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'...but I support the troops': oft-said, what does it mean?
Boston Globe ltr to editor ^ | 1/31/07 | Jennifer Baldino

Posted on 01/31/2007 10:17:24 AM PST by raccoonradio

MY HUSBAND recently returned from active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been puzzled by people who speak out -- to his face, mind you -- against our government's plan to increase troops or increase funding for troops but who, in the same breath, say, "But I support the troops."

Recently, he very quietly responded, "Really, that's great. Exactly how do you support the troops?" The person was caught off guard and had no answer.

If you want to support our troops, take care of their families. Too often military families' needs are overlooked. If someone you know has a soldier overseas, help out. Take the kids for an hour. Show up one night with a prepared meal. Shovel their driveway . Give them a shoulder to cry on, take them out for a night on the town. Ask them if they are OK.

But the very best way to support our troops is to provide them with the much-needed personnel and materials to do their job and get out of there as quickly as possible. Cutting off support to our troops will not bring an end to the war. It will only make the job of the soldiers already there more difficult, if not impossible.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bostonglobe; liberalism; support; troops
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1 posted on 01/31/2007 10:17:28 AM PST by raccoonradio
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To: raccoonradio

It means the speaker supports the idea of troops so long as they aren't deployed anywhere off post, and would like to see the number of troops reduced to perhaps a couple dozen with single-shot bolt-action rifles and the ammo kept under lock and key someplace else.


2 posted on 01/31/2007 10:20:52 AM PST by RightWhale (Repeal the law of the excluded middle)
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To: raccoonradio

I have also heard people ask the question...'how can someone not support the troops?'


3 posted on 01/31/2007 10:20:52 AM PST by stuartcr (Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
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To: raccoonradio
Recently, he very quietly responded, "Really, that's great. Exactly how do you support the troops?" The person was caught off guard and had no answer.

Thats because this person is lying, and really does not support the troops.

4 posted on 01/31/2007 10:22:04 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: raccoonradio

That's like telling a son who is a cop that you don't support any of the laws he's enforcing but he's got you support. Makes absolutely no sense.


5 posted on 01/31/2007 10:22:05 AM PST by ladtx ("It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it." -- -- General Douglas MacArthur)
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To: raccoonradio

It means, "I really am an anti-American traitor, but I don't want the peons to think that."


6 posted on 01/31/2007 10:22:48 AM PST by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Championship U)
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To: raccoonradio

The Left stood up when "We support our troops" was said - BUT few if any wear the flag lapel pin.........so what does that mean? Hillary doesn't wear one; Biden doesn't wear on; Obama.......................


7 posted on 01/31/2007 10:24:00 AM PST by yoe (Hell is coming now for sure...................)
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To: raccoonradio
Supporting the troops begins with wanting what they want and respecting what they respect. They want victory and they respect each other and their Commander In Chief.

8 posted on 01/31/2007 10:24:02 AM PST by I see my hands (_8(|)
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To: raccoonradio

I'm sure that dude that spit at CPL Sperling says he supports the troops too.


9 posted on 01/31/2007 10:24:05 AM PST by JZelle
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To: raccoonradio

The Democrats idea of "support the troops" is they assume the troops will enjoy being screwed as much as the Democrats enjoy screwing them.


10 posted on 01/31/2007 10:25:23 AM PST by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

It means, "I do not support the troops, but the Left's Viet Nam lesson is that they should pretend to support the troops rather than throw batteries at them, both literal and figurative. So I am pretending to support the troops with this legalistic disclaimer."


11 posted on 01/31/2007 10:30:34 AM PST by maximusaurelius
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To: KC_Conspirator

It may go back to the days when our soldiers returned from Vietnam and got spat upon. Oh-so-sensitive liberals/anti-
war activists got a bad name for that so now they say,
"Oh I oppose the war BUT I SUPPORT THE TROOPS!" So that
people won't think they'd rather spit on soliders or
call them baby-killers (...though some still do...)


12 posted on 01/31/2007 10:30:41 AM PST by raccoonradio
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To: raccoonradio

...another anti-war-activist saying: "We support our troops most by saying BRING THEM HOME".

No, that _isn't_ support.


13 posted on 01/31/2007 10:32:23 AM PST by raccoonradio
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To: raccoonradio

It means you put a trendy magnet on the back of your vehicle and feel good about yourselves.


14 posted on 01/31/2007 10:34:27 AM PST by SAMS ("I may look harmless, but I raised a U.S. MARINE!" Army Wife & Marine Mom)
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To: yoe

What does wearing a flag lapel pin have to do with supporting the troops?


15 posted on 01/31/2007 10:37:00 AM PST by Kathy in Calif
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To: KC_Conspirator
MOst lies are proceeded with the word "but."

Such as:

I support the troops, but...

I am a conservative, but...

I voted for Bush, but...

16 posted on 01/31/2007 10:38:09 AM PST by CharacterCounts
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To: Kathy in Calif
Recently, he very quietly responded, "Really, that's great. Exactly how do you support the troops?" The person was caught off guard and had no answer.

Well it's probably just some sort of non-binding support.

17 posted on 01/31/2007 10:38:56 AM PST by Long Island Pete
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To: raccoonradio

They support the troops...

just not our troops.

.


18 posted on 01/31/2007 10:42:18 AM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: raccoonradio

Statement: I support the troops!!

Question: Yes, but WHOSE troops from WHICH country?


19 posted on 01/31/2007 10:42:42 AM PST by CaptainAmiigaf (NY Times: We print the news as it fits our views)
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To: yoe

"BUT few if any wear the flag lapel pin"

Bet you have one of those 'magnets' on your car...


20 posted on 01/31/2007 10:47:25 AM PST by dakine
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