In response to invasion and occupation by an hostile force, what is the duty of every patriot?

Question

Does this apply to people in other lands who defend their country? Can only Americans be patriots?

I will agree that al-Qaida is as much hostile force as the US, but not with the propagandistic idealism which divorces itself from the carnage taking place. We do not have influence with al-Qaida, we do with our government. It's not a question of Saddam's goodness, he's dead. Stalin was ten times worse and we never invaded. Has International Law changed to suit the whims of George Bush?

Answer 1

Let's see....what is the purpose of our government? Is it to preemptively invade countries that have not harmed the USA? Is it to march in and shove democracy down throats of those that do not wish it? The duty of a patriot is to question an administration that seeks to harm their country. A patriot is not made by waving a flag and singing Lee Greenwood songs. It is a far deeper thing. It is dying for what you think is right. If you are suggesting that one is unpatriotic for questioning this war, then you best think again and read up a little on what the forefathers said about that, particularly Jefferson. A patriot seeks to uphold and defend the constitution of the USA, not change it or rewrite it as the Bush administration has done. One does not have to love Bush or this war to be a patriot. Some of us feel that he is recklessly putting our country in far more danger than ever before. With the follow blindly logic, we would still be ruled by the English.

Answer 2

Even if Canada invaded the United States with wonderful, civilizing ideas that I favored, I would be shooting Maple Leafs. That's our obligation--to repel the invaders.

I had to add this, as my comments above do not apply only to Americans' right to defend. The sword cuts both ways.

It is the obligation of every country to repel invaders, and a fine line exists between liberater and invader. Normally, liberaters get out when the oppressed are liberated.

Answer 3

Perhaps, we should look at what an Iraqi says (todays news-Mortar Attacks):

"I feel very comfortable when I see the American and the Iraqi troops because we are fed up with al-Qaida, which kept on threatening us and our businesses everyday," he said. "They were ordering us to close our shops because they were carrying out operations. They also have started killing Sunnis as well."

Saddam attacked our enemies (Iran) and our allies (Kuwait). He committed genocide against the Kurds (Iraqis). Moreover he was shooting at our planes for 12 yrs+ and funding suicide bombings in another allied country (Israel).

As per the above quote easily found in today's news (the side you don't see very often but is prevalent), it is Al-Qaeda that we are fighting there. They're not 'patriots' of Iraq. They are foreign terrorists killing Iraqis.

While you are correct that Saddam is dead, his misdeeds are grounds for the invasion, regardless of any misinformation campaigns he used to lead to (potentially) bad intelligence on the part of several nations. As such, it must be addressed as part of the "Iraq question."

Move to the present day and our enemy there is AQ, as is the enemy of the Iraqi people. Our soldiers demonstrate considerable restraint in dealing with potential AQ, sometimes to their own detriment. We cannot right every wrong in the world, cannot take out every evil despot but AQ has posed a direct and realized threat and we can take out as many as possible before they hurt our *unarmed* citizens.

I believe any man a coward who has the ability to act and knowledge of evil deeds and does nothing to prevent it. I believe there are people on this earth that can only do estreme harm to good people, and therefore only deserve death. I could *not* stand by and watch an evil man assault your wife or your child even if I did not like you personally.

AQ recruits evil men and trains others to be evil. While you are correct in your assertation that *we* have no influence to change their desire to do these evil deeds, we (US military)do have capability to prevent (to some degree) their capability to act on their desires. We do so, without falling to their level. We do so, while maintaining the moral high ground of the Geneva Convention and Law of Land Warfare. And yes, sometimes a few in frustration of fighting an immoral and *unfair* enemy will commit atrocities. The difference is that we court martial them and the enemy promotes theirs. Perhaps, we *are* too politically correct in the execution of combat, but we do *not* commit or endorse crimes. And in those few instances one of ours falls into it, we take them off the battlefield and into the judicial system.

Answer 4

education of the traditional public! that's the only way and on occasion we get fortunate and discover the those that somewhat ask us the no longer elementary questions as a fashion to make us think of, and if we care approximately them we could answer them, because of the fact to coach faraway from them potential to coach faraway from us and so we could decide what we predict of and why and the thank you to assert what desires to be pronounced in one in each of those way that they comprehend. Therein lies some little bit of non violent ability and effect. hear and answer, and learn and instruct!

Answer 5

To take up arms against the force.

Answer 6

Join the civil defence efforts: do your normal duties, whatever your job, with double zeal and alacrity: do all you can to stop rumours, and do all you can to help the def. machinery, directly and/or indirectly!

Answer 7

Crawl back in your spider hole in your parents basements...those mutant AlQaida are not patriots or freedom fighters....they are murdering terrorists.

Answer 8

to defend the purpose of our government and not diss on those in which they don't agree.

Answer 9

to serve ones country .better to die for the cause of freedom than to hang ones head as a slave..................for even in death, there can be found nobility.. and freedom...........

Answer 10

shoot back