Support the Soldiers and Not the War?

Question

As a Soldier, I get offended when I hear people say they support the troops and not the war.

How can you honestly say that you support the troops and in the very next breathe turn around and say that what we're doing is an act of terrorism, that we're murderers fighting an unjust war, that we've lost the war, that there's no way we can win, etc. It undermines everything we're working so hard to accomplish, that IS NOT support, that's working against us.

That's like telling your wife that you support her opening a business but then going around town saying that her business is illegal, immoral, worthless and useless.

Many of the Soldiers I know believe the same thing.

What do other members of the Military think?
What do members of soceity think?

Let me make something clear. Wanting the troops to come home safely is not supporting the troops, it's being a decent human being. Anyone who says they want the troops to come home dead is in need of therapy.

Supporting the troops is doing things that will further progress what they are doing and directly impact their mission. I.E. Care Packages, Donations to the MWR and USO, Sending Letters. Even during WWII when people were encouraged to eat less of certain foods and more of others and to ration certain items for the war effort. THAT is supporting the troops.

If you support someone you not only want them to succeed in their endeavors but you attempt to make a contribution to those endeavors as well.

Answer 1

I see what you're saying. It doesn't make sense to me either. I personally don't support a war in which a people suffer that the Bush admin brought to them in the name of US security.

Therefore I don't support the tools the bush admin uses for this agenda (the tools being the soldiers).

Answer 2

I Starred this Question.

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..I support the troops and have a web site for that purpose alone it is found @

http://ccbp.vze.com

It is not a page that takes any sides in the politics of the conflict, just tries to get others to show their support to the troops in addition there is a link to help save soldiers lives by collecting for "silly string"

Stop, make a purchase and I will give you a 10% REBATE if you say you saw it on Y/A

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I also have a page dedicated to friends lost in Viet Nam

@

http://bpapa.2ya.com I dare anyone to read that page and Attack it. You will see -- I still feel the pain of their loss after in some cases 40 years --

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.TO EuCitizen:

Where do you live so I can come there and bomb drop a load on your head

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The only rerason we have lost so few soldiers compared to other conflicts ( Under 3 per day ) is due to the response time and quick medical treatment - In Viet Nam we lost 18 per day -- Korea 38 - WWII Almost 300 per day

Answer 3

I totally disagree, I support our troops...IN COMING HOME. It's time they stopped dying for monetary and face-saving purposes and came back, prefferably not in body bags. I have countless close friends in the military and all have said to me: "This was the biggest mistake I've ever made." One can support someone for BEING A SOLDIER, but not agree with what they do UPON ORDERS. I personally do not have the personality or will to be a soldier. I would shout right back at a Drill Sergeant and more than likely get discharged within the first week. My brave friends who have served overseas? More power to them. But they all have said that more and more people, while being stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan, are thinking that this war was a mistake. For two predominant reasons: 1.) you cannot attack an Idea! Terrorism is a non-personified IDEA! Declaring War on an Idea is just futile and idiotic. 2.) What happened to the WMDs?

Answer 4

John Kerry claims to support the troops, but not the war. And then he insults the troops by saying they come from poor families and cannot go to college, and even sensationalizing their actions and making them out to be terrorists. He lost the 2004 election and all credibility to run for the 2008 election. We know where he stands.

The New Republic and many other news organizations claim to support the troops but not the war, by accepting articles and writings from "soldiers writing from the field." These accounts consist of rape and torture of Iraqi citizens. But when the "stories" are examined and cross-referenced against unit locations and accounts, the "soldier" is exposed as a liar who never went to any of the places mentioned.

NBC has even hired "military experts" who claim to be veterans who never served in uniform one day of their lives.

I think the "I support our troops but not the war" is just a license to slime and maliciously slander our troops. It is a crock of BS.

God bless our troops and all those who serve and have served. God bless our President. God bless the USA!

Answer 5

Well I'm sorry, but I have my opinion..and that is I support the US military. My father is a Vietnam Vet, stationed in Korea, Germany etc, I learned at a young age the military protects us. I was taught to respect and appreciate them. I however do not believe that we should still have our young men and women risking their lives so that Iraq can become a democracy. Screw that I don't support the politicians and want our people back here safe and warm where they belong. I don't think what we are doing is an act of terrorism, or that we are murderers I do think that we should be back home and let them fend for themselves..they damn sure wouldn't help us so why are we wasting our peoples lives?




My dad wanted me to say something once I mentioned this question to him. Here is what he had to say...

