Support our troops: Marines tell the real story of Iraq War. Here's a hint - sounds like "NAM"

[guage]

1. US solders/service men/women dying needlessly.
Soldiers die. Every one that enlisted knows the risk
Incase you haven't noticed it is the Iraqis that are being targeted --soft targets -- Not the Coalition Forces --Hard Targets.

2. The war is being fought for political, not military reasons.
Every War is an extension of a political dispute.
Obviously you are more comfortable with the Butcher of Baghdad threatening the Middle East and Israel than the prospect of an independent Iraq.

3. Lack of understanding/knowledge of the local customs and people.
There is -and has been- a concerted effort of Coalition troops to improve the quality of life. Troops are making positive contact with the Iraqis.
This is an Armed Forces of Professionals that walk patrols every day.

4. Failed “Hearts and Minds� campaign.
So explain why so many Iraqis are joining the Iraqi National Police -at great personal risk - and the Iraqi Army.
Why is it that the First Responders at the site of a terrorist bombing are Iraqis?

5. American people being lied to at home.
By the Media that doesn't report how life has improved for the Iraqis

[GermanStar]

guage - 10/10/2004 3:12 PM

Every War is an extension of a political dispute.
Obviously you are more comfortable with the Butcher of Baghdad threatening the Middle East and Israel than the prospect of an independent Iraq.

So you support the use of the U.S. military as a mercenary force to fight someone else's war? I was under the misguided impression that the mandate of our military was to defend American soil, American citizens, and American interests, not the interests of the "Middle East", all of whom vehemently opposed this action, or Israel. If one or more of Iraq's neighbors had requested assistance in regard to Iraq, many (but certainly not all) Americans would be more accepting of the situation. Instead, all of Iraq's neighbors felt quite safe and begged us to mind our own business, just as the leadership of Iraq had been doing for quite some time.

[jamminjames]

Since this board has turned into a Liberal hate-fest I'll be brief...

I have a son in Korea (soon to go to Afghanistan) - Army. His wife is in Baghdad - Army. My other son is in-country Iraq but is unable give his location - Marines. I communicate with them at least 2-3 per week... So I have an idea of what's going on.

First - If you think about it, when someone says that our soldiers, who volunteered, are dying for nothing - how do you think that makes me feel? How do you think it makes them feel? The ironic thing is that our enemy wants us to say that; it demoralizes our troops and divides a nation. What better time to attack when moral is down and we're bickering amongst ourselves...

Second - It's almost a joke over there of how the Liberal media is portraying what's really going on. If you believe everything the media says... Then you're not an informed voter.

Third - For everyone you show me that says your opinion I can show you the same for mine. Again, the media loves one particular side.

I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack over this and quite frankly I could care less. Did I want my kids to go? No. Am I proud of them for what they’re doing? Absolutely! Life is not absolute. Have you even considered that a possibility exist that because of our involvement we have prevented a future calamity? You can not tell me that you can see into the future and tell me that our involvement did absolutely nothing to protect our Homeland. Try wrapping your brain around that one.

Whether you believe in what we're doing or not, show our troops that you are behind them - otherwise you might as well hand our enemy his gun...

[jamminjames]

Reminder:

This is the list of things that has happened in Iraq recently:

-Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.

-Over 400,000 kids have up to date immunizations.

-Over 1500 schools have been renovated and ridded of the weapons that were stored there so education can occur.

-The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off loaded from ships faster.

-School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.

-The country had it's first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.

-The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.

-100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed compared to 35% before the war.

-Elections are taking place in every major city and city councils are in place.

-Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.

-Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.

-Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.

-Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.

-Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.

-Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.

-An interim constitution has been signed.

-Girls are allowed to attend school for the first time ever in Iraq.

-Text books that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years.

[FeelTheLove]

Tell that to somebody whose kid died for it. You guys are bizarre.

[koop]

Man am I tired of this "don't question the war or you will hurt someones feelings" argument.

Do the troops need a hug or something. How about some empowerment classes to make them feel good about themselves.

[GermanStar]

The media has nothing at all to do with my opinion. I was among a small minority when I opposed this invasion from its onset. I was paying close attention as this unfolded and was absolutely aghast at the attitude Bush displayed toward Iraq from the get go. If you don't believe that he was absolutely intent on invading this country and was absolutely unconcerned with finding valid cause, you were sleeping in class. For anyone to suggest that the condemnation of this shameful action translates into condemnation of it's victims is ludicrous. From my perspective, those who support this unholy invasion are showing a callous lack of respect for the lives of its victims, those being both Iraqi citizens and American servicemen. I'm sure that 55 years ago a substantial percentage of the German constituency supported their leader when he chose to address the growing Polish threat as well.

[GermanStar]

jamminjames - 10/10/2004 6:20 PM

Reminder:

This is the list of things that has happened in Iraq recently:

Blah, blah, blah

I don't give a rat's ass about this stuff. Just let them live their lives so we can live ours. We have as much business trying to run their country as they have trying to run ours. I find it incredibly arrogant to think otherwise. How would you feel about Iraqi liberators coming to your home town to help you see the error of your ways?

[FeelTheLove]

Apparently some people think recycling the rationales from Vietnam are somehow going to make them work now. Dude, you don't save people by killing them. You don't free someone buy butchering their kids with bombing raids. You don't make pals by walking around with a rifle and shooting people in their own neighborhoods. For every friend we make with our pitiful amount of aid, we make twenty future terrorists thru our actions as occupiers. This war is simply a mistake.

[jdc1244]

I remember this from the first Gulf War. Why must everything be boiled down to “Liberal� or Conservative�? Those labels are meaningless. Why is questioning the war “Liberal,� “un-American,� or “Anti-Troop?�

This can only lead me to believe that advocates of the war have no objective justification for the war and support it simply because it was “their� president who started the war.

What does attacking Iraq have to do with the United States being attacked by terrorists (most of whom were Saudis) and how does it bring O/UBL to justice?

If someone could calmly and succinctly explain this to me I would be happy to support the war and vote for GW Bush, our great hero and leader.