How do military people view non-military people who spoke out against this Iraq war from the beginning?

Question

I'm interested in hearing from our military on this one...

How do military people view non-military people (such as myself) who spoke out against this Iraq war - from the very beginning - because we feel it is not the duty of the United States of America to engage in "nation building", nor worthy of their sacrifice to send our troops into a foreign land with an unclear and constantly shifting strategy?

After reading a great deal about this war, I have come to the conclusion (only my opinion) that our troops ARE tactically superior in the field, but that the "big picture" strategy has been missing since the beginning of the war...and it may be too late to win over the Iraqi people, rendering our efforts and expenditures useless.

Answer 1

Everyone has the right to their opinion, and I respect most people's opinion. I just ask that people who have never been to the region accept that there are things that go on outside our border that the American people have never been exposed to, therefore their conception of need or no need to enter an area is not reliable.

Speaking for myself (this does not represent the opinion of the military), I do not believe we should have entered Iraq. I do believe we were right to enter Afghanistan. However, you cannot have a military made up of soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines that pick and choose which battles they will fight in based on their own opinion of what is right and wrong. That kind of fighting force will never win.

Answer 2

They're just acting in character. They presume to know a lot about everything else too. It's like Reagan said - It's not that these people know so much it's that they know so much that isn't so. I present the "global warming" BS as a perfect example. Despite Al Gore's power point presentation global warming (or cooling) is something we have no control over. If these GW robots did some of their own research on the subject they would discover that in fact CO2 is not the most significant green house gas it's........water vapor. It's difficult to manipulate people based on water vapor but since CO2 in produced in the production of energy they've chosen that. They might also discover that despite what our sainted Al says CO2 appears to be a result of a warmer globe rather than the cause based on the record contained in the ice. If they went a little further they would discover that the energy output of the sun is not static and varies. Our orbit around the sun is not static and varies. the tilt of our planet is not static and varies. All of these things contribute to the climate here on earth and always have as they are now. I noticed Al doesn't mention any of these things in his presentation. He also doesn't mention that there appears to be warming on all of the other planets in the solar system. Of course why should he? It doesn't make his case. He also doesn't mention that because of the global warming craze he's making a big pile of money in Europe where he's got a company that brokers "carbon credits". He just wants to get similar laws passed here so he can make an even bigger pile. Of course he's just like you and me and "feels our pain". For all of you global warming enthusiasts I have a cooler to sell you in Siberia. Sorry for the tirade your question was about the military. Liberals know jack about the military. Very few of them have actually seen the military other than in a movie or even really know any one that is or was in the military. I would guess they rely on what they've seen on tv or in the movies which frequently don't portray the military in a realistic way. Your relative is right. I haven't been in Iraq but I was in the military and saw combat in the middle east when Reagan was president. We loved Reagan because he loved us. I can't think of a single democrat outside of possibly Joe Leiberman that even likes the military.

Answer 3

Everyone has a right to their own opinion and a right to speak it. That is our 1st Amendment... freedom of speech. So personally, I don't have a problem with it and neither does my husband.

What we do have a problem with is those who take it out on the troops or spout stupidity about our military guys. Say all you want about the gov't and the war, but don't take it out on the folks that through history have protected those rights.

I had a reservist wife go off about how it's not fair that her hubby got sent over and yet there is an entire base of active duty doing nothing, and he just joined to get some extra money and to work on his college, and now they can't afford to pay their rent, on and on. Her hubby signed on the dotted line, knowing full well what could happen. And if she couldn't pay her rent, why was she at a high end department store. (We were in the check out line) And the base she was whining about had half of it's population deployed and the other half was busting their butts making up for the lack of people!!

Answer 4

Quite frankly, I don't think our soldiers spend a lot of time thinking about it. They hold a military position and go where they are told, do what they are directed to do.

Even if they have opinions (and, I'm sure they do), as a member of the military, they are directed by superiors to keep their opinions to themselves and obey orders when told.

