Do you think it's possible to support the troops?

Question

without supporting the war? Why or why not?

What prompted this question was a conversation that I was having with a friend of mine about Starbucks refusal to send coffee to Iraq. She was all for it saying that it was sending a message. I don't personally think the way to go about sending a message to the government is to deprive the troops of anything that may make their tours more comfortable. The people serving now are the same people who would be on the front lines if Iran, Korea or any number of other enemies were to attack. What Starbucks did can't be justified imo.

I guess you're right Denise and I would have known that if I'd actually done any research instead of just believing what I was told - lesson learned. Didn't mean to malign Starbucks unnecessarily. The question still stands however.

http://www.army.com/blog/item/2930

Answer 1

NO! That is like being a Philadelphia Eagles fan and hating football!

"We sure support you and your team, but I wish they would make you stop playing!!" What kind of sense would that make?

How can you support us but not our mission?? I love it when people tell me that they are supporting the troops, it's a great feeling to know that the people are behind us!! But then they tell me in the same breath that what I'm doing here is for nothing and I never should have had to come... Whether you feel we were right to come over here or not-- we are here now and we have a job to do.

At this point, I don't care. Seems we have lost the support of most of the people anyway, so I will take that of even the non-war supporters.

Answer 2

I totally think it's possible. Look, no one wants this war to end MORE than I do, however, I do realize that we have a VOLUNTEER military--at least for the moment b/c I think that will definitely be changed in the future--that needs our support. Those men and women are over there trying to finish their JOBS and get back home. No one wants to see them die. I know that I don't. In fact, I talk to many soldiers here on Messenger and other programs b/c I'm concerned about their well-being and I know that for some of them, the military was their only option of getting a better life, of not going to prison, or taking care of a family or a spouse.

Answer 3

The Starbucks thing is an urban legend that has been going around for a few years. Starbucks used to send pallets and pallets of coffee and hot chocolate to the USS Lincoln at the beginning of the war, up until I left Seattle last year. They probably still do.

Answer 4

notwithstanding the question is what do human beings ever do to 'help' the troops. in basic terms putting forward it out loud counts? or in basic terms putting those yellow thingies? To be consumer-pleasant i don't experience mushy putting forward something like that 'I help the troops' when I force SUV and have not made any real sacrifice in my existence kind. i do not hate our troops for sure. i will probable tell human beings I help the troops, yet no longer warfare. yet what the hell does that recommend? Yea all of us say it. yet absolutely maximum individuals extremely do not do something to 'help' troops. If someone yells 'I help the troops' and ask you in case you help the troops ASK them, 'what are you doing to help the troop to boot yelling it?' Ask regulation makers to look after troops, get them wellbeing care they choose. Ask them to end abusing troops too. What they are doing is abusing our troops. they are using those volunteer military like they seem to be some type of supermen. they are happening third, 4th excursions with inadequate damage, no holiday, no kin time. The warfare is wrecking the military and their kin. i in my view do not see straightforward straightforward approaches to help the warfare and troops similar time. i imagine you may want to ought to oppose the warfare it extremely is hurting our troops massive time. and extremely unfairly. I in basic terms observed a video clip on McLaughlin crew television educate very last evening. This soldier in Iraq ranting about his 15 months prolonged excursion. He says he will flow on yet another 15 months for loose if Bush come out interior the nice and comfortable temperature and do it with him. He wasn't satisfied they shop extending their excursion responsibilities. he's not on my own. The gov shop telling them 'no you may't flow abode, you ought to stay.' you may in difficulty-free words push human beings so difficult previously they in basic terms lose it. it really is in difficulty-free words no longer achieveable to help the warfare in case you help the troops. The warfare is wrecking US troops' lives. It makes perfect experience that you help the troops, yet no longer the warfare.

