Support your troops?

Support your troops?

Gonzo

#1Sep 25th, 2006

If your country is going to war to fight a cause you don’t agree with do you support the troops anyway? Do you support the troops because you love your country or because you believe in the cause? Do you support them blindly? I don’t want our soldiers to get killed in a cause that I don’t believe in.
For example, I don’t support my friends if they make bad decisions, but I do when they make good ones. Canada made a decision I don’t agree with. Are you anti Canadian if you don’t support every military initiative the country makes? It's okay not to support the military. It's a free country. This war is not for Canada’s freedom.
If the Soviet Union couldn't win in Afghanistan over 10 years how is Canada going to win?

tamarin

RE: Support your troops?

Sep 25th, 2006

It's not going to win. But we can still support the troops. Most are young, gungho, wet behind the ears lovable guys and girls. Committed to fight a war in a region inhospitable to westerners and foreign intervention. It's all folly but we can still support the young folk doing their job. And when opportunity strikes and you're with a parliamentarian tear a strip off his back for stupidity. And kick him if a cop ain't around.

feronia

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 25th, 2006

Your politics don't have to agree but those guys and girls have no chose but to do their jobs. They signed up for so many years and it’s a contract that can’t be broke easily.

CDNBear

RE: Support your troops?

Sep 25th, 2006

I'm not 100% on this action Afganistan, but our Troops deserve nothing less then our full support. No matter the offensive or theater, they are still willing to die for you. Even if the present opperation isn't going to directly affect your way of life. The next one might. They gets all my Love.

Gonzo

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 25th, 2006

They are willing to die for me? I've never heard any soldier say that they are willing to die for us. I'm sure that when they go over there they think that it won’t happen. Actually, I've heard soldiers say that in interviews. That’s the mentality they have, it won’t happen to them. In supporting the troops, you’re supporting putting Canadians at risk of getting killed. I think we need to be very skeptical of any conflict Canada gets in and if we're not at all %100 sure of the cause we don't send our troops.

Researcher87

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 25th, 2006

Now I am a medic in the Canadian armed forces and I am iffy on the Afghan mission I don't support it that much. However, if I get the call to go overthere I will go to medically help civilians, unit mates, fellow Canadian soldiers, and even the Taliban.

Now I wish I would never have to use a weapon, even though I wouldn't say that a few years ago, however, I am willing to die to protect civilians, and to protect my fellow soldiers and die for my country. Even if the mission is wrong.

Researcher87

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 25th, 2006

At least I hope I write my article first.

Colpy

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 25th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by Gonzo

If your country is going to war to fight a cause you don’t agree with do you support the troops anyway? Do you support the troops because you love your country or because you believe in the cause? Do you support them blindly? I don’t want our soldiers to get killed in a cause that I don’t believe in.
For example, I don’t support my friends if they make bad decisions, but I do when they make good ones. Canada made a decision I don’t agree with. Are you anti Canadian if you don’t support every military initiative the country makes? It's okay not to support the military. It's a free country. This war is not for Canada’s freedom.
If the Soviet Union couldn't win in Afghanistan over 10 years how is Canada going to win?

Of COURSE it is all right NOT to support the troops. This is still a free country, I thought anyway.

If you disagree with the mission, though, the proper target of your ire is the Federal government, not the military. The military is simply a tool, one that happens to be made up of some people who make great sacrifices in service to their country.

The USSR in Afghanistan was a lot different. For one thing, the Soviets wanted to depopulate the country, which they accomplished quite handily. They were brutal beyond belief, there was NO attempt to "win hearts and minds".

Secondly, when the Soviets invaded, Afghanistan had NOT just survived years of rule by lunatic Islamists.........

Thirdly, when the USSR supported a puppet gov't in Afghanistan, that gov't had absolutely NO claim to legitimacy.

In addition, Soviet aims were to totally force Afghanistan into submission as a puppet state, ours are to stabilize the country (good luck) and keep the Taliban from re-gaining power.

