Anti-war crowd are demoralizing our troops.
- Thread starter Sassylassie
- Start date
die or come home support
"Bring the troops home NOW" is the most supportive statement we can give our soldiers.
"Leave them there to kill Taliban and risk getting killed" seems less supportive.
Concern for the soldiers is shown in the "get out" camp, whereas concern for oil supplies and pipeline routes is all I see in the "leave them there" camp. Stopping terrorism, as a reason to have our boys in Afghanistan, is, at best, not very likely to happen - in fact, there are more terrorists now, inspired by the foreign invaders in their homelands [how would you feel if the Taliban were in Canada doing military operations?].
It is a bad war, there are better missions that would save more innocent lives and do more politically than the war in Afghanistan is doing {Africa]. Saying we are dishonoring our troops by bringing them home from Afghanistan is nonsence.
"Bring the troops home NOW" is the most supportive statement we can give our soldiers.
"Leave them there to kill Taliban and risk getting killed" seems less supportive.
Concern for the soldiers is shown in the "get out" camp, whereas concern for oil supplies and pipeline routes is all I see in the "leave them there" camp. Stopping terrorism, as a reason to have our boys in Afghanistan, is, at best, not very likely to happen - in fact, there are more terrorists now, inspired by the foreign invaders in their homelands [how would you feel if the Taliban were in Canada doing military operations?].
It is a bad war, there are better missions that would save more innocent lives and do more politically than the war in Afghanistan is doing {Africa]. Saying we are dishonoring our troops by bringing them home from Afghanistan is nonsence.
Have you ever talked to someone in the Army? I think not....Sure a few wonder why they ever signed up and want to be home now, but the majority go on these missions with a task and feel betrayed if they are not allowed to finish it. Have you not listened to injured soldiers looking to get back and help, have you not heard the parents of killed soldiers say how commited their kids were.?
I don't want to be in Afghanistan and I sure many others would say the same, That is why we should support the members of our country who do go and may I add want to make a difference in the world.
Good post Bill, I read a blog this morning written by a Canadian Soldier serving in Afghanistan and he stripped a piece of flesh off the Protesters and Layton. I went to cut and paste it but DND removed it, god forbid a Soldier be allowed to speak the truth. I'll keep searching it was bang on regarding the Peaceniks and Layton.
If you live within 100 miles of a Forces base you know how they feel. They are so proud of what they do that you hear it 100 miles away!!!
We should be as proud as they!!
We should be as proud as they!!
I am very proud Bill and that is why I stay on this forum to fight for our troops, they can't speak so I have decided to be a voice for them. As long as I can.
maybe if some of these protected city boys spent a few hours with these guys in the military they would understand a bit better where they are coming from and that they are not begging to come home.
I'd like them home..there family would like them home. I'm sure they'd like to be home...But they have a job and they don't like to quit.... Just ask them!
I'd like them home..there family would like them home. I'm sure they'd like to be home...But they have a job and they don't like to quit.... Just ask them!
It's become the "IN" thing to protest once this group (Liberal Leadership canadates and peaceniks) get bored and move on or an election is called we have to fight the fight on forums and in public for the troops.
it aint the first or last time cans of worms are opened, used, then left on the hot sidewalk .....
The sad part is how often these silly little tails that are spun by power hungery wannabes is believed and taken for fact..
The sad part is how often these silly little tails that are spun by power hungery wannabes is believed and taken for fact..
Excellent post and it's 100 % truth.
Several returning veterans have been interviewed on local radio/TV and they all agree with your honest assessment. Not one of them has said that antiwar crowds or advocates demoralized the troops overseas in any way, shape, or form. Everyone who lived during the Vietnam war era well remembers the idea of patriots who protest war somehow demoralizing troops is a fabrication made up by chickenhawks who profit from the war but who are too scared to fight it.
A returning veteran even went so far as to say in a radio interview that those who want war but who refuse to enlist and to fight it are NOT supporting the troops. How true - how VERY true!
As usual Bill, a great post.
