I certainly did not want to start an argument with you. For one thing, you are in the middle of a war, and I am safely on the other side of the world. Our perspectives are a bit different.
Still, my perspective is valid too. (No one sees the 'whole elephant')
You mentioned once that you are not getting a lot of exposure to other news sources there. In time you might be able to catch up. In any event, this war is so similar to Viet Nam that I get the chills. The statement you give about civilians being the enemy (disguised to trick you) is the same; the training to kill without questioning is the same; the division of the nation with propaganda about 'patriotism=unquestioning obedience to leaders' is the same; the flags and ribbons are the same; the horrific lies to the soldiers is the same; the 'insurgency' that wants an alien government out of their country is ... the same.
I just saw the McNamara documentary Fog of War this week. I still hate him -- it took him 30 years to admit his wrongs (he admitted some, anyway); he caused so many meaningless deaths.
And, before you think I am arguing ... please know I believe your perspective is not false in any way -- you are really fighting for your own life. There really are 'civilians' trying to kill you. I do not question that.
The reason you are there; the reason for so many deaths of innocents (not to mention deaths of innocent soldiers!); the goals of the leadership of this country ... these are the things we see differently I think. I don't need to argue with you about any of it. You will find your own answers, and hopefully some peace in yourself.
The big difference between this war ant the Vietnam war is the Internet -- where the soldiers can see for themselves that people who are protesting the US policy in Iraq are not protesting against soldiers.
There's a big difference between Vietnam and the war in Iraq. The Vietnam war was a political war; the North Vietnamese were not slaughtering their own people (although in a sense they were, since they were embroiled pretty much in a civil war), but we fought there as one of the many fronts in the Cold War against the expansion and oppression of Communism (while one say we "lost" in Vietnam, we won the greater struggle in the end). In Iraq, the war was against a brutal dictator who had slaughtered his own people and threatened peace and stability in the region and was continuing to do so (defying UN resolutions, violating the UN embargo, encouraging and supporting terrorism, etc...). For someone to defend the Hussein regime would be like defending Hitler's Third Reich and protesting the Second World War ("Let the Jews die; it's none of our business"). While I'm not sure we're going about the "nation-building" part the right way (I don't know all of the details and I'm not an expert in that area), the war itself was righteous.
First of all, the only similarity between this and Nam is the palm trees. I think you need to read up on your history. Also, i went through almost nine weeks of basic training, 7 weeks of individual training, and another 8 weeks of training to mobilize for this war without ever being told to kill without questioning. In fact, we had so much training on non lethal methods and how to minimalize the casualty rate that at sometimes, i wondered if i was even in the military. Please dont think that 'flags and ribbons' are a way of supporting war. They are there to support the troops, myself and my friends who are told what to do, and do not choose the missions they carry out. Before you start making accusations about 'horrific lies to the soldiers', please tell me specifically what lies, and what sources you got these from. Speaking of lies, how about john kerry in his lost cause at running for presidency. When he got back from nam, he claimed to have witnessed war attrocities, but as an officer in the navy, did nothing to stop them. Then recently, he claimed that he never saw them. So its my assumption that he either failed his duty as an officer, or he is still lying..either is pretty bad.
The big difference in this war is the protesting, you were right. But, the difference is the people who are protesting, in Vietnam, it was soldiers, now, its civilians. Don't you find it curious that about 70% of the military voted for Bush. Dont you think that if we, the people who are actually fighting this war and leaving our country and families had such a large problem with it, we would have voted for kerry, or not at all.
I dont think youre arguing at all. Im glad that you utilize your right to speak freely. If i didnt want your comments, i would disable commenting...please dont stop because we disagree. As passionate supporters of our respective causes, its our job to try and convince other people to listen to us. keep it up.
I dont think youre arguing at all. Im glad that you utilize your right to speak freely. If i didnt want your comments, i would disable commenting...please dont stop because we disagree. As passionate supporters of our respective causes, its our job to try and convince other people to listen to us. keep it up.
I so appreciate these words. I do not want you to be offended by my opinions.
I do hope you have a chance to read McNamara's book or see the documentary. I think I know history pretty well.
And I would be happy to discuss it -- and any of these (my sources may be hard for you to access, but worth the effort) :
Still, my perspective is valid too. (No one sees the 'whole elephant')
You mentioned once that you are not getting a lot of exposure to other news sources there. In time you might be able to catch up. In any event, this war is so similar to Viet Nam that I get the chills. The statement you give about civilians being the enemy (disguised to trick you) is the same; the training to kill without questioning is the same; the division of the nation with propaganda about 'patriotism=unquestioning obedience to leaders' is the same; the flags and ribbons are the same; the horrific lies to the soldiers is the same; the 'insurgency' that wants an alien government out of their country is ... the same.
I just saw the McNamara documentary Fog of War this week. I still hate him -- it took him 30 years to admit his wrongs (he admitted some, anyway); he caused so many meaningless deaths.
And, before you think I am arguing ... please know I believe your perspective is not false in any way -- you are really fighting for your own life. There really are 'civilians' trying to kill you. I do not question that.
The reason you are there; the reason for so many deaths of innocents (not to mention deaths of innocent soldiers!); the goals of the leadership of this country ... these are the things we see differently I think. I don't need to argue with you about any of it. You will find your own answers, and hopefully some peace in yourself.
The big difference between this war ant the Vietnam war is the Internet -- where the soldiers can see for themselves that people who are protesting the US policy in Iraq are not protesting against soldiers.
Wishing you safety and peace in the new year.
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The big difference in this war is the protesting, you were right. But, the difference is the people who are protesting, in Vietnam, it was soldiers, now, its civilians. Don't you find it curious that about 70% of the military voted for Bush. Dont you think that if we, the people who are actually fighting this war and leaving our country and families had such a large problem with it, we would have voted for kerry, or not at all.
I dont think youre arguing at all. Im glad that you utilize your right to speak freely. If i didnt want your comments, i would disable commenting...please dont stop because we disagree. As passionate supporters of our respective causes, its our job to try and convince other people to listen to us. keep it up.
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I so appreciate these words. I do not want you to be offended by my opinions.
I do hope you have a chance to read McNamara's book or see the documentary. I think I know history pretty well.
And I would be happy to discuss it -- and any of these (my sources may be hard for you to access, but worth the effort) :
Hidden Wars of Desert Storm (2000 documentary)
http://www.hiddenwars.com/
Hearts and Minds (1974 documentary)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51347-2004Oct21.html
(available through amazon)
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