The United States Army is not a terrorist, or murderer. I do support the war to some extent. The people we are fighting there, (since their army has already been defeated) are true terrorists *pure*. I don't support Bush in this, simply because ..when he was a young fighter pilot in the Texas National Guard when his unit was deployed his father sent him to the Alabama National Guard. Its easier to watch other peoples children die than your own. In addition to this, if I had my way: Only the Air Force would be used, we would saturation bomb from New Dehli India to Spanish Morrocco with nukes, and make a new Las Vegas..the end.

Answer 6

There are differing opinions regarding what constitutes troop support. Some war supporters argue that withdrawal of our troops would undermine US credibility and power, as well as make the deaths of our soldiers already sacrificed in this war futile.

Many in the anti-war movement desire the best for our troops and believe that the death of any soldier doing his or her duty is not futile, even if the war that brings about his or her demise is. It is every American civilian’s duty to safeguard our troops by questioning our leaders and holding them accountable.

Proponents for withdrawal assert that the mere fact of the lingering occupation has already undermined US credibility throughout the world. They contend bringing home the troops is inevitable and should begin immediately because keeping such a large number of our troops in the middle of the chaotic civil war between the Sunnis, Shites, and Kurds, whose conflict dates back for centuries, is irresponsible. The US accomplished its goal of taking out Saddam Hussein’s regime. Now we must limit our role, and the Iraq people must take the reins of responsibility to build and maintain their own government.

Answer 7

I have 3 good friends who served in Iraq. Only 2 survived. I support the troops as much as the next guy, but let's be honest - Not all troops are saints. There is a reason that many people in Iraq hate us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr2zuuMGX5o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSaC4uY526U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbc-_Hcf5jY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oD25hfFV7I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcE8A-pfHTM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C9rRVDb1F4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNa7ONGh-aU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3DCWAlp89I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kInHbm3NqDQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nNSovh3hYs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU2S_m_NPfo

Keep in mind, these aren't hidden camera videos. These soldiers aren't ashamed of these videos. They're proud of their actions.

My point in posting these videos is that of course everyone supports the troops. Nobody wants harm done to them. That is obvious. Only the truly sick people wish harm on our troops. BUT, when you start an illegal war and send kids to fight this is what happens. The Iraqi people have good reason to not like our troops. Put yourself in the shoes of those parents whose kids are being teased and paid to fight one another while the US soldiers laugh at them. How would you feel if that was your son.

I believe that if more troops were knew the real reason we're in Iraq and were informed on the real issues they would have different opinions on Iraq. Currently, I believe many of the soldiers are just excited about the legalized murder they get away with everyday. Again, I'm not making this up. It happens all the time. For every one of these videos there are hundreds if not thousands of incidents that don't make it to Youtube.

So let's support the troops because we care about human life. But, give credit where credit's due. Don't tell me I support the terrorists because I question lies and acknowledge flaws in our military.

Answer 8

OK, time to get slammed:

I support the troops. The reasoning for them being in Iraq was flawed. I do not think the troops are terrorists but I do think they are out of there normal element. I base this on the way our troops are trained. Soldiers are trained to go in kill people and break things. Our military model is based on mobility. Get in, do what needs to be done, get out. This notion of taking troops and basically making them stationary targets in a hostile environment sucks to me.

I recognize that you have to be there. General Powell told Bush before he resigned (was pushed out of the administration) that in regards to Iraq "He broke it. He bought it." So, you are stationed there because someone has to see it get fixed.

So, I support the troops. I understand the mission. As long as I'm being frank about the situation. I think the mission sucks and that speaks about the brass calling the shots then it does about the soldiers in the field.

So there it is. I know it's not going to be a popular response. Hit me!

Answer 9

I can deal with it. I understand how politics and public sentiment influence with policy. I also know that my role as a Soldier falls in with one of the four pillars of power for any country - the other three being economic, information and diplomacy. I have the support of those that matter most to me - my family, my commander and the troops I lead.

Answer 10

"As a Soldier, I get offended when I hear people say they support the troops and not the war. "

Let's see if I follow your logic.

Your logic: No matter WHAT the cause, we must support that cause in order to support the soldier....

Right

Orders are orders - don't question, mind your post, put the screaming you hear behind that barbed wire out of your mind.
Eyes straight ahead. You are at ATTENTION!

Right

My guess is you would have gone far in the 3rd riech, the peoples army, the red army or anywhere else where your job is to blindly follow the leader

Answer 11

Because The Troops didn't "take a vote" on "a place to hit" and decide to head on over to Iraq all willy nilly. The Troops were ordered there. The Troops are doing their jobs. It's really quite simple to not support the war, but want The Troops to come home safely. To want the families of troops in Iraq to not have to face any more pain.

No one, that I've seen, blames The Troops.