Can you not agree with war yet respect troops at same time. I think you can,what say you? I feel most troops go in with good intentions and get caught up in blind patriotism. And then again who is correct here me or them? Since our world leaders only tell the people they govern what they want them to know how do we figure out what is what?
Generally they go in because they are following orders. Trying to determine whether that particular war is legal is above most of their pay grades. Of course you can disagree with the war and respect the troops. .
I know during the Viet Nam wars I didn't know what to think but I also never allowed anyone to insult or mistreat a soldier. Years later after learning what a fiasco it was I still won't sit still if anyone says anything bad about them. Saw some really badly injured young men at VA hospitals back then. We all had family and friends in that war.
That happens even after the war is history. All too often, people try to decide whether a war or something which happened during a war was justified based on what they know now rather than what was known at the time. And sometimes, there is just disagreement. No one right or wrong. It is a matter of opinion.
“Why, of course, the people don’t want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship… Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.” – Hermann Goering (as told to Gustav Gilbert during the Nuremberg trials)
Most of the time, yes. Unless of course the troops committed war crimes. A more controversial question would be if you can have respect for the enemy soldiers.
Of course. Its not the military's job to decide whether a war is just or necessary, that's We The People's job. The military's job is to follow lawful orders and engage in combat on our behalf. Sometimes, often IMO, criticizing a war is supporting our troops, because they shouldn't have been ordered into that combat, and its up to us to get them out of it. Folks who blame the military for war are despicable morons.
Essentially, that is the Powell Doctrine. 'Do not go to war without the support of the people and without Congressional authorization. Once these criteria are met, go in with overwhelming force and end the war as quickly as possible'. I believe the last time that happen is when were attacked by Japan - seventy-eight years ago.
That isn't necessarily true. There have been conflict that we the people do not want to get involved in yet the politicians on Capitol Hill thought otherwise. Do they know better than us? Maybe, maybe not. The reverse is true also. Criticizing a war is in no way disrespecting the troop.
The problem with that is that it gives aid and comfort to the enemy. Reference: Jane Fonda. She is most likely responsible for American servicemen dying.
The people should have been pressuring LBJ to bomb dams, use nukes, and bomb symbolic sites to wreak as much havoc as possible, and put the NVN in the worst psychological demise an enemy has ever been in. LBJ should either have done that or pulled all troops out, not raise the draft quotas.
If We The People do not want to get involved in a war, and our representatives involve us anyway, then they're not our representatives and are making war as criminal usurpers. And it would be We The People's duty to remove them from power. The problem, of course, is determining what The People actually want. Consensus and/or majority can be quite subjectively perceived this day in age. I thought that was pretty much what I said... can you clarify which 'reverse is also true'?
No....We the People don't have a say until our loved one's are killed in useless adventures, and the cycle repeats itself. The "representatives" pretend to know what is best for us, but in most cases, they don't. They hide behind the "we have information you do not" to justify their useless wars. People who say if we are against wars we are not supporting the troop are morons as well.
If we've learned anything from Democrats it's that if you disagree with a war, it's ok to spit on our soldiers and call them "baby killers", but then it's ok be strongly pro-abortion.
Wars are not waged by armies. They are waged by governments. Armies are simply the tool used to wage them.
I spent most of the Bush Administration doing just that. Although I never put it the way you do. I always said that the troops were sent to do a mission by politicians. I have always felt it was incumbent on us once the course is set, to pray and work for a positive outcome. Soldiers execute policy. They don't make it. Blind patriotism isn't what this discussion should be about.
This is one of your replies that actually make sense and non combative 'pun intended' ,well done Spooky. Very good logical reply.
Drums of War Beware the leader who whips up the citizenry into a patriotic fevor,for patriotism is indeed a two edged sword, it both emboldens the blood just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather the citizenry infused with fear and blinded by patriotism will offer up all their rights to the leader and gladly so. How do I know this ,for this is what I have done and I am Caesar.
Jane Fonda was a mental case and still is that should have been tried for sedition at least or treason. Some were executed for a lot less than what she did. And rightly so.
