Well, first off, I'd like to begin by saying that I support the troops... Which hopefully makes everything I say from here on out O.K., right?
Secondly, yes I support the current operations inside Iraq. When Al-Qaeda has been eradicated it will be time to come home. No need interfering with civil disputes. We're beginning to see the impact Al-Qaeda is having inside Iraq with the recent developments of U.S. and Sunni forces now fighting alongside each other. Who knew? Not one word from the Sunni's about "Bush brought Al-Qaeda to Iraq" or any of that other garbage liberals in this country love to spew. They're starting to understand the impact of terrorism; as we did four years ago. Did the administration juice a few things up leading up to the invasion? I'm sure they did. I believe it to be rather niave to believe otherwise. Did they lie on levels that people in your corner want me to believe? No way in hell. Not even close. The events of the '80s alone justify most of the reasoning. The rhetoric from both sides of the aisle throughout the '90s was the same and it continued through 2000. I also understand that hindsight is 20/20. Please Democrats, tell us more... But, by jumping on the 20/20 train you don't become some sort of genius that could have prevented all the worlds problems simply because your votes happen to match up. Do you want me to ramble on about Iraq further? I can.
Do you want me to sit here and spit out bullshit about how you're partly to blame for the deaths of Cliff Wolcott and Donovan Briley? Or the thousands of dead civilians who died in Bosnia? What about that poor janitor inside the aspirin factory?
i didnt vote for clinton . i have not voted for a winning candidate in my lifetime, yet.
i didnt vote for clinton . i have not voted for a winning candidate in my lifetime, yet.
Ohhhh I get it. You're totally absolved from having to take responsibility for anything that's happened politically in this country in the last 30 years or so I take it? You're a lovable loser I guess...
I envy you.
"Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Ohhhh I get it. You're totally absolved from having to take responsibility for anything that's happened politically in this country in the last 30 years or so I take it? You're a lovable loser I guess...
I envy you.
no, my candidates dotn tend to win since they are usually not controlled by corporate interests. and of course there was that Kerry guy :rolleyes: (he was like the emergency fire extinguisher that didnt work :(
I would make the worst soldier.
If I were in a situation where I KNOW someone saw the mother fucker who fired the RPG that hit the HMMWV that killed my bretheren and aren't saying anything... I'd lose it, go nutz and light 'em up.
...
Note to Army... Don't come and get me to fight this war... I wouldn't make a good soldie.... er.... cop in a warzone.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
no, my candidates dotn tend to win since they are usually not controlled by corporate interests. and of course there was that Kerry guy :rolleyes: (he was like the emergency fire extinguisher that didnt work :(
The only fire extinguisher I can honestly say that was defective out of the box.
You've always got '08. Hell, you had '06. You got what you wanted... Nothing.
"Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
I would make the worst soldier.
If I were in a situation where I KNOW someone saw the mother fucker who fired the RPG that hit the HMMWV that killed my bretheren and aren't saying anything... I'd lose it, go nutz and light 'em up.
...
Note to Army... Don't come and get me to fight this war... I wouldn't make a good soldie.... er.... cop in a warzone.
They wont Cosmo... Remember? It's voluntary.
"Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
I pray for Phils fans. I really do. I pray that they continue to always start slow and finish slow. Actually, I really don't know what else to ask of them...
How bout them Mets?? Better yet, how bout them Bravos!? This shit could get interesting come September.
"Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive"
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Well, first off, I'd like to begin by saying that I support the troops... Which hopefully makes everything I say from here on out O.K., right?
Secondly, yes I support the current operations inside Iraq. When Al-Qaeda has been eradicated it will be time to come home. No need interfering with civil disputes. We're beginning to see the impact Al-Qaeda is having inside Iraq with the recent developments of U.S. and Sunni forces now fighting alongside each other. Who knew? Not one word from the Sunni's about "Bush brought Al-Qaeda to Iraq" or any of that other garbage liberals in this country love to spew. They're starting to understand the impact of terrorism; as we did four years ago. Did the administration juice a few things up leading up to the invasion? I'm sure they did. I believe it to be rather niave to believe otherwise. Did they lie on levels that people in your corner want me to believe? No way in hell. Not even close. The events of the '80s alone justify most of the reasoning. The rhetoric from both sides of the aisle throughout the '90s was the same and it continued through 2000. I also understand that hindsight is 20/20. Please Democrats, tell us more... But, by jumping on the 20/20 train you don't become some sort of genius that could have prevented all the worlds problems simply because your votes happen to match up. Do you want me to ramble on about Iraq further? I can.
