Does talking about withdrawal from Iraq lower troop morale?

This is the discussion on CNN now and so much of what we hear from the republicans. I asked a friend of mine who just retired after 20 years in the Air Force. The response I got was, "when you wear the uniform--no matter who the commander-in-chief is--you respect their choice and follow."

Okay, as someone who has parents that are veterans, I totally understand and deeply respect, but it didn't really answer my question, so I delved a little further.

I asked them, "if you knew that you went to war under false, trumped up intelligence, how would you feel"? Their response...silent. Finally they answered, "It's one thing to think that you are fighting for a cause, but when you find that many have died in vain--for a lie--that indeed would lower morale and lead to hopelessness."

It's no wonder republicans want to keep any debate over this war silent. They seem to think it taboo to disagree and even bring this war to a discussion. Now it seems to be clear why. It's not the discussion of "withdrawal" from Iraq that lowers morale, but the ever increasing facts that this war was a mistake.

My heart goes out to the soldiers. They deserve better from their elected (and unelected) officials. I think this is the new "talk back" from republicans and it will be front and center as their "defense" to avoid discussing it, especially in this upcoming election year.

the idea of coming home, would buck up the troops.

my parents are WWII veterans. My dad was in Europe and my mother a nurse in the south pacific. My mother said when she got her orders to leave she started giving away everything she couldn't pack. She was ecstatic and I've read her letters from then and it was very clear she was GLAD to be leaving to come home!

yo-yo stuff like that will kill morale and it will kill troops.

to think that these troops have pulled 3-4 tours for what?

:argh:

worse on each hitch.

I'm a combat vet and it was FINE BY ME when the politicians asked WHY THE HELL I was there !

up with in a hopeless situation is what grinds you down.
When I was in SE Asia way back when it wasn't what was going on at home (protests, outspoken public figures, etc) it was the surreal hopelessness of the situation and the idiot loser lifers (career military) that just made us crazy.
That commander-in-chief crap is just that- crap. One can always find some meat-head to parrot that line but it is all about the guys around you. When you find out there is no substance to what you are doing and your prime objective is survival, morale is out the window.

all about.

"When you find out there is no substance to what you are doing and your prime objective is survival morale is out the window."

'It just does dammit!' Sheeesh! I fail to understand how getting more troops killed is good for morale.

a lot of things. Denial, denial, denial.

People who are still capable of independent thought, will disagree

use and will continue to use it more and more to try to make us shut up. They use it to bully and for guilt.

In all seriousness though, the other night I watched an American couple who'd lost a son in Iraq say that his death was a waste and it served no higher purpose. Truly heartbreaking.

(The same documentary also revealed that the Pentagon is working towards getting 40% of amputees back to Iraq - now that definately lowers morale.)

nothing else could do.

Withdrawal = going home = HIGH MORALE.

They serve, they don't question... in excange for a civilian leadership that will only send them into harms way when absolutely needed.

That social contract was broken... and you should ask yourself, will they ever trust us again?

It is going to take years if not decades, to rebuild the military... and the GOP does not want this discusion becuase they sold a bill of goods, and then went and betrayed teh troops.

As a wife of a 20 year vet of the USN I understand the contract... and it is maddening to me. I know that we will never trust them again.

Because we are at "war."

So according to the admin. - we can't disagree with them at all - and have to keep our mouths shut. We need to point out how nuts this all is to those so-called "patriots."

And, then why did they constantly question Clinton - even though there were a few wars that went on then.

And, will these people agree not to question the next Prez. if they are a Democrat?

... They all want to come home. Wouldn't you?

nt