To Iraq War Supporters:

[Troubadour]

Why have you not enlisted and volunteered to fight?

[Elrathin]

Some are too old and cannot enlist or they would have. I know of a few who would love to but can't.

[Troubadour]

Some are too old and cannot enlist or they would have. I know of a few who would love to but can't.

Yes, there are some. But what proportion are they compared to the "it's worth your life, but not mine" crowd?

[Trish]

I'm too old now and when I wasn't too old I considered joining the Navy, even met with the recruiter, took the ASFAB and passed handily - my father forbade me to go further and I obeyed his wishes. My 20 yr old son is still considering enlisting when he gets his degree, and my 14 yr old son talks about joining as well (whether they do or not is totally up to them. If they do they have my full support.). My nephews opted to enlist instead of college - one is in the Marines and the other in the Army. My father, father-in-law, uncles, uncles-in-law and brothers-in-law have all served, all but one in the Navy - the other in the Army. My husband tried to join but couldn't because of a physical limitation.

My family is serving, has served, and will continue to serve.

[PatrickHenry]

My family is serving, has served, and will continue to serve.Serve what?

Serve a nation that engages in aggressive wars while trying to wear a false mask of peace?

Serve a nation that cheers troops in foreign lands, but ignores and undefunds the wounded and the veteran when they return home?

Good for your family's little false-God worship of the regrettable UncleSam god.

Stop drinking that Koolade, Trish...

[Troubadour]

Notice how few war supporters are responding to this. Most of them dread this question almost as much as they dread the idea of enlisting.

I'm too old now

Just so you know, the maximum age of Army enlistment is now 42 (raised from 40 in 2006 to meet recruitment goals), so it's safe to say there are tens of millions of enlistment-age war supporters who have inexplicably (chuckle) failed to "sign up for glory."


My family is serving, has served, and will continue to serve.

So what do you think of perfectly healthy, perfectly capable, enlistment-age people who cry 'havoc!' and beat war drums from their sofas and swivel chairs?

BTW, here's the national leadership of the Young Republicans:

http://www.yrnf.com/index.cfm?&fuseaction=NationalLeadership.main

Care to guess how many of them have "served" or are "serving" in Iraq?

[apdst]

Why have you not enlisted and volunteered to fight?

I'm forty pounds overweight, have had one knee surgery, broke both ankles and had a concusion, since I got out of the service. The Army wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole. How do I know that? Because I tried to reenlist and I failed the physical at the MEPS. They saw, "head injury", and, "ACL reconstruction", and sent me to the lobby to wait for my bus ride back home.

Notice how few war supporters are responding to this. Most of them dread this question almost as much as they dread the idea of enlisting.

I think the primary reason for the lack of responses is because it's a stupid assed question, that has become incredibly boring. I think you would get more responses from folks if people like YOU, sir, would answer the queastion of why you haven't enlisted.

[Trish]

Serve what?

Serve a nation that engages in aggressive wars while trying to wear a false mask of peace?

Serve a nation that cheers troops in foreign lands, but ignores and undefunds the wounded and the veteran when they return home?

Good for your family's little false-God worship of the regrettable UncleSam god.

Stop drinking that Koolade, Trish...

PH -

I am aware of how you view the military and the government of this country. I do not, nor will I ever share them. So your snide contempt is wasted on me.

[Trish]

Notice how few war supporters are responding to this. Most of them dread this question almost as much as they dread the idea of enlisting.



Just so you know, the maximum age of Army enlistment is now 42 (raised from 40 in 2006 to meet recruitment goals), so it's safe to say there are tens of millions of enlistment-age war supporters who have inexplicably (chuckle) failed to "sign up for glory."



So what do you think of perfectly healthy, perfectly capable, enlistment-age people who cry 'havoc!' and beat war drums from their sofas and swivel chairs?

BTW, here's the national leadership of the Young Republicans:

http://www.yrnf.com/index.cfm?&fuseaction=NationalLeadership.main

Care to guess how many of them are in the military?

I'll be 54 this summer.

I think the decision to serve in the military is one that each individual has to make. There are many ways to serve this country - the military is only one avenue.

[micfranklin]

Sorry but I don't praise wars that never needed to happen in a country that never attacked us.

[apdst]

Sorry but I don't praise wars that never needed to happen in a country that never attacked us.

Are you saying that serving in the military is "praising" war? If you are, then you couldn't be more mistaken.

[Elrathin]

Are you saying that serving in the military is "praising" war? If you are, then you couldn't be more mistaken.

I think he is speaking more along the lines of why some aren't enlisting for THIS war. What some don't understand is that when you do join the military you don't get to pick and choose the wars you are in.

I was against the Iraq war from the start, but while I was in the military I did my job to the absolute best of my ability and never let any of the soldiers under my watch that I felt any differently. We had a job to do and we did it.

It wasn't until I got out that I voiced my opinion on the matter.

[apdst]

It wasn't until I got out that I voiced my opinion on the matter.

And that's as it should be no matter what one's position on the war is.

[Pookie]

Why have you not enlisted and volunteered to fight?

What an incredibly offensive question. I'll give you your damn answer, so listen up.

I spent 22 years in the Army.
I retired in July 2001.
My knee was blown out in a car wreck in August 2001.
I COULD NOT WALK. Get that?
Then after it healed and I was back on my feet, THE ARMY WOULD NOT LET ME BACK BECAUSE OF THE KNEE.
I was left with only 40% mobility in it.
They wouldn't take me back! Dammit, I wanted to get back in! I did everything I could. I was an officer, a Major, and even went through my Congressman and the ties I had to the Pentagon.

So, I hope this answers your question. You really don't want to know what I think of people like you who question this.

