We Support the Troops, But...

June 1, 2006 | Joe Stener

[mikemach5]

What I'm saying is that the anti-war people I've talked to were rabidly opposed to the Iraq mission but now have a "We need to finish the job before leaving and we wish the troops safety and success"

OK, I get ya. People like that I don't have problems with.

Consider yourself lucky that you haven't encountered the rabid defeatists yet.

[Blzbba]

"Consider yourself lucky that you haven't encountered the rabid defeatists yet."

No doubt. Living in suburbs of Atlanta allows me to keep distance from those.

[mikemach5]

If a democrat president were waging this war, of course we wouldn't hear all this stuff from the left, we'd hear it from the right...

I don't think so. Think back again to Clinton's messes. I don't recall hearing Bob Dole declaring Kosovo "Bill Clinton's Vietnam," Newt accusing Clinton of cooking up a war for political gain, or Frist equating the troops with "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot and others." The people on the right were against the mission before troops were put in harm's way. Once they were there, they put all their support behind them and Clinton as CIC. Same thing would happen if Gore or Kerry were President right now.

And no one on the right would show up at protests with signs and t-shirts with reprehensible slogans on them equating the POTUS with Hitler, "I support the troops when they shoot their officers," etc. The right wouldn't actively be working for America's defeat if they disagreed with the mission. They may make some tastless jokes about "Monica bombs" (even though it was true) but they wouldn't be working for our country's defeat.

[stuartcr]

I believe this is a different situation, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens if a democrat pres gets elected.

[paul51]

Since I have worked in the defense sector practically my whole life, how is it, that I am NOT supporting the troops?

Unless you are working for free, it sounds to me like they are supporting you. You are the one that said you don't support the war effort.

[stuartcr]

As in most jobs, it works both ways, I provide a service the govt needs, and they pay me. I could probably make much more in the private sector, but I chose this path.

As for supporting the troops, I do that daily. I still don't know what this heavy lifting you mention is, please explain.

You may be surprised, but there are an awful lot of people in this country that back the troops 150%, and still do not support the mission, even active duty personnel. As I asked earlier, outside of outright protesting aginst the war, how does anyone's individual feelings about this war, actually undermine anything? Please explain this also.

[paul51]

We arw just going in circles. You say 'I support the troops and don't support the war'. I say that's BS. We disagree. I say, if you don't support the war effort, you play into the hands of those that would see us defeated. You claim you can't see that. Fine.

[stuartcr]

Fine, yes....and of course we're going in circles, that's what most of this forum stuff is about. One either agrees with everybody, or we go around in circles.

But you still haven't explained what the heavy lifting is, or how what I say or think, undermines anything.

[MEGoody]

Some people are easily read as to whether they are being politically motivated to 'change their minds' or not. Others may not be so easy.

And some people have great discernment when it comes to assessing the behavior of others, and others do not have such discernment.

[stuartcr]

What is wrong with being politically motivated? How could anyone even be in politics, without political motivation? For that matter, I can't see anything wrong with having the ability to change one's mind...it seems a lot better than going through life with blinders or tunnel vision. I figure God gave us our brains to use, not just to pick some ideology and stay with it, no matter what, that's why we are so adaptable.

[MEGoody]

What is wrong with being politically motivated?

If you actually have to ask that question, any answer I give you would be WAY over your head.

Have a nice day.

[stuartcr]

You could at least try, I'm sure there is someone here that would understand your answer....unless you actually do not know what is wrong with being politically motivated.

[Just A Nobody]

Thanks Takoma. I remember those guys. Barf!

[Just A Nobody]

You may be surprised, but there are an awful lot of people in this country that back the troops 150%, and still do not support the mission, even active duty personnel.

Do you have a link to that claim? How many active duty troops have told you they do not support the mission? I spend a great deal of time with the troops. Just last night a group of seriously injured troops said they would all go back to Iraq right now if they could. They all say you do not support them if you do not support their mission.

[stuartcr]

Of course I don't have a link, it is information that I have gathered from talking to active duty personnel, retired personnel, govt employees, and other people.

Not everything is on the internet.

Apparently, we have talked to different people.

[Just A Nobody]

I have gathered from talking to active duty personnel, retired personnel, govt employees, and other people.

Apparently, we have talked to different people.

Clearly!

[stuartcr]

Why the bold for govt emp?

[xzins]

Precisely.

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