Why do we have to keep supporting our troops all the time?

Question

Ive never heard them support me for my work in providing Magazines for them to read as I stack them on the Newsagents shelves that I work for.

They chose a job, they are doing their job. They get paid for their job.

Why do they need people patting them on the back as well?

Answer 1

This is a small-minded approach. The reason you should thank them is because without them you would not enjoy the freedoms you enjoy today. We are the bastion of freedom in the world today and it was bought with the blood of our own. No offense, but your magazine stacking (while critical to your employer) has no direct influence upon anybody else on the planet. The War on Terror is THE defining struggle of our age.

First, I must state that I supported the invasion of Iraq for the reason we went in there (at least the ostensible reason), which was to oust Hussein for defiance of cease-fire agreements and numerous U.N. resolutions. (SIDENOTE: I believe the other reason, which will never be admitted by anyone in the administration, was to institute a pro-Western, democratic government meant to influence and/or provoke the Iranian youth to revolt against the anti-Western/theocratic Caliphate that exists in Iran. On a lesser note, I support that too, if only because it beats an all out war against them for supporting terrorism - a war which would be neither profitable, agreeable, or possibly even successful). Second, I must state that I support the current involvement in Iraq, which is to provide stability and peace-enforcement services for the fledgling government that will serve as our much-needed Arab ally in the mid-East and the GWOT (Global War on Terror), which, ultimately, is by far the most important struggle of our generation - no matter how many people try to gloss over or ignore it.

With those statements made, I now criticize the handling of the war and the condition of the U.S. Armed Forces leading up to this new face of warfare that we are forced to endure. I place initial blame on the Carter administration for taking such a weak stance in the beginning of our struggle with the 4 Nov 1979 seizure of the American embassy in Tehran, Iran, and the subsequent hostage crisis that lasted 444 days. I place further blame on the Reagan administration for no response to the 23 Oct 1983 Marine Barracks bombing in Beirut - the first significant extremist act against the United States that caused significant loss of life (not resulting from the direct involvement of a sovereign nation). I place primary blame on the Clinton administration's lack of foresight and attention to detail with regard to the rise of religious militancy across the globe and the willingness of those that support their murderous ideology to inflict pain and suffering upon innocents, particularly Americans, as evidenced by the handful of terrorist attacks upon American interests (i.e. 1993 World Trade Center bombing, 1998 Embassy bombing in Tanzania, 1998 Embassy bombing in Kenya, and the attack on the USS Cole in Oct 2000).

With all of this going on, why on Earth would that administration demand and institute a decade-long policy of systematically demantling U.S. military power?? As a U.S. Army Aviation officer during that period, I witnessed frequent training accidents and inability of active flight personnel to maintain personal flight time minimums dictated by regulations simply because there wasn't enough funding to support a flight-hour program healthy enough to fly everybody. This was how I perceived the build-down. Sure, there was no Soviet threat, but the growing threat, very real today, was right in front of us, as were old enemies such as North Korea, Iran, and Cuba, and potential adversaries such as China, who has the capability of causing severe harm if so inclined.

Where am I going with this? When you ask a 10-division army to perform a mission designed for a 12-division army, you're looking at inherent problems on a grand scale pertaining to personnel retention, operational tempo, training and operational accidents, lifespan of equipment, and numerous smaller problems that would (and has) plague(d) the operation from the outset.

This is where my criticism of the Bush administration falls. With the announcement of the GWOT in Sep 2001, there should have been an emphasis of rebuilding the military machine the U.S. had enjoyed over the course of several decades during the Cold War. Rumsfeld's idea of continuing to thin out the Department of Defense with the notion of 'machine over man' was and is not conducive to the type of warfare we are faced with today. High tech weaponry and laser guided munitions, while very necessary for tactical reasons, are strategically flawed without the boots on the ground to flush out terrorist cells and insurgents. The bottom line is that Colin Powell was right when he suggested more troops for the invasion and subsequent occupation/support operations in Iraq. A significant number of more troops in the beginning would have allowed for a better sealed border with Syria and Iran, which would in turn left little room for foreign instigators to infiltrate and provoke an anti-Western insurgency and ultimately sectarian strife between Sunni and Shi'a who have managed to live in relative peace in Iraq for years.

The United States on a macro- and a micro- level has been trying to accomplish too much with too little. We MUST win in Iraq if we are to prevail in the GWOT. Failing to do so will provide a safe-haven for terrorists around the world, embolden those enemies that their way is the right way, increase the theocratic Iran's influence in the mid-East (and therefore globally), shake our already fragile, yet growing, economy, and further tarnish our image abroad. More troops are needed. But they were needed last year and the year before that. And based on my experience as a military leader, 10 years before that.

I support his plan, but with staunch rebuke. I still argue that more is needed. I argue that the American citizenry should open their eyes to the greater struggle and face personal sacrifice as our families did 65 years ago when involved in last century's greatest struggle. We must come together and not lament the loss of our brave warriors but honor them with supporting a path to victory. I argue that the politicians have some backbone and stop capitulating to the punditry that infects our institution of a democratic republic.

