Topic: Iraq
Lest we forget... The Iraq Occupation is now less of an issue for many Americans. Are the lives of our soldiers somehow worth less now than before the "surge"?by USAF Vet Dan
(libertarian)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Turning our backs on our troops
As you can see by my moniker, I am a veteran. I was a good soldier and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal as a result of my service. The oath I took to "uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic" has no statute of limitations. As a vet who took that oath, I feel compelled to speak out against the current, most troubling failure of Americans to support their troops.
"What on earth is he talking about?" you might ask. "Compared to how Vietnam Era soldiers and vets were treated, today's soldiers are embraced as heroes." (as they rightfully should be) True, many people sport the "support our troops" ribbon stickers on their cars and they shake a soldier's hand when the opportunity arises. But beyond those token displays, many Americans have turned their backs on our troops in Iraq. Let me explain
The disease of apathy
It is as true as it is sad... many Americans are too apathetic, self absorbed and lazy to behave like "responsible citizens". They don't attempt to keep themselves educated and informed about their government, let alone spend the time to look beyond the ten-second sound bite to find truth beyond the lies. The majority don't even bother to vote. It was Thomas Jefferson who said, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be."
To be fair, it must be stated that Americans' apathy has been intentionally and gradually cultivated in several ways. One is by the empty rhetoric delivered by our politicians. After decades of "I'll make America strong again" and "I'll bring change to Washington", Americans have understandably turned a deaf ear to such blathering. The exception is Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul. He clearly answers questions as opposed to side stepping them. He is not afraid to tell the truth or to address issues (i.e., fake, inflated money printed by the Federal Reserve) the elite-controlled puppet candidates would never dare address. Sad that apathy and ignorance are prohibiting a great number of Americans from hearing, understanding and accepting his message, but that is an issue for another article. The point is that empty political rhetoric has been and is intentionally used to disconnect Americans from their system of governance. Agendas that would be rejected by an informed, participatory electorate are more easily achieved in the absence of the people's oversight.
Another major contributor to apathy is the selective, biased, and sometimes false reporting of issues and events by the main stream media. Using Ron Paul's candidacy (I promise, this article is not about Ron Paul) to demonstrate the MSM's gross, blatant manipulation of Americans' opinions, look at examples like this, this and the MSM’s silence on this. How can it be that, in a "free" country, such bold acts clearly designed to steal the fundamental keystone of our republican form of representative government - a free election - are tolerated by the majority of Americans? It cannot. America is no longer free as it is no longer employing Democratic principles.
The Iraq Occupation
Up until reports that "the surge is working" began, public opposition to the invasion and occupation of Iraq was at more than 70%. In only a few months it has declined to under 60%. What caused this reduction of opposition? Did the "surge" somehow eliminate the fact that WMD lies were used to bamboozle Americans into supporting the immoral invasion? Did it make the fact that the invasion trigger was unconstitutionally pulled by Bush instead of a congressional Act of War? Did it eradicate the fact that our troops are still over there dying every day?
It seems apparent that the reduction of American casualties was not a result of the "surge" but was directly the result of a significant reduction in operations. It's harder to kill a soldier if they remain in their protected bunkers. But American soldiers are still dying in Iraq. Since June, 2007 when the "surge" was first reported "to be working" 489 have died there... 31 so far this month, alone.
American's growing apathy about Iraq comes not only from reduced casualties but from the intentional reduction in coverage by the MSM. Compare their daily coverage of operations and casualties a few months ago to the void of their coverage today. Out of sight, out of mind.
The "surge" is nothing more than bunk created by the Bush Administration and sold by the MSM to quell public opposition to the Iraq Occupation and the neoconservative agenda of using military might against any country who doesn't cow-tow to their omnipotent whims. It has also been effective in slowing the growth of support for Ron Paul's candidacy as he is the only presidential candidate - Republican or Democrat - with the stated intention of withdrawing our troops from Iraq (and the rest of the world) as soon as possible.