Do you want me to sit here and spit out bullshit about how you're partly to blame for the deaths of Cliff Wolcott and Donovan Briley? Or the thousands of dead civilians who died in Bosnia? What about that poor janitor inside the aspirin factory?
Al Queda weren't in Iraq until after the invasion. Just as the Bush administration's top advisor's predicted before the invasion, an invasion of Iraq would increase the risk of terrorism in the world. Because terrorism is good for business, and the Bush administration couldn't give a fuck about the lives of innocent American citizens, they invaded anyway.
Yeah, we get it. Read the article I posted. Mr. Policeman is about to go bye-bye.
...
Umm... which article?
...
If you are talking about the one comment about our troops fighting along side the Sunnis to get Al Qaeda... is it just the Sunnis? Or is it the Sunnis and the Shi'ites and the Kurds fighting along side with Americans against Al Qaeda?
See... the thing that bothers me... what is the plan to get the Shi'ites and Sunnis to forget about 1,400 years of hatred based upon their religious beliefs? Tell one side that their side got the whole thing wrong? Or give them the ol' hippie slogan of, "Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together... try to love one another, right now"? I'm thinking that if you arm them all and they do get rid of Al Qaeda (who got pulled in when the power vaccuum hit)... they might just turn those guns on each other. You know, because of the 1,400 years of deep seated hated towards each other based upon their religious beliefs.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
If you are pro-war, and this post certainly looks that way, what on earth are you doing on a Pearl Jam forum? My understanding of EV & Co is that they are rabidly anti-war.
You can say whatever you want, and bitch at one another about who voted for who or voted for what, but you'll never know the "truth" of what politicians say or do, or what happens to the votes once they are cast, for that matter. Little Johnny Howard is so far up George W's arse, that he's fortunate if he sees daylight a all any more, but then this Australian gov. is good at using "terror as a con" also.
Truly, what is war any good for? Murder & mayhem, are the only two things that come to my mind. It is, at the very least, unbelievable, that we can live in these times, and still accept that war is unavoidable, in so far, as problem solving is concerned.
Well, first off, I'd like to begin by saying that I support the troops... Which hopefully makes everything I say from here on out O.K., right?
Secondly, yes I support the current operations inside Iraq. When Al-Qaeda has been eradicated it will be time to come home. No need interfering with civil disputes. We're beginning to see the impact Al-Qaeda is having inside Iraq with the recent developments of U.S. and Sunni forces now fighting alongside each other. Who knew? Not one word from the Sunni's about "Bush brought Al-Qaeda to Iraq" or any of that other garbage liberals in this country love to spew. They're starting to understand the impact of terrorism; as we did four years ago. Did the administration juice a few things up leading up to the invasion? I'm sure they did. I believe it to be rather niave to believe otherwise. Did they lie on levels that people in your corner want me to believe? No way in hell. Not even close. The events of the '80s alone justify most of the reasoning. The rhetoric from both sides of the aisle throughout the '90s was the same and it continued through 2000. I also understand that hindsight is 20/20. Please Democrats, tell us more... But, by jumping on the 20/20 train you don't become some sort of genius that could have prevented all the worlds problems simply because your votes happen to match up. Do you want me to ramble on about Iraq further? I can.
Do you want me to sit here and spit out bullshit about how you're partly to blame for the deaths of Cliff Wolcott and Donovan Briley? Or the thousands of dead civilians who died in Bosnia? What about that poor janitor inside the aspirin factory?
