Soliders should be the only ones who should be allowed to complain about bringing the troops home, agree?

Question

I realize that some soldiers do want to leave and are complaining, but the vast majority believe in the cause and want to remain. I don't see why all the citizens, who were not brave enough to sign up and serve, are calling to bring home the troops, when the troops themselves don't seem to share that sentiment...

If I was president I would say "any soldier who wants to give up on the cause and go home is welcome to do so" and I would wager that a small percent would abadon what they have worked so hard for and leave.

I just think it's funny that people who are sitting in there air conditioned houses are having a cry and complaining about the troops not being brought home, when infact, they have no place to do so.

Ervin-- Like I said, those vetrans of the Iraq war would comprise the small small minority of people. If there was a large majority of troops doing the complaining that liberals are doing it would certrainly be making all sorts of headlines, yet I see none. The root of my question remains, who cares what family members think if the actual person in the war and getting shot at doesn't agree?

Additional-- I'm not saying that people should be banned from complaining, this is America, you can say whatever you want. I am just saying that A) You have no place to complain and B) The actual people in the war are not complaining so why are you?

Good god you people are dimwits. I guess I should have phrased my title a little more carefully. People can complain all they want, it just seems like the only ones complaining are the ones who aren't there. If you had no legs you wouldn't complain about cramps in your feet would you? No, because you don't have feet so what would be the point? Therefore, if you are not in the war and fighting, why would you complain about the poor troops and their struggles, when it is not you who is struggling?

JMMI-- Awesome point. All this complaining about bringing the troops home and bailing on the objective does is A) lower troop moral because they feel the country they are fighting for doesn't even support them and B) increase enemy moral because hell, it almost sounds like you are on their side when you are wanting us to leave and conceed victory.

Jamus-- That's almost my point. People don't get forced to serve in the military, they sign up for it because they are patriotic and want to do something for America, and you don't hear them complaining.

I JUST WANT THIS TO BE CLEAR. I AM NOT SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE CENSORED OR ANYTHING STUPID LIKE THAT.. I AM AMERICAN AND BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF SPEECH. IM JUST SAYING THAT NON-SOLDIERS HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN WHEN THE SOLDIERS THEMSELVES ARE NOT COMPLAINING.

Jenny-- That is a pretty interesting perspective. Soldiers do get letters from home and I am sure some of them detail what is going on, they do have internet access at times, where most people get there news. Besides that, the media is reporting on the conditions in Iraq and how many people are dying and all this, of course the soldiers know this information as they are the subject of these reports. What new information is there for our reasons of going in? We didn't find WMDs, they know that as they were looking for them, and there might not have been a link to 9/11 (doubtful imo), all of these things are very old news, and I am sure they are informed. Most of them have probably had at least a little leave/R&R since we discovered these things. Thanks for the point of view though, made me think :)

Scenic-- Wise as always. Great input :)

Kenny-- First, Thanks for your service, it is more than most people would have the courage to do. As I have said in several edits, I am not trying to censor people or saying they should be, I just think that unless the soldiers start complaining about wanting to come home, that the people shouldn't. Reason being is that it's just not fair to the soldiers and it dosen't make logical sense to me. I pay taxes, and can't see anything better for my money to be used than to fund the troops and get them the items they need and to eliminate people who hate America and would love nothing more than to see our country crash and burn.

I'm half considering deleting this because people can't read apparantly and keep accusing me of censorship when that is not even close to my point.

Answer 1

You are correct. The soldiers there have a much different prospective than civilians here at home and I, also, agree that few of them are clambering to come home. In fact, many I talk to who are temporary home, can't wait to go back because they do see the importance of our mission there and the good we are doing on behalf of that entire nation.

Even those I've spoken to who don't agree with our reasons for going in, don't believe this is the time to come home because they realize whatever our reasons were, they are at this point irrelevant and instead, appropriately focus on the task presently at hand, not the partisanship we engage in here.

I say we stay there as long as we are welcome by the new government and that we continue to back them as our ally, just as we would any other ally. Turning our backs on them would only alienate us from the people and the government and put us right back into the position we were in before we overthrew Saddam.

Libs are always complaining that the ME has reason to hate us based upon our actions within that region, while simultaneously demanding we abandon those in Iraq who are presently begging for our continued help. It simply makes no sense.

We have won that war and we have advanced our own security and ability to react quickly to threats from that region tenfold. Yet, libs would have us come home, give up our successes and lower ourselves to the position of truly being losers, of actually having fought for a lost cause. However, regardless of the negativity they circulate among us here at home, we nonetheless in truth remain victorious until we actually do withdraw and despite what they spew.

