What Do You Think Of The Troops Overseas?

[Sprayber]

Just in case there were any doubts about everyone's opinion. What do you think of the men and women who are over there or going over there to fight? Not Bush. Not Republicans. But the real life people that are over there.

There are lots of different kinds of people over there. Doctors, Lawyers, Factory workers, Teachers, Construction Workers Cops, Firefighers. There are lots of fathers, sons, daugthers, sisters, brothers, moms. Despite popular opinion, there are plenty of democratics, Libertarians, and Independents.

No need for a poll with complicated headings. Just say what you feel.

Do you blame them?

How would you treat them if you came up on one?

Do you look down on them?

Do you look up to them?

Do you know someone over there?

What is your idea of what one looks like?

There are lots of things going through my mind tonight. Some of my unit won't be going over there for various reasons. Too old, or health issues that doesn't affect them but by technicalities make them ineligible for deployment. All of those that won't be going expressed regret that they were kept out. No one wants to go but no one seems to want to be left behind. I'm just interested in some of the opinions here.

[Asher]

They're just doing their job. Simple as that.

[Ted Striker]

America's Finest.

UK as well.

[Ted Striker]

Iraqi soliders

Iraqi government

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
Iraqi soliders

Iraqi government

It's gotta suck to be an Iraqi soldier.

[Shi Huangdi]

US Soldiers

"It's gotta suck to be an Iraqi soldier."

It does, in fact I think during Gulf War I many of them surrendered because they didn't care to fight for Saddam.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Just to get the preliminaries down, I can't stand Bush, and don't think much of the war (mostly due to lack of real planning for post-war occupation, and the political issues we'll find ourselves in.

That said, once we're committed to action, I hope the people there stack Saddam and his army's asses as quickly as possible with the fewest possible casualties on our part.

To me, there's nothing to blame them for - they're the best in the world, professionals, dedicated, and they're carrying out the policies that they're obligated to carry out. Ultimately, if the politicians don't **** up the peace (always a big if), a lot of people will be better off.

Right now, you guys mostly look young. At 43, I'm the same age as a lot of CSM's and Brigade commanders, a bit long in the tooth, so the relative youth of warfighters is more obvious.

The people I know who are deployed, are deployed elsewhere, doing other things, but ultimately, it's all the same.

It's a ***** for the people in your unit who won't deploy with the rest of you. Being left out is hard, but being able to stick with your unit is worse.

As far as looking down, or looking up, there's some great people in the service, and some jerks, but mostly I just think "bless you" and get yourselves home in one piece after you do the jobs you have to do.

[Spiffor]

Same as Asher : they are people doing their job. I don't know why I should look down or look up to them.

[KrazyHorse]

Re: What Do You Think Of The Troops Overseas?

I'm pretty strongly against a war with Iraq right now. I think from the tone of your questions you're looking for responses from people like me.

Originally posted by Sprayber
Do you blame them?

No. They're soldiers doing the job their political leadership has told them to do. I respect any sacrifices they might have to make.

How would you treat them if you came up on one?

Like anybody else. I'd probably argue a bit with them if they were for the war, but also tell them I wasn't wishing them any harm (especially not on an individual level).

Do you look down on them?

No.

Do you look up to them?

In some ways, yes. In other ways, no. And the current situation is reminding me why I wouldn't join your Army (or even mine) unless except on an emergency basis for a fight I felt was needed.

Do you know someone over there?

Nope. I don't even know anybody in any armed service for any country. The closest I come is knowing my father who was in the RCAF for 8 months in the 60s.

What is your idea of what one looks like?

Like any reasonably fit man with in his early to mid 20s. I'm sure most look sort of like me.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
It's a ***** for the people in your unit who won't deploy with the rest of you. Being left out is hard, but being able to stick with your unit is worse.

My section leader has been in for a long time. He spent three years in Vietnam and he is a vetern of the Gulf War. Saturday, they took the section away from him because he will be too old in January and there was no way they were taking him over. I asked him what he thought about not going and he said that he had mixed feelings. He wanted to be there with us but he admitted that later on he would problably be glad that he missed this one. Another guy (young E-5) isn't going over because he has Sleep apnea. How he managed to pass his last physical is beyond me, but there was no way he was getting deployed. He was pissed and wouldn't shut up about him wanting to go.

[David Floyd]

Do you blame them?

I don't blame them for the political decision. I do blame them for volunteering to join a military that is obviously structured for offensive rather than defensive action.

How would you treat them if you came up on one?

Do different than anyone else (at least no different than I treat people in real life) - very polite/civil, yet I'd make my opinions known.

Do you look down on them?

I look down on them for volunteering for an organization structured towards offensive warfare, but overall, no, I do not look down on them as people - I simply look down on their decisions.

Do you look up to them?

No.

Do you know someone over there?

No.

What is your idea of what one looks like?

No clue.

That answer your questions?

[SlowwHand]

I hope someone from a terrorist organization or otherwise hostile country nabs your ass, David.
You've gone from being entertainingly ignorant, to blatantly pathetic, hurtful, and insulting.

[Japher]

There just doin there job!?

Well, what a job it is. Is that really what you think? They all volunteered for this job, it isn't like they were drafted. They did choose it, but they chose to do a job that would intentionally put them in harms way for a cause they chose to be worthy; protecting the nation.

I admire their courage and dedication. It may just be a job, but I have a great more deal of admiration for them then I do, say, a fry chef or a web designer.

For Crying Out Loud!

[SlowwHand]

Maybe they'll grab you, too.

[Japher]

Do you blame them?

For what? The war? No.

How would you treat them if you came up on one?

Where? In the field? I would probably scream "don't shoot", in the shopping mall? I'd ask for a new TV for christmas. In a dark alley, 20 years from now, with them holding a knife and dripping with blood? I'd run.

Situations matter man.

Do you look down on them?

On the shorter ones, yeah. But those really tall ones? Maybe if I'm on a ladder or something.

Do you look up to them?

See above

Do you know someone over there?

Got family over there, and he's the father of 3 of nephews. Rather worried, yet even as David of all ppl pointed out, it was his choice.

What is your idea of what one looks like?

1. Just kidding. The cast of GI Joe, not the Cobra's side, the otherside. Every platoon is just like them, even got a bald guy smokes cigars and has tatoos all over, and carries a big gun that shoots red lasars.

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Ya know David, ppl like them faught so that you can say things like that.