OPINION & EDITORIAL
Troops forgotten in protest
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by Letters to the Editor
Thursday, April 19, 2007
I planned to join the Iraq war protest today until I received an email from the Campus Anti-War Network. I am vehemently opposed to the war in Iraq and have been since the very beginning. I believe our troops have been placed in an unnecessary war with no clear mission and no clear exit strategy. I believe the administration knowingly distorted intelligence in order to lead our nation to war. I believe Americans need to protest this war and the actions of an administration that failed to outline a clear mission. Victory in this war is not possible through military strength, not because our troops have failed, but because the administration has repeatedly changed their mission. The American people were lied to, there were no weapons of mass destruction, Iraq was not sponsoring Al Qaeda and there was no direct threat to the United States.
I will not be at the protest however because I cannot support many of CAN's list of ten demands. The list is completely ridiculous and a departure from reality. The group demands an end to military and CIA recruitment on campus as well as an end to military research. The group argues that the recruitment process is predatory. This fails to recognize that the United States military is broken by this administration's policies. Soldiers and their families have been forced to further sacrifice due to a lack of sufficient forces. The National Guard and Reserves have effectively become active duty, a capacity they did not sign up for. This University is a public institution, funded in part by the federal and state government. They have every right to recruit and those who sign up for duty should be revered for their service to country. Hatred and protest directed at recruiters is despicable, like it or not, recruiters are Americans that have signed up to serve and defend our nation. If CAN has a problem with the military, or the recruitment process, they should direct this at policy makers, not those who deserve our thanks and admiration on a daily basis. CAN's opposition to the CIA also baffles me. The lies leading up to the war was based largely on bad intelligence. We should be so lucky if the best and brightest at this institution could improve the intelligence our nation relies upon for its security.
CAN also states its demand for "No strings attached reparations to the Iraqi people." I visited their website in order to understand this demand more clearly. I cannot however understand what reparations we owe the Iraqi people. Our country has spent hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of American lives in Iraq. The administration and the Iraqi political leaders have bungled the reconstruction and sacrificed both American treasure and lives. I fail to see how the American people should be asked to hand over "no strings attached" money.
No matter your feelings regarding this war, the reality is the military is necessary for the security of our nation. The greatest tragedy of this war is that only military members and their families have been asked to bear the brunt of the burden. Our lives on campus are allowed to go on as normal while our military families sacrifice daily. I am in opposition to this war, but not to the military. Service and sacrifice for this country should be honored. I agree with CAN that we must take care of our soldiers on their return. However their demands against recruitment and for reparations to Iraqi's are misguided. The US needs a military and without mandatory service for all Americans, recruitment is necessary. I will continue to oppose this war and this administration, but I am disappointed that the protest today has been given an alternative agenda by CAN.
Joe Paulsen Senior Political Science Major
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 2:45am):
Looks like CAN got pwned.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 3:45am):
It's possible I'm just really sleepy, but the title "Troops forgotten in protest" seems to be a somewhat inflammatory, inaccurate interpretation of the writer's reasoned and thoughtful views. Did he choose the title or do Herald editors do that?
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 6:34am):
I guess Joe forgot that most of the Iraq Veterans against the war are strongly opposed to the military recruitment as well. Oh and what do ya know, those soldiers work with CAN all the time. Let's get real Joe, the only alternative agenda for us and for the Iraqis is the control and production of Middle Eastern oil fields, the Iraqis already made a decision (on the first day of the invasion and occupation) that they wouldn't let that happen, now it's time that we make a clear stance against the US. Support for a government that's never done any good around the world with its CIA and military is most definitely not seeing this war in it's entirety. I would encourage EVERYONE including Joe to read Anthony Arnoves Iraq: the Logic of Withdrawal , Forging of the American Empire by Sidney Lens and Soldiers In Revolt by David Cortwright.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 7:28am):
"The group demands an end to military and CIA recruitment on campus as well as an end to military research."
The state which separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.
Thucydides.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 8:52am):
The problem is that the recruiters regularly lie to children to convince them to enlist.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 10:02am):
You are right the headline doesnt fit the letter
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 10:22am):
Forget about the troops! They knew what they were in for the day they signed up. I say let 'em stay over there indefinitely. Poor saps. And they are killing a and raping whole families in Iraq! Murderers! Baby-rapers! Oh, big tough macho men, and a few women too! And they think we antiwar demonstrators are the big cowards!
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 11:48am):
I expect the comment Anonymous 10:22am to be widely distributed on the pro-war web, as an exmaple of what anti-war protesters think of the troops.
My bet is that he's a College Republican playing dress-up. Nice try, though.
Which gives me an idea:
"I'm a College Republican and I'm laughing my ass off at those stupid soldiers dying in Iraq because their parents couldn't pay for a UW education. After I become stockbroker, I might let one of them squeegee the windshield of my Lexus."
My god! College Republicans hate the troops! Spread the word!
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 12:22pm):
I think more tax cuts would help me remember the troops better. The last tax cuts are starting to wear off.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 12:29pm):
"antiwar demonstrators are the big cowards!"
So when ya shipping out to help build booby traps to kill the baby rapers? Come on ya big coward, just take a plane to Syria (tell 'em yer a big Pelosi fan - it'll put ya in solid) and walk across and help the poor down-trodden bombers kill people, mostly the people of Iraq, but you'll get some GIs too.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 12:42pm):
"The state which separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.
Thucydides."
Is thaaat not, uh, whaaat I said?
John Kerry (D-Mass)
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 1:18pm):
nicely said, joe. a voice of reason is refreshing. thanks from a veteran.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 2:16pm):
"I cannot however understand what reparations we owe the Iraqi people"
Right on, Joe. If those damn Iraqis didn't want our help, why did they ask us to invade them, anyway?
Oh, wait...
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 3:08pm):
Bring Joe Home!
(Oh wait, he's not fighting in Iraq, but he is criticizing those who did and came home and are demanding an end to the war, reparations, and truth in military recruiting. Bravo, Joe!)
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 3:27pm):
Kerry manages to be both a coward AND a fool.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 3:34pm):
Can someone explain to me why there are two articles in the herald today (the other is by Hahn) attacking the anti-war protest yesterday and none in support of it? So much for objectivity.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 3:39pm):
Maybe people would actually post what they truely believe if these little "anonymous" tags weren't attached to your name. Try calling the troops "baby killers" and "rapists" with your name in the title and see how far you get. There my friends are the real cowards.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 5:40pm):
"I cannot however understand what reparations we owe the Iraqi people."
I agree with a large portion of your article. I am strongly against the war, and was once involved with CAN, but found them to be incredibly out of touch with reality. But i strongly disagree with the above quote. Iraq was one of the most developed countries in the Middle East. Since the U.S. invasion Iraq's infastructure has been decimated. People that once lived a comfortable life in the city now have their houses blown up, are without electricity, running water, or roads. This was not the case before the U.S. came in and nor should it be the case when we leave. As an occupying force this is our responsibility. I cannot even begin to state how much I think we owe the Iraqi people.
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 7:09pm):
The problem is that the recruiters regularly lie to children to convince them to enlist.
Really I have never seen a "child" enlist in the military. By the way we all know that college recruiters would NEVER lie to get students to go to their schools would they???
Anonymous (April 19, 2007 @ 10:34pm):
Too bad the tech for "Old Man's War" isn't here yet.
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