If you are pro-war, and this post certainly looks that way, what on earth are you doing on a Pearl Jam forum? My understanding of EV & Co is that they are rabidly anti-war.
it's called freedom of speech. you can say whatever you like on the forum as long as you dont call people names and question their parentage. personally i am sure i disagree with EV & Co on many things. oh and im sure not gonna be antiwar just cause some band is.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
It was people like you, who voted for Bush, who can claim a share of the responsibility for all the dead and maimed American troops in Iraq in the last 4 years. Well done!
Anyone who cares about their fellow Americans, and who voted for Bush, should feel ashamed and angry.
Obviously, though, some people care more about the bank balances of the rich and powerful in America than they do about the increased threat of terrorism - courtesy of Bush et al - and of seeing American sons and daughters maimed and killed in a bullshit war.
oh byrnzie so beneath you. :rolleyes: he said he voted for Bush in 2000. i can understand that. afterall what was the alternative? but voting for Bush in 2004 that is a different thing.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
...
Secondly, yes I support the current operations inside Iraq. When Al-Qaeda has been eradicated it will be time to come home. No need interfering with civil disputes. We're beginning to see the impact Al-Qaeda is having inside Iraq with the recent developments of U.S. and Sunni forces now fighting alongside each other. Who knew? Not one word from the Sunni's about "Bush brought Al-Qaeda to Iraq" or any of that other garbage liberals in this country love to spew. They're starting to understand the impact of terrorism; as we did four years ago. Did the administration juice a few things up leading up to the invasion? I'm sure they did. I believe it to be rather niave to believe otherwise. Did they lie on levels that people in your corner want me to believe? No way in hell. Not even close. The events of the '80s alone justify most of the reasoning. The rhetoric from both sides of the aisle throughout the '90s was the same and it continued through 2000. I also understand that hindsight is 20/20. Please Democrats, tell us more... But, by jumping on the 20/20 train you don't become some sort of genius that could have prevented all the worlds problems simply because your votes happen to match up. Do you want me to ramble on about Iraq further? I can.
...
I'm getting a better understanding on where you are coming from... you support the overall objective... to eradicate terrorism. And that the War In Iraq is a part of this process to end global terrorism. That I get.
I just need to understand how dedicated to this you are. I have always wondered... would you be this supportive if this were Al Gore's War? Like, would you be defending Al Gore from my criticisms of how he had sold us this war based upon information skewed by the Democratic Administration? How about railing on the Republicans that would be making the same arguements against the Democratic President (to believe this would not be the case would be an admission of naivity)?
I'm also against terrorists. But, the plan to make more terrorists to get rid of them? Not so much. Afghanistan and Pakistan... and Iran should be higher on the list of priorities. And IF this mission is so important? Why do it on the cheap? To get the job done... 400,000 combat trainned U.S. (trustworthy) troops to seal and secure a nation under martial and a strict curfew til those fuckers settle down. Costs? Figure about twice the amount we're in for... $700 billion times 2 so far. That's how you 'Git it done'.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
oh byrnzie so beneath you. :rolleyes: he said he voted for Bush in 2000. i can understand that. afterall what was the alternative? but voting for Bush in 2004 that is a different thing.
O.k. Apologies all round. Shit, I'll even give him a kiss if it makes him feel better.
I think the sun here today may have gotten to me.
I watched about as far as the first guy saying what his unit does after hitting an "IMPROVED explosive device".
I think everybody in the world is familiar with the term improvised explosive device. Kinda makes you wonder if this guy sat behind a radio his entire deployment and is possibly embellishing rumors he heard from a guy who in turn heard from another guy.
I watched about as far as the first guy saying what his unit does after hitting an "IMPROVED explosive device".
I think everybody in the world is familiar with the term improvised explosive device. Kinda makes you wonder if this guy sat behind a radio his entire deployment and is possibly embellishing rumors he heard from a guy who in turn heard from another guy.
Yeah, because if these guys are saying something different than your take on it...they must be making shit up. :rolleyes:
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Yeah, because if these guys are saying something different than your take on it...they must be making shit up. :rolleyes:
Wow, I've had a 4 month hiatus from the boards and my first post today gets abook flippin me shit right off the bat. Nice.
Good to hear from you again too. (Sniffle) I really missed you guys.
