[QUOTE=piece-it pete]A soldier does his job. That job is NOT decided by him. The minute soldiers are allowed, or worse yet encouraged by fifth column elements here at home to insubordination our effectiveness as a fighting force is finished and we will be put down by our enemies.



Here I am!

Bushs' appearance on the aircraft carrier was twofold - congratulating our boys on a job well done - which it was - and marking the transition from invasion to occupation - which it was.

Ask any graduate of West Point if a war can be won without ground troops. Pushbutton war is a myth loved by folks who cannot face the fact that troops get shot and bombed, or are duped by people, earnestly or deceictfully, telling them it would work.

I do not like it. I ferverently wish it were not so. But those boys are heros whether or not the war is "justified" - they die doing their duty.


Pete,
I agree with you whole-heartedly on the soldier issue. But, the implication (even direct charge) from some is that Kerry did something wrong in his service because they didn't like what he did when he returned. This is simply wrong! The military makes this decision or finding and there has been none. In fact, the military was officially pleased with his service.

In contrast, an example of the insubordination issue I believe you are talking about is the recent reservist unit's decision not to take its convoy into combat areas, apparently contrary to direct orders.

Bush's appearance on the aircraft carrier can only be described as a "transition from invasion to occupation" in hindsight. The administration was running from the word "occupation" at every turn. I believe back then that the correct buzzword was "reconstruction". I'm sure the white house website has the speech. I think I've seen it but haven't reviewed it. I simply know the impression I was left with.

Can a Kerry supporter actually be proud of our troops? That's a funny question, but unfortunately that's the way the issue has been framed. If you're not voting for Bush, if you're questioning Bush's decisions or his administration's decisions, then you're not supporting the troops. However, you can support the troops if you're a Kerry-bashing Democrat, e.g., Zell Miller. In other words, you can be a Democrat and still support the troops so long as you don't vote for Kerry.