... Stu?

Although not directed at me, I'll answer this one:

>> Did you ever serve in the military?

My youngest son is 4th generation military in our family. My grand uncle (grandmother's older brother) fought in France in WWI (my grandfathers were both too young). My Dad is a retired Navy Master Chief who fought in many of the major battles of the Pacific in WWII and did several tours of duty in Vietnam. My father-in-law landed at Normandy on D-Day and fought all the way to Berlin. I am a West Pointer, Class of 1967, and served four years in the Navy (including a tour of duty in Vietnam 1967-68 and was in-country during the Tet offensive). My younger brother was killed in the service in the 1969 collision between the Australian aircraft carrier Melbourne and the American destroyer Frank E. Evans, on which he was serving. My youngest son (a CC>CC member) is an Army PFC currently serving in Korea. (My apologies to those who have heard this recitation before.)

Did YOU ever serve in the military?

>>>> 900 un-necessary deaths in my opinion.

I happen agree that the American military casualties in Iraq (to say nothing of the thousands of innocent Iraqis also killed) were unnecessary and suffered in the pursuit of an unconscionable policy of foreign intervention in matters that were and remain none of our business (though my opinion in that regard is almost beside the point).

>> In order for morale to remain high the troops need to know two things:
>> 1) That the cause is just and
>> 2) That they have the support of their country in achieving that cause.

And what if the cause ISN'T just, Stu?

Furthermore, anyone who has ever served in the military knows that the real keys to high morale are good leadership, particularly at the small unit level, proper training, unit integrity and cohesiveness, proper equipment and material (i.e., not having to rely on the folks at home sending body armor and sheet steel for military vehicles) and decent food, NOT national political objectives.

>>>> May God bless all of our servicemen and women!

>> Folks like you that criticize the cause for which they fight
>> and then make a statement such as this really tick me off.

It IS not only possible but commendable to simultaneously support our troops and NOT support the politics which have sent them into harm's way, when the politics are inappropriate. Doing so demonstrates an ability to think critically and makes it more likely that (1) the troops will be brought home sooner (read as "fewer casualties") and (2) that they will not again be sent into combat unnecessarily (read again as "fewer casualties").

>> The only way you can support our troops and their families (of which
>> I am one) is to support the effort that is trying to be achieved.

Nonsense. As Thomas Jefferson once said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." Dissent which helps to bring about a modification or reversal of a policy which results in unnecessary military casualties is an excellent way to support our troops (and to keep more of them alive).

>> Once all of our fine young men and women are home, there will
>> be plenty of time for historical analysis of the war effort.
>> Until then, keep your comments that suggest that those making
>> the ultimate sacrifice are doing so in vain to yourself.

No service person wants to think that his or her possible death might be in vain. Certainly, family members don't want to think that the death of a loved one was in vain. As a gold star family, mine knows all too well the pain of a service-related death. On a personal level, more than 40 of my classmates and other friends in the West Point classes of 1964-1970 were killed in Vietnam, so I have a pretty good idea what "making the ultimate sacrifice in vain" means.

Nevertheless, I credit the protests against the war in Vietnam with saving thousands or tens of thousands of American lives that might otherwise have been lost had we continued our unjustified involvement in that war.

Your suggestion to "keep your comments ... to yourself" is an example of the kind of group think mentality that is an anathema to the American concept of personal freedom.

>> You do not represent the opinions of the
>> troops in theatre nor that of their families.

Maybe, maybe not, Stu. There is no way of knowing what level of support there is among the troops for the political objectives in Iraq. I suspect, however, that there is probably a division of opinion among them which is comparable to the division of opinion among the civilian population.

>> Your attempt to cover yourself with "God bless our troops"
>> does not make your original comment any less painful to those
>> who have more than a liberal passive interest at stake.

As one who has been there, done that, and who currently has more than a "liberal passive interest" at stake, it is my opinion that the spouting of "God bless our troops" by those who support the war in Iraq doesn't make any less painful for our service people the needless loss of friends and comrades in arms.

----- jim o\-S