Does being anti-war=not supporting the troops?

gugliamo00

Apparently some here will find this politically incorrect...

Please correct me if I leave any of the "support the troops but not the war" rhetoric out.

"I think your command structure is incompetent, immoral, and illegal."

"I would flee the country rather than serve with you."

"I think the war is illegal and immoral."

"I hate your Commander and Chief."

"Soldiers are murderers, torturers, rapists, (and whatever else suits your fancy)."

"I think you're a slave -- an unwitting dupe -- in some conspiracy."

"You're costing me too much."

"I don't care what you think. I think you should come home now."

"But I support you."

Didn't convince me in Vietnam. It's not working now either. You go ahead and think and say what you want. But the guys and gals with whom I've spoken... the folks with sand in their boots... most of them aren't buying it either.

But the terrorists thank you. You see, you're doing their recruiting for them. They don't have to have a "Tokyo Rose," or "Hanoi Hanna." They get all demoralizing talk they need for free... from you. They don't have a prayer of a military victory. Their only hope is that you force the government to withdraw the troops before the Iraqi government is functioning and their military is in place and well enough trained to defend themselves. Then they'll take that gift you've given them and declare it a military victory. "We won. We drove the infidels from our country. [Note: not "your" country, "our" country] You doubt? We are here. They are not." Almost immediately they will start a very Hussein-like reign of terror. Then they will tell the Iraqi people, "Do you remember what we were able to do when the Americans were here to protect you? Well, they're not here anymore."

Romare

No. Being against the war means that you disagree with the policies that sent our troops into war, not against the troops themselves. Big difference.

northboy

No. Don't blame the troop. They're just following orders.

kevin t

No. A lot of former combatants will be anti-war and pro-troops as a result of actual experience. Twerps like Bush who never even served in peace have no standing to run their mouth talking trash like "Bring it on" or know nothings who snipe lefties here on YA. America is the home of the brave, not the bigot.

Micro68

No it does not. Also, I don't think believe that
Being for the war=supporting the troops.

If you are interested in supporting the troops, send them letters or care packages. See if there are ways in your communities to provide help and support to their families.
A little time and kindness can go a long way.

mclovin

no, soldiers are tools, the war is a job, u can hate the car, but love the tools, tools can be used for other things.

shizzym

Gradis

Hey frichalf

My mates are there and i dont care care what gets wasted as long as they come back OK. The bit i find hard to swallow is our lying scheming polititions who's reality is munched calling the shots. It makes me sick

Gotta have more explosions!

Stop trying to speak for us troops, you idiots.

It's up to each and every individual servicemen to decide which attitudes and actions support him/her or not. Also, I'm sure some soldiers may be appreciative of someone's "support", while others aren't.

Relativity.

CLIVE H

No it does not. Both my wife and me are ex-Brit Army from way back. We're now in our sixties. We did not and do not support the war against Iraq. We do support the war in Afghanistan.

We do totally support our troops wherever they are.

We know from our own experience that it is not the soldier who makes war but the failed politician.

Our troops have a job to do and we pray they will return home safely and soon.

Meanwhile we've got to get on and start winning the hearts and minds of the Afghans because there is no way we're gonna win a ground war there. We tried that twice in the 19th century and failed. The mighty and mythical destroyers of Nazi German, the Red Army was defeated by the Afghans.

The only guy who beat the Afghans was Alexander and I have a sneaking suspision that many of the people of Afghanistan today are the remnants of Alexander's glorious Army. Whoever the Afghans are, they're not going to be defeated on the field of battle.

The Afgan rebs have got to be split up and dealt with separately. It's the only way. Two clever dilplomats [spies] were recently ousted by the Afghans for being tooo friendly with the insurgents. My belief is they were kicked out becuse of their success and that the success they were having would soon lead to the funding in Afghanistan drying up. Thus Kharsai got shot of them so that the cheques keep coming.

My own spin on that anyway...

The Big Guns Are Upstairs

Yes. You can't support the troops without supporting the mission. You can't say "I support you guys", but then go on soapboxing about how the Iraq war is stupid. See where I am getting at?

this guy

No, but some people who don't support the war have had their families separated from the military for far too long and don't know anything about our modern Army and have a negitive attitude toward it and its soldiers. The Iraq War is extremely complicated. I dont think 99% of Americans know anything about it. Whether they think we should be here right now or not they create a picture in there head of what they think it is like off of reports given from the green zone from unreliable sources and they base all their decisions on that. If you haven't been here Iraq is not what you think it is no matter if you are conservitive or liberal. I rarely hear reports in the news of the causes of true problems in Iraq just gross generalizations so the armchair generals on both sides back in the states can think they know what exactally what is going on.

Anyway I would fight a war i didnt believe in if it was what my country asked me to do does that mean i wouldnt support myself?

I agree with John H

Beastie

No, it doesn't.

Anti war means having the common sense to think it's a bit of a waste of soldiers to get involved in someone else's fight. I joined the Royal Navy to protect British interests worldwide, not attack Iraq because George Dubya said they were really dangerous down there.

I'll support our military to the ends of the earth now that I'm a civvy again, but at the moment they aren't defending British interests, they're doing the bidding of the US government.