I have countless friends and former colleagues who have served in the GWOT, whether in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, or elsewhere (including my wife). Furthermore, I have lost six friends/colleagues in the war (and three others in non-related incidents), so I am not ignorant to the pain of loss. However I will not dishonor their sacrifices and that of countless innocents lost in the nearly 24 years since American blood was first spilled in our fight with religious extremism, just as we did not (and should not) lament the loss of thousands of lives on the beaches and hedgerows of Normandy in 1944. Then, we had the resolve to fight and struggle through many thousands more deaths of friends, sons, brothers, and fathers in order to achieve the victory that was so important.

The United States is not so strong that we can delude ourselves to think that we are immune to destruction. Japan and Germany had no way to touch us the way we are vulnerable today - remember Hawaii wasn't a state yet when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Yet, we had resolve in '44, when the toll and the sacrifice was much worse. The power of the media is the tool that the enemy uses against us. And this fight is right here at home, right in our living rooms. They are stabbing us with our own knives and we let them do it. So, where is our resolve now, when the stakes are clearly much higher? Where is our will? Where is our combined strength? Where is our sense of reality? Where is our purpose? I pray that we don't have to find out when IEDs are exploding in front of our shopping malls and bus stations. That's not propaganda, folks... that's a grim reality that is just a measure of resolve away... a measure of resolve required by our enemies that are sitting in this country already waiting for their opportunity to show us the true meaning of pain and loss.

The new leadership in the Pentagon, in CENTCOM, and in Iraq have one major task ahead of them - to get the situation under control "over there". But, we as a people, have a greater task "over here" - to get our situation under control before somebody else does it for us.

Answer 2

Because they are the ones and the ones before them that were supported by the people of this great nation that fought for the freedoms you are enjoying right now, and to keep those freedoms. Are you an idiot? Why don't you already know this? Even if you do not understand why they are fighting, or agree with it. you should still support them. Yes, they volunteered to be in the military. As they unlike you felt pride in being an American, and they felt the need to serve this country and keep protecting it's freedoms. If you don't have the slightest patriotic bone in your body, then you can at least keep your trap shut about them as they are doing this country a great service. Enjoy your freedom!

Answer 3

Most soldiers view their service in the military as a job. They are appreciative but expect their salaries and benefits and sometimes they are happy with their "bosses" and sometimes they are not. Most volunteered for service because they saw opportunity and security and/or wanted to supplement their incomes/financial assistance for education.
I don't know anyone in the military who expects to be given special treatment.

Unfortunately, our political leaders have made "Support the Troops!" a mantra. Politicians and political parties (and their supporters) have made this some kind of twisted competition of who supports the troops more. Don't blame the soldiers for this, blame the politicos.

You don't have to support them if you don't want to... That's your right. The soldiers won't care one way or another right now. But don't blame them for the nation's media and political insistence on stuffing this mantra down our throats.
This is said repetitively so people like Sean Hannity and Al Franken and Dick Cheney and Hillary Clinton can once again tell us all how they are the moral authority in America. It is no longer said for the benefit of the troops... its said for these kind of people's careers.

Answer 4

Because without them you wouldn't be able to do what you do.

Most troops arn't out actively looking for a pat on the back but a well timed thank you is always appreciated. Especially when they work 24-7 so that everyone else doesn't have to.

Answer 5

Because of the type of job. Any job that puts your life or limb in danger should be appreciated. firemen, police... (ahh not really) I guess just firemen.

I don´t feel sorry for the troops because they did decide to join the military and that´s what the military does, they fight.

However, they are fighting so you can keep stackin those mags and we can keep reading them and keep living and going about our daily lives. On a bad day what happens to you, you get a mad customer and refund the 5 bucks.... on a bad day for them they get their legs blown off or worse.

so if you don´t support them, you should at least appreciate them.

Answer 6

Ignorance should be painful, in this case, it should be deadly! How can you complain about the troops doing their jobs and being recgonized for it, when it's because they're doing their jobs, you can say crap like this!
"I may not agree with a word you say, but I will defend your right to say it, until death!" That is what a soldier is, you should repect that.
Peace to you.

Answer 7

So don't support them. They are not whining and crying and demanding your support. You want a big thank you for that selfless, dangerous, all important job that you do where you risk life and limb stacking magazines? Sorry, but I will save my support and thanks for the troops and the police and fire department and anyone else who keeps us out of harms way.

Answer 8

After doing your job you get to go home to your family. A lot of our military don't get to see their families for a year or more. And, their families are praying they get to see them alive. We have our freedom because they are willing to put themselves in harms way.

Answer 9

for one thing, they are in danger every single day. they are protecting our freedom as well as freeing the world of tyrany and bad people. They are doing a great job over there and I respect their bravery. Huahh!

Answer 10

Why don't you walk into any VA hospital, look around at these wounded soldier who are all shot up and missing body parts, and ask them this question yourself??
You're obviously very, VERY young.

Answer 11

Because you aren't on the frontlines.. A paper cut is probably your most serious injury to date.