To those 40%+ of Americans who, whether by apathy or ignorance, no longer see the Iraq Occupation as a "major issue": You have turned your backs on our troops by blindly accepting the sacrifice of their lives in an illegal occupation of a foreign nation resulting from an unconstitutional invasion based on intentional lies spun by the main stream media to appear necessary for our safety.
So I have taken it upon myself, in my own small way, to do what the MSM conveniently refuses to do. Below is a list of the 31 soldiers who have died in Iraq so far this month. Taking a couple of minutes to read their names is but a small sacrifice of your time. They sacrificed a hell of a lot more for you. As you read their names and how they died, think of how their families' lives have been changed forever.
The surge didn't work worth a damn for them.
Lest we forget...
01 Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth 24 02 January 2008 1st Bn, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) DoD Release: Died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 2 of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident
02 Pfc. Joshua R. Anderson 24 02 January 2008 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry, 4th BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, MND-Center Killed when the Soldier's dismounted patrol encountered an IED south of Baghdad Jan 2 / DoD Release: Died Jan 2 in Kamasia, Iraq
03 Maj. Andrew J. Olmsted 37 03 January 2008 Military Transition Team, 1st BDE, 1st Infantry Division, MND-North Killed in a small-arms fire attack while conducting operations in Diyala province Jan. 3
04 Cpt. Thomas J. Casey 32 03 January 2008 Military Transition Team, 1st BDE, 1st Infantry Division, MND-North Killed in a small-arms fire attack while conducting operations in Diyala province Jan. 3
05 Petty Officer Second Class Menelek M. Brown 24 04 January 2008 USS Hopper DoD Release: Declared dead Jan. 4 after apparently going overboard from USS Hopper in the Arabian Sea Jan. 3.
06 Cpl. Jason F. Lemke 30 05 January 2008 2nd Bn, 23rd Infantry, 4th Stryker BCT, 2nd Infantry Division, MND-North Died from injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device detonation near his vehicle while conducting operations in Diyala Province, Jan. 5 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 5 in Ibrahim Al Adham, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an IED
07 Spc. James D. Gudridge 20 06 January 2008 4th Bn, 64th Armor, 4th BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, MND-Baghdad Killed when an IED detonated near vehicle during combat operations in southern Baghdad on Jan. 6
08 Pfc. Timothy R. Hanson 27 08 January 2008 1st Bn, 15th Infantry, 3rd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division DoD Release: Died Jan. 7 in Salmon Pak, Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire
09 Sgt. David J. Hart 22 08 January 2008 2nd Bn, 327th Infantry, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), MND-North Died from injuries sustained during an attack while conducting operations in Salah ad Din province Jan. 8 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 8 of wounds sustained during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq
10 Pfc. Ivan E. Merlo 19 08 January 2008 2nd Bn, 327th Infantry, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), MND-North Died from injuries sustained during an attack while conducting operations in Salah ad Din province Jan. 8 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 8 of wounds sustained during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq
11 Pfc. Phillip J. Pannier 20 08 January 2008 2nd Bn, 327th Infantry, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), MND-North Died from injuries sustained during an attack while conducting operations in Salah ad Din province Jan. 8 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 8 of wounds sustained during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq
12 Spc. Todd E. Davis 22 09 January 2008 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, MND-North Killed by a house born improvised explosive device while conducting operations in Diyala Jan. 9 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 9 in Sinsil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an IED detonated during combat operations
13 Staff Sgt. Jonathan K. Dozier 30 09 January 2008 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, MND-North Killed by a house born improvised explosive device while conducting operations in Diyala Jan. 9 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 9 in Sinsil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an IED detonated during combat operations
14 Staff Sgt. Sean M. Gaul 29 09 January 2008 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, MND-North Killed by a house born improvised explosive device while conducting operations in Diyala Jan. 9 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 9 in Sinsil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an IED detonated during combat operations