I support the mission, although the first aim will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, and the second aim will require a practically endless commitment.

Minority Observer84

Supporting the troops

Sep 26th, 2006

This is the same nonsense conservative in the us used to silence opposition to the Iraq war , the truth is that in a democracy not all things will go anyone's way that being said we should not allow this "Support our troops " Mantra to be used as a platform for those who support the mission to silence those of us who don't . Some will say that the troops do not have a choice , that they have been sent there by the Federal government regardless of how erroneous that statement is the truth is that there is no distinction between the two , supporting the troops is supporting the mission . And for the record I do respect our servicemen but I refuse to support them in this mission , I’m sadden that so many have come home in black body bags I want the rest of them to come home on their feet NOW.

CDNBear

#10

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 26th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by Gonzo

They are willing to die for me? I've never heard any soldier say that they are willing to die for us. I'm sure that when they go over there they think that it won’t happen. Actually, I've heard soldiers say that in interviews. That’s the mentality they have, it won’t happen to them. In supporting the troops, you’re supporting putting Canadians at risk of getting killed. I think we need to be very skeptical of any conflict Canada gets in and if we're not at all %100 sure of the cause we don't send our troops.

The very act of enlisting in the Armed Forces is the acceptance that you may be called to action. Sure, they may say it won't happen to them, but deep down inside, they are well aware of the fact that they may not come home alive. Hence death letters, carried by friends, chaplins, etc.

So we should not let Canadians get into situations where they may get killed? Ok, lets tell Firefighters to stay out of the burning buildings, until it has completely burned out and then go and collect the remains of the people that may have been trapped inside. Let's not forget the police. If you ever find yourself in a holdup gone wrong and end up as a hostage. Please by all means, yell to the police outside that you don't want them to put themselves in danger of loosing their lives. Heavens forbid.

Armies are Armies, war is what they do. Every Soldier is aware of that. Your assertion is just an example of the over pussification of the Nation.

And BTW, yes they are willing to die for YOU. They enlisted with the intentions of defending our freedom and way of life. All the while spreading freedom globally. In so doing, if need be, to lay down their lives for the cause. If you doubt this, Let me know. I can introduce you to many, active and retired that will confirm it resoundingly.

Minority Observer84

#11

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 26th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by CDNBear

The very act of enlisting in the Armed Forces is the acceptance that you may be called to action. Sure, they may say it won't happen to them, but deep down inside, they are well aware of the fact that they may not come home alive. Hence death letters, carried by friends, chaplins, etc.
So we should not let Canadians get into situations where they may get killed? Ok, lets tell Firefighters to stay out of the burning buildings, until it has completely burned out and then go and collect the remains of the people that may have been trapped inside. Let's not forget the police. If you ever find yourself in a holdup gone wrong and end up as a hostage. Please by all means, yell to the police outside that you don't want them to put themselves in danger of loosing their lives. Heavens forbid.
Armies are Armies, war is what they do. Every Soldier is aware of that. Your assertion is just an example of the over pussification of the Nation.
And BTW, yes they are willing to die for YOU. They enlisted with the intentions of defending our freedom and way of life. All the while spreading freedom globally. In so doing, if need be, to lay down their lives for the cause. If you doubt this, Let me know. I can introduce you to many, active and retired that will confirm it resoundingly.
Quote has been trimmed, See full post:

I do Agree that the people in the military know they are at risk , it's a job like everything else some jobs are more dangerous than others but as far as i know there's been no draft all these people joined the army because they wanted to no one forced them to and even though some say they are willing to die for us i don;t see them doing that , i don't see what they are dying for in afghanistan at all it's a mission whose sole responsilbe party is the us we shouldn't be the ones comeing back in body bags over this we did not start the war on afghnistan and we were not the ones attacked by Bin Laden BRING EM HOME ALREADY .

