Please explain these American Iraq war vets who oppose the war in Iraq???

Question

I support Pres Bush, I support the troops, i support the war on terror in Iraq, Afganastan, and hopefully soon in Iran. What i dont get are some of the soldiers who come back from Iraq who publicly bash the troops, the president and the war-- But I was under the assumption that soldiers-and vets- do not come out against their own- unless they are cowards like John Kerry.
I saw a panel discussion on tv the other night, and there were several American vets, who fought in Iraq- they did nothing but bash the war, bash pres Bush, and bash the troops. On one hand i want to concider these men heroes, but then I see them as turncoats who betrayed on thier country. Should they lose thier va benifits for being traitors? idunno- I think they are confused or shell shocked from the war- I really don't get it- WHY would these soldiers turn on thir own? Confusion? Cowardice? I have a world of respect for the troops, but they do NOT have any right to critisize the president or question the war.

I know the vets who turn on Pres Bush, the troops and America are a small fraction of the vets that served in Iraq- The real patriots support the war and Pres Bush- But i have seen a number of this small percentage pull a 'John Kerry'- and get on tv and accuse thier fellow soldiers of war crimes.
There is a left wing anti American group-"Iraq war vets against the war", or somthing like that. Those men are traitors, even if they did fight for freedom. I guess I have a hard time understaning how a US soldier could turn on his fellow soldiers. To do that emboldens the enemy, and gives them aid an comfort. I applaud the vets fighting in Iraq, but can't excuse the small number that voice betrayal of the troops and the president. If vets oppose the war, they need to be quiet about it UNTIL we win, otherwise they are doing the terrorists pr work..

I have never served in the military- and have no interest in doing so- we have a VOLUNTARY military in this country- But I support the toops and regard them as heroes. In a way I am a soldier of sorts, as here at home I speak out against the scourge of liberalism, and the anti americanism of the radical left.

Answer 1

I think they did it for publicity and so that they dont have to go back because it is a scary place. They shouldnt lose their VA benefits cause they did rightfully do their time, however I think any true soldier would be ashamed of this type of betrayal, I bet these troops you saw on TV dont go to too many public bars or anything cause if some of the active duty troops came accross them there could be problems.

Answer 2

It sounds to me what you saw on TV was a one sided discussion on the war. Seems that's all these people have time for. Anti Anti. If they only new that all they are doing is giving fuel to the terrorist and to the Anti Iraq soldiers there.
It's the same thing that happened in Korea,Viet Nam and a few other places.Its called divide and wait. U.S. will get tired and pull out and they take over when the time is right. U.S. will not go back to help even if asked. Now we have a waist of soldiers life's and money. Nothing was completed because of these people who do not think of what there doing.
The military of old would take these soldiers and court martial them for treason. That is, doing any act that can give the enemy an advantage. In some cases they were executed without a trial. Orders by their C.O. If they are out of the service when making these statements they can join Hanoi Jane Fonda. Vet's don't forget.

Answer 3

Well, if they were over there and have first hand experience, they have a right to talk about their feelings on this invasion. Their benefits were all ready being cut prior to this invasion and they have a right to be upset. How can they be cowards for voicing their opinion? Veterans are coming back to squalor conditions in the military's premiere hospital (Walter Reed). It's shameful and if anyone should be deemed a traitor, it's those people who didn't take care of the troops. As en ex-Military Officer, the FIRST person you look out for is the soldiers under your command. Period. I don't and never agreed with the invasion, but these troops are bound to follow orders and the LEAST that can be done for them is to help them readjust to civilian life. The true traitor to that uniform (I don't care if it's Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine) is the ones who didn't look out for those troops. Thankfully, we can criticize the president and we can AND will question this invasion. That's a Patriot, one who wants the best for the COUNTRY, not individual groups.

Answer 4

I guarantee that you will not find a group of people that hate war more than a group that has "seen the elephant". Its not that they are "turning on their own", they don't want anyone to have to go through what they did for no real conclusion, like what's going on right now. I also support the troops and the war on terror. I don't support the way the war is being handled at this time though. I say go in there and kick butt and get it over with. I don't know if you were around during and right after the Vietnam War, I was a kid then, I don't want to see the same things we had then. Unfortunately it seems to be coming.