I just love how people eat these vets words up like crazy. That idiot was the best the veteran anti-war movement could do? Yikes.
On the other hand, I really should start doin this shit too, I'll put on the old desert uniform, head down to some anti-war rally and screw every nieve sympathetic stinky hippie slut that feels "sorry" for me. On second thought, I'd rather stay STD free, everybody knows how dirty those left wind ideological windbags are.
Wow, I've had a 4 month hiatus from the boards and my first post today gets abook flippin me shit right off the bat. Nice.
Good to hear from you again too. (Sniffle) I really missed you guys.
I just love how people eat these vets words up like crazy. That idiot was the best the veteran anti-war movement could do? Yikes.
On the other hand, I really should start doin this shit too, I'll put on the old desert uniform, head down to some anti-war rally and screw every nieve sympathetic stinky hippie slut that feels "sorry" for me. On second thought, I'd rather stay STD free, everybody knows how dirty those left wind ideological windbags are.
classy.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Wow, I've had a 4 month hiatus from the boards and my first post today gets abook flippin me shit right off the bat. Nice.
Good to hear from you again too. (Sniffle) I really missed you guys.
I just love how people eat these vets words up like crazy. That idiot was the best the veteran anti-war movement could do? Yikes.
On the other hand, I really should start doin this shit too, I'll put on the old desert uniform, head down to some anti-war rally and screw every nieve sympathetic stinky hippie slut that feels "sorry" for me. On second thought, I'd rather stay STD free, everybody knows how dirty those left wind ideological windbags are.
...
I think it all depends upon your own view of the war...
If you are against the war, then every negative story you hear from soldiers is the truth... for the war, everything reported as negative is questionable.
For the war, then positives are truth and the propaganda to the anti-War group.
...
What I believe we should be doing is listening to what the soldiers have to say and quit questioning if what they are saying is true or not. And i'm talking about the soldiers, not the Generals or the Pentagon. The soldiers are there and they see it... we are not. And the pentagon is nothing but a bunch of suits and brass.
...
I believe there are good things and heinous things going on over there. We should not be censored from the truth. And sometimes the truth is hideous and cold and ugly... but it is the truth.
Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!
...
I think it all depends upon your own view of the war...
If you are against the war, then every negative story you hear from soldiers is the truth... for the war, everything reported as negative is questionable.
For the war, then positives are truth and the propaganda to the anti-War group.
...
What I believe we should be doing is listening to what the soldiers have to say and quit questioning if what they are saying is true or not. And i'm talking about the soldiers, not the Generals or the Pentagon. The soldiers are there and they see it... we are not. And the pentagon is nothing but a bunch of suits and brass.
...
I believe there are good things and heinous things going on over there. We should not be censored from the truth. And sometimes the truth is hideous and cold and ugly... but it is the truth.
Very well said Cosmo,
Nasty shit HAS happened out there, but to hear it from this dipshit vet makes me laugh. I mean JESUS CHRIST, he doesn't even know what IED stands for! How about a more credible, articulate and intelligent troop as an alternative, not some vet reject embraced by liberal PAC's.
I just got back from dropping a friend off at the airport. He's back to Iraq after a two week R&R (he is a contractor). He had some interesting insights actually, and may chime in here in the pit once he gets back and settled.
1) The troops are doing some good out there, don't believe that its all bad, even if it looks that way.
2) The troops that he is around "get it" when you don't suppor the war... they know it dosnt mean you don't support them. (His words, knowing I don't support the war).
3) Target practice happens over there, unfortunately. It could be a camel or some other animal, could be an innocent person, or a not so innocent person. I've heard some stories that made me sick. Unfortunately when you put ill equiped people in extreme conditions, they can fly off the deep end. Its a shitty thing about war, I'm not dismissing it at all, but it does happen.
By and large the troops are wonderful people with the best of intentions, unfortunately the "feel good" stories don't get alot of play in the press. I say that not as a soldier, but as someone who has had two loved ones, and three friends over there with the army, and a good friend somewhere between here and there as a contractor as we speak.
