Can You Support the Troops, But Not The War ?

COMMON SENSE, AGAIN


Can You Support the Troops, But Not The War ?



Listening to a local Boston radio talk show recently, I heard the host say that one could not be against the current conflict in Iraq or Afghanistan yet still be supportive of our troops.

He was wrong.

Many millions of Americans, myself included, have the utmost respect and admiration for our men and women in the military. Notice the term “our:” that is what they are; they are “our” men and women. We live in awe of their courage, bravery, and the sacrifice they make in the service of their nation and its citizens. In the news last year, there was a story of an already severely wounded Marine who grabbed and hugged a tossed grenade, saving his surrounding comrades but losing his own life. The young Marine was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions, second only to a Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award. For his amazing act of bravery and heroism, he only rates a second place medal. Can you imagine the heroism needed for the first place medal? How can you not stand just a little bit taller when you think of our remarkable military?

It is because of this respect and support for our troops that we believe the decision to send them into harm’s way should never be taken lightly. Their worth to this country and to their families and loved ones is much too great to be taken for granted or used for a political purpose. Numerous Americans are of the opinion that former President Bush and other members of his administration lied to the American people and sent our troops into Iraq for a political, or perhaps personal reason. They may be right.

Scores of people also give Bush the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the decision to send troops to Iraq. The intelligence the government had at the time, believed by the majority of government officials on both sides of the aisle, led the White House to believe Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and was, in fact, a threat to the United States.

The decision they took lightly was the one that left troops in Iraq—long after the alleged threat was proved groundless. Once American officials realized the “threat” from Iraq was rumor and not fact, American troops should have left immediately. The original mission was one to protect the United States, not one of regime change. The American people did not support sending troops to Baghdad at that time to get rid of a malicious foreign leader, and they still do not support that idea today.

Let’s recall that the entire “terrorism war” was started by a 6’4” tall, skinny, and frail looking Saudi who likes Pepsi and is rumored to have kidney trouble. The rumored connection between Osama bin Laden and the late (but not lamented) Saddam Hussein has been proved sketchy at best. President Bush’s greatest failure was that he let the admitted murderer of over 3000 Americans roam free through Pakistan and Afghanistan, while letting another 6,700 young American servicemen and women die in Iraq and Afghanistan for an unworthy cause.

“The times they are a’changin,” wrote Bob Dylan many years ago. In another misguided war, in another misguided country some 40 years ago, almost 60,000 American heroes gave their lives in another political police action. Those brave men were called “baby killers” and were not treated with the respect and thanks they truly deserved because they also fought in an unpopular war.

Today’s situation in Iraq is in many ways just the same—with one glaring exception. Now, American service personnel walking through the nation’s airports are routinely given standing ovations. People on the street say “thank you” to the men and women in uniform. Highway overpasses are covered with “welcome home” signs for hundreds of returning soldiers. The people who applaud, who say thank you, who hang the signs over America’s highways are fervent supporters of our troops, but perhaps not the war in which they fight. In 1968, people weren’t quite as polite.

So to all the radio hosts, right or left: yes, we can support our troops and not support the war. The returning veterans today are not yesterday’s veterans of Vietnam to whom thanks has yet to be fully given. These men and women have no doubt how much all Americans respect and admire them. Let us hope that all of our troops are home safe and sound before the 6,700 becomes another 60,000.

Martin Lawrence Bennett, 2L