Does anyone else in the Armed Forces find the war protests to be disheartening?
480887
I too took an oath to defend this country over 18 years ago and hope to be doing it for 24 more years until I am 60. Most of the protestors are ignorant of the situation of what is really going on. They read and watch the Associated Press, CNN, and Fox news, it is misleading them. All they want most of us to see is the bad in everything. Not what is really happening. Most of the people protesting are idiots and ignorant persons to begin with. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if the Democratic National Party paid them to do it. Any thing to make our President to look bad. They forget about one of their own.JFK was a democrat and also got us involved in Vietnam, lost over 55,000 Americans in that war. They didn't call that war illegal. What makes Iraq illegal? Nothing. They forget that the President has the sole power to control the military the way he wants to. Whe wouldn't be at war now if the Clinton adminstration would have taken care of it in 1993 and in 1997, insted of banging interns, while his gay wife was stealing money from the tax payers in Arkansas. Why else would she run for the Senate in NY. Cause she is a crook!\n Try not to let the liberal tree huggers get you down. What you don't see is the Millions of Americans who support you and me and the rest of our Military Forces around the world. The reason they host that rally in NY, cause they know that in the Mid West and South, that they couldn't get as many people to show up. The Majority of our nation support us. No matter what the press says. The press is for whoever is winning at the moment. Kind of like France. But we won't go there. Keep your head high and remember, there are horses butts all over this world and most of them are Democrats that support the gays and the drunk Senator from Massachusettes.\n You must remember, The Unites States of America has the best, all volunteer armed force in the world. Not to mention the oldest. It's roots go back to the Minute Men that are now the US Army and US National Guard. Be proud of your country and overlook the jerks and ignorant who no nothing of the sacrifies you make to be in our nations military.
986912
Yes they frigging well have! They blow things out of all proportion and now everyone is against it because troops are being killed. When we sign up we know that we are at risk of being mobilised to warzones and the consequences this can bring. I am only in the Territorial Army (reservists) and if my time comes to serve Queen and Country over in Iraq i will.
268546
ok, what challenges do the soliders over there have to face?\ni do not mean the temperature and stuff, i mean animals, that sort of thing......
160484
It depends on how long it tkaes to get the job done.One of the major beliefs of the military is to never give up and never surrender.Our soldiers are doing a wonderful job!I have spoken with quite a few and all of them say not to listen to the media.Our soldiers are doing alot more good things than the media will show and or tell.The ones that i have spoken too feel that they are doing the right thing and are working very hard to do what is nessecary.HOOAH to the military!
377287
I don't play any war games or watch war movies.  I was there, I don't need those memories stirred up.\n\nAs a matter of fact, just trying to help people understand the military and military service on Yahoo Answers causes  me enough discomfort.  I only do it because it is so very important for especially young people to be able to get answers to their questions.
1119988
Reading the news on what happened to the two soldiers have saddened me deeply. It's horrible to hear how some people, people without regards for morals or sympathy, would do something as terrible as this to two young soldiers. Its disheartening to hear something like this because they are young citizens, a human being like you and me, taken away from this world by means of extreme violence. These soldiers have family and friends who will have to suffer from their loss. These soldiers will no longer have the ability to live life further than they have lived it. Its disheartnening to hear about something like this. May they rest in peace.\nI commend the two soldiers who have died serving our country, and to all members of the armed services who have, had, and will defend our country.
353192
ITS NOT ABOUT THE SOLDIERS. \nTO ME YOU ARE DOING THE MOST DANGEROUS OF JOBS IN THE MOST DANGEROUS OF ENVIRONMENTS. AND YOUR DOING IT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.\nTHERE IS A LOT OF DISLIKE FOR THE PRESIDENT AND HIS HANDLING OF CERTAIN ISSUES. \nI AM FROM THE UK \nAND AM SAYING THIS FOR ALL THE COALITION FORCES OUT THERE.\n\n\nBEST WISHES.
430334
I feel that in a given situation what started as good intent has turned bad.  Our soldiers went to Iraq on a mission for our leaders, a mission disguised as Democracy.  You cannot blame the soldiers.  When this mission did not turn in favor of our leaders bad things began to happen, soldiers in confusion, some of them young and very ignorant or unknowledgable of the Iraqi culture, or any respect of other cultures, some just the a-holes that we interact with on any given day back here in the USA, those who are high strung or have a superior than you attitude. Some, terrified young men and woman just out of high school who have yet to experience  anything of the world. Some very honorable and moral human beings-our soldiers are as diverse in humanity as any civilian on our streets-good and bad people. They are thrown into a seemingly hopeless and confusing situation.  Yes, it has turned bad, horrifically bad.  My cousin returned from his tour just 6 months ago and the heinous crimes he witnessed by his fellow soldiers against Iraqis was mentally trying and heartwrenching for him (I wish I could say more of his proof that he has, it is visual and graphically distburing)..but he feared for his own safety and feared to report some the callous acts of these soldiers as threats were made against him when he confronted them. One went as far as to make a comment of "Friendly Fire" and how dishonorable that it is to go home in a coffin from an "accident" instead of courageous battle.  There are bad people and yes some are our own, the best thing for us to do is leave Iraq.  I have said it before its not losing a war but admitting an error.  I have heard of the atrocities our soldiers are doing to civilians, and the lack of hesitation towards anyone as if they are all enemies from a soldier, an honorable person, my cousin. A man who beloves strongly in God and Faith and is terrified to speak out on what he has seen ...I hope he finds the courage to speak out and our government to admit the mistakes that they have made.\nHope this gives you insight to how some of us feel about what you mentioned.  I love and respect all cultures and all religions even if I do not understand them or agree with them, that is why the world is the world we live in the joy of diversity , the abiltiy to learn something new from someone, from ones culture.