15 Sgt. Zachary W. McBride 20 09 January 2008 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, MND-North Killed by a house born improvised explosive device while conducting operations in Diyala Jan. 9 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 9 in Sinsil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an IED detonated during combat operations
16 Sgt. 1st Class Matthew I. Pionk 30 09 January 2008 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, MND-North Killed by a house born improvised explosive device while conducting operations in Diyala Jan. 9 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 9 in Sinsil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an IED detonated during combat operations
17 Sgt. Christopher A. Sanders 22 09 January 2008 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, MND-North Killed by a house born improvised explosive device while conducting operations in Diyala Jan. 9 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 9 in Sinsil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an IED detonated during combat operations
18 Lance Cpl. Curtis A. Christensen Jr. 29 11 January 2008 2nd Bn, 8th Marine, 2nd MARDIV, II MEF, assigned to MNF-West Died Jan. 11 in a non-combat related incident in Al Anbar province / DoD Release: Died Jan. 11 from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq
19 Pfc. Keith E. Lloyd 26 12 January 2008 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, MND-North Died from injuries sustained when an IED exploded near his vehicle while conducting operations in Ninewah province Jan. 12 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 12 in Tal Afar, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an IED
20 Pfc. Danny L. Kimme 27 16 January 2008 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), MND-North Killed by small arms fire while conducting operations in Salah ad Din province Jan. 16 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 16 of wounds suffered in Balad, Iraq, when they were attacked by grenade and small arms fire during combat operations
21 Pfc. David H. Sharrett II 27 16 January 2008 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), MND-North Killed by small arms fire while conducting operations in Salah ad Din province Jan. 16 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 16 of wounds suffered in Balad, Iraq, when they were attacked by grenade and small arms fire during combat operations
22 Spc. John P. Sigsbee 21 16 January 2008 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry, 1st BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), MND-North Killed by small arms fire while conducting operations in Salah ad Din province Jan. 16 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 16 of wounds suffered in Balad, Iraq, when they were attacked by grenade and small arms fire during combat operations
23 U/I pending notification of next-of-kin 18 January 2008 MND-Baghdad Killed by small arms fire while conducting operations in Salah ad Din province Jan. 16
24 Spc. Richard B. Burress 25 19 January 2008 1st Bn, 30th Infantry, 2nd BCT, 3rd Infantry Division, MND-Center Killed in an IED attack in Arab Jabour Jan. 19 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 19 in Al Jabour, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an IED
25 Lance Cpl. James M. Gluff 20 19 January 2008 1st Bn, 8th Marine, 2nd MARDIV, II MEF, assigned to MNF-West Killed while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province Jan. 19 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 19 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq
26 Staff Sgt. Justin R. Whiting 27 19 January 2008 3rd Bn, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), DoD Release: Died Jan. 19 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an IED
27 Spc. Jon M. Schoolcraft, III 26 19 January 2008 1st Bn, 27th Infantry, 2nd BDE, 25th Infantry Division, MND-Center DoD Release: Died Jan. 19 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an IED
28 Sgt. Michael R. Sturdivant 20 22 January 2008 431st Civil Affairs Bn, US Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), MND-North Died from injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover while conducting operations in Kirkuk Jan. 22 / DoD Release: Died Jan. 22 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident during convoy operations
29 U/I pending notification of next-of-kin 25 January 2008 MND-Center Died Jan. 25 of noncombat related causes
30 U/I pending notification of next-of-kin 26 January 2008 MND-Baghdad Killed Jan. 26 while conducting a dismounted patrol near Kadamiyah when an IED detonated
31 U/I pending notification of next-of-kin 27 January 2008 MND-Baghdad Killed Jan. 27 when his vehicle was struck by an IED in NE Baghdad
I shall not forget you, my brothers.
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The views expressed in this
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As a lifetime member of the VFW and as one who remembers the days of being spit on if in uniform and being given orders we could not wear the uniform off base today is better. However, I share your sentiments and applaud this article. We must change our foreign policy or our valiant soldiers will continue to die in foreign lands for wrongful interventionist actions. We must stay strong yet we must not continue the wrong! Thanks for keeping this issue upfront!