CDNBear

#12

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 26th, 2006

It's funny how a lot of Canadians make a distinction between us and the States. We are esentially the same people. Brothers of the same mother. If you slap my lil brother, I can assure you, you will feel the weight of my immediete response.

Sure, some of them are brutish, their foriegn policy is atiquated and smacks of the supposed long dead "Manifest Destiny", but they are our friends and neighbours. They deserve our support as much as we would deserve their defence system if need be.

As much as I am sure the US entered Afganistan for oil. Our Troops are there to weed out the Taliban and its supporters. All the while giving aid and comfort to the civilian peoples of Afganistan.

9/11 wasn't an attack on the US alone. It was an attack against the western lifestyle. The "WORLD" Trade center is not a solely "AMERICAN" target and was the financial hub of the globe.

Don't forget, Canadians died in the WTC on 9/11 to. I'm not all for just remembering them sweetly once a year. I'm all for getting some pay back. Not just for them either. For the rest of the men, women and children that perrished on that day.

The Taliban allowed their country to foster evil and enflicted evil upon its own citizens under the guise of religion. Removing the global terrorist threat, as well as, freeing the peoples of Afganistan from tyranny, is exactly what our military was ment for. I believe it is the exact action Lester B. Pearson would have wanted the Canada/UN to change for the better. Not sit back and watch idly on the tube as more planes fell from the sky or dove in to CIVILIAN targets.

Doryman

#13

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 26th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by Gonzo

If the Soviet Union couldn't win in Afghanistan over 10 years how is Canada going to win?

Exactly. The Poles, French and Czechs never stopped the Wehrmarcht, why should we bother? It'd be too dangerous, and it's not really our war anyway....

tracy

#14

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 26th, 2006

Thanks for saying that CDNBear. I thought one of the main principles of NATO was an attack on one member amounted to an attack on all. So, we were attacked by OBL and we do have a responsibility to respond. Those in the armed forces chose their profession, I'm sure they know the possibility of being harmed exists. It's really no different from any other job.

Colpy

#15

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 26th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by CDNBear

The very act of enlisting in the Armed Forces is the acceptance that you may be called to action. Sure, they may say it won't happen to them, but deep down inside, they are well aware of the fact that they may not come home alive. Hence death letters, carried by friends, chaplins, etc.
So we should not let Canadians get into situations where they may get killed? Ok, lets tell Firefighters to stay out of the burning buildings, until it has completely burned out and then go and collect the remains of the people that may have been trapped inside. Let's not forget the police. If you ever find yourself in a holdup gone wrong and end up as a hostage. Please by all means, yell to the police outside that you don't want them to put themselves in danger of loosing their lives. Heavens forbid.
Armies are Armies, war is what they do. Every Soldier is aware of that. Your assertion is just an example of the over pussification of the Nation.
And BTW, yes they are willing to die for YOU. They enlisted with the intentions of defending our freedom and way of life. All the while spreading freedom globally. In so doing, if need be, to lay down their lives for the cause. If you doubt this, Let me know. I can introduce you to many, active and retired that will confirm it resoundingly.
Quote has been trimmed, See full post:

Well said.......

George Orwell said it best, however, "We sleep secure in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf".

maepaulino

#16

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

I'm not Canadian but in my country, there have been several policies that I don't agree with... I don't support those policies but I do FOLLOW them... in regards to the war and supporting the troops, if they're already there, I don't see any reason why I couldn't support them and pray that they could win the war so they could come home, alive and in one piece to their loved ones.

hermanntrude

#17

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

I believe violence should be avoided at all costs on both a personal and international level. So for me personally I would never assist anyone who has committed to a violent cause. I would never join the army or any force under any guise.

as for the international level, we're all lied to at so many levels by so many people, none of us has any way of deciphering whether there's any cause for any wars at all, so I havent a clue what to do... give all the politicians a good slap, maybe

maepaulino

#18

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by hermanntrude

give all the politicians a good slap, maybe

I don't think that will ever be enough though...