Some of us share in the feeling of successes experienced by our troops in Iraq and we are capable of looking down the road. Others simply reject our advancement in what is seemingly an effort to deride our present administration at all cost. As in the Clinton administration, it is easier for them to ignore the ongoing threats against us and tell themselves that we need do nothing at all.

Too bad that images of 9/11 have so quickly faded from memory and the majority of our public still believe the threat of ME leaders and clerics will go away if left alone.

Answer 2

I have served in Iraq, and Afghanistan as well. After my 4 years active duty I joined the Guard. Chances are I will go back. The reason why I can not agree with you on this is simple and two fold. The first is that every American who has a job is helping to pay for this war. I believe that the American people should have a say in how their tax dollars are spent. Espicially when there money is being spent at the rate of $12 billion a month.
The 2nd reason is that I am against the war Iraq. I also am in the Army. Having seen the rest of the world I love America and would fight to my death to defend it. That said I find it hard that someone like me who is against the war has done more than some of the people in America who are so diehard for it, like Bill Oreilly, Ann Coulter, etc. I have done a tour there because I gave my word, not because I believe we should be there, and since a lot of people who are for this war refuse to go to meps those who are against have every right to demand the troops come home.

Answer 3

I will put this to you .. and before I start please do not misread this as an attack on the intelligence of servicemen and women.

The servicemen and women may not be being provided with information that would make them either support or question WHY they are there... Their access to the media and varied media may be limited or restricted .. ( i am NOT saying it IS but putting it forward as a possibility)

If this was the case, and the general public had access to information that the troops DON'T .. then who else can defend the troops and want them protected and back home ?

This is JUST one reason why it shouldn't be just limited to the soldiers ..

take into consideration an unforseen future event, where there is a leader who is unscrupulous and who might feed his( or her troops .. must be fair mustn't we) troops mis-information, making them think they SHOULD stay there.. when in fact they shouldn't ....

(but of course .. THAT WOULD NEVER EVER EVER HAPPEN WOULD IT *rolls eyes*)


The public has a right to a voice to either say the troops can stay .. or come home.

Answer 4

we could desire to hold the troops homestead now from Iraq. Iraq is the least of our concerns now, with Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan on the area of conflict. a minimum of our leaders are speaking with the chinese language, uk, France, Russia approximately Iran and Pakistan with a view to give up destiny issues. working together is what it truly is approximately - WWII = the 1st time we ever worked with the British, Canadians, Russians, etc. to bypass to conflict for an definitely reason lots greater substantial than the lies W has advised.

Answer 5

No I do not agree.
#1 this is America, we have feedom of speech, sorry if you disapprove.

#2 My tax dollars are spent in this war just like anyone else's

#3 those are our sons, daughters, friends, husbands, wives, and cousins dying in Iraq, I can voice my demands to bring them home, no matter who disapproves!

#4 There are 3 "places to do so" described above!

#5 i have personally witnessed several soldiers complaining.

If we were living in Iran, I would have to agree with you, but we aren't.

Answer 6

Clearly you do not follow your own logic. As if this were true, you would have NO SAY in topics that do not concern you. Gay marriage - are you gay? If not, you should have no say then, right? Abortion - Are you a pregnant woman? If not, then you should have no say, right?

Why don't YOU stop attempting to impede on other's rights of free speech and opinion. And maybe try listening to some of them for once.. Obviously the current "course of action" is not working if terrorists are still popping up everywhere (see recent news articles).

Answer 7

No - in this country, every eligible citizen gets to vote, and thus gets to have an opinion about such matters. This is the foundation of any democratic form of government.

By your logic, only teachers should be allowed to have an opinion about the educational system.

Answer 8

Soldiers who would dare speak out, considering the military code, their superiors and of course friendly fire.
Soldiers relatives, who due to the reasons stated above usually end up speaking for the soldiers.
All Tax payers, whose money is used to finance the wars and remember the "Consumer is always right".

Answer 9

What about those who have already served? What about the Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, grandparents and etc of veterans?

And why shouldn't pro-war types (aka Chickenhawks) who refuse to serve and yet feel compelled to run their mouths as if they were some sort of heros be required to serve?

Answer 10

I agree, the brave soldiers who are actually doing the fighting should have the say whether the War is a disaster rather than Michael Moore sitting on his *** eating a cheese burger and yelling at Wolf Blitzer to apologize to him.