If I were a solider there what would I think? I would think the American people would stick up for me. I would hope they would challenge if not demand our withdrawal to bring us home. I would hope they would remember me. I would hope to live another day, to be with my friends and family, to enjoy life.
Are people too concerned with their own problems and everday routine that they have betrayed those who protect and serve our country?
Thanks for the sobering reminder. Particularly troubling is the age of our fallen comrades. If only our fellow citizens could tune out the politicians, and focus on the reality, this insanity wouldn't be tolerated.
Soldiers on average gain 10 pounds from a deployment to Iraq. Not to make matters worse, more young people in America die in car accidents then they do in Iraq. This whole notion that it is bad in Iraq is troubling. The war is comming to an end, a calm has insued, and soldiers reenlistment bonuses are increasing. I guess that as an airmen and not a soldier, you would oppose action in the military. The soldiers that have lost thier lives are heros. If I was to die in Iraq, the last thing that I would want would be to give up on the situation. Do we need another Cambodia? If not let the soldiers fight the war. If they don't want to come let them go to Canada and not Iraq. Soldiers have options, and most of them are not scared to death of the possibility of seeinng some action. The soldiers have done a good job over in Iraq. I have seen so for myself.
Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-01-28 11:20:29
As a "ground guy" yes I left the FOB daily (Iraq in 03 05 06 and Afghanistan in 07). I can say you have no concept of what is going on. To infact state that soldiers gain 10lbs is absurd rationalization of what I dont know at best. Why dont you mention that 18 veterans are committing suicide A DAY in this country?
Bottom line: This war violates the same constitution that all of us servicemen and women took upon joining the service. To say that our soldiers are unaffraid shows your utter lack of comprehension of warfare. We are all scared, but that in no way makes us cowards, b/c we do brave deeds in the face of fear.
That list of casualties, I personally know 4 of them. How about you?. So to think that the soldiers want to be there winning is absurd. What is winning? How do you define winning? I didnt get my legs blown off today?
I WILL SCREAM AND YELL TO BRING MY BROTHERS HOME. No dishonor to it. The soldier does what he or she is told. And if they are told to come home they will, no dishonor, just following orders. But if you truly believe that the soldiers "WANT" to be there you are an ignorant misinformed media sponge, and I highly recommend you google the nearest recruiters office and go join the INFANTRY, put on some boots, grab your weapon, ruck up and move out to the "good place".
I LOVE MY ARMY, I love my brothers and sisters, MY COUNTRYMEN AND WOMEN. They are our most preciuos resource and we continue to throw them in to the meat grinder to make others rich.
NEWS FLASH to Sen McCain- You cant have my kids, I will move them to CANADA or Holland first. But I will fight here for the love my country before I leave it.
Government is the Servant
We are the Masters
Do onto others as you would have otheres do onto you.
LIBERTY or DEATH
Great article. It needs to be submitted to every major newspaper in the country.
I was looking through some pics from a military site. One pic was perhaps the inside of a Marine barracks which showed a chalk board. On it was written:
"America is not at war. The Marines are at war. America is at the mall."
As a soldier who's spent 6+ years in the Army with 2 Iraq tours under my belt I've been thinking about that lately everytime I hear about how the economy has overtaken the war as the number one issue. No surprise either that the war has faded, the presidental race takes up ~50% of airtime on TV. Once the primaries/caucuses are over the economy will likely be the dominant issue with the war still in the background saying, "Hey, what about me?!"
So what Fobs were those soldiers who you knew stationed at?
And do the DFAC's not have large ammounts of junk food and Ice Cream?
Has Stars and Stripes not commented on the fact that deployed soldiers have gained weight? Iraq has improved in 07 and is a lot less violent then when you left it.
Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-01-28 13:08:19
the questions till remains have you been there on the streets? Are you curerntly there now? Did you look at the army times poll published last week? greater than 50% of troops currently there disagree with you, 60% say it will take 10 yrs to make a difference and more troops polled stated that we were not making progress there. So turn FOX off and go to IRAQ.
As far as my FOBS, Ive been at Courage, Marez, Diamond back, bushmaster, vistory, freedom, sykes, bagram and salerno. OBTW I just returned 2 months ago.
I live at Ft. Campbell, so I hear and see this stuff every day for the realness it is.
If you are not currently patrolling those countries or have patrolled them recently you have ZERO RIGHT to even discuss it. No one here wants to hear your neo-conn propganda.
AGAIN I highly encourage you to shut your pie hole and ruck up, you bring disgrace to all the troops you supposedly support. take the magnet off your car and do something real for once. You my firend are the coward who spills empty rhetoric while my countrymen spill their blood.
As you see active duty servicemembers have a lot of different oppinions.
I as a vet have a different oppinion than you do. Sure troops hate to be in muddy Iraq where there is mud and rain water everywhere right now, but they don't all hate it so much that they want to elect a president to get them out of it.
The best part is the fact that not every unit has served in Iraq. I met a guy who has been to Bosnia and Japan, but not Iraq. This is just the way that the Army is. Iraq is improving from the time I have got there. I have talked to soldiers and they have told me that it has.
And it is real libertarian of you to tell me that I can't express my oppinion.
Posted By: Walt Thiessen
Date: 2008-01-28 13:53:25
Actually, there is one presidential candidate who believes that Iraq and the economy are intertwined, but I dare not name him in case The Statist starts referring to him again as if he were Allah.
To USAF Vet Dan: I had hoped that this page wouldn't be soiled with the bickering that some seem to live for. I thoroughly understand the impulse to pile on, but I've also done my time, and it is my firm belief that when the caissons roll, it's time to set aside the bullshit, and show some respect.
Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-01-28 14:37:37
I did the caisson, 3rd US INF (The Old Guard 1990-1993)
Statist if your idea of getting better is the phillipino guy serving ice cream in a DFAC and the fact that we are not sleeping in the open is improvement then so be it for your small mind.
My LIBERTARIAN views will allow you to express you opinion but not your vile filth of lies.
You tap dance around the original question are you there doing combat operations? Why wont you answer the question. You instead send video snippets. No first hand knowledge. None Zero Zip Zilch, so you are right it is your opinion. Your ignorant unfounded baseless opinion.
You are a statist, someone who believes in the power of the state not the individual. We here in the US have a constitution set up to portect the PEOPLE and the REPUBLIC not the state, so you sir are an enemy to the REPUBLIC. Therefore you have no RIGHT to stand on the side of the soldiers who fight to uphold the constitution and the REPUBLIC not your state. For he who shall spill his blood with me today is my brother. You sir (I use that term loosely) need to move out of our country. "If ye love wealth better than LIBERTY, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of FREEDOM, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands that feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were ever our countrymen"- Sam Adams CHICHEMO- NO disrespect from me to MY COUNTRYMEN, just those ignorantly bent on ruining them.
So the troops are gaining weight there, huh. I guess this supports my statement that the reduction in casualties is, in part, due to the reduction in operations. The troops gained weight because they are spending more time in the barracks and less in the field.
Your assertion that "more young people in America die in car accidents then they do in Iraq" is idiotic and leads me to believe that you don't really have anything to debunk my statements.
You think things aren't "bad in Iraq". Tell that to the families of the 31 soldiers who died, 150+ who were injured, and the 150 vets who committed suicide so far this month. What makes it "bad" are the facts you choose to ignore... that the sacrifices our soldiers have made were the results of an invasion precipitated by lies and propaganda, initiated illegally without a congressional act of war, and that it had nothing to do with our nation's security and everything to do with the nefarious desires of corporations and foreign lobbyists.
