Silence Of The Lambs

By BlackJack

I'm really trying to figure out how those of us against the war are supposed to voice our opposition - as we're prone to do in a free and open society. If we actually say anything negative about the war, based on facts as Mr. Dean did, we're either labeled as anti-American or against the troops.

I believe Mr. Dean was simply suggesting that we need to stop making more enemies with the civilian populace with our in-country activities and find a way to transition out of Iraq quickly - which is something I think we all can agree needs to happen and maybe is happening already.

Over half the American population is either against this war or has reached a point where they are questioning it. Silence would be the only option for that majority so as not to demoralize the troops? History has proven that silent opposition is about as effective as pouring gasoline on a fire to extinguish it.

I think a better way to 'support the troops' would be to find a way to get them home quickly. I'm sure they'd be just as happy to be at home with their families as hearing that the folks back home 'support' them.

I'm former military and I know these young men and women (and some not so young) are intelligent, well-rounded citizens. They understand that our fine nation is built on the principles of freedom of opinion and know that publicly questioning the Commander In Chief does not infer a lack of support for the job they're doing.

You may say that by questioning our Iraq policies and tactics that I'm somehow putting the troops in harms way by fueling their enemies or demoralizing the troops themselves. I'd say that I'd rather have the discussion and get them home quickly rather than to continue to put them in danger in combat without a clear understanding of the mistakes of intelligence that got them there in the first place and a clear plan to get them out of there in the near future. I think itﾒs a lot less dangerous for everybody to have open discussions about the mistakes and mismanagement of the war, and find solutions to those problems in a timely manner, than it is to blindly follow a non-existent or at least unclear war plan that keeps the troops on the front line.