my answer for the, well they volunteered after all

[madokie]

Yes, they volunteered but they volunteered to serve their Country not an ideology, as many of us did back when, but to be led by a sane person with sound policies, not a madman running around the world trying to see how many people he can piss off. Starting illegal and immoral wars to actually pad the pockets of his cronies using his base, followers I call them, in achieving it.

[JuniperLea]

1. They didn't volunteer to...

be put in harms way so some freaks of nature could get rich.

They volunteered to defend our country... nothing about this war defends our country.

[madokie]

2. Thats what I am saying, the gist of it.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

5. I tell people that yes, they did volunteer but it is understood there is

a social contract between a country and its military. They protect us but it is our job to protect them from people who would use our military for egos, money and/or insane policies. We, the people, are the firewalls who can have the soldiers backs while they protect ours. By law they are prevented from speaking out against the CIC when they see bad planning and policies. No matter how bad it gets they are forced to be silence. If we don't speak up we have failed to uphold our part of the contract.

We must honor and recognize their sacrifice BUT never take it for granted - and one way to do that is not let them be used as "just another number" cannon fodder by people who care more about money, power and egos than the lives of our young people. So far we aren't doing a very good job of protecting them from the Chucklenuts Asswipes.

[Gold Metal Flake]

3. Define "they"

No you, but your opponent should be asked to define "they". Is this based on the "volunteer" Army? Does that mean "disposable"? Just leave them out there year after year with insufficient protection, equipment and leadership? Since they are somehow less than valuable human lives because they "volunteered" they should expect to slowly over the course of YEARS be ground into hamburger? How does turning a hollow shoulder and dismissively tossing out "they volunteered" support the troops?

Did the reservists "volunteer for the same treatment as the regular military only with no end in sight and even worse protection, equipment and leadership?

These are the questions to ask. Rapidly. Others will have better and I hope they add them. Me, I would find it difficult to get to the end of such questions face to face with a freep without ending the conversation by breaking his filthy, Bush-browned nose.

[madokie]

4. exactly, and I resemble that last comment

when talking to freeps I have a way of saying things that don't allow them to respond, or it seems that way. my wife tells me that.

[MadHound]

6. Frankly I'm torn on this one

I fully realize the need to have a standing armed forces, along with a National Guard for times of trouble.

Yet ever since Vietnam, there is no excuse for any potential recruit to fail to realize that the government can, and will, at any time take their noble feelings for public service and twist them to their own selfish, illegal, immoral ends. I find it hard to have sympathy with these people, especially those who have signed up since the beginning of this illegal, immoral war in Iraq.

I do support the troops, but find it very hard not to give them a swift kick in the ass for their stupidity and gullibility.

[madokie]

7. I know people who truly believe what bushco* is doing is right

as I am sure you do also. being missled is not a cause or a crime.

[MadHound]

8. Sure it is, being terminally stupid to the point where

One continues to support the death and injury of hundreds of thousands of innocents is quite criminal in my eyes. Such support for the war is indeed criminal, and those who continue to do so have blood on their hands also. I can understand being misled initially, but continual support in the face of evidence of this war's criminality is indeed criminal. Sorry, I've never bought the "good German" arguement, never will.

[genie_weenie]

9. It doesn't matter the Government

can break the terms of ANY contract. Once you give an organization the Sole control of force you become it's pawn.

The problem for the troops is unlike the Mercenary Armies of the Italian Peninsula of the 15th century, it's fairly easy to track soldiers who "desert" nowadays...