aloysious

If you have joined the military in the last 4 yrs. or so, particularly the army, what makes you any different than some extremist Muslim on jihad? You volunteer to go half way around the world to fight for a cause not knowing what the cause is. You place yourself in nearly as much danger as living in New Orleans, the most violent place in America, except your medical care is the worst you can possibly expect.
How stupid can you get?
Sorry, I know it's politically incorrect to not "support our troops", but I have no reason to.
If you want to fight a Holy War, a la The Crusades, have at it.
But you have no support from me.

W.M.DEEEZ

As crude as this language seems, I agree as some basic level.

I wouldn't ever consider donating to the troops, as it enables this regime to keep on funneling tax dollars into cronies' pockets. Teri, and other military families feel deeply for the individuals over there, and I can surely relate to how they feel with family in Iraq.


My sympathies are with those who got caught with their pants down. Those who joined the military when it was "safe" to do so...before these maniacs started their "spreading democracy" cancer.


The reservists, or guardsmen/women, who signed up for a vastly different type of service, and ended up fighting a holy war, also got a royal screwing.

As well, I feel for those who served already, and felt it was safe to start a family...only to be called back due to a lack of proper planning at the start of this jihad.

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Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got til it's gone

RK77

I don't think that a lot of them see it that way Deez. Some just wanted to be of service to this nation, period. They neither contemplated nor cared about the politics of the issues involved.

Heretic

My friend joined the National Guard in 2000, so he could hardly be blamed for knwoingly jumping headlong into a mess. And because he was being put on fulltime duty anyway, he transferred over to the U.S. Army. He's like most Soldiers in that he doesn't want to go back for yet another tour in the next couple weeks [15 months long] but he also can't imagine letting those in his unit face risk without him.

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"Enough!!" -so rang Barack Obama's voice off the walls of Mile High Stadium

Ptech

I can understand the point, but it is the anger and hostility that I do not agree with.

RK77 makes the point--a significant portion of those enlisting do so because they want to help. They do not realize how completely brainwashed they have been, but one cannot fault their noble motives.

In my small town movie theater, for the last month or more there has been an ad running, about 3 or 4 minutes long, for the National Guard. The young folk are encouraged to join, music and video by 3 Doors Down as I recall, with takes from various movies including The Patriot with Mel Gibson, and Saving Private Ryan, and others. Very "patriotic". And of course near the end, the watcher is told to "never forget the twin towers". Shameless pandering, and an indication that the central theme of your post is correct.

W.M.DEEEZ

My colorful rhetoric is my opinion, and not what I believe the service people believe.

I was referring to a period of time...in the 80's/90's, when joining the service was a viable option for many youth in this country. Do your time, come out with benefits, and a free education.

Many of my older friends were/are in the guard, or the reserves. All of those I mentioned here were indeed interested in serving their country. Whether or not they did it for the benefits at the other end of the tunnel, is an individual issue.


I feel for those who opted for this path, just before 9/11. How many guard/reservists who aren't properly trained for active duty got swept up in this murderous ploy in Iraq? Some of these families were torn apart, and their lives ruined because we launched into a campaign that was grossly misplanned. We're talking about men/women with good paying jobs, a mortgage and a family, that are now getting paid pennies to fight overseas.


Yes, they wanted to serve their country, but what they signed up for was nothing like what they are involved in now. I know they took that chance when they signed up, but we all have to trust our commander in chief to use good judgement before endangering the lives of the citzens of this country.

This current situation is unprecedented, if I am not mistaken. These soldiers could never have predicted this would happen when they signed up for duty as a "weekend warrior".



Consequently, I truly feel for this group. I would not, however, contribute to their being trapped in Iraq, by sending a donation. If we can't afford to fight this war, let's end it.

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Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got til it's gone

aloysious

Agreed. The first words of my initial post were, "If you have joined the military in the last 4 yrs. or so..."

W.M.DEEEZ

Yep...I noticed that, and felt I would mention those who truly got screwed...you know...the ones the right wing pundits claim "volunteered" for this service.

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Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got til it's gone

al Asaad

Simple: support the troops but not the illegal war.
You see some sort of confilct in that simple equation?

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Stop the lynching of Obama

Ptech

Precisely the point Asaad!

What is so FUCKING difficult to understand about that? My bet is that it's mostly people who never served.