Its all fun and games spouting off on the board about this, but I wonder if anyone here has actually been directly involved. It would be interesting to see what a vets take on this is. Just for a different perspective. I know I am at most moderately discomforted by the war, unlike those who directly fight it. The world seems much simpler from my couch.
That was tough to watch. War changes everything it touches.
"Almost all those politicians took money from Enron, and there they are holding hearings. That's like O.J. Simpson getting in the Rae Carruth jury pool." -- Charles Barkley
Comments
i didnt vote for clinton . i have not voted for a winning candidate in my lifetime, yet.
Ohhhh I get it. You're totally absolved from having to take responsibility for anything that's happened politically in this country in the last 30 years or so I take it? You're a lovable loser I guess...
I envy you.
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
no, my candidates dotn tend to win since they are usually not controlled by corporate interests. and of course there was that Kerry guy :rolleyes: (he was like the emergency fire extinguisher that didnt work :(
If I were in a situation where I KNOW someone saw the mother fucker who fired the RPG that hit the HMMWV that killed my bretheren and aren't saying anything... I'd lose it, go nutz and light 'em up.
...
Note to Army... Don't come and get me to fight this war... I wouldn't make a good soldie.... er.... cop in a warzone.
Hail, Hail!!!
The only fire extinguisher I can honestly say that was defective out of the box.
You've always got '08. Hell, you had '06. You got what you wanted... Nothing.
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
They wont Cosmo... Remember? It's voluntary.
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
Sammi: Wanna just break up?
Good... because, i wouldn't make a very good soldier pretending he's a cop.
Hail, Hail!!!
Yeah, we get it.
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
I pray for Phils fans. I really do. I pray that they continue to always start slow and finish slow. Actually, I really don't know what else to ask of them...
How bout them Mets?? Better yet, how bout them Bravos!? This shit could get interesting come September.
"What I lack in decorum, I make up for with an absence of tact."
Camden 5-28-06
Washington, D.C. 6-22-08
Al Queda weren't in Iraq until after the invasion. Just as the Bush administration's top advisor's predicted before the invasion, an invasion of Iraq would increase the risk of terrorism in the world. Because terrorism is good for business, and the Bush administration couldn't give a fuck about the lives of innocent American citizens, they invaded anyway.
Umm... which article?
...
If you are talking about the one comment about our troops fighting along side the Sunnis to get Al Qaeda... is it just the Sunnis? Or is it the Sunnis and the Shi'ites and the Kurds fighting along side with Americans against Al Qaeda?
See... the thing that bothers me... what is the plan to get the Shi'ites and Sunnis to forget about 1,400 years of hatred based upon their religious beliefs? Tell one side that their side got the whole thing wrong? Or give them the ol' hippie slogan of, "Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together... try to love one another, right now"? I'm thinking that if you arm them all and they do get rid of Al Qaeda (who got pulled in when the power vaccuum hit)... they might just turn those guns on each other. You know, because of the 1,400 years of deep seated hated towards each other based upon their religious beliefs.
Hail, Hail!!!
You can say whatever you want, and bitch at one another about who voted for who or voted for what, but you'll never know the "truth" of what politicians say or do, or what happens to the votes once they are cast, for that matter. Little Johnny Howard is so far up George W's arse, that he's fortunate if he sees daylight a all any more, but then this Australian gov. is good at using "terror as a con" also.
Truly, what is war any good for? Murder & mayhem, are the only two things that come to my mind. It is, at the very least, unbelievable, that we can live in these times, and still accept that war is unavoidable, in so far, as problem solving is concerned.
Good wishes to you all
it's called freedom of speech. you can say whatever you like on the forum as long as you dont call people names and question their parentage. personally i am sure i disagree with EV & Co on many things. oh and im sure not gonna be antiwar just cause some band is.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
oh byrnzie so beneath you. :rolleyes: he said he voted for Bush in 2000. i can understand that. afterall what was the alternative? but voting for Bush in 2004 that is a different thing.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
I'm getting a better understanding on where you are coming from... you support the overall objective... to eradicate terrorism. And that the War In Iraq is a part of this process to end global terrorism. That I get.
