Can you really `support the troops' while opposing the war?

The King County Journal (Seattle area) ^ | April 6th, 2003 | John Carlson (columnist & talk-show host)

[Soaring Feather]

"I think that they're bull$hitting me".
I'll second that motion!

[Texas Eagle]

Amen. Servicemen and women aren't stupid. They know when they are being jerked around for political purposes and when they are serving in a worthwhile endeavor.

[Jorge]

"Now, I cannot imagine a greater threat to troop morale than seeing fellow citizens back home protesting the very effort the troops are engaged in."

I can. They don't give a rat's ass about the anti-war protesters.

Unfortunately there were soldiers and their families interviewed on TV today that said just the opposite.

They said that seeing fellow citizens back home protesting the very effort the troops are engaged in does effect their morale.

[Cacophonous]

I'll pay the airfare and all accomodations for anybody who has the guts.

It would be an honor for me to be able to tell them: "God bless you all, you have been magnificent. I can only imagine the fear in the hearts of those miserable towelheads at the sight of the Screaming Eagles and the Rock of the Marne tearing across the desert. Well done.

"Now let's wrap this up and get you boys home to your families. They miss you and love you."

[Anamensis]

No, seriously. You may think what's "best" for us is to be isolationist. I don't. I sympathize with the thought; the rest of the world disgusts me. I just think it's about 200 years too late for that.

Or you might think it's "best" to throw Israel to the wolves. I don't.

[Long Cut]

Tell me about it. I'm getting a bit weary of people telling me how much they LUUUUVVVVVV The Troops so much they want them to quit and go home, in disgrace.

I know that most of us are a bunch of Enlisted pukes, but how damned DUMB do they think we are? Like I said, most (including yours truly) find it incredibly insulting to hear.

[Texas Eagle]

That sent a chill up my spine. I'd love to see that.

[Cacophonous]

You may think what's "best" for us is to be isolationist. I don't. I sympathize with the thought; the rest of the world disgusts me. I just think it's about 200 years too late for that.

You are working on a false assumption. The US never was, and never should be, isolationist. We should have robust diplomatic relations with all nations. We could not survive otherwise.

But that's a far cry from trying to play world cop, or anything of that sort.

Or you might think it's "best" to throw Israel to the wolves. I don't.

Nah, Israel has a right to self determination and survival. I'm all for them. I just don't think American resources should be dedicated to them. And you can substitute any country in the world for "Israel" and get the same response from me.

[Soaring Feather]

Right on LC there is so much of that crap in my home town it makes me sick. Peaceniks up the you know what!

They say dumb stuff, "well aren't you for peace?"

I ask you, what sort of ding dong question it that anyway?

[Long Cut]

"They say dumb stuff, "well aren't you for peace?"

I hear this a lot, too. I usually say something to the effect of, "The only place you'll find true peace is in a pine box in a six-foot hole, if you're lucky, it'll have a pretty stone over it. Other than that, you want to LIVE, you best be able to FIGHT."

Just remember how the skinwasters define "peace"...it includes the annhilation of America, as it now exists. The funny thing is, some of them REALLY believe that if we all just dropped our weapons and joined hands, everyone'd be dancing in fields of flowers forever. They refuse to even acknowledge basic human nature.

[foreverfree]

bump

[Hila]

Of course not, when we support our troops, we support their goals, we support their Commander in Chief and we definitely support our nation. The hypocrites are way too naive to think we believe they support our wonderful troops.

[Soaring Feather]

The funny thing is, some of them REALLY believe that if we all just dropped our weapons and joined hands, everyone'd be dancing in fields of flowers forever. They refuse to even acknowledge basic human nature.

That's exactly what they do here!! Frozen in the so called "Peace Movement"!!! Grey haired, ponytail dirty, blue jeans wearing, dirt bags! "Give peace a chance man"!!! And on top of that, there are bongo drum bangers on every side street in town. Thank heavens I don't have any on my block! But, hot summer nights they can be heard!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Annual dues for being a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. $25
Cost of work uniform. $45
Eating lunch on base with your regular Coast Guard Brothers and Sisters
while some anti war idiot is on tv
watching them ridicule this moron. PRICELESS!

[Anamensis]

You never addressed my initial comment. You think we should have stepped back in 1991 and let Saddam become a socialist superpower?

[StarfireIV]

This was a question I repeatedly asked myself as the build up began more than a year ago. It was even harder to walk away from a certain congregation on Capital Hill which had lifted my spirits in the wake of a very painful summer, but as the ministers there began infusing left-wing politics in their sermons from the pulpit, and as the very real possibility arose that inaction would be worse than action, I began to re-think my position. Having been vocal about Clinton's non provoked agression in the years past, did not help with my desire for consistency either. The start of the war left me very heavy hearted, but as the nature of the Ba'athist regime became clear to all but those whose minds could never be open to the truth, and as the nature of those who openly opposed the conflict went from comical to downright despicable, I opted to show solidarity with the President, as well as those serving in our armed forces.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They are supporting Saddam Heusein! He takes great delight and hope that, like the Vietnam conflict, enough bodybags will defeat the effort to remove him and this just emboldens him.

That is Saddam's plan!

[gogov]

Can you really support the troops while opposing the war!

Only if you keep your mouth shut and don't let anyone know you oppose the war. The time for debate was before the war started. Now that it is on, if you have nothing to say in support, say nothing at all.

[Long Cut]

I have often thought that the proper place to express misgivings about a war was over drinks and cigars at the victory party thereof...

[Long Cut]

Sad thing is, if we all did what they wanted and danced naked in the fields, the dictators, totalitarians, and tyrants of the world would, after their easy victory and subsequent enslavement of us all, promptly have all the useless peace pansies shot.

Such lazy cowards would be among the FIRST up against the wall...