I would like to back up what you said with...
As a Soldier, now inactive, retired, what have you. I can confirm Bills assertion. Some sign up because they have a Rambo complex, some because they have a career in mind, some out of tradition and some don't really know why, they just feel it in their bones, it is what they should do.
I most resembled a couple of those thoughts. But i did so willingly and I accepted my orders without doubt. They were not easy to do, they were not fun, but the governement of the day as well as the UN, thought that our presence was needed. So be it.
Those that make it through the training, retraining, and more training, have a desire to serve and protect, rebuild, bridge social gaps, make peace, keep peace, defend, or when all else fails make peace at the end of a the barrel of a weapon, if need be. I realize how that can and will be read, but it does not change how our Soldiers feel. Do not put our "lives" down as your cause. We are willing to lay it all on the line. If you feel that supporting us in your way is about bringing us home, for our safety. That's not what we want. So if our well being is your concern, how about petitioning the Government for better equipment, better body armour, increasing danger pay, better retraining for our injured, better IMP's, better support services for our families, better weapon's(although, I do believe they have gotten much better since I served,lol.)and finally, better treatment of our vetrans. Try that on for size, before you cry for the camera's over our safety. You anti's are completely hypocritical.
I can honestly say, I had nothing to do with the state of affairs in North America. I do appreciate your kudo's though, Thank you very much. But my Peace Keeping duties, were about trying to feed and or protect the innocent civilians that were so often used as pawns in the ongoing war between ideologies.
The losses were catostrophic, the out come marginal, I have always questioned the purpose of Peace Keeping, I can stand between two waring parties, I shelter the innocents, but I can not stop the killing with rubber bullets or my "Standing Orders" of not firing until fired up on, or taking cover, instead of returning fire, because the suits did not want to have their Forces involved in or be seen to be taking one side orthe other.
When this shyte is hitting the fan, suits should be the first to get fragged. It would simplify the mission.
OttawaBill:
How can you be so in the box in your thinking. It's about a supporting a group of people doing a horrendous job. They do the best with what they have and are asked to do.
The way that this debate has been framed, suggests that people who are against this war, should not voice their opinions because it demoralizes the troops. This does not mean that we don't recognize the courage and sacrifice of the troops.
The Army would come home if told to do so, and stay if told to do so..thats there job. Unless you are sure we should disband the military and cross our fingers we should be glad these guys are willing to do this job.
I don't really see the correlation between not supporting this particular effort, and disbanding the army. I'm not sure that we need to be in Afghanistan nor I am sure that we are achieving anything over there. I don't have a lot of faith in Karzai's government nor in the alleged democratic process that got him elected. This does not mean that I want to see the army disbanded. There are many other just causes where Canadian troops are needed.
Should we not support police since sometimes they shoot people, or pull them all off the street if one gets killed? We expect them to get out there the next day and do the job we pay them to do. The rest of us may wish there were no need for them at all but know that time is not now.
You seem to have an oversimplified view of those who disagree with our role in Afghnistan. For some reason, you are under the impression that anyone against this conflict must be against all wars and all violence. Such is not the case. Many of us are not convinced that they need to be there.
I do not support politicians using them for personal power....I don't even know who we will ever get out of Afghanastan, but I for sure support the people and the families that have to struggle with their lives, families and maybe death to do a job!
First of all, they don't have to do it. They are not conscripted, and Canada is not the sort of country where people have no options. Therefore, they are there because they believe in what they are doing. They are willing to risk their lives because of a cause that they believe in. I simply feel that they are somewhat misguided in that cause.
How can you be so in the box in your thinking. It's about a supporting a group of people doing a horrendous job. They do the best with what they have and are asked to do.
The way that this debate has been framed, suggests that people who are against this war, should not voice their opinions because it demoralizes the troops. This does not mean that we don't recognize the courage and sacrifice of the troops.
The Army would come home if told to do so, and stay if told to do so..thats there job. Unless you are sure we should disband the military and cross our fingers we should be glad these guys are willing to do this job.