640434
I totally agree with you!!  That is exactly what my husband, son, and I did just a week before the war started--we held a Support Rally for the Troops, at out State Capital.  It was neither for, nor against the war--rather to tell the men and women about to answer their calls to duty that we were here to stand behind them and support them.  There had been so many protests on TV, high school walk-outs, teens burning books, and other such atrocities.  We just wanted to let our troops, and their families, know that we were proud and grateful that they were serving our country and protecting our freedom to express our own beliefs.  Ironically, to include the kids who's rights to free education that were being protected, as they were walking out.
837462
Protest, oops I forgot, People are to ashamed to stand up and protest what is wrong, or maybe it's the fear of being hunted down and being shot? There is a great need to protest. But people have all the right excuses; my life is to busy, people would laugh at me, who would listen to me anyway? I believe people are sick of this Government, but what can you do? I'm a baby boomer and people don't stand up anymore, back in the day, there would be thousands protesting this war in person, not in their minds. But, the good ol days are nearly past, and still there is war, and always will be. If you don't like it, email the white house, they won't answer, but maybe it would ease your mind.
943215
Yes there are many military personnel that are doing the job they committed to do without regard to their personal feelings.\n\nI am ex-military... 1985-1991 and look at me... I am one of the loudest voices against Bush and his madman war.
571031
No, of course not...I have great pride in my Dad and the service that he is in and that I served in also...WE elect the politicians who decide where and when to send these forces to fight and therefore it is all of us who bear the onus if those politicians make seemingly bad and/or unpopular decisions...I still feel much pride in our military...In our politicians?  That's another question...........
703789
My little brother serves in the military.  I am proud of my little brother.  He has had to serve in Iraq for nearly one year.  He had to leave his new wife pregnant w/his child to go.  He did not get to see the birth of his first baby girl.\n\nDid he want to?  No.  He did it because it was his duty to protect his country and those of us who live here. \n\nHe wasn't the same when he came back  from war.  I do not know if it was because he had to kill people or if he just say so much death (he never has told me).\n\nBut I asked him if he would go back again.\n\nHe told me that he spent weeks without a shower; sand filling every orifice in his body.  He would go six days at time without sleep.  He rarely got to talk to anyone outside of his fellow soldiers.  He smoked nearly a carton of cigarettes per day.  Their water bottles would get so hot they would put them in socks , dampen them, and tie them to the outside of their truck so they would cool off enough to drink.  They would set their food in the window of their trucks to cook.\n\nBut he said, yes I would.\n\nWhy?\n\nBecause the people over there are grateful for us coming to help them out.  You see so little of it in the media.  \n\nSo if you have a problem with the leadership of this country get into politics.\n\nIf you have a problems with military policy, go demonstrate.\n\nIf you want to change the policy, go join and become a general.\n\nIf you want to disparage and degrade the men who serve this great nation because it is there duty, go to hell!
968509
I think you're exaggerating - the only people who feel that way about the servicemen are those wackjobs from the Westboro Baptist Church - nobody else is picketing funerals, etc.\n\nI believe, even though many of us are against the war in Iraq, we all respect and are thankful for the sacrifices that are made by the armed services personnel who are there.\n\nWe made a mistake in this country treating the vets of the Viet Nam war without respect - we have learned from that shameful attitude which is a low moment in our country's history. I don't believe we will ever again confuse the conflict with the warriors,the westboro baptist church, notwithstanding.\n\nedited to add: LOL does the poster above truly think that LIBERALS are the people who don't know how to do an honest day's work???? LOL LOL LOL I guess he hasn't seen the lifestyles of the conservative and greedy LOL
645683
Yes I agree...Veterans system is in bad shape today, there is a lot of work to be done with that system.  I do not like to hear when my fellow troops come home and have to shell out money to pay for medical bills for injuries they received while serving.  It is like saying thanks for what you done but now you deal with the consequences.  I hope the government get the picture and help out our vets who have done so much for all of us...protect freedom
335158
I'm in Iraq right now. Me being on here should give you an idea of what I'M doing...nothing. What's it like? HOT! Alot of people do have it pretty rough over here though, but I wouldn't say the majority have it all that bad. It just sucks being away from home for so long. I don't think it's really getting better. They're gonna fight us as long as we're here.
309023
Maybe I have a unique perspective from those that have posted so far considering that I am one of the "troops" and a veteran of the current conflict.  From my own viewpoint it is discouraging to hear all the anti-Bush/anti-war rhetoric--not because I support him/it personally, but because it belittles what we are doing over there.  Can you imagine what it would be like to be in a combat zone and know that your fellow citizens think that what you are doing is pointless, worthless, and/or "illegal"?  It is more than a little disheartening.\n\nAs for what I do: I correspond with a number of my fellow service members who are in Iraq and Afghanistan, I wear a Support Our Troops bracelet 24/7 to remind myself at all times of the sacrifices made by those in uniform, and I strive to educate those that I come in contact with about how not supporting the war that we are fighting hurts almost as much as being called "babykiller".