Archon said:
How does the aftermath of what happens when we leave have anything to do with sincerely supporting OUR troops? We've already blown the place to hell and killed thousands of innocents. But you don't want to go near the quesiton "why" do you? If I were you I wouldn't either.
The only end to this conflict in immediate terms would be to hand control of the region over to the UN or NATO... but they are unwilling to clean up after us and I can't blame them. So we're stuck there.... our troops.. innocent people dying. However you want to avoid the question WHY.
We need a centrist administration in '08. That is our only hope of escaping this conflict. The bush administration cannot even give our troops the armor they need let alone provide any resolute course of action. The administration is fighting this war with domestic lip service... mass media... public relations. The Bush administration is doing nothing to support our troops abroad nor bring them home.
If supporting the troops was so simple as claiming that you support the troops... well wouldn't that just be dandy.
Either you support Bush or you support our troops. It's impossible to do Both.
"Why" has been given. Sadly, some are too stupid to see "why." Others simply don't care "why," because it allows them their bashing campaign. Still there are other that serve or served on the comfortable side of our military and are just plain ignorant and don't understand what terrorism is, much less the civilization from where they come. (Incidentally, these would be the same individuals that unless nuclear warheads are found, they don't see a threat.) I call this obtuse.
Under President Bush, we saw better boots (God send), new weapons, updated weapons, better uniforms, better flak Jackets with bullet proof SAPI plates (something we have never had before), updated equipment to match our technology, The regular force has been issued weaponry and gear that reflects our special forces, our ancient helicopters have been updated finally, the Osprey was kicked into over drive to take the place of our 'Vietnam vintage' helicopters, Our Humvees have been made stronger, UpArmor has been created for our humvees (although, bad for the axles), armored doors (though many of us remove them at times, because they are obstructive) etc.,....the list goes on. Because of tax breaks and the raise of pay in the war zone (which includes Kuwait, though don't agree with it), we feel like we are being rewarded personally for our efforts and through this money, we are able to create and pick up our lives easier after combat.
There is a plethora of support we have gotten under President Bush. No time in history has the military felt so appreciated in such a short period of time. While I'm sure you could remind me of something we got from the Clinton administration, I remember drastic cutbacks and barely enough money to train and repair broken gear. Our great stock pile of money after Clinton was finished doing good things for our economy came with a price. Memories also take me back to Marine deaths in Embassies in Africa and a U.S. Naval ship being attacked where we did nothing in retaliation. Our Democratic representation didn't seem to care and neither did our people. Sadly, many Americans didn't even realize. These attacks were just headlines mixed in with their local news. The President's polls remained high, so that showed us exactly what we were worth to our people. Now you use us as helpless "victims" of American imperialism of a President you don't like. Nothing more.
This is the sort of thing that civilians do not hear about. Not because they generally don't care, but because civilians tend to be fickle about when they show care. Also...the media is not concerned with such things. "Soldier flushes Koran" sells more papers.
Now, let's hear from your vast knowledge of what you have pretended to know about. What "armor" do we need? What "resolute course of action" do we not know? Let's hear what you know, compared to what you think you know based on heresay and bandwagon BS. Remember, just because you are selectively clueless, it does not mean that your military is. You obviously have no idea of your military, yet "you care."