I just need to understand how dedicated to this you are. I have always wondered... would you be this supportive if this were Al Gore's War? Like, would you be defending Al Gore from my criticisms of how he had sold us this war based upon information skewed by the Democratic Administration? How about railing on the Republicans that would be making the same arguements against the Democratic President (to believe this would not be the case would be an admission of naivity)?
I'm also against terrorists. But, the plan to make more terrorists to get rid of them? Not so much. Afghanistan and Pakistan... and Iran should be higher on the list of priorities. And IF this mission is so important? Why do it on the cheap? To get the job done... 400,000 combat trainned U.S. (trustworthy) troops to seal and secure a nation under martial and a strict curfew til those fuckers settle down. Costs? Figure about twice the amount we're in for... $700 billion times 2 so far. That's how you 'Git it done'.
Hail, Hail!!!
O.k. Apologies all round. Shit, I'll even give him a kiss if it makes him feel better.
I think the sun here today may have gotten to me.
ooh boys kissing. can i watch?
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Errm...sure. It won't involve tongues though. At least not without a large payment up front.
ah forget it then. no tongue. no fun.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
I watched about as far as the first guy saying what his unit does after hitting an "IMPROVED explosive device".
I think everybody in the world is familiar with the term improvised explosive device. Kinda makes you wonder if this guy sat behind a radio his entire deployment and is possibly embellishing rumors he heard from a guy who in turn heard from another guy.
Yeah, because if these guys are saying something different than your take on it...they must be making shit up. :rolleyes:
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Wow, I've had a 4 month hiatus from the boards and my first post today gets abook flippin me shit right off the bat. Nice.
Good to hear from you again too. (Sniffle) I really missed you guys.
I just love how people eat these vets words up like crazy. That idiot was the best the veteran anti-war movement could do? Yikes.
On the other hand, I really should start doin this shit too, I'll put on the old desert uniform, head down to some anti-war rally and screw every nieve sympathetic stinky hippie slut that feels "sorry" for me. On second thought, I'd rather stay STD free, everybody knows how dirty those left wind ideological windbags are.
classy.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Like this place is the Ritz.
And I really don't care anymore. Cheers.
I think it all depends upon your own view of the war...
If you are against the war, then every negative story you hear from soldiers is the truth... for the war, everything reported as negative is questionable.
For the war, then positives are truth and the propaganda to the anti-War group.
...
What I believe we should be doing is listening to what the soldiers have to say and quit questioning if what they are saying is true or not. And i'm talking about the soldiers, not the Generals or the Pentagon. The soldiers are there and they see it... we are not. And the pentagon is nothing but a bunch of suits and brass.
...
I believe there are good things and heinous things going on over there. We should not be censored from the truth. And sometimes the truth is hideous and cold and ugly... but it is the truth.
Hail, Hail!!!
Very well said Cosmo,
Nasty shit HAS happened out there, but to hear it from this dipshit vet makes me laugh. I mean JESUS CHRIST, he doesn't even know what IED stands for! How about a more credible, articulate and intelligent troop as an alternative, not some vet reject embraced by liberal PAC's.
1) The troops are doing some good out there, don't believe that its all bad, even if it looks that way.
2) The troops that he is around "get it" when you don't suppor the war... they know it dosnt mean you don't support them. (His words, knowing I don't support the war).
3) Target practice happens over there, unfortunately. It could be a camel or some other animal, could be an innocent person, or a not so innocent person. I've heard some stories that made me sick. Unfortunately when you put ill equiped people in extreme conditions, they can fly off the deep end. Its a shitty thing about war, I'm not dismissing it at all, but it does happen.
By and large the troops are wonderful people with the best of intentions, unfortunately the "feel good" stories don't get alot of play in the press. I say that not as a soldier, but as someone who has had two loved ones, and three friends over there with the army, and a good friend somewhere between here and there as a contractor as we speak.
Its all fun and games spouting off on the board about this, but I wonder if anyone here has actually been directly involved. It would be interesting to see what a vets take on this is. Just for a different perspective. I know I am at most moderately discomforted by the war, unlike those who directly fight it. The world seems much simpler from my couch.