quote:Originally posted by Brentenman:
"There are now major demonstrations against the war every few months or so that draws tens of thousands of people but Bush ignores them and marches on."
When those people are along the lines of Cindy Sheethan (nope, that is how I spell her last name...too bad the mod will not let me REALLY spell her name) who screams shrilly the extreme leftist position, who is now gone to Cuba to protest Gitmo, who has met with Hugo Chavez, and who uses her dead son as a vehicle to futher her agenda; or if it is illegal aliens at a huge rally in D.C. (like the one I walked into after my family and I left the Air and Space Museum- where was INS, border patrol, ICE, etc.?) demanding more "rights" when they are not even citizens...No wonder Americans who are educated, smart, and up to speed on current events ignore them...
I have personally attempted to discuss issues with war protesters who were assembled at the state capital when I used to live in Columbia, SC, this was 2 years ago. As soon as I identified myself as a vet of OIF, they immediately clammed-up, and told me to go away. They wouldn't even discuss or debate issues with me....OBTW, I was by myself...talk about a bunch of cowards.
ADDED: another case in point- I thought Cindy Sheethan was the anti-war protester...Look what she is doing now:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,242275,00.html
I am sure my maternal in-laws would have something to say to her if they could. They were forced to flee Cuba in 1959....
They will always be right wing people who will support any war and whatever the government says without questing it, but so far the all volunteer army has worked pretty well. There is also a group of military families that do not support the war. Gold Star or something like that is led by Cindy Sheenan who opposes the war.
Those that complain that the soldiers are bearing the cost are right, but it's because as I said before, deep down inside, the public is not really buying the war. They would have no problem recruiting people if the American people truly believed it was a worth while cause.
There is a more serious problem though, the US has been recruiting a number of 3rd world people, especially right wing, to fight in Iraq in exchange for US citizenship. Of course when they come back and live here and if they stay in the military it will then be a real separate entity made up of people who have little connection to us.
The best way to stop this is to end the war. It's a lie. It's all about controlling the oil and spreading US imperialism. There is no reason to continue this war and it's only increasing the growth in terrorist groups and hatred toward the US. Our own intelligence analyses has stated this.
We need to develop safe, renewable energy sources, that's what's in the peoples interests, not fighting a war for oil and profits.
But you know what, if Bush attacks Iran and Israel attacks Syria the "Gates of Hell" will be opened, as the Islamic Clerics like to say, and we will be in a real war where they will strike here. The government will impose Martial law, end our rights and they imprison dissenter and they will reinstate their draft. They will also make us serfs, with no rights, to work for low wages and their high profits and to be used as cannon fodder in their wars for power and profits and "Glory."
But if the army is made up of draftees it may revolt again like they did in Vietnam, so who knows? It will be more chaos, hardships, suffering and death. Better to end the war now. We need to inform people of the truth and elect the right people to congress and let the world live in peace.