Why do many people continue to blame the Bush Administration for the war?

Question

There is this false argument out there that I here often by Know-it-all liberals that "We support the troops but not the government or war in Iraq" this is by far the most unrealistic argument that I have heard. The people in the military did not volunteer to fight the wars that only Noam Chomsky would approve of but any war the government see fit. This would include the Iraq war. So in reality the people in the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force pledged an oath to support the President that you hate so much, so tell me how could you so called "Support them but not the war." So next time why dont all you war protesters and bush haters who try to pass as patriotic americans, just say that you hate all people in uniform. We all know that is really what you really mean.

"and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me," coragypha, this is part of the actual oath. Check You facts buddy.

Coragryph, sorry for the mispelling.

So do you people just hate the ones that took the oath after the war started, its seems to me that you should hate them just as much a Bush.

Berkshire, "they didn't even know what they were getting themselves into" I cant belive you actualy said that. What if they did know that they were getting into does that make them bad people? Or let me guess they were too poor or stupid to make any choices on their own. So people like Michal Moore and Sean Penn have to decide for them.

Mordent, I did not say that you are a bad person if you dont support the war, just dont say that you support the troops, you cant, these troops volunteered to fight in any war, and many of them specifically this war by enlisting or renlisting after the fact. Please do not pretend to support them, because in your eyes they should be worse than Bush.

The active ARMY alone recrutied 175,000 people and retained 67,000 in 06. Reguardless of weather they say they belive the war is just or unjust they are by default condoning it by reinlisting, or lack any morals whatsoever by the
"support the troops not the war" crowd's standards, anyone who supports them are thus supporting the war. You can not do both, Its like saying I support the police but not when they enforce the law.

Answer 1

Wow settle down man you went off on a little rant there. Well whom else should we blame for the war in Iraq? Now I'm for the war and for finishing it i do feel like i was lied to to start the war but we are there now and we need to finish. I don't think we needed to go in when we did that could have waited until we had a better understanding of the whole situation over there maybe we could have learned more about the people and risks and rewards for action.

Answer 2

Your argument that we cannot support the troops but not the war sounds pretty false to me. I realize that the people in the armed services took an oath to obey their Commander-in Chief ( who is the President) I applaud all those service people who are fighting the war in Iraq --they are doing what they promised to do.

HOWEVER -- I do not have to support the war that they are fighting! I feel that Bush has put our service people at unnecessary risk in a war that cannot be won.

The war was started under false pretenses --no weapons of mass destruction were found; Al-Quaida was not strong there until we toppled the government and gave them a way to thrive;and the Iraqi people were not the ones who flew into the towers ( most of them were from Egypt)

In this country, we are free to disagree with the government without being labeled as "un-american."

You do not speak for me --and I am pretty sure you are not a mind reader -- so do not tell me what I "really mean"

I was in high school when our young men were sent to Viet Nam to a similar war, which was also unpopular. Many people who were opposed to that war took out their anger and frustration on returning service men and women. These poor,tired military people were yelled at and spat at by people who called them "baby-killers"

The people today who say that they support our service people, but not the Iraq war are making a distinction between an unpopular war and the people sent to fight in it.

We do not hate the soldiers, marines and guardsmen --- we hate the war that is taking them so far away from their families for a cause that we feel is wrong.

Answer 3

I am one of those people that support the troops but not the war. It is easy, I stand behind the men and women that are serving their country. I do not support the war, All the war has done was opened up a whole new can of worms. Your statement is very one sided. I respect the military and the people who serve in it. I did not vote for Bush in either election. Just because I do not agree with the President does not mean I disrespect the troops nor does it mean I am not patriotic!

I think you are taking the "volunteer" thing too far, Yes they "volunteered" because they were not DRAFTED, But tell me of one soldier that could say, " oh by the way Mr. President I decided I don't want to be part of the war so i think I will pack up and go home now" They did volunteer their service to this country but that does not mean they agree with every order given!

Answer 4

Lame. Get off your soapbox.

As a person in a supposedly democratic nation, I can choose to either support elected officials decisions or not. It has nothing to do with the military, as they are only acting in the interest of the current administration.

And I am not even a democrat- I am nonpartisan. I support "them" because they are mostly 18-20 year olds who volunteered, but didn't know entirely what they were getting into.

