um.... do you know if theres a one for british troops?

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_{when everything is falling down, when everything is falling down. Take what tomorrow brings, and don't ask why - Dope}

I shall add this.^^

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this confuses my brain

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_{Zume's Internet Ministry: [link]
Online Bible: [link]}

What is confusing? I don't mean to be snarky, I really don't. Here, let me explain.

This stamp expresses support of the people-the men and woman, the soldiers-who are fighting this war. However, they do not support the people who are responsible for putting them in harm's way.

This is a reasonable and commendable concept, because of the fact that the average soldier is fighting because of two reasons, really:

1.) To support the freedoms that you and I have every day, and are in fact using right now (freedom of speech, in particular, but also freedom to congregate in a manner of speaking).

2.) Because they don't have a choice. Once you're a soldier, you HAVE to do what you're told, unless it is an order which is in direct violation of the military code of conduct or the Geneva convention. To refuse or disobey orders is punishable by incarceration into a heavy fine (up to several paychecks) military prison (which are much more strict the civilian prisons), or dishonorable discharge (which is practically a death sentence for most future careers).

I am a veteran, and my husband is currently deployed, so I am absolutely certain on the latter of those in particular. I do support the war in Iraq-if for no other reason than to withdraw now is to ensure a higher casualty rate (during withdrawal) and lasting ramifications very similar to what happened with Vietnam. However, I am just as grateful (perhaps even more so) to the men and women in this country that do not support the war, but find it in themselves to still support the troops themselves. It makes life a lot easier for those of us in the military or with military families, that's for sure.

Peace-kettish.

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My heart and soul are stationed in Iraq.

Disabled Veteran, US Army

Ah. <3
Thank you for explaining the situation.
Yes the military does put soldiers in places they dont always wish to be, sadly.

God Bless my friend

and good luck to your husband!

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_{Zume's Internet Ministry: [link]
Online Bible: [link]}

Thanks babe. I just hear a lot of people say that out of ignorance, and feel I owe them an explanation, since not everyone was in or had military in their family.

Thanks!

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My heart and soul are stationed in Iraq.

Disabled Veteran, US Army

no prob... im not sure the timeline in which the army recruits knew they would be going into the war. i mean when the war started, those already in the army must have been forced to fight in the war. if they knew they would be in that war before they joined, should not we support their leaders? or at least in some form trust their intel that they know something we dont.. maybe not, im not sure. do all army recruits effect the war in some way? im not sure the percentage of soldiers forced to fight.

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_{Zume's Internet Ministry: [link]
Online Bible: [link]}

You're right; some of the people over there didn't know they would be deployed because they were in before it started. But it's been long enough now-four years-for most of them to have cycled out if they wished. And personally, I do trust the military's intelligence division. For some people, joining was a statement of their support of this war and its leadership.

But keep in mind, there were still some people that realized, we're over there, and if we don't finish it now we're going to be seriously screwed (again, like when we withdrew from Vietnam). Some soldiers enlisted for more personal reasons-they didn't have an education but needed to support a family, they needed the money for college, even some people that had been court ordered to either join the military or go to jail. By no means does that make any of them less of a soldier. They're still over there fighting to protect our country, and their loved ones back home.

To some of them, they're just doing their job. The basic enlisted soldier doesn't have a choice in whether they were deployed or not. All they can do is do their best to stay alive while they're over there and come home to their families afterwards.

Personally, I think all soldiers have an effect on the war. It's not a major one, but troop morale is a bigger factor than many people today realize it to be. It's the difference between a soldier heading into a mission with the confidence and determination to get the job done right with as few fatalities as possible-and going into a mission with confused feelings of their leadership, or depression because they want to be home and they aren't.

So yes, I think we should support the leaders, too. But some people can not in good moral conscience do that; that is their personal decision, formed from their background and their beliefs, and neither you nor I can change that. But it is important that they make the distinction between soldier and politicos who started the war, so we don't have another Vietnam-soldiers coming home, weary from fighting, looking at years without limbs or peace of mind, and meeting anti-war protests as soon as they step off of the plane.

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My heart and soul are stationed in Iraq.

Disabled Veteran, US Army

PERFECT!