At this Moment I am proud.

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   bonnebartronposted 13 years ago

   I have been reading other hubbers posts and honestly I am so hopeful! There are so many people on here who truly do care about our Soldiers, there are so many posts of people crying out that WE should STAND TOGETHER in support and love for our Fighting Men and Women! I have faith in Americans. I am asked why by many people I meet. THIS IS WHY! We notice the problem, we want to rectify it. IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION, words are important, but ACTION will bring the change WE are looking for! Thank you to every single hubber that posts about their loved ones Serving, and a HUGE THANK YOU FROM A GRATEFUL NATION for each one of YOU who unselfishly post YOUR EXPERIENCES from OVER THERE. It is through knowledge and communication, that WE as a COUNTRY can finally start to understand what it means to SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

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      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, but supporting our troops doesn't mean supporting foolish and costly wars where they are killed for no good reason.

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         Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Speaking as a Vet, Ralph nailed it. I get really ticked at 'patriots' who never put on the uniform who wave the flag and praise the soldiers and sailors as a ploy to push a neocon agenda.

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         MikeNVposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I tend to agree with this statement.  Who exactly is the enemy?  The Taliban in Afghanistan are outnumbered 20:1... how many more lives and how much more money are we gong to spend there?

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         bonnebartronposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         We, as a COUNTRY support costly wars because WE AS A COUNTRY allow these wars to happen! The Military supports the PEOPLE!  Me, You, and every Single American... Where our Soldiers are stationed, when they leave their home to go over there, what they do, those are all decisions made by a GOV WE AS AMERICANS allow to govern us unchecked. It's easy to argue over the war being wrong or right or that we are supposed to be there or not, that truly is not the point. Our Soldiers sign their lives over to every single American. Our Military entrusts the People of this country with their lives and WE let THEM down by talking, fighting and focusing on the bullshit details that our Government waves in front of our eyes like a sparkly rattle to a baby. Pitting us against each other when we all want the same thing. We are too easily satiated by pretty words and promises. We are TOO QUICK to turn on each other! We allow hot button topics to enrage us and think that this gives us a platform to show others how we are more empathic, or have stronger moral fortitude, but the time for such high school idiocy is behind us. Our Soldiers need to know WE are behind THEM.  OUR SOLDIERS  have taken a vow to uphold the values of OUR CONSTITUTION AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES FROM ALL FOES BOTH foreign AND DOMESTIC! They are on OUR SIDE! The problem with the hippy movement is the same issue threatening to pose itself again. A GENERATION who knows something is wrong but doesn't take the time to see who is really causing the problem so they turn their pent up misdirected anger on the face of the war. The Faces of MEN AND WOMEN I SPENT TIME WITH IN THAT FORSAKEN IRAQ DESERT, MEN AND WOMEN WILLING TO DIE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLES POWER TO STAND UP AND SPEAK WHEN THEY HAVE GIVEN UP THAT LUXURY WITH A VOWED SILENCE! I can't agree more that its time we implement change in the way we allow the CASUAL DISREGARD for HUMAN LIFE! That's what our Soldiers are.... HUMANS, each of them with PEOPLE who LOVE and RESPECT them, I Personally am one of them! And I am proud to be called a Patriot, I understand the implications of being an AMERICAN WHO LOVES HER COUNTRY AND IS NOT READY TO THROW IN THE TOWL. We can change, we have learned from the mistakes of our Parents Generations, and I PROMISE YOU I will do whatever little it is I can to ensure that every person who goes to war for MY Country knows that I appreciate the sacrifice, no matter the size, no matter whats popular! These are My COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN, these are YOUR BROTHERS, SISTERS, SCHOOLMATES, NEIGHBORS, MOTHERS and FATHERS! THESE ARE OUR PEOPLE,  Pay Attention to THAT, because THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS!

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   DevLinposted 13 years ago

   It started with Viet Nam.  "Hate the war, support the Troops." A Soldier is putting his/her life on the line in the name of America. Treat them as such! Proud Americans.

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   Ohmaposted 13 years ago

   Supporting our troops should be a no brainer but sadly it is not. I wish everyone held your attitude bonnebartron

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   JON EWALLposted 13 years ago

   Ralph Deeds
   
   THE US DIDN'T ASK FOR THE WAR against our enemies. Just like ''Remember Pearl Harbor'' ,this generation has it's ''911'' disaster that finally woke up the nation.
   Washington was asleep again until a President and Congress decided to act .If one believes that it was right or wrong to act to defend the nation against a global enemy, let us remember the cost of freedom is always expensive.
   The youth of our nation has stepped up to the plate and delivered.
   Each and everyone of them deserve our gratitude and respect for their contribution to the nation.
   Let's pray for their safe return each and every day until they return in victory and peace.
   GOD BLESS AMERICA

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      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      We sure did ask for the war in Vietnam and in Iraq. We didn't ask for the war in Afghanistan. The 9-11 attackers were based there. But that doesn't mean that what we are doing will work to our advantage in stemming terrorism. Some evidence suggests strongly that our stepped up drone attacks are provoking more terrorist attacks against the U.S.