Believe it- It does not make them bad people at all. I chose to become a cop at 23, and I didn't know what I was getting into. Entering into the armed forces, most people do not know what they are truly signing up for. And even if they did, they still believed they were supporting America, much as I thought when I was 19.They are still pawns in the larger game of world politics, though.

Answer 5

Bush didn´t need to go into Iraq at any time. The excuses made for starting the war where vague and in some cases untrue. Bush is the only terrorist of the world, and the terrorist actions that we have seen was most probable designed by the Bush administration. Look at how your country changes into a control nation. That also means that products eventually will marked "safe" which means that scared people will only buy that product, which will be owned by the few people that designed the whole thing.

It´s all about money. Not safety, peace or terrorism - but money.

Answer 6

I don't understand the jump from blaming the current administration for the war to not supporting the troops. I guess it is the same sort of rationale that Bush and Cheney used to get us into Iraq. I'm a Marine vet and am very conscious of the dedication and sacrifices of the military. They have their orders and have carried them out to the best of their abilities. My problem is with the misguided Commander in Chief who sent them in harm's way for no good reason and is unwilling to reevaluate whether we should be occupying Iraq.

Answer 7

Bush took us to war under false pretences. Bush came up with the strategy of invading Iraq as a scapegoat for 9/11. Bush FREELY ADMITTED lying, by saying that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 whatsoever, despite saying exactly the opposite as one of his justifications for invasion. Bush justifies being in Iraq for some pretty tenuous reasons ("we've got to bring them freedom!" - please define this freedom Mr Bush. Does it mean the freedom for you to throw trillions of dollars into a massive hole in the ground?)

I think I've got a pretty good reason to blame Bush for the war.

As for "if you don't support the war you don't support the troops" - how very typical of 'either/or' conservative thinking. Either you're with us or you're against us, either you're a republican or you're a communist, either you support the war or you're a terrorist. Either you're a supporter of new imperialism based on corporate nepotism, blatant corruption, the furtherance of the interests of unelected corporate 'focus groups' and quangos and lying brazenly to the world about your motives; or you're a dispicable freedom hating terrorist who wants women to be stoned to death for showing their faces in public.

Now as for the troops; personally I think the troops would probably prefer not being shot at. I mean, if I had the choice as to whether I wanted to be in a scorching, dusty hell hole dodging RPGs whilst watching my friends being blown up, or being stationed in a military base in Hawaii I know what I'd choose. But true, they do the job they're told to do, as soldiers always have to. Fair enough. What my point is this job has been rotten from the start. Iraq and the troops stationed there are a pawn in the new great game - the US has swung from supporting to hating Iraq several times, and look how it's come back to bite you. The troops SHOULD NOT BE THERE. Bush lied to them. I'm not saying they're doing a bad job - they're doing the best they can in a war which is either unwinnable or isn't meant to be won.

After 9/11 the world was behind America. The whole world wanted to see those responsible brought to account. The hearts of almost every person on earth were with you on that day. Messages of condolance and support came from accross the world. From France (that country which were never fans of Bush, especially not 7 years ago) came "Nous sommes tous Américains", flowers were left outside the US embassy in Moscow, messages of support were left on the Kolkata gate in India. Now America is the most detested country on earth. You must ask yourselves - what could possibly have gone so wrong?

Answer 8

The fact is enlisted soldiers have pledged to support the president, which is why they are where they are. That does not mean that they all believe in the president and his war. To many, being a soldier is a job, a job with many opportunities, and drawbacks. A lot of people dont like their jobs but do it because it is the best they can get, for what they expect in return. So, in reality, if you were to ask at no risk or consequence to the soldier, a majority of them do not support the very war that they are fighting.

Answer 9

hey stupid I am a soldier I have been to Iraq and I am against this war.

That said as a soldier you do not pick and choose the war you fight you obey your orders. I gave my word and when I took the oath of enlistment and as a result when it is my turn to go for the third time I will do so.

Answer 10

How can you generalize (simplify) the Army's, the Navy's, the Marines', the Air Force's and their families' opinion on this war as being the same as one single person? Though you must be very fond of this beloved President it still does not give you the right to put our men and women in uniform under one single opinion. Just because one's in the uniform does not mean they don't own individual opinions. I don't hate anybody. I certainly don't hate 'all people in uniform'. Did 'all people in uniform' come forward after Al-Qeida's (at the time in Afghanistan) attack on 9/11 and said 'Attack IRAQ because of its weapons of mass destruction'? Hmm... I think I missed that part of their speech.