Answer 5

I didn't see the show that you are talking about, but I do know that there are a couple of people that are impostors going out in public as being Iraq war vets and they aren't, but the far left media doesn't care as long as they can use these people.
As far as what they say, the ones I have seen speak out have never even gone to Iraq and looked at the schools, hospitals, water treatment plants and homes being built with U.S. money. None of these idiots on the far left ever talk about this. nor do they want to admit that Iran is sending troops across the border.
Even ex solders have freedom of speech. They and all of us do have a right to speak out when we disagree with what the president, or our govt. is doing. If they are still in the service, then this gets into a different area and free speech does not apply totally.
Personally, I wouldn't let it bother you. I don't sweat it. The far left nut jobs are always going to have their Cindy Sheehans and Sen. Murpha people. George Soros. Just do your thing and do your best and vote for people like Tom Tencredo

Answer 6

First of all you need to walk one day in their shoes! War is hell no matter whose idea it is. Not all of our soldiers are happy about this war. Just like not all americans support this war. I do not support the war, but I do support our troops for doing a job that they should not have been asked to do in the first place. If you were deployed would you think it was worth it if you came home in a body bag? Would you think it was worth it if you came home missing limbs? What if you came home and you were a vegetable because you were injured? This doesn't make them cowards, this makes them HUMAN! I haven't heard any soldiers bashing their fellow comrades. Just because you are in a war doesn't mean you HAVE to support a president who falsely led your country into a war. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I would think that if these soldiers are coming home and telling us that it was hell over there and that they do not support our ongoing occupation then they must have damn good reasons to feel that way. Why don't you go to your local recruiting station and sign up. Then we'll see how happy you feel when you come home all broken!

Answer 7

Apparently, you've never been in war, never been shot at, never shot anyone. It's very easy for you to sit there, safe and secure at your little computer spouting crap when you don't have a clue about what war is really about.

If you had the ambition to look at all sides of the situation, you'd find the Bush and his cabinet and advisers lied to and manipulated the US and the world by claiming that Iraq was part of the terrorist problem that exists in the world. Wrong on many counts, and that is recounted in many new articles from around the world (get off of the Nightly News in the US--it's very one-sided, and mostly erroneous) from 2002 and 2003. There is now vast confusion, lack of vision, and lack of direction for this illegal war (it's illegal because you cannot invade another country simply to topple their leadership and rape their resources).

Then there is the errosion of personal liberties cloaked in the US Flag in the so-called "Patriot Act." There have been hundreds if not thousands of abuses occurring every year of civil liberties all to "catch terrorists"--very few of which have been caught.

The people fighting the war are the ones who have every right to speak their opinion about the war. Who are YOU to deny they their right to free speach when THEY are the ones who have fought so bravely and sacrificed so much so YOU can speak freely about this issue? Grow up and start thinking critically.

Answer 8

They have the MOST right to question it. they laid down there lives and have determined for themselves that they were lied to and used. I think it is wrong for a soldier to speak out against their commander but when they come home and are civilians again they have every right to voice their own opinion for al to hear. In fact, I consider a man that fulfilled his duty while in the military, and only speaks his mind after he's out of uniform to be of far greater honor and conscience than one that acts like the government owns his soul. This war is only a noble effort if you've been totally taken in by Bushaganda. These men were there, in the sand, what they say should carry some sway.

Answer 9

Veterans oppose the war in Iraq for the same reason that a lot of the rest of us do... because it's a badly-executed war with few benefits and many detrimental outcomes. And the vets are the ones that have been over there and seen what is really going on there. Are you suggesting that soldiers and all American citizens should blindly accept whatever our president tells us is right? Being against a president's actions is NOT unpatriotic. In fact, questioning the establishment and the status quo is what the country is supposed to be about.

Attack the message, not the messenger.

Answer 10

A tiny minority that get allot of press, no need to fret. Out of the thousands that have gone over to Iraq you have under what 200? people against the war.
Note: That many of these people join up just to use it as propaganda. The Hawaiian LT from fort Lewis Washington, well his father and whole family are a group of anti-war activists going back to the Vietnam era. These people are modern day J Kerry's looking for upward mobility within their fringe movement. A little research on the web and you see right Thur them the gig is up!