Of course!
Support for the troops is support for the troops.
The good news is, if Kerry is president, after 2 weeks that will be a moot point.
Now, if Kerry decides to invade Poland because it doesn't support gay rights, that is an entirely different issue...
Yes.
Absolutely. I don't have a problem with rationale discourse, review of policy issues and questioning the direction of the war effort. To me, that's a lot different than orchestrating protest marches and making baseless claims about oil, Halliburton, etc.
"I would have turned the question back on the 'moderate'. If Kerry were elected and you learned of continued Iraqi prison abuses and random military deaths, would you honestly demand Kerry's impeachment or at least the resignation of his Secretary of State?"
(apologize in advance if someone else has already made these points. I haven't read the replies yet.)
First of all, it's a straw dog argument to say that "our side" is demanding blind support of the current president. We're not. We are asking their side to at least recognize that there are people in the world who want to kill us, and that such people will not be impressed by a UN mandate nor will they be deterred by a subpoena. I know that's a hard concept, like trying to get a frog in a pot of water to recognize when the heat's been turned on, but in theory human beings are a little more observant than frogs. At least they should try to be.
I will rephrase the question to make it valid.
"If Kerry wins in November, and we are still at war in the middle east, will conservatives keep quiet and... support him unitl the troops come home?"
This of course depends upon whether we are still "at war." Withdrawal or handover to the UN does not constitute trying to win a war, it constitutes an effort to lose. If Kerry stays in the fight to win, then there is reason to support his war effort. If he decides to run away, or worse, to lose by handing authority over to the UN or the courts, then there is no war effort to support.
Your friend is trying to establish moral equivalency between a winner and a loser, between one who fights and one who doesn't even recognize that there is a fight. It's apples and oranges.
Supporting a man who is seeking anything but victory in a war that is already ongoing is to support a man in weakening the US. Debate about entering a war all you please- this is the time when it is the patriotic thing to do regardless of whether you are prowar or antiwar; it is important to challenge assumtions and emotions at this time to ensure we know what we are getting into. But once the conflict has been joined, it must be won or the US will be severely damaged and a lot of people will die for nothing, not just our people but those who have allied themselves with us and those we sought to help, who will be massacred if they cannot prevail alone. US credibilty will be destroyed and all enemies will become more confident, and so, more aggressive.
You should have asked her why she believes Kerry will endeavor to fight and win the war, given that his past history is one of trying to get the US to run away from one in Vietnam, a retreat which was in terms of human life and liberty more costly than the war itself. And if she doesn't believe Kerry will fight to win it, ask her why she would support him in losing it. She has to prove to you that Kerry wants to win, in order to prove he is worthy of wartime support.
Those people who defended President Bush by claiming that dissent is demoralizing are obligated to do the same under any other president. Those that have raised questions, presumably, would not be so obligated.
FMCDH(BITS)
I think the answer must be yes, for there is no way one can support the troops while undermining their Commander in Chief. Partisan bickering only strengthens the hand of the enemy.
Still, I strongly suspect your friend's question is an academic one; for I simply can't imagine the American people electing Kerry to the presidency. He is completely unprincipled, lacks vision, has no integrity, no charm, zero affability, is an elitist, looks like Lurch, and is a boring stiff and, frankly, a bit of a gigolo. JMHO. (I feel entitled to criticize my senator, for whom I have never voted.)
Are you sure this was a Democrat? That was a rather clever riposte. Makes me suspicious. Perhaps she was a GOPer playing devil's advocate.
You shouldn't blindly support anyone. You should however think very hard about separating your animosity for the man from his policies. If Kerry wins (shudder), I'll support the war effort, and I'll pray like never before that God will give wisdom and guidance to President Kerry, especially where the WOT is concerned.
If he makes decisions regarding the WOT that I don't agree with, rather than scream on a message board or gripe to others about it, I'll try to write my represenatives in congress and try to remember that the people in charge have access to intelligence information that I don't.
I'll continue to express my distrust of him, but I will support the war effort.
I will fight any effort on his part to abandon the Iraq battle or to turn any part of the WOT over to the UN, but as long as he tries to defend our country and wage the WOT, I'll support his efforts.
The answer is not because Kerry would pull the troops out and surrender to the UN. Surrender is not an option, we are not aiming for a tie, we are aiming for victory and that is the attitude that is in full support of our troops.
You could point her to Vietnam, Korea, WWII, and even Kosovo. How many Republicans were in the streets protesting those conflicts?
Probably not. That is why I want George Bush to be re-elected so he can finish the job. I still do not know how you can win a war on terror without destroying the Muslim faith. My prediction is we will clean up Iraq over the next few years and then saction everyone else if terroism continues. After all we would not want to go into Saudi Arabia, Libya, North Korea, Syria or Iran would we ?
I will ALWAYS support our troops...period. I will work hard to vote out those who misuse them and disrespect them. IF Kerry wins in November I will be lobbying my congressmen and senators to provide as much money as the MILITARY asks for to support our troops. Will I like Kerry? No way in hell. Will I respect the Presidency? Always. WIll I respect the President? We'll have to wait and see
That being said, if the unthinkable happens, am I gonna keep my mouth shut? Hell no!
Because if Ketchup Boy starts yanking troops out of the Region, he's leaving us wide open to yet another massive attack. And every damn death will be on his head.
First off, there is NO WAY Kerry can win.
But if he did, I would protest every MISTAKE he made, which would most likely be everything he did.
Welcome to Free Republic, I think.
The Left doesn't support the war, the troops or Bush now. After a Kerry victory, The Left STILL won't support the war or the troops.
The Right is fighting this World War by itself.
Bush will win in a landslide.