If you are morally against a particular war, why would you "support" anyone participating in it? Who is more at fault? The old man starting a war, or the person that's willing to pick up a weapon once the war has started? Granted, there are exceptions to this. In a country with mandatory service, you have no choice. If your country is invaded, that certainly changes things. Let's say someone joined the Marines in 2003 eager to fight in Iraq, a war you are opposed to on moral grounds. How can you morally support that soldier who is eager to enact polices that you are against? You may have *some* credibility for a soldier who joined prior to the war you are against, but not much. That soldier certainly knows the potential of their enlistment.

This is like saying, "I don't support the Holocaust, but I certainly support the brave men of the Waffen Schutzstaffel."

War supporters have laid a trap, and anti-war supporters fall right into it. Against accusations that they don't support individual soldiers, and against bad PR of their actions in Vietnam, anti-war faction come up with this statement as a weak defense. Why not just flat out say you are against everything about the war, from top to bottom?

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Of course, I'm playing devil's advocate, since I really have no opinion on the war, since I don't know enough about it to pretend like I have one.

Post edited at 10:43 pm on May 1, 2008 by BrokenBelief

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These guys do the fighting so that you're not forced to.

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You know you simply cannot argue with the opinion of Bacon.

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How can you morally support that soldier...

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Post edited at 11:07 pm on May 2, 2008 by hithere

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You support their dedication to people and their country and admire it and admire their strength. But you disagree with the war.

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Even if you do, and you tell soldiers that, they will get insulted.
An example is a conversation my cousin had, he was still wearing his uniform, "I admire your courage, what you're doing is wonderful. But I don't personally support the war."
He told us that when he was told that, it was like a slap in the face. He felt insulted by the fact that anyone would have the nerve to tell him that they admired him, yet they put down everything he believes in.

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1) Soldiers aren't Brass. They don't decide where they go, who they fight, when they fight

2) Not all soldiers join up to fight a specific conflict, many just had the bad luck of being in the military at the time of the conflict

3) Many soldiers actually hate the occupation. There's a video on Youtube of US soldiers all saying "Fuck Iraq" as a message to McCain's 100 years statement. Many of them are resentful for having to spend 3 tours in Iraq

4) Can you support troops by supporting a war that is unnecessary and endangers their lives for seemingly little gains? It could be argued that to support the troops you favor the Powell Doctrine which minimizes their risk while maximizing gains to the US. That Doctrine was thrown out the window by Dubya and Co.

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Once you enlist, you have no choice where you are sent.
These troops may have enisted before this conflict was started. Whether they agree with it or not is not their choice. You can't just quit the army. You are stuck there in service for a predetermined amount of time.

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They KNOW that they will most likely have to serve when they enlist. They don't just get it sprung on them like a surprise.

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Quote: from Missyjane at 11:11 pm on May 1, 2008

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Once you enlist, you have no choice where you are sent.  
 These troops may have enisted before this conflict was started. Whether they agree with it or not is not their choice. You can't just quit the army. You are stuck there in service for a predetermined amount of time.

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They KNOW that they will most likely have to serve when they enlist. They don't just get it sprung on them like a surprise.

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How about the chumps who had a 4 year term after ROTC who graduated in 1999 or 2000? Guess where they went: Iraq. I bet you none of them saw that coming.

Post edited at 7:00 pm on May 6, 2008 by obvious child

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"Well this is new....and scary" - Serena on a Convent Scarab

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Quote: from YellowDuckie at 3:33 pm on May 6, 2008

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Quote: from Missyjane at 11:11 pm on May 1, 2008

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Once you enlist, you have no choice where you are sent.
These troops may have enisted before this conflict was started. Whether they agree with it or not is not their choice. You can't just quit the army. You are stuck there in service for a predetermined amount of time.

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They KNOW that they will most likely have to serve when they enlist. They don't just get it sprung on them like a surprise.

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How about the chumps who had a 4 year term after ROTC who graduated in 1999 or 2000? Guess where they went: Iraq. I bet you none of them saw that coming.

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Is the military not there to defend the country or am I mistaken? Do these people not understand what they may have to do?


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Quote: from Missyjane at 11:11 pm on May 1, 2008

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Once you enlist, you have no choice where you are sent.  
 These troops may have enlisted before this conflict was started. Whether they agree with it or not is not their choice. You can't just quit the army. You are stuck there in service for a predetermined amount of time.

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They KNOW that they will most likely have to serve when they enlist. They don't just get it sprung on them like a surprise.

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They know they will have to serve.
They didn't know WHERE they would be serving. The reserves aren't sent outside the countries borders, but full time servicemen have to do what they are told.
They may not have a choice but the participate in a war they don't agree with.

BTW many servicemen are not the brightest sparks. They believe what they are told. Many are from families where they are pressured into military service.

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