Like you Irish, I am a DAV, and am proud of my service to this great nation. In my opinion Iraq is nothing like Nam because of one distinct difference - The military is getting all the support they want from the white house to make things happen. To bad this is an election year, Kerry is really making some of our dedicated troops feel bad by associating Iraq with VN. My son is in the AF and tells me that most of the troops are worried that the American public will turn on them like they did to the VN vets, and Mr. Kerry is using that fact for political reasons.

Just some things to think about.

FDR led us into WWII, Germany never attacked us, Japan did. From 41 to 45
450,000 lives lost, avg 112,500 per year.

Truman finished that war and started the war with Korea, Korea never
attacked us. 50 to 53 55,000 lives lost avg of 18,333 per year.

JFK started Vietnam, Vietnam never attacked us.

Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 65 to 75 58,000 lives lost,
5,800 per year.

Clinton went to war in Bosnia w/o UN or French Consent. Bosnia never
attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Ladens head 3 times by Sudam and did
nothing.

In 2 years since 9-11, President Bush has liberated 2 countries, crushed
the Taliban, crippled the al-Quida, put nuclear inspectors in Lybia, Iran,
and North Korea w/o firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered
300,000 of his own people. We lost 600 soldiers, an avg. of 300 a year.
Bush did all of this abroad, while not allowing another terrorist attack at
home.

The democrats are saying he is the worst President ever, but . . .

It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch
Dravidian compound, that was a 51 day operation.

We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for less time
than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd infantry Division and the Marines to destroy
Sadam's Medina Republican Guard than it took Teddy Kennedy to call the
police after his Olds sank at Chappaquiddick.

It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida

I missed it...when did we "take Iraq"?????...our service people are getting killed there everyday!

Sorry Lilith, taking is used in its military context. When the military takes a position, it doesn't mean the fighting stops. They still have to keep the position, which in some instances means that some of the troops will die to keep it.

Not quite, EISENHOWER signed the agreement with S. Vietnam that JFK honored when he sent the first advisers to Vietnam.

Right kind of like Vietnam:rolleyes:

Still not quite, JFK changed the agreement, He ordered the change from advisors to combatants, which authorized the deployment of full military combat units to the conflict.

Clinton was impeached for lying about his sex life ,Bush lied about WMD and is patted on his back? something wrong here!In Iraq we are no longer fighting an army we are fighting a religon there is no winning that

This is the MAIN reason,that I try to avoid political threads now!
Everyone has their opinions on what happened & there is no winner,Just arguements.I think of VN,everyday,when I put my pants on.When I see that scar on my hip,I think,what a waste!
I am a "conflict casualty".To be a "War Heroe",you have to be in a war! Irish
P.S.Just my $.02.
P.P.S.It doesn't make alot of difference,who's to blame!The scar is still there.

((hugs)) some of us make our own classification of who is and is not a "hero" ...if you tried to save my ass and keep me safe then you get that distinction regardless of what it's officially called.


And honestly, isn't my admiration and respect better than any government sanctioned title????????:D:D:p:rolleyes:

It is to me... :D

You are not bringing babies out of a burning house or suffering to save an animal in distress. Heroes make choices. There are no WAR heroes. Only very scared men that are moving.

THAT one you can take to the bank!

And LBJ lied when he said our troops were attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin just so he'd have reason to send combatant troops.

I don't think there were any U.S. combatants on the ground in Vietnam prior to JFK's assassination. But I may be wrong. PF, can you help me out here??

PantyFanatic,

I find your claim very interesting. I presume you can substantiate it. Irish and having_fun are drawing upon their experiences. Are you?

I am under the impression that not only are there heroes in war, but also that the act of engaging in a battle can be virtuous behavior.

Care to expand on your assertions?

Lilith,

I thought that irish was referring to the English noun, rather than a government sanctioned title.