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Can you honor the sacrifices of troops even if you don?t believe in their mission?
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948
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1/17/08
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(11 of 11)
Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
May 11, 2009 12:00 PM
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IHPNY, thank you for providing this point of view. You give us something else to think about. Isn't it great to be able to express opinions without censure?
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2/25/09
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(10 of 11)
Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Feb 25, 2009 9:14 PM
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This is an interesting thread. I must say, according to the logic put forth here, I guess I don't honor the troops. I opposed this war from the beginning and still believe it was a huge mistake. what not to support you ask? We went to war on lies against a country that didn't threaten us, didn't attack us, and didn't wan't war with us. Hundreds of thousands of people are now dead, including thousands of American soldiers, for what? The picture you paint is awful rosy. Yeah they have "democracy" but how long will it last? These people don't want us there and we have no right. This is sugar-coated imperialism.
I find it laughable that you say this is the "most important mission." Saddam was bad for sure, but he wasn't so bad to reagan who used him as a puppet. Our government is completely hypocritical and hubristic, I would not die for these crooks. I find it especially galling that someone mentions anti-war protesters as despicable. While some may certainly be over the top, they have every right to protest this god forsaken war fought with their tax dollars and in their name. And we're supposed to just sit here and thank soldiers for "defending our freedom," excuse me but this is mere propaganda. Would anyone seriously argue that we wouldn't have freedom if we didn't invade Iraq? Sorry if this sounds harsh, but why beat around the bush?
And as far as soldiers not being victims, yeah I get that, but the gov't still exploits your patriotism. They know how seriously many Americans take their service, country etc, and they know some people will support just about any war they conceive. "Ours is not to reason why...." The government has a responsibility to NOT send our troops into harms way unless absolutely necessary.
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Edited by IHPNY at 02/25/2009 6:21 PM PST
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231
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10/21/08
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Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Feb 25, 2009 4:51 PM
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I never agreed or supported putting our men and women in harms for the mission in Iraq.
That said, I revere the men and women who have made the choice to honor our nation with their sacrifice and service. Since we are there, we must commit to fixing what we broke by invading. We must leave the counrty secure and it's people safe or stay until we have achieved that goal.
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"Not on the neck."
Poinciana
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1/31/09
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Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Jan 31, 2009 4:39 PM
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Can you honor the Troops but not the mission, that depends upon what is meant by not honoring or supporting the mission.
Can you think we shouldn't be in Iraq and still be supportive of the Troops, sure. Can you vote for politicians who would accelerate our withdrawal from Iraq, maybe. That is tougher since we are already there, men and women are already dying and those who want us out before things are at least to where the Iraqi government can support itself are telling us that we should set things up in a way that those men and women died in vain. Advocating defeat is not supporting the troops!
The worst and most vile pitiful excuses for people are those who actually march and protest against the war. When men and women are risking their lives it is not supporting the troops for them to see on TV that many Americans do not support or respect what they do to the degree that they feel the need to hit the streets to oppose them!
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Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Jan 31, 2009 1:04 PM
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I am kind of glad for this thread. It brought to light a popular view of the war, and gave a service member a floor to explain their side of that view. It was great to see both sides of the issue here.
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655
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Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Jan 30, 2009 1:02 PM
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> Ginna,
>
> I respectfully disagree with you. As a member of the
> U. S. armed forces, I have a great deal of trouble
> understanding how someone can honor us without giving
> honor to what we do. It has a feel of victimizing
> us, as though we have no say in the matter and are
> forced to do something abhorrent against our will.
> We are not victims.
I am sorry that you took my words that way, please believe me when I say that isn't how they were intended. I have tremendous, tremendous respect and love for the military and those who serve. I do believe that without the sacrifices made by military members such as yourself, I would not be enjoying the freedoms I have today. I don't have a problem liberating Iraq, deposing a cruel dictator and trying to restore order and peace to this country. I do have a problem with the leadership that led us there, those who created the mission and got us in there in the first place. I think there was alot of deception involved that got us committed to this mission. That is the part I don't support.
I do apologize to you if you were offended by what I have said. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service to our country.
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Host_Ginna
HBO Forums Host
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1/28/09
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Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Jan 28, 2009 5:52 PM
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Rbrink135: Thank you for your service, thank you for telling it like it should be. You put it so well, patiently explaining the truth..My son, a Marine with the 3/2, will be deploying again soon. So I am sure you know how much this movie means to me. God Bless.
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1/27/09
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Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Jan 27, 2009 12:43 PM
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I really like the way you put that rbrink. Well said.
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Edited by macduster at 01/27/2009 9:44 AM PST
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1/19/09
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Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Jan 19, 2009 10:31 AM
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Ginna,
I respectfully disagree with you. As a member of the U. S. armed forces, I have a great deal of trouble understanding how someone can honor us without giving honor to what we do. It has a feel of victimizing us, as though we have no say in the matter and are forced to do something abhorrent against our will. We are not victims.
Your sentiment might have held more water five years ago before we started our mission (I might add with the support of the majority of the country and the approval of majorities on both sides of the aisle in both houses of Congress.) In those days, many members of the armed forces might have agreed with you about your misson. Since then, though, those members have had the opportunity to vote with their feet. They have all had an opportunity to leave the service, and many have. Those who are in today are doing what they believe is right.
Supporting the soldiers while not supporting their mission is a sophistry created by anti-war Americans whose goal is to provide themselves with moral cover as they attempt to regain the glory days of their predessesors during the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, their efforts serve to weaken morale of soldiers putting thier lives on the line, while strengthening morale of the enemy who understands they need only to survive until our country loses its will to fight and brings us home.
I understand how you feel. But consider this: Never before in history has a military force had before it such an important task, performed it so brilliantly, and asked nothing of the people back home. There has been no cry for sacrifice. No war bonds have been sold. No victory gardens have been grown. No civilians have been drafted to fight. More than 28 million people have been liberated from one of the most despicable dictators on the planet. They now have a constitution that they wrote to build a government that they elected. They are growing to a point where they can defend themselves. So my question to you is: what, exactly, is it that you don?t support?
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Re: Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Jan 9, 2009 12:58 PM
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I can, and do. I do not believe in the current "mission" we are involved in but that has nothing to do with my feelings for the troops sent over there. My respect and admiration for the troops that do an incredibly difficult job, every day, put their lives on the line, sacrifice so much time away from their families is profound. It takes a special kind of person to do what they do. I wish I had a tenth of the strength these people have. I sleep well at night knowing that they are there for us.
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Host_Ginna
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Can you honor the Troops but not the mission?
Jan 8, 2009 4:07 PM
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Can you honor the sacrifices of troops even if you don?t believe in their mission?
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