Hisses,
Pookie

[Pookie]

Oh, and when I retired, how the hell was I supposed to know this would happen? Answer that for me, and we both will know.
Thank you.
Hisses,
Pookie

[Troubadour]

I'm forty pounds overweight, have had one knee surgery, broke both ankles and had a concusion, since I got out of the service. The Army wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole. How do I know that? Because I tried to reenlist and I failed the physical at the MEPS. They saw, "head injury", and, "ACL reconstruction", and sent me to the lobby to wait for my bus ride back home.

Then it must really grill your cheese to see all these healthy, spry young psychotics chomping at the bit to see war happen from their living rooms.


I think the primary reason for the lack of responses is because it's a stupid assed question, that has become incredibly boring.


I'm sure it must be stupid to try to make a conservative feel guilt or shame, and boring for them to be put on the defensive when attacking others is so much more to their liking.


I think you would get more responses from folks if people like YOU, sir, would answer the queastion of why you haven't enlisted.

You're serious? Why have I - a person who opposed the war from the beginning, and has repeatedly equated it with treason - not volunteered to fight it? Apdst, you're not going to make any headway in that direction - my actions and my values are 100% in alignment. The question I asked of war supporters, however, is brutally damaging - why are so many people who claim to believe the war is a national necessity not willing to personally sacrifice anything to it?

I think the decision to serve in the military is one that each individual has to make.
There are many ways to serve this country - the military is only one avenue.

Right, but we're talking about people who insist the war is absolutely essential to the security of the United States. People who compare it to WW2, and are convinced that the result of failure will be unimaginable national catastrophe. But when these pronouncements are placed in a personal context, suddenly they become sheepish and uncomfortable, and don't know what to say - they're on the spot, and have no defense. The threat they see is so extreme that all other national priorities (and even international laws!) can be swept aside, but their business degree, or management career, or hot and sweaty relationship is just too important to put on hold for it. So we are are left with two possible interpretations: Either they will not risk their comforts to defend their country in what they insist is a time of great urgency, or they're lying about the necessity of the war.

[Troubadour]

I spent 22 years in the Army.


Then the question isn't meant for you.


So, I hope this answers your question. You really don't want to know what I think of people like you who question this.

This thread is about people who verbally encourage a war they will not sacrifice anything, even their money, to fight. It's your prerogative to roll in the muck with such vermin if you see them as kindred to your situation, but that is your choice - I have not equated them with you.

[Pookie]

So you might want to rephrase your question.
What have you done to support the war? Are you posting from Iraq or Afghanistan?
And YOU verbally have refused to enlist or anything. You think this is wrong.
I think when you get answers to your questions, since you aren't doing a damn thing for this country, I would suggest you go to another topic. You are starting to look a bit ridiculous.
Don't you think maybe there are more people out there who support their country and fulfill their commitments and some come home in a box, dead, maybe there is valor and loyalty there?
Why do you blame the troops for the war? You are very wrong there.
Pookie

[apdst]

Then it must really grill your cheese to see all these healthy, spry young psychotics chomping at the bit to see war happen from their living rooms.

Since my other post seems to have gotten zapped, I'll have to tell what really grills my cheese: People like you, who have never, and will never serve their country, sit back and suck on the tit that gives you the freedoms, rights and priveledges that others provide you. You sit in the comfort and safety of your home, knowing that you will never be asked to do anything to help your country and for damn sure won't volunteer, all the while calling the people who DO serve their country war criminals and criticize the manner in which they do their jobs. If you feel so strongly that they are doing it wrong, then they are in desperate need of you help. Enlist and go improve the state of our armed forces, since you think there is so much wrong with them.

[apdst]

And if, heaven forbid, this nation was faced with foreign military aggression, and I had at least a minimum amount of trust in the political leadership to make wise decisions, then I would enlist.

I'm right. You wouldn't enlist, under any circumstances

I do more for this country in a day than any pompous, high-kicking, goosestepping imperial enforcer ever to despoil an American uniform.

This is the typical dillusion that motivates people into believing that their undermining of the country, somehow, does something to help the nation.

When you enlist, then you can speak with credibility on this ubject, until then, you are just another windbag.

[Troubadour]

I'm right. You wouldn't enlist, under any circumstances

So now you've finally, at long last, retreated to calling me a liar. Accepting what I say about my own intentions would make your position totally unjustifiable, so all you have left is to justify your hatred with slander. I said I would, and that's as far as the matter can go. It is not within your purview to question my patriotism or personal courage.

Since my other post seems to have gotten zapped, I'll have to tell what really grills my cheese: People like you, sit back and suck on the tit that gives you the freedoms, rights and priveledges that others provide you. You sit in the comfort and safety of your home, knowing that you will never be asked to do anything to help your country and for damn sure won't volunteer, all the while calling the people who DO serve their country war criminals and criticize the manner in which they do their jobs. If you feel so strongly that they are doing it wrong, then they are in desperate need of you help. Enlist and go improve the state of our armed forces, since you think there is so much wrong with them.

There is nothing in your post about the subject: War supporters who will not volunteer to fight despite being eligible and capable. While your slanders are calculated to derail this thread from that subject, which the perpetrators and supporters of the madness in Iraq surely find painful to hear about, as I said to Pookie, I will not allow it to be derailed. For all your pompous declarations about "service," you will not demand answers from your own side about anything, even that which you claim to celebrate - military "service." How many of them actually have a legitimate excuse for not volunteering? How many of them have ever even considered it? What do you think of people who support war simply because they enjoy the zeitgeist, and find the political atmosphere it creates gratifying? What do you think of people who find wars fought by others a glorious, invigorating experience?

"I...HATE...WAR." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"I'm a war President," smirk. - George W. Bush

[micfranklin]

Are you saying that serving in the military is "praising" war? If you are, then you couldn't be more mistaken.

No I just said that I don't praise wars.