China Cat Sunflower said:
Three years after President Smirky McFlightsuit stood on the deck of the USS Abe Lincoln under a giant banner reading "mission accomplished", and 2400 dead service men and women later we are still fighting for "freedom" in Irag. I'm afraid that we have embarked on an unwinnable war for which there is no conceivable end. I can no longer seperate my love of my country from my disdain for what our military is doing. I can no longer support the troops.
Chris
That of course is your right Chris. I on the other hand, do support our troops. I've been there twice, and will go back again in a heart beat. One of my own sons is over there, and the other will be there in six months. They volunteered for the job on their own volition.
Regardless of what the media paints, the truth is that the common Iraqi and Afghani citizen does not want us to leave (not yet), as they struggle to learn just exactly what a democratic type system is, and how to make it work.
They do not want our type of governmental system, but they do want a version of it with Middle eastern flavor, but getting the basics of democracy understood and in place takes time.
If we were to withdraw right now, the impact and ramifications resulting would be tremendous and felt around the world. Siriya, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon would go in and tear Iraq to pieces. Kuwait would become a smear on the map. The US could forseeably be crippled economically, due to the severe energy shortage we would have to deal with, and the flatlining of the Dollar's value.
Our children's future would be questionable at best.
By stating your non-support of the troops, you add insult to the injuries and deaths of our young men and women who sacrificed themselves. You may not care for the decisions made by our government, but I find it harsh and calloused to critisize the soldiers, sailors and airmen who represent you and me, fighting for our way of life to continue.
They don't make the political decisions, the government does, and the military carries out the orders. The governemt is a body of the people, by the people and for the people. So the true blame lies with you and me, and every one who voted for that government.
If you think you don't have the power to change our government, you have forgotten about the governor of California being recalled overwhelmingly a few years ago. And there was nothing he could do to stop it (though he tried like hell).
No, my friend, it isn't the troops' fault or the government representitives' fault...it is Joe Citizens's fault.
We may have lost 2400 military souls over three years, but we lost over 3000 innocent civilian souls in little over three hours a few year back. The Iraqis and Afghanis have lost over 35,000 innocent civilian souls, by their own ethnic peers.
I know you once stated that you write what you think at the moment, and such is subject to change at any given time later, but once words are spoken or written and are read or heard by others, they can't be taken back.
And Let me tell you something, my friend. Words can damage and destroy quicker and more thuroughly than any bullet or bomb. The fastest way to demoralize a military man, is to be condemned by his own people. Yet they still struggle to do the job, and protect the very citizen that condemned them.
my thoughts
v/r
a military man, and fiercely proud father of two military sons...
