Does anyone else see the similarity?
I recall the rage in many of the American left as they spoke of the hypocrisy of the "Christian conservatives" when those people said they "loved the sinner but hated the sin" (i.e. loved homosexuals but hated homosexuality)
And now the left says they love and support the troops in Iraq but not what they are doing.
I'll leave the rest for some comments that troops in Iraq made to Richard Engel of NBC
And now the left says they love and support the troops in Iraq but not what they are doing.
I'll leave the rest for some comments that troops in Iraq made to Richard Engel of NBC
Engel relayed how "troops here say they are increasingly frustrated by American criticism of the war. Many take it personally, believing it is also criticism of what they've been fighting for."
First up was 21 year old junior enlisted man Tyler Johnson, whom Engel said was frustrated about war skepticism and thinks that critics "should come over and see what it's like firsthand before criticizing."
"You may support or say we support the troops, but, so you're not supporting what they do, what they're here sweating for, what we bleed for, what we die for. It just don't make sense to me," Johnson said.
Next up was Staff Sergeant Manuel Sahagun, who is on his second tour in Iraq. He complained that "one thing I don't like is when people back home say they support the troops, but they don't support the war. If they're going to support us, support us all the way."
Next was Specialist Peter Manna: "If they don't think we're doing a good job, everything that we've done here is all in vain," he said.
posted by exMI | 08:59
12 Comments:
This is a great post. I think this is something I've written about in the past. In a way, the troops are responsible for the continuation of this war, as well. If the reasons for going to war were illegal, then the war itself is illegal. It is lawful for soldiers to refuse an illegal order. Some are, some aren't. I'm torn between supporting my cousin and wanting to slap him across the face for allowing himself to be send there.
80% or so of Americans would seem to constitute "the left" if I read you correctly. Asking volunteers if they are for war is rather a selected poll : I don't even know if you realize that. ( And I would damn well hope they have passion for the mission. )
Asking if they are led into disaster is a proper civilian role : a new link posted this a.m. makes that point vividly.
How can the troops get out of being sent there? That doesn't make sense to me. I think a high percent probably don't even want to be there and don't like what they are doing, but they can't just leave and go home.
I just want them to come home.
Interesting. UWL took a response I did not expect at all. I acatually expectee with some legitamacy to be attacked for drawing very weak analogies between the two as they really aren't that similar at all.
"If the reasons for going to war were illegal, then the war itself is illegal." Prehaps. But the reason were not illegal. Wrong prehaps but not illegal.
OPIT - No, most Americans are sheep and will promptly head whichever way the wind seems to be blowing.
Gunngirl - they could refuse to go and face prison as a deserter or various lesser chargers. Or in some case greater. there have been a few. I personally don't have much respect for them.
I personally have nothing against airplanes..I just dont like them flying into our buildings. I also have nothing against those who have a religion other than mine..I just dont like them strapping bombs to themselves and blowing things up.
I am sick to death of those in the public eye who act or sing for their suppers putting down those who are giving of themselves for their countries. If you really want to make a change..give up the over paid day job in front of the camera get out into your commnunity and make changes. Serve your country and its people with more than lip service.
Its easy to point a finger and tell everyone whats wrong the plan..When the hell are they going to come up with something else thats better?
Besides...I have never seen a bully on a play ground that could be reasoned with..or talked out of being a bully. Have you? So whats the alternative? Do we turn the other cheek? What exactly do they want to do? Because ignoring it sure doesnt make it go away.
This war is bigger than Iraq.
The WORLD is under threat and Iraq is simply ione of many fronts.
Anybody against the war in Iraq has got their heads up their asses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idmlXXY8JCA
Islamo-fascists are on the attack- and they take no prisoners.
SUPPORT THE TROOPS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u0EanCr2UA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LIAuCJptpA&NR
Adrian, I would request that when you put a youtube link here in the future you give a brief description of what is on the video.
thanks for the comments both of you.
What the hell is military discipline if not drill to uncritically react to orders ? That's sheep, exMI. Or "cannon fodder".
If I value service personnel, do I rate them less by saying they shouldn't be wasted - as in ground up - chasing mirages in the desert ?
Or is it not proper to say that H.Q. has its head up its collective ass and is playing politics and calling it war !
There are well over 6 billion people on this planet. That is an extravagant number to try and terrorize or browbeat into submission : but it sure could be mistaken for the farce that is U.S. "foreign policy".
Murder. War ! Sabotage ! HELP !
You want terror ? Take a look at what Truthdig posted as to the results of all this squakking and running around like chickens with their heads cut off, to the real threat : the other nuclear superpower whom America has been passing off as inconsequential since the breakup of its empire : Russia.
Opit, to say that modern military training turns people into sheep or cannon fodder proves a gross ignorance of the modern military. I rather doubt that BG would say the modern US Army trains people to be sheep either.
Let's face it, we will never agree because I do not believe that troops are being "wasted" in Iraq. Althugh once the anti war faction gets it's wish and we give up and come home, then we can certainly say it was all wasted.
The Russians are certainly a threat, they alwasy have been and those who prattled about how they would be our allies post communism just don't understand economics and global politics. No arguement from me there althugh I don't see the relevance to my post.
Well, you're right on two counts : I overstated the results of discipline - WW I and II are long gone - and we'll never agree. I linked to a lovely caustic post at davidbrin.blogspot about "Who is the enemy ?" Beautiful sniping at inconsistency in the "storyline" on Iraq.
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