I Don't Support the Troops

[wil]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

You presume that all of Iraq is being destroyed by our presence. Well let me give you "the rest of the story": http://www.mlrw.org/info_iraq-rest-of-story.html

Item by item they each and everyone would be valuable if they had statistics from prior to the war. Yeah we are rebuilding what we bombed is not a cheer for me, I'm sorry.

There is a distinct reason that they choose not to compare electric, water and sewer availabilty before and after the war...or kids in school. Fact is due to the resurgence of the religous control in areas, burkas and women not being allowed education is on the rise...not all by there choice...and yes the victors do get to right the history..hence we need to stay so as no one else will defile our claims.

I am not an American hater....I do let the chips fall where they may and don't succumb to the propaganda...I was in the gap, between wars, so was not indoctrinated by our military machine.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Scarlet Pimpernel

Q, I certainly hope and pray that your personal interests come back safe and sound.

I am one of the biggest pacifists, as well as one of the biggest anti-Bu****es, you will ever care to meet. With that said, I certainly support the troops - as individuals. Yes, they are over there killing - but hey, they're military, that's their job. Yes, Q, I know it's not their only job, but that is a large part of the job of a military force. Yes, they are running the risk of being killed themselves. One can argue that they have no business being over there in the first place. Maybe some (many?) of them are disillusioned and sick and tired of what they are doing there. But joining the military means agreeing to do what your commanding officer tells you to do, and not coming home before you are told you may go home. Now that they're there, they're stuck there, and stuck doing the job they're given. I'm sure that at least 98% signed up either because it was the best way they could see to better their future (or doesn't the military pay for your college education anymore?) or because they had an honest desire to help people in trouble. Whether their belief that they could help was based on misinformation and lies is, in their individual cases, beside the point.

No, I don't think the American military has any business being over there. Yes, I think the war was started in the interests of American businessmen and oil magnates. Yes, I think anybody killing anybody for any reason, under any circumstances, is shameful. But all of that is merely my own opinion. I want everybody to emerge from the Iraq war whole and healthy and unharmed, or failing that, as whole and healthy and unharmed as possible. And my prayers go out to the wounded (in body or spirit) and killed and their families on all sides.

A soldier's job is not to "kill". His job is to defend. He must adhere to the rules of war and the rules of engagement, or else he is NO BETTER than the enemy. He does not rig himself to blow up women and children in a food market, or at an elementary school as it is being let out. He does not "snipe" people from a minaret of a house of worship, then demand that no harm come to the holy building. He does not pay families $25,000.00 to use one of their "children" as a human bomb.

As you may or may not know, the US armed forces is an all volunteer service (s). Prior to 911 the US met their quota of new recruits (but of course people weren't breaking down recruiters' doors to get in). After 911, recruiting went through the roof, so much so people had to be turned away. Today, recruitment into the armed services is not as high as post 911, but still higher than pre-911. The voluntary request to return to the middle east by vetrans, after their first tour of duty is an astonishing 67%. Why?

We believe what we are doing is right, honorable and in defence of our way of life. We see the big picture (what lies down the road). If we stop, what is ahead of us is not very bright at all.

While we debate this issue, forces in the middle east have begun showing their hands...what I've said for the past four years here at CR is happening right before your eyes. Iraq is emerging as a success story (despite the painful rebirth it is going through), and the powers that be around it are worried. Why? If Iraq becomes a strong democratic (style) country, with Israel as a potential ally, then Iran and Syria and their minions (Hezbolah, Hamas), will lose their strong hold. They absolutely do not want that kind of alliance, because they can't beat it. With a stable Iraq, then Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Khatar, Egypt, Jordan, Libya...(all more or less moderate states), may combine forces and resources to isolate those that wish nothing more than a fractured infrastructure in that region.

It isn't Islam that is at stake (not by a long shot), it is power and control by a few elitests that is on the table.

You said the US military in your opinion has no business being over in the middle east (Iraq). Perhaps you are right. But I see no one stepping up to the plate to pinch hit in this "game". Do you? Or more apt perhaps, no other goal keeper is volunteering to step in front of the net?

For Christ's sake, someone just kidnapped the entire Iraqi Olympic team...for what purpose, other than to attempt to demoralize a nation trying to get on its feet after over a quarter century of being stomped on?

That would be like someone holding the US president hostage and demanding that we level Washington, DC so they can redevelop it for their own purposes...fat chance.

v/r

Q

P.S. I do understand your angst about all of this. I wake up in a sweat in the middle of the night more often than not...but there is a job to do, and freedom isn't free. Me and mine do not shirk that responsibility, because there is much more than me and mine at stake...so much more

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by wil

Item by item they each and everyone would be valuable if they had statistics from prior to the war. Yeah we are rebuilding what we bombed is not a cheer for me, I'm sorry.

There is a distinct reason that they choose not to compare electric, water and sewer availabilty before and after the war...or kids in school. Fact is due to the resurgence of the religous control in areas, burkas and women not being allowed education is on the rise...not all by there choice...and yes the victors do get to right the history..hence we need to stay so as no one else will defile our claims.

I am not an American hater....I do let the chips fall where they may and don't succumb to the propaganda...I was in the gap, between wars, so was not indoctrinated by our military machine.

Neither am I, nor am I a "machine". But I do search for the truth, no matter how "dirty" it might be. And sometimes, the "dirt" put on us isn't so good at sticking once we shake ourselves a bit.

v/r

Q