Answer 5

The simple answer is yes, absolutely. The troops don't have a choice, but they go none the less.
First off I 100% support the war.
Until this coming election I've always considered myself an independent, looking objectively on each candidate’s stances and judging for myself. Now I feel a bit different, yes being a Veteran does sway my feelings, but how can it not? I thought strongly enough about this country to put my life, in dedicated service, over to the leaders of it. I believe differing views are fundamental in keeping this country pure and free, but the level of troop bashing being bantered around by the left has become to much to ignore. Face it, flat out they don't support the war and along with taking shots at the Oval office (yes some are justified) they've purposely and intently taken shots directly at our Men and Women in uniform.
Our enemies have evolved greatly, reason has given way to Fanaticism, and the war on terror is one war that must be won. This anti-troop talk affects our troop’s morale and gives the enemy more fodder for their propaganda cannons, further strengthening their resolve to do our troops harm. If this war is not won there will be no other wars to worry about, because there will be nothing left, no freedoms, no rights, and no true America.
If people don't believe that then that is their choice, but they shouldn't ridicule, slander, and maul the American service member, who is out defending their freedoms, with their self righteous calls to Freedom of Speech. Hypocrisy reeks of ignorance.

Believe what you want but,
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Answer 6

I saw where someone said that our soldiers are volunteers so you shouldn't support them. I have friends over in Iraq and none of them volunteered to go over there.They are protecting our rights by doing what our government wants them to do. They are being use for a purpose that I don't agree with, but to want to turn your back on our troops is not right. If someone wants to support their country, which is an honorable act, we should all be thankful for their selfless act. If you want to support our troops, let me be the first to thank you. I feel that everyone should. And if you don't agree with this war, I will tell you that I don't either. Just remember that our troops didn't start this war, nor are they the ones running this war. They are doing their duty to this country and we should be thankful for that. Whether the war is right or wrong, our troops shouldn't be punished for doing what they are told to do. I hope you can understand my feelings and see what is important. You have asked a very good question, and I hope my answer has help you.

Answer 7

When you say you don't support my mission, the thing that I'm doing, that which I must be able to at least justify in some way just to stay motivated enough to do my job, how can I possibly think you are supporting me?

No. It is not possible.

As for Starbucks; the stuff going around that they won't provide coffee overseas is false (link beow). We actually got a lot of starbucks coffee, and on a weekly basis. Don't refuse to shop at Starbucks becasue of bad politics, refuse to shop at Starbucks becasue it's lousy coffee. (Unless you brew it yourself--they burn it.)

Answer 8

You can support the troops even if you dont agree with our mission but you have to be careful when doing so. I have commented on many other questions like this and my biggest thing that I caution protestors on is to not allienate my family and friends when they have their protest. Do not talk bad about me or my fellow military personnel to my family, do not disrespect me in front of my child, do not harrass us just because I am fighting in a war that you dont agree with.

I dont care if you agree with the war or not. Thats your God given right for which I and many others have spilled blood to defend. But remember this, Its not just republicans or democrats who send people to war or oppose doing so. Both sides agreed and so we went. You cannot point the blame at any one person in particular. Bush simply proposed to congress what he felt was in the best interest of our nation at the time. This war isnt about Oil or WMDs to me as a Marine. It's about protecting my family here and helping out the people in the middle east who now have freedom from oppression for the first time in their lives.

Answer 9

I believe you can. But it depends on how you define "support the troops". Someone who supports the people but not the war could send over warm helmet liners in the winter and cool neck bands for summer to make a soldier more comfortable. They could donate air miles to make it easier for military personnel to see their families when on leave. They could occasionally shovel snow or rake leaves or otherwise lend a hand to the military family who waits stateside. All of that and much, much more could be done to support the PEOPLE, the troops, while you still don't agree with the reasons we went to war.

Answer 10

Well, when someone like Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid say they support the troops and then threaten to cut off their funding if the President doesn't run the war the way they want him to, then No. They don't. They are hollow words that are an insult to our intelligence.