Curiosity

#19

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

Support Our Troops

Whether one does or does not depends upon a personal opinions and these are one of the things our service men and women fight for us to keep. Our dissenting honest opinions.

In our family we do not talk about the possibility of death. It is there like a dagger in our heart every day - the dark cloud following us during the long absence of the loved one.

I have found comfort and consolation and the ability to handle the very real nightmares which occur....
in knowing we defy/escape injury and death every day in our own "peaceful" world using automobiles, or
being challenged by a terminal illness, or a housefire, or an act of violence in our personal life.

We know it is out there, but we do not hide in our closets each day expecting the worst.

Respect for those who choose to belong to a group in either an aggression or protection mode for our own people at home or people in a far off land - is the least we can offer. That and our gratitude when they return.

Disagree with the mission, even the commitment of the military, but do not dishonor their work.

iARTthere4iam

#20

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

Not supporting the Canadian troops is alot like not supporting police officers or firefighters. I don't support the War on Drugs but support police who put their lives on the line to do their job. Policies must be changed at political level, so supporting (or not) armed forces or police will get you nowhere.

Curiosity

#21

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

iART...

Good analogy - in our towns and cities, we expect to be protected and the laws obeyed and someone has to do the job - no matter how unpleasant and even violent in some cases.

It would be a great world if we needed none of these - no police, no military - only emergency workers for fire and life threatening events on a domestic level.

Think it will ever happen? Are we ever gonna learn to get along without a conflict somewhere?

The problems could be solved by investing in the solutions instead of spending huge amounts of money creating warfare.

hermanntrude

#22

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

hmm I meant no dishonour, that's for sure, but I do think that anyone who joins the services can expect people to shoot at them. that's why i wouldn't do it.

sorry if i broke your taboo. I hope that your loved ones come home safely and I respect their bravery

Gonzo

#23

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

I wouldn't compare soldiers to police officers or fire fighters. The police and fire fighters are in our cities protecting us. Our soldiers are fighting in foreign wars that have nothing to do with protecting our country. If someone tried to invade and they were fighting them at our door then they would be protecting us. Our soldiers are not protecting me right now. In fact, there presence in Afghanistan is only increasing the chance of a terrorist attack. Studies show that whenever a Muslim country is invaded that more Muslims around the world join terrorist organizations. The chance of a terrorist attack on Canada has increased since we got involved in this so called war on terror. This notion that we have to get them before they get us is stupid. We are only making more enemies.

Minority Observer84

#24

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by CDNBear

It's funny how a lot of Canadians make a distinction between us and the States. We are esentially the same people. Brothers of the same mother. If you slap my lil brother, I can assure you, you will feel the weight of my immediete response.

Same People ? i think not we are two diffrent countires who happen to share a border and common history that does not mean we suite up and join whatever ill fated adventure the us get's itself involved in .

Quote: Originally Posted by CDNBear

As much as I am sure the US entered Afganistan for oil. Our Troops are there to weed out the Taliban and its supporters. All the while giving aid and comfort to the civilian peoples of Afganistan.
.

The taliban are part of the civilian people in afgahnistan they are an elelment of thier society and if we ever hope to build a safe and free afghanistan these elements have to be engaed in DISSCUSSION . They have populat support in the south of the country and that is a fact we can no longer ignore or overlook engaing them in disscussion is the only way to end the insurgancy in afghanistan .

Quote: Originally Posted by CDNBear

9/11 wasn't an attack on the US alone. It was an attack against the western lifestyle. The "WORLD" Trade center is not a solely "AMERICAN" target and was the financial hub of the globe..

