When do you not support a war?

[DougW]

Not to bring up a touchy issue… but, been watching Voice of America coverage of anti war and pro war “ Family Rally”. And I was taken by the pro war or should I say support the troops speakers. Basically have to support war to support troops. But doesn’t that mean as soon as there is a war or other action you are locked into supporting it and can’t say anything against it because troops are in harms way. Using that logic.

There are of course going to be people who are opposed to any war. There were lots of people opposed to US involvement in WWII until Pearl Harbour. But on the other side there seems to be a % of population had support any war as got support troops. Even if all the troops are opposed. Hell if the US invaded Canada a certain % of population would be supportive. Maybe that’s not a small number. “Its ok to be a democratic state but don’t disagree with us”. But that’s a separate issue.

So when is it patriotic to not support a war?

When war is declared you have to support it as everyone is supposed to pull together. Give the benefit of doubt “they must be bad guys we’re going to war with them” . The people of Germany thought that they were justified going into Poland. It was clear at the time that the Poles had caused it from watching the newsreels for them. And any thought of whether it was justified evaporated when Germany kicked the Poles ass.

Later, you can’t do that as you have to support the troops going into the fight.

Later have to support families to make their sacrifice seem worth while. I was amazed that the number of people speaking who were saying that the war in Iraq was part of the war on terrorism. Sorry that has been proven to have nothing to do with it. Say freedom but you can’t say in public war on terrorism unless you’ve been living under a rock for 12 months.

The most honest response from a family member was that he wanted the US to fight the war till its won. That’s simple and understandable. How horrible would it be to have a loved one killed in a war that was a mistake and not won.

[DougW]

It would be horrible if a loved one died in any war, regardless of the outcome. IMHO

True, but watching yesterday it seemed that people would rather have more die than "lose" and have death not mean anything. Powerful desire to have someones death mean something.

[skifishbum]

How horrible would it be to have a loved one killed in a war that was a mistake and not won.

Possibly you could ask the many thousand who lost family members in a little conflict called Vietnam.
IMHO this war is like the "war on drugs" there is no winning, unless we revert back to the days of manifest destiny and "kick some ass and take the gas"

[DougW]

Didn't want to make this discussion of this war in particular but any really. There seems a natural tendencey for some to oppose all war even if justified and be assholes about it and just as strong is the tendencey to support any war and be assholes to anybody that does not support war. My country right or wrong , kind of thing.

[mista]

You dont support a war when it is being fought for the wrong reasons. You also dont support a war when you know the reason you are being given for the war is a lie.

I'm sure there are other reasons for not fighting a war because they are generally not very nice things, only needed very rarely.

This is what some people over there seem to do for fun at the moment,

http://www.heavy.com/collegiate/videos/pajamaricers.wmv

bit of a messy society that needs long term help if you ask me.

[Tippster]

Voicing dissent is the basis of our country's being. If we cannot do that we should have remained a British Colony.

Nobody I know had a problem with us going to war with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. THEY were the equivalent to the Axis Powers after the "Pearl Harbor" of 9-11. This private war on Saddam is what Cindy Sheehan and others are protesting, not the troops. The best way to support your troops is to not put them into harm's way in the first place. As Bandogge would surely agree, just because you have the meanest mutt doesn't mean you need to sic it on anyone you don't like.

I do think it's water under the Bridge, however. These protests should have been voiced before we went into Iraq, but our national Inertia takes too much time to overcome. We broke it (Iraq,) it's ours to fix unfortunately.

[tuffy109]

These protests should have been voiced before we went into Iraq

there were plenty of protests before the war.

vietnam was based on a lie as well (at least, the fake attack on a US vessel, not the rise of communism).

[iceman]

http://www.heavy.com/collegiate/videos/pajamaricers.wmv

All I get is a page full of code from that link.