"Thank Him" (in support of our troops)

This is a subject extremely close to my heart. My DH is currently serving his second tour in Iraq. I support him and all of the troops over ther 100%. But I do not think we should be over there. I believe we were falsely led into this war and the administration has no way of getting us out.
 
It's a really fine line I walk. I'm struggling with how to be a military spouse who disagrees with the war.

This thread is about supporting the troops, not about whether what they were ordered to do was right or wrong.
My husband is a Marine who served in Iraq because he was told to do so.  Many don't think he should ever have been there (myself included), but he was ordered to go.  I support all the brave men and women over there, and when it is time to choose a new commander-in-chief, I will be first in line at the polls to show my dissatisfaction.
Though this forum is a great way to let your voice be heard by many, please show up the the polls and let your voice be heard by millions.  Get rid of the commander who orders his soldiers into unnecessary battle.

Excellent post, Leslie.  [sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif] A good part of the reason that we wind up with such idiots running the show is that we have a tremendous number of people who don't bother to register to vote, and a lot of the ones who do register still don't bother to come out. Enough people thinking "my vote won't change anything" really make a big difference.

Joyce

I supprt our troops, but I have to scratch my head and wonder where the maid who makes my bed and washes my clothes is![sm=rotfl.gif][sm=rotfl.gif]

Hey! Me too! Where's MY dang maid?

Personally I don't think this is the time or place to fight about the war or bash the president.  My step brother is over  in Afganistan serving.  He believes in what he is doing and believes they are making positive headway and THAT is what counts to me.
 
If you (collective) want to spew negativity find another thread to do it on.

And I still think Bush is an idiot and nothing has been accomplished.  I'm sorry your stepbrother is over there and I wish him luck, but I am certainly entitled to my opinion on this subject, as is everyone else. 

Fine, then start a topic about it.  I don't think it belongs here.  Deal with it.

Sally, I don't think anyone here means any disrespect to your stepbrother or wishes him anything other than a safe and speedy return home to his family. But the fact is, those comments DO belong here.  The original post, lovely as it is, suggested in more than one place that support of the troops is synonymous with support of Bush, his administration and the war. A tremendous number of people see that as two separate issues - and even a lot of Bush/war supporters have since decided that going into Iraq was not a good thing. I'd never say that your stepbrother shouldn't be there because he absolutely should be wherever he was sent - but I will say that I believe he should not have been sent there in the first place.

Joyce

I don't think that was suggested at all.  I don't see many soldiers that will tell you that what they are doing is for nothing, and I think that their perspective counts for something, as they are after all, the ones doing the dying. 
 
I also firmly believe that hearing how horrible it is that we are over there, how we are out there killing all kinds of innocent people, it's all for nothing, etc DOES have a negative effect on soldiers moral.  Wouldn't it yours?
 
 

Amen, SillySally.
I also know that this type of negativism is NOT supportive of our troops.  Every soldier I have talked to does believe in what they are doing over seas, and have heard many say that what people see and hear on the news here is NOT what is happening over there.
My son has spoken of grown men who have cried on their knees thanking him for being there.  My son-in-law, now on his second tour, also tells similar stories.  I have seen hurt on both of their faces when they see protesters.   I know it affects them.
They tell of how the Iraqi Army is getting stronger all the time, and how they are leading their own missions now, with less and less support from American Soldiers.  I think every knows there will always be strife in the middle east, but our troops ARE making a difference in people's lives by being there.
I could go on and on about this, but I will suffice to say that people who do support our President, and who truly do support our troops (I don't believe you can honestly do one without the other), have a right to express their opinion, too.

As I've said, I support the troops for being the willing, intrepid men and women they are.  It's not the ideal way of life for many, so they deserve our respect.  No, I do not support their *mission* or the administration, and I never will. 

Do not tell me who or what I support. 

ORIGINAL: Roxie865

As I've said, I support the troops for being the willing, intrepid men and women they are.  It's not the ideal way of life for many, so they deserve our respect.  No, I do not support their *mission* or the administration, and I never will. 

Do not tell me who or what I support. 

That's right!

Man.

Telling me that I can't support the troops if I don't support the president is like telling me that I'm not patriotic because I don't support the president!
And I just had this argument a couple of months ago with my sister-in-law.
I support what my country STANDS FOR. My President DOES NOT.
I support the troops over in Iraq. I wish them the best while they're over there. I hope to GOD that all of them return safely and real soon. I don't support WHY they are over there. That is MY opinion.
No one is taking away the ability to express opinions away from those who support Bush. And don't EVER claim that we don't support our troops or wish them well just because we don't support Bush. That is not YOUR call. And that is one heck of a brainwashed cop-out, IMO.

The above two posters seem to be getting quite defensive.  I said, if you reread my post, that it is MY opinion that a person cannot truly support our troops without supporting our President, and that I believe I have the right to express that opinion.
I do not believe that I am any more brain washed than anyone else, nor am I telling you what to feel/think/believe.  I have my own set of beliefs and opinions and I will be forever grateful that I live in a country where it is ok to express them.

Now now, ladies.  No need to get defensive or testy. [] Those of us who say we support the troops know without a doubt that we do.  And those of us who also think G.W. Shrub is a flippin' idiot for starting a war with a country who did nothing to us only have to look at the polls to know that a significant number of Americans are starting to think the way we do. Anybody else notice that every time we had a "rise" in the terror alert, that just happened to coincide with a drop in his popularity?  His popularity & credibility are pretty much in the toilet and we'll have the pleasure of seeing him go down in history as the worst president we've had - probably even worse than "Tricky Dick". If there was an election today, he probably couldn't get elected dog catcher in the town he's from.

Joyce