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         luvpassionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Mr Deeds, what strong evidence is that?

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            Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Apparently the Taliban doesn't like it when our drones kill innocent women and children.
            
            http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/nyreg … amp;st=cse
            
            http://community.nytimes.com/comments/o … amp;st=cse
            
            http://www.thenation.com/blog/pakistans-two-air-wars
            
            http://www.thenation.com/article/pakistans-challenge

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               luvpassionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I see a lot of "Maybe's and Possible's in these articles.
               
               Also I hardly think the Taliban need  reasons to continue terrorist attacks. My father during his tour in Vietnam was called a baby killer. My husbands father and I hope you don't start calling my husband and his comrades the same thing because you don't believe they should be in Afganistan.

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                  Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I am a veteran myself, and I wasn't one of the people who called our Vietnam veterans names. And I certainly wouldn't call our soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan names either. But that doesn't mean I'm not justified in questioning why we foolishly invaded Iraq and our likelihood of success in Afghanistan. We neglected Afghanistan while we invaded Iraq or we might have been finished there long ago. There have been plenty of articles expressing the opinion that our invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan increased terrorism against the U.S. and our allies in Europe. Our siding with Israel is another factor which promotes terrorism against the U.S. in my opinion.

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                     luvpassionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     I agree...my husband also argrees with you on Afghanistan, he says the Russians couldn't and they were right there.
                     
                     He will do his duty wherever he is stationed...personally I like the drone's they keep my husband from having to fly in dangerous areas though he wouldn't agree with me on this point.
                     
                     It might surprise you to learn that many pilots don't like the drones for reasons you described.

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                        Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/05/13-6
                        
                        (I'm a veteran but not a war veteran. I was in the Army between the Korean and Vietnam wars.)

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                           luvpassionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                           Regardless where or when you have served, once you have served you belong to a brotherhood if called I'm sure you would have regarded your oath.
                           
                           Teri

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         rhamsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ralph,
         
         I agree that we asked for it in Viet Nam and Iraq when we decided what was good for the US and its' interests.
         
         Where I tend to stray from your belief that we did not ask for Afghanistan because of the 911 attacks. 
         
         The US meddles in others affairs and then wonders why people just don't get over it.  Harry Truman went along with the establishment of Israel but knew it was none of our business.  The US thinks for whatever reason be it the holocaust, the lack of a strong government in Palestine, Israels claim of preordained biblical precedence to rights for the land or with more modern claims of security that the issue should go away because we back Israel and forgot the people who were displaced and are being persecuted.  Through our onesided negligence this problem persisted until it bit us in our arrogant ass.
         
         I support the soldiers 100% and even have relatives in the military but I don't support our country in its' meddling with other sovereign nations affairs.  We absolutely laid the groundwork over 60 years ago for the attacks that took place and as long as we arrogantly claim that they were unprovoked we will never get to the solution of a lasting peace.

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   Ohmaposted 13 years ago

   The point to the thread is the value of the soldier not the value of the wars they are fighting. Our government wields a big stick but that stick is made up of real men and women who have put their live on hold to go and do an often times thankless job.

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   luvpassionposted 13 years ago

   Well said Ohma...often my husband's job weighs heavily on him. Thnk everyone who supports the work they are trying to do.
   
   Teri

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7. 78

   Shadesbreathposted 13 years ago

   I think it would be tragic to turn this really great thread into a fight about whether the wars are justified or not.  The point is to support the TROOPS, at least here, this thread.  The 18 year old boys and girls, the husbands and wives, the career guys... all of them who are doing SOMETHING to make the country stronger. 
   
   THEY do not make the policy decisions to go to war.  That is a HUGE part of what makes them great.  They follow orders.  They are SERVING the U.S.  Someone has to follow orders or there is no military might. 
   
   They serve and trust YOU and ME, the bulk of voters, to make sure we have good politicians in office to make good decisions about where and when our troops are deployed.  If your "guy" didn't win, it's your fault.  Do more next time.

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      Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      If you are in the military (and I was) you COUNT on these arguments about whether a war is justified or not. In my time, it was an axiom - no one wanted to be the last GI to die in 'Nam. It was a lame and pointless war and it dragged on for years as politicians tried to figure out how to end it and 'save face' - like national face is real important compared to spilled blood (yours) in a stupid war for a corrupt regime.
      
      Please don't discourage the debate, as long as no one is blaming the GI - and I don't see that mistake happening.

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         Shadesbreathposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This debate, being HIGHLY political, usually degrades quickly, particularly on web forums.  I was merely expressing my desire to keep it focused on the OP's point.  But, whatever.  Not like I have any power to do anything about it anyway.

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   jacobkuttytaposted 13 years ago

   thanks

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