You say "the war is coming to an end". Hmmm... I remember Bush stating that it was over back in April, 2003. That being said, what exactly will occur to indicate that "it is over"? John "kill em all and let God sort it out" McCain openly states that he doesn't care if we're there for 100 years. The puppet government we installed has asked us to stay forever in exchange for preferred oil pricing (SURPRISE! - not) and permanent bases are being constructed as I type. So long as non-Muslim "outsiders" walk on Arabic soil, there will be more casualties - both home and abroad.
Your reference to increases in reenlistment bonuses says nothing except that the soldiers' desire to leave Iraq is also increasing.
You infer that, as an airman, I was something less than a soldier. I guess you discount the lives of the 46 airmen who died in Iraq. Congratulations, you just insulted hundreds of thousands of air force personnel and vets.
And finally, you tried to play the "let them finish their mission" card. If their mission was constitutional, if it was in the defense of our nation, if it was "win-able", I'd be the first to support that position. Considering that none of those conditions exist, every life lost is immoral and a waste. The invasion and occupation of Iraq was a gross misuse of our precious soldiers' lives.
Ronald Reagan once said, "There can be no real peace while one American is dying some place in the world for the rest of us." As a civilian employee in Iraq (rent-a-cop, CIA goon, or whatever it is that you are), I'm sure you see peace as an end to a fat paycheck. Perhaps that's why you so vehemently try to defend the immoral and futile invasion / occupation. Or maybe you're just a Troll.
Stars and Stripes has printed both sides. They get a lot of complaint letters from the troops about it. Most of the articles that are negative are from the Associated Press and the rest of the MSM. The positive one usually are written by Stars and Stripes. Al-Jazeera English also shows both sides better than the US MSM.
I, too, am a veteran. I served in Iraq during OIF1 (2003-04). I'm proud of what we did, I'm proud of what we're doing, and I'm looking forward to returning there later this year.
You, sir, are doing us soldiers a grave disservice by propogating the kind of misleading allegations your article contains. Do your research. Are we occupying Iraq? No. We are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government. Is the
First of all, the "Iraqi government" that invited us is the puppet government installed by the US government. That makes the invitation meaningless. Furthermore, when the day comes that our troops are removed from their soil (sand), a civil war will most likely ensue that will bring down the current puppet government and replace it with another "Sadam-type" dictator. All those lives - American and Iraqi - will have been lost in vain, not to mention the billions of dollars GWB's little excursion cost the American taxpayers. Add to this casualty list our country's reputation abroad.
As a veteran and as an American, I give my full and complete support to our troops. Part of that support (and responsibility as an American citizen) comes in the form of ensuring that our military forces are not misused in an unconstitutional action. By all definitions, the Iraq invasion / occupation is a gross misuse of our forces. I'll resist the urge to list and quantify all of the components of this misuse as it is the topic of one of my upcoming articles. But I assert that it is every American's duty to speak out if they feel our military forces are being misused. Evidently, the majority of the active duty and retired military personnel agree with me as Ron Paul's donations from this segment ($246,000) almost equaled that of all the other RepubliCrat candidates combined ($260.000).
I'm amazed at your position. Are you not aware that the invasion was legitimized by lies of WMD? Are you ignoring that all soldiers take an oath to the Constitution? True, they are correct and honorable to follow the orders they are given but the Constitution does not allow them to be ordered into battle without a declaration of war. This puts them in a quandary - one that all Americans should speak out against lest their apathy allow the troops to be misused and abused.
I must be honest and declare that I'm sick of the neoconservative / mainstream media / establishment elite's use of the baseless "non-support of our shitty foreign policy = non-support of our troops" assertion. It is clear that this is "double-think" as quite the opposite is true.
I forgot to mention the most important issue here. The main point of my article is that the mainstream media has dramatically reduced its coverage of the Iraq occupation in an attempt to quell the negative public opinion. This is a slap in the face of every soldier who ever served. Those who sacrifice their lives deserve better than this. That is why I post their names and how they died. Do you have a problem with this?
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