terrible. God Bless the men and women of our military and i pray for their safe return soon.

Answer 10

It's simple. Most of the American and world press hates Bush. Iraq is the signature of the Bush administration. If the American and world press showed the good that soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, like you, are doing, they would have to admit that good is happening in Iraq.

Here's an example. When was the last time you heard about ANYTHING from the Kurdish area of Iraq on any media outlet? The Kurds LOVE us, but most media outlets seem to let that one slip by. They don't want to discuss that part. What about what is happening in the southern part of Iraq. That is fairly stable. So, they don't want to talk about it. It is becoming fairly heavily dominated by Iranian influence, but it's still fairly stable. They just don't want to let the people hear about it.

It's simple press bias, and it is a disgrace.

Answer 11

I do support you all the way and I give the military the respect on being intelligent enough to make decisions I know nothing about. I hope the military people speaking out badly about the military have a personal gain in doing so what are your thoughts on them speaking? I usually don't believe a lot of the political talking heads but when I heard the military men and women speak out I am still wondering about the truth to what they had to say. Thank you for your service.