Troop Support Question

Caedmon · Mar 29, 2003

Is it possible to support the military actions of US troops in Iraq if one disagrees with Bush's decision to commit those military actions?

coastie · Mar 29, 2003

Yep. GO support 'em, Joe!

Lanakila · Mar 29, 2003

This was posted on another message board before this one, and it applies in my opinion.

Edited for a less controversial letter.

<SPAN id=postcolor>A  Letter To Mother

A California mother whose son is right now  in Kuwait poised to knock
Saddam' s block off, wrote her son asking how he would  feel if she joined
other relatives of service members in an anti-war  demonstration in
Hollywood last month. After reading her son's response, she  elected not to
participate.

Dear  Mom,
It's really your decision to march if you want  to or not. You are the
one who has to decide if what we are doing out here is  right or not. My
opinion is not yours. I do, however, have things I would  like for you and
Grandma and everyone else at home to know. I am a United  States soldier.
I was sworn to defend my country against all enemies, foreign  and
domestic. People may not agree with the things we are ordered to do. I
would  like to address those people by telling them that terrorism is not
only a threat  to us as Americans, but to many other innocent people in the
world. What  type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights
and freedoms of  others, not because they're Americans, but how about just
because they're  human? We live in a country where people feel secure with
their daily  lives. They do business like usual and don't worry about the
thought of  terrorism actually happening to them. The people of 9-11
thought the same  thing. We now know that it can happen to anyone at any
time. Yet as  Americans we're afraid of losing our soldiers to defend our
security. I can only  speak for myself when I say that my life is an easy
expense to ensure that my  family and friends can live in peace. I
strongly believe in what we are  doing and wish you were here to see for
yourselves the honor and privilege that  American soldiers aboard this ship
are feeling, knowing that we are going to be  a part of something so strong
and so meaningful to the safety of our loved  ones. Then you would know
what this potential war is about. We will  stand tall in front of
terrorism and defeat it. We as soldiers are not afraid of  what may happen.
We are only afraid of Americans not being able to understand  why we are
here. I ask for your courage as Americans to be strong for us;  I ask for
your understanding in what we believe is right. I ask for your support  in
what we are sworn to do: defend our country and the life of all. We  will
succeed in our task and will end the threat of terrorism in our back yard.
We will also end the threat of terrorism in our neighbors'. We have to
remind ourselves of what this country stands for: life, liberty and justice
for  all. In order to maintain those rights we have to stop the threat of
terrorism. I am proud to be here. I will be coming home, but not until I
know that it's going to be safe for all Americans and for everyone I  love.

My family is first. My country is where they live. I  will defend it.

Lonnie J. Lewis
Navy corpsman
C Co. 1/4 WPN  PLT
UIC 39726 FPO AP 966139726

P.S. Mom, please send this to everyone  who has a hard time understanding
why we are here. Ask the paper to put what  I've said in a column so that
others will know why we are  here and what we are here for. I love you all
and will be home soon. I left  my address so that if anyone feels like
writing to let me know how they feel, they can. 
</SPAN>

Caedmon · Mar 29, 2003

Today at 03:37 PM coastie said this in Post #2

Yep. GO support 'em, Joe!

How is it possible?

If I oppose war, how can I support actions of troops? They are committing actions of war.

I'm not saying don't pray for their safety. All I'm saying is how can you support them actively engaging in something that you oppose?

Lanakila · Mar 29, 2003

I don't think so humble, but that is IMO, only. What you do or think is up to you. I am opinionated on this topic. My hubby is in Kuwait right now, defending our rights to have our own opinions, and hopefully allowing the Iraqi's the freedom of conscience also.

coastie · Mar 29, 2003

Today at 01:54 PM humblejoe said this in Post #4

How is it possible?

If I oppose war, how can I support actions of troops? They are committing actions of war.

I'm not saying don't pray for their safety. All I'm saying is how can you support them actively engaging in something that you oppose?

Joe, what answer do you want?

Yes, no.... it really doesn't matter. You are opposed to the military anyway, you've told me that.

What are you hoping to accomplish here?

Blindfaith · Mar 29, 2003

Lanakila, it's obvious that I've pro-military, pro-USA, pro-President Bush, and I pray for our soldiers, such as your husband numerous times every day.

humble ~ I can't really qualify how a person can support our troops but be opposed to the war.  It doesn't really make sense to me, but that's just me.

Didymus · Mar 29, 2003

sometimes these threads about the war sound so much like we used to discuss during Viet Nam that i feel like i am in a time warp

coastie · Mar 29, 2003

Amazing how history repeats itself, well sorta.

Caedmon · Mar 29, 2003

Today at 04:04 PM coastie said this in Post #6

Joe, what answer do you want?

Yes, no.... it really doesn't matter. You are opposed to the military anyway, you've told me that.

What are you hoping to accomplish here?

