I do believe that when these brave men and women joined our military, it was with complete knowledge that they were agreeing to follow all lawful orders, whether they agreed with them or not. To make a poor analogy, I know of coaches who have banned their players from posting or reading posts on websites such as this. The things being said were detrimental to the team. Is it that insane for the government to take steps to keep up soldier morale, rather than let them be bombarded with messages against their mission? Whether we agree with the war or not, our soldiers are there and we should support them. I also think we should protect them from those who would put them down.

Whether we agree with the war or not, our soldiers are there and we should support them. I also think we should protect them from those who would put them down.

 

Totally agree with the first sentence...not so sure about the second sentence.

 

My father served two tours in Vietnam. When he landed back in the states after his second tour, he was met with boos and contempt at the airport. Two points to make from that. #1 - Support our soldiers, no matter what your opinion, or go take their place. #2 - I think we owe them the reality of the situation, including public opinion on the war itself. In my father's case, what a rude awakening to come home to a country in which some did not want you.

I really don't think they are being shielded from public opinion. As I stated earlier, they still have access to wide range of internet information.

Yea I bet Bush thought this one up one morning while he was eating breakfast. Man he's cold like that.

I never once mentioned Bush specifically so I don't know where you're going with this.

Hold on. You're accusing the government of "forging letters from soldiers"? Can you back that up with any evidence whatsoever?

 

Remember what the government would like you do to is DON'T ask questions.

 

Here is your proof. This goes back to 2003

 

I learned this week that newspapers across the country had received 500 letters praising the success of the American occupation of Iraq. Every letter was signed by a different soldier.

 

The problem is that every letter was exactly the same.

 

The reason, of course, is that the soldiers did not write the letters and some didn't know their names had been affixed to them.

 

The letters - or letter, since there was actually only one - was written by the staff of Lt. Col. Dominic Caraccilo, whose infantry battalion is stationed in Kirkuk. Carracilo personally edited the "message" and then gave it to the soldiers to send home.

 

But even that makes it sound far too legitimate.

 

As the Boston Globe reports, many of the letters simply were attached to a regular Army public relations vehicle called the Hometown News Release Program, which is supposed to send little news stories to soldiers' hometown newspapers.

 

Even the Army now admits the scam was out of bounds. A spokesman, Maj. Steve Stover, told the Globe, "This was (an abuse) of the... program.... This was a stupid idea."

 

The Globe reports at least 11 newspapers from Massachusetts to California printed the letters, including the Globe itself.

 

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2003/10/16/editorial/rich_lewis/lewis01.txt

 

You read crap like this and you expect me to BELIEVE what they say about blocking certain websites??

You read crap like this and you expect me to BELIEVE what they say about blocking certain websites??

 

 

Sounds to me like an overzealous officer tired of reading nothing but criticism of the the job his unit is doing over there. I saw nothing to make me believe this abuse was widespread or even supported by government officials.

 

My area has around 500 members of the 149th Kentucky National Guard serving in Iraq at this time. I know many of them. I have communicated with several. I watched some of them grow up, followed them as they played football in the local high schools, had them in my home. They are serving their country well, performing humanitarian projects and providing security. Yet when the military recognizes them through a press release such as this: http://www.dma.ky.gov/NR/exeres/16D5DD30-4C60-4954-880A-60C479E0AE34.htm , you dismiss it as government propaganda with a comment about "Tommy helping a bloody Iraqi child up".

 

Other than government releases written by military staff, how many positive stories concerning what these people have you seen?

I do agree with you 100 percent that A LOT of the positive things that our troops are doing for the people there get unreported or not talked about as much as the negative things that may go on.

 

My father served in the Navy for close to 25 years, I have two uncles that served in Vietnam and my grandfather was in World War 2. I think I even have relatives traced back to the war of 1812. I mention all of that because I support the troops 100 percent, the families that have endured and continue to endure hardship related to the long deployment.

 

I just don't support why our government went over there in the first place, all the lies involved, etc. Look at our track record and how we have treated the soldiers once they have come home. You have kids 18-25 who are over there because their family served, maybe they are over there to better themselves as people and getting ready for college. Most of the kids honestly believe they are doing the right thing, what they are being told is right and so forth. That bothers me more than anything else.

 

I have heard from more than a few people you can't be for the troops, but against the war. But with our government lying about our reasons to be over there in the first place and CONTINUED lies about what is going on, I refuse to support their "war on terror".

 

That's why when a story comes out likes this, blocking websites, I can't help but look deeper for another reason. The sad thing is, our government has lied SO MUCH that I can't even take a LEGIT story at face value.

I do agree with you 100 percent that A LOT of the positive things that our troops are doing for the people there get unreported or not talked about as much as the negative things that may go on.

 

My father served in the Navy for close to 25 years, I have two uncles that served in Vietnam and my grandfather was in World War 2. I think I even have relatives traced back to the war of 1812. I mention all of that because I support the troops 100 percent, the families that have endured and continue to endure hardship related to the long deployment.

 

I just don't support why our government went over there in the first place, all the lies involved, etc. Look at our track record and how we have treated the soldiers once they have come home. You have kids 18-25 who are over there because their family served, maybe they are over there to better themselves as people and getting ready for college. Most of the kids honestly believe they are doing the right thing, what they are being told is right and so forth. That bothers me more than anything else.

 

I have heard from more than a few people you can't be for the troops, but against the war. But with our government lying about our reasons to be over there in the first place and CONTINUED lies about what is going on, I refuse to support their "war on terror".

 

That's why when a story comes out likes this, blocking websites, I can't help but look deeper for another reason. The sad thing is, our government has lied SO MUCH that I can't even take a LEGIT story at face value.

 

Well spoken...If I were putting thoughts to the keypad on this matter appropriately I would like it to be very much like this post.

Well spoken...If I were putting thoughts to the keypad on this matter appropriately I would like it to be very much like this post.

 

:thumb: I agree.

 

One of the biggest influences in my life was an uncle of mine that served in the Korean War. One of the things that I learned from him is that it is our responsibility to question the decisions of our leaders. Being able to disagree with the decision to go to war is much different than being against our troops.