A Third Of Vets Say Iraq And Afghan Wars A Waste

HarryStreet | October 5, 2011 at 4:06 p.m. ― 3 years, 3 months ago

A soldier's point of view is unimportant. Their obligation is to fight where told and do what they're told. That's the life of a soldier. They knew this when they signed up and were told this from basic training and throughout their career. Sedition is a serious offense against your country.

As a veteran I can appreciate our point of view, and I do agree the wars were a waste of time. Saddam Hussein could've been taken out by assassination, the Afghan supported al-Quada could've been fought with missile attacks and the like.

In the end our government supports these wars because the Middle East have what our big business and generous way of life need. OIL! This is why we're there. You can spin it however you like. We're fighting terrorists. Ridding the world of despots. They knocked down the World Trade Center. What else could we do?

Bottom line. We need their oil.

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randolphslinky | October 6, 2011 at 8:41 a.m. ― 3 years, 3 months ago

I'm a vet too, and I was on active duty just before this all began and was certain that this would be the eventual conclusion - that these wars would be thought of by those not in complete denial as a waste of time, life, and American taxpayer's money.

What we could have done after 9-11 is capture and kill as many Taliban as possible, Osama should have never gotten away. Then leave only a small footprint to deal with any aftermath, NOT nation build, and certainly not invade Iraq that had NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING to do with 9-11.

Saudi Arabia provided 11 of the 19 hijackers that attacked us on 9-11, and many experts on the subject are convinced that much of the money to support those attacks came from Saudi Arabia - not Iraq. Did we invade Saudi Arabia?

When Carter was president he made it clear that the US needed to wean its self off oil because that region is so volatile, he even put solar panels on the White House. How much has to happen for people to wake up to the idea that we can't continue thinking that oil is our future? We are in the position we are today because of the bone headed thinking of decades past.

War is not the solution to our problems, it is the problem, and we disgrace ourselves by saying "Hey, we need oil, and so since we have a huge military we'll just take it!" This kind of thinking is why in part we are so hated by many of countries in the world. We used to be respected and loved in most of the world, but today what we are doing is creating a more divisive world, further threatening our security, and ensuring that generations to come we see us as world bullies who say we are doing something for one reason, but in actuality are simply doing it because our leaders are corrupt and too many of our people blinded by their patriotism.
Any Soldier, Sailor, Marine or Airman should follow lawful orders, but they can certainly vote and have an opinion that is different from their elected officials - these days to differ from them is not only their right, but it would be exceptionally Patriotic and Honorable in my opinion.

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