I am serving in the US Military. Just wanted to get peoples opion of the Military and War on Terror ,etc...?

Question

I am an open minded guy, but please keep your responces reasonable and don't spill out studid facts with no references.

Answer 1

Guy, you have a tough assignment and you're doing a good job at it. Thanks.

I wish the civilians would stop trying to run the military. For most of them I think their only contact with the military was a GI-Joe doll with the Kung Fu grip. I suppose some of them... maybe even most... are sincere. They are genuinely concerned for you. Being dumber than dirt about the military, and about combat specifically, they make stupid demands and impose insane restrictions. But some of them just want to get reelected. After the elections they'll "sincerely care" again. If it makes it any easier, we put up with the same kind of nonsense about 40 years ago. This time I hope you're allowed to finish the job.

I also wish the media would try reporting, if not the truth, at least what's representative of the truth. I don't know if you're "somewhere in the Middle East," but I've chatted with guys on the ground. I'm certain the Iraqi people will be glad when you get to leave... I'm sure you will be too. But they will be glad, not because you're gone, but because you have made their country safe for them. You will have given them their voice in their government. You will have trained a military and police force so they can fight their own battles. Maybe the infrastructure will still be in need of some rebuilding, but much of that too will be done. That is why they'll be glad. The media doesn't tell that side of the story.

Over here those who get their news from television get about 20 minutes of ads for drugs and maybe 10 of news. I sometimes think the media may still be playing with their GI-Joe dolls...

Bottom line... I just hope you're allowed to do your job and win one... to get the job done.

I'm going to guess you're going to get some veiled... maybe some blatant... bashing. Just think "GI-Joe."

The WWII Vets are about all gone. The Korean Vets aren't far behind. We Vietnam Vets aren't getting any younger. It's comforting to know that there are still a few true Americans who are willing to follow along behind us and to catch the banner when we fall.

Um... I seem to recall that the Turkey C-Rations were pretty good. ;-) Try to have a good Thanksgiving. Take care.

Again, Thanks.

Answer 2

I just want to say Thanks! Thank you for your service to this Country and to Iraq, if that is where your stationed. Thank you for your patriotism and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

You know people can sit over here in the comfort of our homes and Monday Morning Quarterback the war til the cows come home. But the men and women fighting over there are the ones who really know what is going on. They see the Iraqi people, any rebuilding going on, etc.

Did we do the right thing? I have thought so, Saddam Hussein was an evil evil man who killed hundreds of thousands of people. His own people found him guilty and hung him.

Is the Surge working, we hear it is, we hear it isn't, mostly depending upon which party affiliation the person speaking happens to be. Only the men and women serving over there should really give an opinion. Just know I support you and millions of other Americans do to. Try not to let those that don't, get you down. You guys have done a great job! Hope you come home soon!

Answer 3

First thing. Thanks for serving.
Not thrilled with the reasons and conduct of the war. I feel the Bush admin lied to get in there. This is a war more for ego and now money then for real security issues. Was American in "Clear and present Danger???" from Saddam and his gang of scum? I believe no. The neocoms (Rumsfield and the boys) running the Pentagon could fight a war but were completely clueless about the complex religious/social complexities of winning the peace which is what war should be fought for. The American way doesn't work in the Middle East cuz they ain't us and we ain't them. Unfortunately most Americans don't understand that part of the problem.
And the next real issue. Is there an exit strategy for Iraq? Nothing that I have seen yet. Or Afghanistan?
However I also believe we are causing significant damage to an enemy of the like our culture has not seen before. A multinational fascist fanatical religous type of foe. There is that idea of keeping the enemy busy in thier own country and giving them a place to strike. A little cynical but gee it is politics and war.
Not alot of hard cold facts put in here, just observations from my time there inthe Middle East during Desert Storm in the military, in Europe and the US, reading and knowing my kids are soon to join.
ex-USAF weather forecaster and current US Navy Sea Cadet adult leader.

Answer 4

First of all, Thank You!!! I can only imagine what you guys go through - the constant interruptions and deployments, being shot at, sand that gets _everywhere_...not fun. As a student of history, I consider the War on Terror a necessity. If we don't eliminate the threat that Islamic extremism poses now, then they will only grow in strength, numbers, and resources, and we may find ourselves facing attacks on our own soil. In short, we have to fight them over there, so we don't have to fight them over here. As for negotiation, that simply isn't an option. People in that part of the world respect only strength and force. That sounds cold, but it is an unfortunate truth about that culture.

Answer 5

Sorry, I have no "studid facts with no references" but I would like to hear your opinion on the "War On Terror" as it is being conducted currently in Afghanistan. Are NATO and U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan too low? Have the Taliban adapted and become a better adversary? How successful has the "Hearts and Minds" campaign been there?

I am of the opinion that we are not getting the full story, we only get to hear about our small victories and the carnage from suicide bombers/IEDs.

p.s. Thanks for the thumbs down. But it takes more than that to make me stop wanting to learn the truth. Take your thumb, and...

Answer 6

Thank you for your service. You and the young people who are serving with you are doing a great deed. The people who serve in the military are this nation's best and finest. You should all be proud of what you do. The war on terror is one that must be fought. It will be fought in the middle east or it will be fought here in the States. It is one we must win. There are no other options. Again thank you for serving and may the good Lord Bless and Keep you. May He bring you home safe and sound.

Answer 7

the war is a long one dude. what most people don't get is that it's a war of ideologies. they attacked us and we have been on the offensive ever since. the military guys are decent folks.

i have a lot of respect for the army guys, cuz they're the underdogs here. don't get me wrong but they tend to be overshadowed by the marines when it comes to combat capabilities.they're as good as the marines and they go for the long run.

the marines are crazy. they love their country more than they love themselves so i have to give credit to them for that. plus they're excellent shots.

the navy well, they do their stuff. they have the SEALS and they're hardcore. then they bomb people wih them carriers.

the Air Force, they have it pretty easy. fly cool jets and bomb the living crap out of the enemy. not bad

the Coast Guard have a decent job. they protect our sea borders and rescue people when storms are affecting the country. noble job.

Pretty much they're great people all of em

Answer 8

Having served 3years in the USMC way back when i am most certainly proud of all the men and women who wear the uniform. My time was back in the late 70's and i can tell you it was not easy to wear the uniform in public, there was still a shame attached to it from Vietnam. But still public opinion aside i was proud to wear it and to serve my country. -----No one has the right to form an opinion unless they have earned that right.

Answer 9

Would like to have the military run the military. . . If we are going to fight a war, I'd like to fight it and be done with it . . . I feel the military is damned if they do and damned if they don't. The U.S.A. has the greatest military ever assembled on planet earth . . .and I do not feel like the people in Washington have any clue as to how to use it.

Answer 10

being an army wife myself...i get frustrated at the back to back deployments..i know that there is good happening over there but when all the us people hear about is the bad it's depressing..

i know my husband volunteered to be in the army and i know it's his job to go where he's told..so i don't complain about that..what upsets me is when people think it's ok to insult him or his brothers-in-arm...these men and women are brave enough to join the military and go overseas to try to make a difference and maybe i am an idealist but i hope that eventually our troops can leave iraq and the people there have the opportunity and freedoms that we enjoy here everyday...

i am very proud of my husband and our troops...they deserve so much respect as do all veterans...