I am staunchly anti war, because at the moment it means nothing more than the shameful waste of young lives in a fight we should never have been involved in. That's Iraq.

War in Afghanistan is different, as the former Taliban government there sheltered al Qaeda, and al Qaeda are against anything Western. The British Army should be there as the most effective fighting force in the world.

michael c

No but clearly too many believe this to be the case. I don't know how not wanting to see them caught in the middle of the civil war means you are not supporting them. Iraq is hardly a threat to America and they seem to be refusing American's attempts to help rebuild. It is a lost cause.

Flautist

If someone is anti-war, it doesn't mean they can't be pro-soldier. But, a lot of people who are anti-war are blaming soldiers. Protesting with signs that say, THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS and THANK GOD FOR IED'S. That is really not necessary. And people do that in AMERICA! I believe people like that shouldn't even be considered Americans. I really hate people who are like that. I hate a lot of anti-war people because they believe they have to be anti-soldier. Soldiers don't deserve to be called baby killers and murderers. Seriously..they need to get a serious reality check. I hate all the asslicking American citizens who complain about how "bad" America is. Go live in the f***ing middle east for a couple months then come back to me and complain about America. Stupid idiots in this country need to keep their mouths shut..even if it is.."freedom of speech" I say f*** that! If you are an American citizen and have no love for the country you live in..I just say get out. Thats it. Sorry for the rant. The question didn't make me mad. But just thinking about all the stupid people in this country who don't support are soldiers and calling them murderers really upsets me. God Bless our Troops. I thank God for all they do. If you're anti-war, you can still be PRO SOLDIER.

LadyZania

Of course not! *sm*

J K

Not at all. Lot of people don't support the war but they still support that the soldiers becuase they know that while the real reason Bush went to war may not be to honorable, most of the troops are serving because they want to do the right thing.

teddy

Not in the least, i just am sick of seeing our soldiers being killed in places that they shouldn't be in like Iraq, Afghanistan.

Hawai'i

Most of the troops support the war. I know my husband does with a passion. He's in Iraq as we speak. If i didn't support the war, i wouldn't support my husband. It's the truth.

malclave

There is no inherent link between the two.

one shot

People who don't support the troops should think themselves extremely fortunate that despite the news coverage there are still men and women on both sides of the Atlantic willing to volunteer to take on this thankless task - if not for them conscription would be the order of the day.

In the UK those opposed to the invasion of Iraq can be counted in their millions - but still Labour get voted back into power. The appliance of double standards is the order of the day in this country.

I did 15 years in HM Forces with 3 tours in Northern Ireland and a yomp over the Falklands in '82. I didn't give a feck if the British population supported me or not. My only interest during those 15 years was ensuring the safety of my mates and me to the best of my ability and feck the rest of the planet.

My lad has done 8 years - 2 tours Iraq and the same in Afghanistan. His attitude and that of his mates is exactly the same as mine was. They will do their job whether you support them or not.

carolinatinpan

The war is their mission they are willing to die for. If you don't support their mission you can't possibly support the troops. A wife who doesn't support her husbands job is not supporting her husband.

Christine H

Absolutely not!

ya_staff_sux

depends on how you demonstrate your stance

There are several "anti war" types that in no way support our troops

Marine

No. You can be against the war and still support the brave men and women who put their life on the line for their country.

Happy Murcia

We have found ourselves in a very similar situation to that of the US during the Vietnam War,,In as much as the majority of the country support the troops but not the war,The war itself is again similar to the Vietnam War,,No way to win and no way out,,,embroiled in a war in a country most of us know very little about and for an uncertain reason and future,,(a view from the UK)

John H

Although nobody wants to hear the common sense answer, I will post it anyhow. There is nothing wrong with being against a certain war. There is nothing wrong in working to end it in a quiet fashion like communicating with this nation's leadership and working to elect those who will bring it to an end.

I have a BIG problem with public demonstrations. This activity gives encouragement to an enemy to prolong a war, costing lives on both sides. Those who claim to care about lives lost in war could end up killing more instead of saving them. But the First Amendment protects those who would demonstrate. I have to respect that right, although I don't have to like how that right is used.

I am a Veteran of the last unpopular war. My son is a Veteran of this unpopular war. During both wars most of the troops involved have had just one request. "Please let us win so we can end it."

John Ross Hendrix for United States Senate
http://www.hendrixcampaign.com

Homeless in Phoenix

Does being anti-capitalist mean your against businessmen
Does being anti-religious mean your against the clergy
Does being anti-hunting mean your against hunters

Yea...I'd say being anti war means your against the troops! Especially in an all volunteer army.

biggdaddy!

You can be anti-war and still support our troops, they are after all our friends, family members, neighbors and they are not there because they want to be, but it is there job and they do their job because they are good men and women, even if their boss(Bush) is an idiot and doesn't care if they live or die!

Suggested reading, the Award Winning book, "Death of Democracy: The Erosion of Freedom Doctrine of the Second American Revolution" by J.C. Jake Laughton
Available on Amazon

matt m

Not unless you actively protest the war and, like most of the closed minded hippies, turn you agression on the troops; even though you fully understand that they aren't the ones responsible.

TheDude

some people sure are trying to frame it that way once again

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