Well here's the thing. I oppose war. Bush started war. Now, there's 100,000 troops in Iraq waging a war for Bush. People tell me I should "support the troops" and pray for them, lumping the two together. This confuses me, because they say if you don't support the war that the troops are fighting, then you don't support the troops, and you don't care about them at all. Well that's not true. I pray for the troops and their families everyday. But people seem to think that since I don't support war that I don't care about the troops, and that is just not true. I mean one of the special things I pray for is for them to have enough water and food so they don't get sick. I also pray that they don't get hurt or killed. But some people seem to discard that stuff when I say it, and try to tell me that I don't really care about the troops because I'm not supporting Bush's war they're fighting. People say I should just drop my politics and "support the troops." But the funny thing is that they won't drop their politics and just accept my prayers for the troops as being worthwhile. It seems kind of like a double standard to me.

coastie · Mar 30, 2003

Well then pray for them and don't support them.

feral · Mar 30, 2003

i think you can support the troops without supporting the war. i disagree with and dislike bush very much, i don't trust him in the least...but when i see soldiers doing what they think is right, whether or not i agree that it's right, i support them. i applaud anyone who stands up for what they believe, even if i don't feel the same way they do. also...the troops are not just fighting machines...they are people who deserve some support. when you consider what conditions they must be faced with, it's difficult not to feel respect for their courage. that doesn't mean i support or applaud those in power at all...they aren't on the front lines, and i don't feel they are honest. but the soldiers are doing something that they feel is important, and should be given respect and support for that.

i found that letter posted by lanakila very moving as well...

l33tace · Mar 30, 2003

Yesterday at 01:34 PM humblejoe said this in Post #1

Is it possible to support the military actions of US troops in Iraq if one disagrees with Bush's decision to commit those military actions?

Well I like to think Ive seen it all and know it all so sure why not agree and disagree in the same breath. Well Im just kidding about the self-description. If it was right or wrong Im sure you will personally know some day.

Peace

Caedmon · Mar 30, 2003

Today at 09:05 AM l33tace said this in Post #13

Well I like to think Ive seen it all and know it all so sure why not agree and disagree in the same breath. Well Im just kidding about the self-description. If it was right or wrong Im sure you will personally know some day.

Peace

Darn whippersnappers...

Caedmon · Mar 30, 2003

Today at 08:42 AM feral said this in Post #12

i think you can support the troops without supporting the war. i disagree with and dislike bush very much, i don't trust him in the least...but when i see soldiers doing what they think is right, whether or not i agree that it's right, i support them. i applaud anyone who stands up for what they believe, even if i don't feel the same way they do. also...the troops are not just fighting machines...they are people who deserve some support. when you consider what conditions they must be faced with, it's difficult not to feel respect for their courage. that doesn't mean i support or applaud those in power at all...they aren't on the front lines, and i don't feel they are honest. but the soldiers are doing something that they feel is important, and should be given respect and support for that.

Thanks feral, that post made me think. I don't agree with a lot of the things that Bush says, but I guess I shouldn't take that out on the soldiers. I am against what they are doing, in as much as it is orders passed down from Bush, but I guess they don't have much of a choice. If they don't follow orders, then they could get court marshalled. You can't help but pity that. I think it's sad that you would be forced to fight even if you didn't agree with the military decision. Then again I'm sure the majority of them think that what they're doing is right. That's why I pray for them. BTW, I like your Bertrand Russell quote. It speaks truth. I think it can apply to both sides of this conflict.

*off topic* - I noticed that you're from Norway. I've heard that most Norwegians don't speak Norwegian very often. Is that true?

Lanakila · Mar 30, 2003

Our soldiers are not fighting at the point of a gun at their head, that is the enemy doing that to their people. It is hard to understand evil like Saddam's regime, but they are committing war crimes while we Americans follow international law of the Geneva Convention, and don't kill POW's, torture, kill their own soldiers while surrendering ect, ect. Our soldiers  are real people guys, who for the most part believe in what they are doing. Its not easy to kill people (I couldn't do it) but it's a necessary evil in the mad, mad world we live in. Police officers believe in what they are doing too, and this is the same idea.

Caedmon · Mar 30, 2003

Today at 11:32 AM Lanakila said this in Post #16

Police officers believe in what they are doing too, and this is the same idea.

Now see, you used an analogy, and it helped me to understand your argument better. But I used an analogy in another thread, and I got slapped with, "irrelevant." I don't understand. Is it because my viewpoints are in the minority? If so, then wouldn't that be thought discrimination?

coastie · Mar 30, 2003

Today at 10:00 AM humblejoe said this in Post #17

Now see, you used an analogy, and it helped me to understand your argument better. But I used an analogy in another thread, and I got slapped with, "irrelevant." I don't understand. Is it because my viewpoints are in the minority? If so, then wouldn't that be thought discrimination?

Playing the discrimination card? Please.

Your analogy was irrelevant. And here, your words are misleading.

No one "slapped you".

Stormy · Mar 30, 2003

Humbel Joe : No one likes war. But we all want to keep our freedom. In this world, there is a price tag for your freedom. Why would you not wish to support the troops that our willing to pay this price with their very own life?

Brimshack · Mar 30, 2003

As for opposing the troops themselves, it might pay to remember that none of them is currently in a position to say 'No'. They must fight if they are ordered to do so, hence it won't do any good to try an introduce doubt into their minds. On the other hand, the notion that failure to support the war amounts to a betrayal of the troops is effectively a blank check to leaders who may misuse them in a variety of ways. (Is that so abstract? I could swear it has happened before.) If your disagreement is with policy-makers, then your arguments should be directed at the actions of policy-makers, not the troops themselves. Those who protest should protest with dignity; they should refrain from hyperbole; they should refrain from wreckless descriptions of actions taken by the troops (as distinguished from stating concerns over any credible reports of human rights violations - should they occur), and they should certainly refrain from actually giving MATERIAL aid and comfort to the enemy (e.g. Jane Fonda). Note also that giving material aid and comfort to the enemy means tangeably assisting them in some manner, not merely saying something in which Iraqie leadership might take SYMBOLIC comfort.

Many in the right would not be satisfied with such terms, but to suggest that we should refrain from disagreement over the most important event in current world history is to render the democratic process hollow at best, and potentially to destroy it outright. There is real danger that the public pressure to support this war combined with actual measures being taken to Congress (Patriot II) could compromise a number of American freedoms.

Troop Support Question

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