I don't think our soldiers in the field are thinking much about anything except staying alive one more day.

I also know that, if they were told they were leaving for home tomorrow, you'd have 160,000 men and women dancing in the streets and lined up under the exit sign by dawn.

Answer 5

I think it's silly that people who are not in the Military and who don't posses a security clearance think that because they watch the news they're getting all the "facts" to make an educated decision about what's going on or if we should be there. Honestly; as the other poster pointed out; MOST of our Military who are over there will paint a vastly different picture of what's going on than the media is putting out. Less than one half of one percent of the Military who are speaking out (most of whom have never even deployed) is a dismal number and I would hope that someone who is looking for honest answers would look to the other 99.5% who are telling it differently. Those reporters over there hardly stay long enough to get a real feel for what's actually happening. A LOT of them come with biased opinions and WON'T report on anything that doesn't fit into what their views are on the war. And to the guy who thinks my husband works for him because he pays taxes...well, guess what?! WE PAY TAXES, TOO...therefore my husband owes you NOTHING more than he has already given.

Answer 6

Hmm...well firstly I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Just remember to own up to it when you are called on it.
All members of the military are volunteers...all of them. No one drafted them. The military is generally for one purpose, "Kill people and break things." Yes we do humanitarian missions, but as a whole we are the "big stick."
Personally speaking.....being in the military in peacetime is like being on a team that always practices, but never plays. When a real mission comes up you get pretty pumped up!!!
Granted when it drags out for awhile you get a tired of it. If you get really tired of it...don't re-enlist! Remember it is your choice. Fulfill your commitment and then get out. Don't suddenly discover that you have cold feet. Own it!
Live in a Muslim country for awhile.....the culture is very very different.
Do not ever...ever try to interject your values, belief system whatever into the equation!!! Won't work! Their society has all of those things already and they are different from ours. Really different!
Again personally...I would rather fight them overseas...not in my neighborhood. If you think the terrorists won't find their way here in larger numbers given the chance...think again.

Answer 7

I don’t necessarily think people like you are against the war, you are against anything that doesn’t affect you personally at a particular time so you are against anything that you feel might inconvenience you. So since it is too much trouble for you to go and defend the freedoms fought for by the brave men and women of this country. I think most feel you have that right because of millions who put their life on the line. Unlike most other governments of the world you would not have that choice. I personally think you are nothing more that a spoiled freedom leech.

USMC 66-69

Answer 8

(Former military) I view the efforts of anti-war activists as very misguided and giving aid and comfort to the very people who want to hurt us.

Motivation for activists seems to range from a misunderstanding of the nature of conflict on one end to cowardice on the other.

"Nation building" is harder than regular combat, but possible. It worked after world war II in Germany and Japan.

Answer 9

I agreed with them. My co-worker, a retired Army major, did as well. Afghanistan made sense; Iraq did not.

But even if we hadn't agreed with the sentiment, every citizen of this country has the right to form an opinion and express it.

Answer 10

OK, military guy here. I laugh at people who are opposed to this war because they don't see the big picture. There is a part of the Muslim world that wants us dead or under their thumb. They are willing to die trying. With that said, it is sad that people are opposed to this war. This is a war to get rid of these lunatics. Watch the videos of them slitting hostages' throats. These are the bast**ds we are dealing with. Do you really think we can negotiate peace with them?

I view all people who oppose this war, military or civ, as pure idiots. For the non-military types, why do you care. It ain't you who is shedding blood or gonna die. Me and my brothers and sisters in arms are doing it. Go back to your dope parties and demonstrations, but leave us alone to protect and defend your butts!

The surge strategy is working. Before it happened, 3 provinces were "wild." Now there are one and a half. Yes, Baghdad is hard, but we are tightening the noose on them F'ers. Let us fight and win. Just go back to doing your normal business and when we come home after victory, you can continue to ignore like you did before 9/11.