this "I support the troops" phrase

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Subject: RE: this "I support the troops" phrase

I think a lot of folks are missing it and Renee hit it on the head. It's meaning for the speaker is to clearly define the lines between a policy you are opposed to and those who are required by oath to execute that mission.

This distinction is very important because it has not always been made it the past (i.e. Vietnam). It certainly has been overused, but it is an important caveat. Even those who are utterly and completely opposed to any continued involvement in the Mid-East still need the folks who are there for things that they have more of an interest in.

bts

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Subject: RE: this "I support the troops" phrase

I despise my local 30 mph speed limits and think my city mayor an idiot for passing the local speed limit law. I do however respect the police officer who pulls me over and enforces the speed limit even if he himself agrees that it is too slow.

Likewise, I don't like our administration and find the conflict in Iraq a joke at best. I do however respect the men who are carrying out his orders, even if some don't agree. I think it naive to think that every man and woman in Iraq is fully supportive of this administrations decision to 1) go in the first place knowing what we know now and 2) staying there knowing what we know now.

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Subject: RE: this "I support the troops" phrase

Scout7 - 2007-05-31 9:06 AM

I cannot speak for all the troops, but I can speak for myself. My opinion is that the debate is pointless. Most of the people in this country really don't know what's going on, and don't seem to care enough to find out beyond the 60 second sound bites.

We're not a nation at war. We're a military at war. There's a serious disconnect between the military and the population. No one except the military has been asked to sacrifice anything; we're not rationing, there's no draft. And yes, in my opinion, mocking the leadership and setting random deadlines is undermining the effort.

That's my opinion. You asked for it, there it is. You don't have to like it, or even understand it. I generally don't much care, and I'm not going to debate the merits, or supposed lack thereof, of my opinions.

Scout, my good and honorable friend, I think that plenty of folks have made sacrifices. I'd start with the 3,427 mothers and fathers who sacrificed a child. Then there's brothers, sisters, wives, children, etc. Au contrare my good man, there's plenty of sacrifice to go around.

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Subject: RE: this "I support the troops" phrase

De Cracker - 2007-05-31 8:03 PM

Scout7 - 2007-05-31 9:06 AM

I cannot speak for all the troops, but I can speak for myself. My opinion is that the debate is pointless. Most of the people in this country really don't know what's going on, and don't seem to care enough to find out beyond the 60 second sound bites.

We're not a nation at war. We're a military at war. There's a serious disconnect between the military and the population. No one except the military has been asked to sacrifice anything; we're not rationing, there's no draft. And yes, in my opinion, mocking the leadership and setting random deadlines is undermining the effort.

That's my opinion. You asked for it, there it is. You don't have to like it, or even understand it. I generally don't much care, and I'm not going to debate the merits, or supposed lack thereof, of my opinions.

Scout, my good and honorable friend, I think that plenty of folks have made sacrifices. I'd start with the 3,427 mothers and fathers who sacrificed a child. Then there's brothers, sisters, wives, children, etc. Au contrare my good man, there's plenty of sacrifice to go around.

I apologize, but in my mind, the families of service members are as much a part of the military as the members themselves. My wife would certainly attest to that.

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