The Troops Also Need to Support the American People

[UnyieldingHierophant]

(edited for copyright please limit snips of articles to 4
paragraphs: thnx proud patriot moderator Democratic Underground)

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2007/01/the_troops_also_need_to_suppor.html

The Troops Also Need to Support the American People
William M. Arkin on National and Homeland Security


I've been mulling over an NBC Nightly News report from Iraq last Friday in which a number of soldiers expressed frustration with opposition to war in the United States.

I'm sure the soldiers were expressing a majority opinion common amongst the ranks - that's why it is news - and I'm also sure no one in the military leadership or the administration put the soldiers up to expressing their views, nor steered NBC reporter Richard Engel to the story.

I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people.

Friday's NBC Nightly News included a story from my colleague and friend Richard Engel, who was embedded with an active duty Army infantry battalion from Fort Lewis, Washington.

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."

By William M. Arkin | January 30, 2007; 8:51 AM ET

[Downtown Hound]

1. I agree.

I do not and have never blamed the troops for the fact that this insane war exists. However, the number of them that seem so willing to support these war criminals that have done nothing but get them killed is not inspiring to me. I used to feel nothing but pride in the United States military. I'm sorry to say I no longer feel that way.

For those of you that are about to jump on me for not supporting the troops, I guess my question would be when did their beliefs as human beings become above criticism? I don't think it's right to criticize them for doing their jobs, but the truth is simply that a majority of the military has supported Bush while he led our country into a disastrous war, shredded our constitutional rights, and called off the hunt for a man that supposedly murdered 3000 Americans. It gives me no great pleasure to say this, but none of these things inspire my confidence. I am really starting to think that this blind worship of our military is not a good thing. The troops need to understand that we do not want this war. If they are are unwilling to respect that choice in us, then they really have no business saying that they are fighting for us.

And to all members of our military that have disagreed with this war and yet done your duty anyway, my heart goes out to you. As to the question about what it is we owe those in uniform, I think we owe them the truth, and that is that this war is a disgrace. And after that, I think we owe them a never ending pursuit of justice for those responsible for this atrocity.

The question for the troops at this point is, are you willing to help us in achieving those goals, or are you going to oppose us and support the criminals that murdered your comrades?

[Tellurian]

2. Our Iraq soldiers should look into their VN history..

or speak to a VN Vet. They wouldn't believe they were hearing about Americans Soldiers.

[Psephos]

3. Apparently he doesn't support the troops.

Sounds like a guy who thinks it's fun to swat beehives with a two-by-four.

I part company with anyone who describes American soldiers in country as pampered mercenaries. The matter of whether we should be in Iraq is another subject entirely.

Peace.

[Qanisqineq]

4. they sound like a bunch of tools

A majority opinion? I find that there are three general (very general) groups: those against the war, those either neutral or for it but feel it is the American people's right to protest it, and then there are the ones described above -- for the war and don't like Americans protesting it. The last group is the majority? Yeah, okay.

[mainer]

5. I think he's an astonishingly brave man

If you ask the pro-war troops how long, exactly, the American public is supposed to support this war, I suspect they will answer: "as long as it takes to win it."

If you ask them how many American casualties we should accept in order to win this war, once again, they will probably say: "as many as it takes to win it."

If you ask them how much money we should spend to win this war, they will probably answer: "As much as it takes to win it."

Anything less is craven liberal cowardice.

We need to ask them if they have ANY limits in their quest for "victory". Are they willing to sacrifice 100,000 dead soldiers? A million dead soldiers? The complete bankruptcy of the U.S.?

Is this what it takes to prove the manhood of our U.S. military?