Can We Support Our Troops?

looking to the RightConservatives, Republicans and Democrats alike (O.K., me too) are showing those little ribbons proclaiming, "Support Our Troops." Republicans seem to believe they have the corner on support of our military men and women fighting and dying in Iraq. What's wrong with that?

Lots! Republicans, as opposed to true conservatives, still support the Bush Administration. That's the administration that is allowing the military to put soldiers on trial for murder. Although, U.S. Army Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval was acquitted today of two counts of premeditated murder, the fact remains, he was charged. A sniper in wartime charged with murder for killing someone while acting in his role as a sniper is unbelievable to me. What is the job of a sniper during wartime? The answer to that question should satisfy any reasonable person's curiosity about what is wrong with a military that puts a sniper on trial for murder during a war. Or, is it really a war?

So, how does that fit into the question about supporting our troops? First, it is demoralizing to all troops to have someone put on trial for political purposes. That's definitely NOT supporting our troops. It doesn't stop there, though. Let's compare the same situation only substituting a mercenary (say working for Blackwater) as the shooter. Oops! We can't do that! You see, these mercenaries working for Blackwater making up to 10 times as much money as our troops, have special immunity. Our troops are doing the same job, taking the same risks, living in awful conditions (compared to contractors), making a lot less money and being prosecuted for any little mistake and, sometimes, being prosecuted for making no mistakes at all. Blackwater employees, by comparison, enjoy the freedom to make serious mistakes without the risk of being prosecuted. Is that supporting our troops? The Bush Administration seems to think so!

You might wonder where this falls around the issue of conservative ideology and Republican politics. In my mind, it is simple. Conservatives don't support going to war unless it involves defending our nation. Conservatives believe that when you go to war, you fight all out to win, then you come home. Conservatives want to leave other nations to their own choices and certainly don't want to put American soldiers to death to help out people who don't even want what we are trying to give them. Conservative believe in honesty in government and no special treatment of people. Republicans, on the other hand, are supporting affirmative action for Blackwater and Haliburton leaving our troops take a back seat with public humiliation and poor medical support.

Prosecuting our troops in time of war is un-american. Giving civilian contractors special privileges and protections in the same field of combat is humiliating and degrading to our troops. It's stupid politics and it is definitely not conservative politics. It explains why the military is having trouble recruiting. It is another good reason why I believe today's Republican Party and Republican Administration are not conservative and not working in America's best interest.

 

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An honored soldier is an inspiration for all his countrymen. A dishonored soldier is a burden on society forever. - Jenny Jerrome