If you don't support the war, can you still support the troops?

Question

I think that if you don't support the war, then you can't say you support the troops. If you do, you're trying to find a compromise that doesn't exist. I don't support the war and therefore I don't support the troops. But, I don't want them to get hurt, that's actually one of the reason's I don't support the war in the first place. It's complicated.

But what do you think?

Answer 1

It depends on what you mean by "support". The thing is, no patriotic American's going to come out and say they don't support the troops, because that has very negative connotations, which makes for a good political attack.

Beyond a few crazies that are out there, everyone who's against the war would want the troops to all be safe and come home healthy and alive and to see their families soon. As do everyone who's for the war (on the same side). And that would be considered support. But if by support you mean, supporting the completion of the mission of stabilizing Iraq, then no, those against the war wouldn't want to see to it that the troops are able to complete the mission at the cost of extending the war.

Answer 2

Of course you can support the troops if you don't support the war. The war is about the politics, the troops are about the men and women doing their job. Most people don't join the military to fight in Iraq (there are some), but because they want to serve our country. Plus, there are many other reasons why someone is in the military that has nothing to do with Iraq. This is about every individual willing to put their life on the line for some kind of duty or calling. Many members in the military don't even care about the politics. They just joined the military because they wanted something better for their life. Yeah, if you don't support the troops then why would you want them to come home?

Answer 3

I think you can do both. I support the troops because of what they are willing to do for the American people. Yeah so they follow orders, they do their job, but who else is willing to put their life on the line for people they never even met! So I can support the troops but not the war, because in all the good for their country many troops set out to do, in order to remain the valiant defender of their nation and be able to support their families as such, they have to follow orders... and so I think the commander and chief may be making poor decisions and they are the ones suffering most for it not civilians, so saying that we want a more properly managed war that will bring our troops home is not showing a lack of troop support. Saying they should not have been sent there is showing lack of support for the president not the troops... speaking out against the way this war has been managed and the reasons we are there is saying not only do we support the troops, we don't want them put in harms way and their lives lost for a cause we believe is unjust!

Answer 4

I think this, I think that I support the troops coming home, they are clearly not serving the interests of the Republic. They ARE unfortunately serving the impractical and delusional thoughts of the minds behind "benevolent hegemony" or more succinctly, US empire.

My friends and family are presently overseas in the Army , Navy and Marine Corps, some are directly in harms way, some are elsewhere, but ALL have chosen to serve this country by potentially putting themselves in harms way.

The troops - all of them - are not in a position to question the orders of the commander in chief, or his civilian representative. That is the chain of command. It is their job to follow the orders of the civilian authority.

It is the solemn responsbility of our elected citizens to ensure that they go to war for those reasons which are strictly necessary and not (as President HW Bush has refered to Iraq) as a "war of discretion" rather than a war essential need. This president more than some should remind citizens why they should take their choices more seriously.

To conduct a war for any OTHER reason disrespects the troops, the citizens and the international community.

So If GW decided to attack - let's say, Sweden, with nuclear weapons, I would expect two things to occur.

1. I expect that most of Sweden would be wiped off the map by nuclear weapons, because the air-force/navy missle commanders and officers followed their orders.

2. I would like to think that the president and those in the chain of command, would be removed from power at the earliest convenience of the Legislative branch of the government (read immediately) and probably either the Secretary of State or (in this case) more likely the Speaker of the House, would become the president-pro-temp until an election could be held.

It's a pretty foolish example but it's been a pretty foolish presidency.

Answer 5

Nobody can support the war, how is it possible that anyone could. Do they have insight other than what the media says? Yes you can support the troops, but what does that really mean? If you do support the troops what are you doing to do so? People that put signs up saying support our troops, do they have a clue what they are asking? Do we send them, what.
The troops are fully funded and are in no more harm weather we play the political game or not. The politicians like to sell their infomercial about the troops being not funded. Really!! How naive are we? What a bunch of hog wash. There are no troops being left anywhere where they are not fully supported.
regardless of what anyone calls support.
I certainly support the troops (what ever that means) but I do not support the political aspirations of a certain political party that plays that tragic game. Our constitution tells us better than that.

Answer 6

You don't have to agree with reasoning behind a particular military conflict in order to support the troops. The troops have no say over who they have to fight. Their job is to follow lawful orders without question from the politicians. Supporting the troops, supporting legislation that increases the quality of life for them and their families, supporting any measure to give them to best equipment so they are protected and able to do their jobs safely, and encouraging them to do their jobs safely and to the best of their ability really has nothing do with supporting a specific conflict or politician. I want the troops to have the best of everything, because even though I'm not a big fan of how the politicians handle Iraq, we are going to need the troops to stand ready to defend the US from any attack and protect our interests overseas in other conflicts that will come up in the future. God Bless The Troops! Come home safe! We support you always!

Answer 7

I believe it is a terminology thing (using the word support). I believe you can be against the war and wish the best for the troops. However i don't believe you can truly support someone unless you support and fortify what she / he does.

I guess the short answer is you cannot NOT support the war but support the troops.

Answer 8

I think that you can disagree with the war and support the troops. Some troops probably disagree with the war, that doesn't mean that they want anything bad to happen, or even that they disagree with being in the military. It just means that they don't agree with the war, for their own reasons. People can disagree with the war and still send care packages to the troops.

Answer 9

Of course I can support the troops without supporting the war. The troops are people who need understanding and encouragement while they are doing a job they trained for. The war is an abstract idea being directed by politicians. The two are interconnected and one can not be without the other but they are still independent. Can you like one conjoined twin while disliking the other? It may not be comfortable but you can.

Answer 10

I think that you can support the troops without supporting the war. Most of the men and women in Iraq are not making the decisions that have them there. They joined the military knowing they would be doing what their commanders directed them to do.

I admire & support those who answer the call to join the military. Therefore, I support our troops.

However, I can not support the present administration's use of the military in Iraq.

Therefore, I support the men and women who joined the military, but I do not support the war in Iraq.