Protestantism

» Brian Tubbs - Many who disagree

While I may be in the minority here at the Suite, there are millions of Americans who strongly disagree with the judgmental and cynical accusations made against the US government by the likes of Cindy Sheehan, Noam Chomsky, and sadly many here as well.

Do not confuse opposition to the war with belief that the US government is evil and corrupt. Public opinion polls favor troop withdrawals or redeployments. This is true, but this does not mean that a majority of Americans see George W. Bush as traitorously corrupt and/or evil.

And since this thread is about Memorial Day, I will also add that most of our young men and women who have died in Iraq (including Casey Sheehan) didn't see America's presence in Iraq as evil.

The fact of the matter is that public opinion has turned against the war because the war has been prolonged. This is often the case with our wars. The American people don't like long wars. They like short, decisive ones that end in victory parades and with minimal loss of life. Unfortunately, not all wars can be like that.

It is my belief - and the polling history supports this - that if the Iraq War had truly ended when George W. Bush foolishly declared "Mission Accomplished" on that aircraft carrier, then the American people WOULD by a clear majority have stood behind the war and our President. It is only because the war hasn't gone well, that a majority have turned against it.

This is NOT the case with a few of you here - nor is it the case with the likes of Chomsky, Howard Zinn, and other anti-war leftists. They would be against any US involvement in any war...period. They campaigned against the US attack on Taliban-run Afghanistan after 9/11/01.

I think we need to differentiate between those who are tired of the war and ready for it to end -- and those who believe the US is evil, corrupt, etc. and that the Iraqi insurgents blowing up our troops are "freedom fighters." I can respect the former camp, but I have zero respect for the views of the latter.