ERRRRR wrong 9/11 was an attack on the us alone as a result of us forgien policy if u read bin laden's demands Prior to 9/11 u would understand none of them included anythign about what we do in our own countries . if i remember correctly his demands included :
Complete halt of us support for Isreal in it's offenisve against arabs in the west bank
Complete halt of support for coruppt arab goverments in the middle east (ie the saudis )
Complete withdrawl of US forces from the muslim holy lands (Again the saudis )
Notice a trend here of his three main demands ( one which was soley to gather support amoung arabs i don't think he cares about the west bank one way or another )two relate to his country he doesn't care what americans do in the states only what they do in his part of the world and how they affect his people .

Quote: Originally Posted by CDNBear

Don't forget, Canadians died in the WTC on 9/11 to. I'm not all for just remembering them sweetly once a year. I'm all for getting some pay back. Not just for them either. For the rest of the men, women and children that perrished on that day.

"Eye for an eye leaves us all blind " Pay back is exactly what this is about sadley instead of actualyl aressting the criminal who did this the us chose to invade iraq and our presence in afghnistan allows them to commite more forces in iraq truth is the US started this sess pool and we are cleaning up after them .

Quote: Originally Posted by CDNBear

The Taliban allowed their country to foster evil and enflicted evil upon its own citizens under the guise of religion. Removing the global terrorist threat, as well as, freeing the peoples of Afganistan from tyranny, is exactly what our military was ment for. I believe it is the exact action Lester B. Pearson would have wanted the Canada/UN to change for the better. Not sit back and watch idly on the tube as more planes fell from the sky or dove in to CIVILIAN targets.

Freeing the people of afghanistan didn't seem to matter to anyone till they attacked the us the hypocrisy of that statment shocks me the dam west was buying guns for the taliban when they were fighting the russines it seems that so long as they pick thier enemey right they can inflict as much evil on the afghan people as they want utter BS .

Researcher87

#25

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

Damn the last two people really hate the armed forces.

Well if it snows in Toronto, or if it floods in Winnpeg don't expect the army to come save your *** then because they don't seem to protect you. They are just some men and women thugs who go overseas and kill people because they like to do kill people.

Wrong!!

Curiosity

#26

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by hermanntrude

hmm I meant no dishonour, that's for sure, but I do think that anyone who joins the services can expect people to shoot at them. that's why i wouldn't do it.

sorry if i broke your taboo. I hope that your loved ones come home safely and I respect their bravery

Hi Hermann

I just now saw this post - if you mean it to mean me - thanks - no harm done at all at all. Sorry I took so long in responding.

Gonzo

#27

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

Researcher87, where did anyone say that the armed forces are thugs? Don't blur the argument. My point is that the military is not protecting us by fighting in this war. They are increasing the chances of an attack in Canada by creating more enemies. I'm not saying the military is bad or our soldiers are thugs. I'm saying that our soldiers are not protecting us right now. The news should not say that our soldiers are fighting for our country because they're not. How are they fighting for our freedom? That’s nonsense.

Minority Observer84

#28

Re: Support your troops?

Sep 27th, 2006

Quote: Originally Posted by Researcher87

Damn the last two people really hate the armed forces.

Well if it snows in Toronto, or if it floods in Winnpeg don't expect the army to come save your *** then because they don't seem to protect you. They are just some men and women thugs who go overseas and kill people because they like to do kill people.

Wrong!!

I don't hate anyone the points i'am making a simple
supporting the troops is supporting the mission same mantra was used to silence oppositon to the iraq was in the us .
Afghanistan is a pointless war and i don't think anyone should be killed over it it's the US's mess let them clean it up no reason canadian blood has to be shed to back up the us .
The fighting in afighanistan does nothing to make me safer subduing the taliban and finding OBL are two completley differnt mission taking place in two completlet diffrent parts of the country .

Similar Threads

support these troops?
by Stretch | Oct 18th, 2008

Define 'support our troops'
by Locutus | Jul 2nd, 2007

Can you support the troops but not the war?
by csanopal | Feb 10th, 2007

Do you support Canadian Troops?
by Jersay | Mar 22nd, 2006

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, NOT OUR PRESIDENT
by moghrabi | Nov 19th, 2005