I don't really see the correlation between not supporting this particular effort, and disbanding the army. I'm not sure that we need to be in Afghanistan nor I am sure that we are achieving anything over there. I don't have a lot of faith in Karzai's government nor in the alleged democratic process that got him elected. This does not mean that I want to see the army disbanded. There are many other just causes where Canadian troops are needed.
Should we not support police since sometimes they shoot people, or pull them all off the street if one gets killed? We expect them to get out there the next day and do the job we pay them to do. The rest of us may wish there were no need for them at all but know that time is not now.
You seem to have an oversimplified view of those who disagree with our role in Afghnistan. For some reason, you are under the impression that anyone against this conflict must be against all wars and all violence. Such is not the case. Many of us are not convinced that they need to be there.
I do not support politicians using them for personal power....I don't even know who we will ever get out of Afghanastan, but I for sure support the people and the families that have to struggle with their lives, families and maybe death to do a job!
First of all, they don't have to do it. They are not conscripted, and Canada is not the sort of country where people have no options. Therefore, they are there because they believe in what they are doing. They are willing to risk their lives because of a cause that they believe in. I simply feel that they are somewhat misguided in that cause.
Sassy, I'm not sure how you think Harper's stance is more courageous than Layton's.
Do you think it takes courage to send other men out to fight your battles. Courage is when you put on the uniform and step out on the front lines. Courage is not when you tell someone else to go and fight, and don't bother to attend their funerals.
Harper is very brave with the lives of others.
jarex,
I agree with Ottawa Bill, I have no idea how anyone can say 'I don't support the war, but l support the troops"
COMMENTS like this are examples of a stance that is TRULY AN OXI-MORON and TRULY SNIVELING and full of HYPOCRACY...
especially when the writer is safely in a home that is safe from bombs or suicide bombers,
and full of food, rather than a shortage
and is able to walk in the streets, and allow children to play safely in playgrounds without fear of stray bullets or intended bullets or suicide bombers...
and a person who can safely comment on the internet because this freedom is once again being protected by having answered the attack of a 'HOLY WAR' on Nato countries...
and a person who can go to work and earn money due to the fact that both our country and our neighbours to the south are working together to keep our land and our society safe.
freedom as opposed to a grimer reality of a world at the hands of terrorists.
And when disrespectful comments are coached with the comfort of "...but we support the troops,"
It is just a sniveling way of trying to JUSTIFY taking the courage and sacrific of others that are dedicated to the REASON,
when you don't support the REASON, you are in fact, not supporting the COUNTRY that is founded on SACRIFIC.
You can wrap it up any way you like, but the fact remains that it is an empty meanless non-supportive decision to comment in circles for the sake of making yourself feel better about being non-supportive.
I agree with Ottawa Bill, I have no idea how anyone can say 'I don't support the war, but l support the troops"
COMMENTS like this are examples of a stance that is TRULY AN OXI-MORON and TRULY SNIVELING and full of HYPOCRACY...
especially when the writer is safely in a home that is safe from bombs or suicide bombers,
and full of food, rather than a shortage
and is able to walk in the streets, and allow children to play safely in playgrounds without fear of stray bullets or intended bullets or suicide bombers...
and a person who can safely comment on the internet because this freedom is once again being protected by having answered the attack of a 'HOLY WAR' on Nato countries...
and a person who can go to work and earn money due to the fact that both our country and our neighbours to the south are working together to keep our land and our society safe.
freedom as opposed to a grimer reality of a world at the hands of terrorists.
And when disrespectful comments are coached with the comfort of "...but we support the troops,"
It is just a sniveling way of trying to JUSTIFY taking the courage and sacrific of others that are dedicated to the REASON,
when you don't support the REASON, you are in fact, not supporting the COUNTRY that is founded on SACRIFIC.
You can wrap it up any way you like, but the fact remains that it is an empty meanless non-supportive decision to comment in circles for the sake of making yourself feel better about being non-supportive.
