“What would you do if you were in the same position as Ukrainians are now, stay and fight or leave

Authored by Jonathan Turley,

In World War II, Winston Churchill famously declared that “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” It appears that there may be even fewer to count on if a recent poll out this weekend is accurate.

The Quinnipiac University poll asked Americans “what would you do if you were in the same position as Ukrainians are now, stay and fight or leave the country?”

It appears that this country is facing an existential crisis of faith and we should have a frank discussion about why so comparably few Americans are now willing to pledge their lives in defense of this country.

Quinnipiac has long been relied upon in polling in the United States and is one of the most cited polling outfits for the media.

It is important to note that, while the results were shocking overall, many did say that they would stand and defend the United States from any invader. When asked this question 68 percent of Republicans and 57 percent of Independents say that they would fight. However more than half of Democrats (52%) said they would flee before fighting for their country (Eight percent did not have an answer, a shrug that is equally alarming).

Almost 40% Of Americans Would Rather Flee Than Defend The US; New Poll Finds | ZeroHedge

 

Well, this is not a question that can be taken in a poll in peacetime USA.

From what I've seen of the situation in Ukraine it appears that many people are choosing to fight for their homeland against the Russian invasion. Now, this is only an opinion, but I notice that the people there have high morale and a will to fight. Contrast that with the low morale of Russian troops. (Though that could be propaganda.)

So, I take it that high morale will lead to more people fighting for their country when the situation warrants it.

Now, I personally don't want to fight and would probably choose to flee. But, due to my mental health condition, I would be turned away by any official US troops and military anyway. I need to be close to a source and steady supply of antipsychotic medications. Or else you don't want me to have a gun or any weapons. Nor be anywhere near me.

 

1. You're talking about people that have never had to defend their country on their home turf so it's not a fair question.

2. You're also talking about people that won't wear masks or socially distance even on the miniscule chance that it might help slow the spread or make someone else feel comfortable in public.



We are no long the "United" States of America.

 

I would stay and fight. Because if there is a conflict like in Ukraine I'll most certainly die no matter what due to the loss of vital drugs and medical services.

So if I'm dead either way might as well die while shooting.

 

Well, I have young kids, so, I would evacuate with family to a safe area, but if I didn’t have kids, or if my kids were adults, I’d join some local militia.

 

I imagine that ratio would shift quite a bit in an actual attack. It's hard to imagine how you would react in such a situation if you have never actually been in one like it before.

 

Fight with what and with who? With Molotov cocktails and untrained civilians? Seems like a death wish. Their government screwed them. The people shouldn't have to toss themselves into the meat grinder.

 

It might depend on how angry one is about an invasion of this country., the circumstances.......and who did the invading.

 

Well, they believed Trump that "they are going to take your country" about the Southern border and even wanted to reject our Afghani friends that helped our side in the war who would have been executed if we didn't give them refuge.

I don't recognize our (ALL OF OURS) country anymore. Didn't we used to be more neighborly and grateful people?

 

With all the patriotic flag waving stuff that is done............... one ould think that most would stay and defend this country.

If not.........then all that 'patriotism" is hollow indeed.......so why bother to hang a flag on one s porch?? Decoration??

 

Remember our long conversation in your thread "thoughts & prayers"? Same concept.

 

I will never go to war overseas, conscription be damned, shoot me. The flip side of that is that I will fight to defend the homeland if need be.

So yes, I would stay and fight.

 

"Citizens of Kyiv are gathering here. They are receiving weapons here and guidelines how to run urban combat, how to provide medical first aid, and how to destroy Russians and take their weapons"




https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia...ivilians-volunteer-get-guns-help-defend-city/

AK's are pretty good, I keep one (semi-auto). Had a full auto in Afghanistan.

 

I'd stay and fight. There are worse ways to die, and I would rather die fighting for my country.

 

What country? The states are apparently not 'United' ones anymore. We have blue states and red states which barely tolerate each other. We seem to have no shared values amongst us having replaced them with alternative facts and two disparate cultures canceling each other instead. Even the 'democratic principles' of bygone days, are no longer unifying ones. And more people are trying to sabotage bridges than build them.

Be honest. You would not fighting for your country anymore. You'd be fighting for a hyper-partisan reverse image of your country that many of us in this forum would not be welcome in.

 

I would most definitely stay and fight. I would probably pick ‘em off at a distance if I could. I have the means to do so, and I live in a mountainous area that provides cover. Not saying I would live to retirement but I would smoke as many as I could till I met my maker.

P.S.
Piss on Russia and Putin. I would love to see that rat drown in a pool of Urine

 

I would fight for my home, my neighbors homes, my rights, my prosperity. Not sure whether I'd fight for my govt or not... I mean probably, just because anyone bringing an army to topple it prolly isnt any better.

 

I can tell you this. One flag I can 1000% GUARANTEE you’d see flying in defense of America if it came down to it is this one:



And you’ll cheer when you see it coming.

 

Another thread about this.....? LOL

Silly poll and even sillier people thinking such large percentage of people would fight.

50% of Americans are women
22% are kids
20% are senior citizens

So that leaves less than 10% who are fighting age men. In a nation of 320M, that's still a big number (30 million). Taking out the severely overweight and hopelessly unfit, drug addicts, crazies, etc you still have about 20 million, or about 6%. Those healthy and fit young men would be expected to make sure women, children, elderly are evacuated, and then fight, and even then most of the fighting would be done by the professional armed forces and the trained reserves.

So, yea, people can thump their chest and yell "I'LL FIGHT MAN", and that's poll is really about: What people SAY they would do. It seems some groups are more realistic about it than others.

Of course its a silly question also because such scenario can never happen in the US.

Critical thinking folks. Don't allow the media play you like this.

 

Your numbers are off. Half of those children and elderly are women. So you can’t count them twice. Not to mention our military allows women now. Gonna draft them too.

 

Ok, but I think you see the point. It should be beyond obvious 50+% aren't going to fight, and if they tried, they'd be a liability as opposed to being an asset.

US will never need an army of 160 million of unqualified 'soldiers'.

 

You’re likely 100% right. Most rednecks are fighters, I’ll give them that.

 

Women still are not eligible for the draft. I think they should be, I mean the want to be treated as equals right? I think women with children should be exempt otherwise they should be eligible

 

Many Ukrainian men seem to be taking steps to get their families out, then returning home to fight. That seems like the only reasonable course of action.

 

Israel is one of the very few countries where that is the case, but they have a limited number of people and have a land border with a number of hostile countries. In US it is totally unnecessary and a complete waste of money, given the number of men here. This scenario that US could somehow end up in same situation as Ukraine is totally made up. It is impossible to happen here.

Yes.