Troops

[Iceman]

Should the United States bring all it's troops back from overseas? And do you have any sympothy if a troop gets killed?

This was supposed to go in the Ramblings of the Wise, so feel free to move. Thanks!

[Scarface]

TWPR:arrow:ROTW

[Amnesiac]

I don't believe it would be safe for the United States to withdraw all its troops from every country, but I would support a long-term plan for minimizing our presence in other regions. I believe in isolationism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolationism) (not economic, but military), however I think the US is too entangled in world affairs to adopt that policy.

[Azunite]

America should withdraw everyone, it is that simple.

[Korashk]

Should the United States bring all it's troops back from overseas?
Yes, and it should work on adopting a gradual plan to get out of world affairs entirely.

And do you have any sympothy if a troop gets killed?
No, they're paid volunteers.

[Peace God]

Should the United States bring all it's troops back from overseas?
Yes they should an as others have said, they should also try to leave international affairs completely. But they wont...there's too much money to be made.
And do you have any sympothy if a troop gets killed.
Besides the fact that it's completely irrelevant.
Yes, yes i do.

[Iceman]

Number one if the United States pulled out and wasn't imperialistic then someone else would be. Say we pulled out Russia would probably go into action. Then we may have to go back over there which ruined the point. If we withdrew out of South Korea, the North may try to take over the South and again, we would have to go back over.

[Amnesiac]

Number one if the United States pulled out and wasn't imperialistic then someone else would be. Say we pulled out Russia would probably go into action. Then we may have to go back over there which ruined the point. If we withdrew out of South Korea, the North may try to take over the South and again, we would have to go back over.

Why should we care? The United States has its own massive problems to attend to, it doesn't need to be babysitting every butthurt region of the world to make sure they don't tear each other limb from limb. We can't do that forever, anyway.

Also, Russia isn't some lurking enemy like everyone implies they are.

[Severus Snape]

It isn't logistically or tactically logical to remove all troops from foreign postings. Now, removing troops from combat is a different story altogether. I do think troops should be withdrawn from Iraq/Afghanistan. However, bases abroad should not be abandoned.

[Korashk]

However, bases abroad should not be abandoned.
Why not? Other than the tactically illogical part? We are not at war with these countries and frankly, don't need troops stationed there to maintain military superiority.

[Severus Snape]

Why not? Other than the tactically illogical part? We are not at war with these countries and frankly, don't need troops stationed there to maintain military superiority.

Do you reckon the North Koreans would hold back if there weren't Carriers and Battleships in the North China Sea? We also have 40,000 troops stationed in South Korea. There are also American peace keepers in the Balkans. There are more uses for soldiers than fighting, they are an excellent deterrent. Often times threat of force is just as effective as using it.

[lightkun]

No, they're paid volunteers.

What the hell? You don't sympathize the loss of a fellow American who put their life on the line to keep your country safe? Imagine it was your brother or sister who was killed. You would have no sympathy then?

I hope that some of you guys are actually thinking for yourselves and not spitting out what your parents or glen beck has to say.




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[Amnesiac]

I hope that some of you guys are actually thinking for yourselves and not spitting out what your parents or glen beck has to say.

You do realize that you're on VT, right? We don't do that shit here.

Also, I respect troops, but I can't sympathize with them because I don't know them personally. I have great admiration for their service, but I don't feel when one of them dies — I'm not American, and I have no relation to them whatsoever.

[Korashk]

What the hell? You don't sympathize the loss of a fellow American who put their life on the line to keep your country safe? Imagine it was your brother or sister who was killed. You would have no sympathy then?
I'm a psychopath. That should answer your question. They're doing their job, and they get paid for doing it.

I hope that some of you guys are actually thinking for yourselves and not spitting out what your parents or glen beck has to say.
It's hilarious that you say this.

[Continuum]

Also, Russia isn't some lurking enemy like everyone implies they are.

Indeed. Everyone thinks they are a pack of ex-communist loony bins who want to start another mock war against the US.

What the hell? You don't sympathize the loss of a fellow American who put their life on the line to keep your country safe? Imagine it was your brother or sister who was killed. You would have no sympathy then?

Correction: Not all people from VT are Americans, and not all people are that pussified when it comes to their own soldiers dying. Sure, somebody had died from a foreign state, but what the hell am I going to do with it?

[huginnmuninn]

What the hell? You don't sympathize the loss of a fellow American who put their life on the line to keep your country safe? Imagine it was your brother or sister who was killed. You would have no sympathy then?

actually i get more angry that the soldiers are over there interferring with other peoples business. the soldiers choose to become soldiers because as far as i know there isnt a draft right now. they know that they have a greater chance of being killed if they become soldiers in the first place. they take that chance when they sign up and if they die its a part of the job

[Korashk]

Do you reckon the North Koreans would hold back if there weren't Carriers and Battleships in the North China Sea?
Hold back from what? Attacking the US? They aren't going to do that because it would be one of the worst military decision ever made in the history of military decisions.

Often times threat of force is just as effective as using it.
They know that if they attack us they will be demolished, what more do we need to do?

[lightkun]

actually i get more angry that the soldiers are over there interferring with other peoples business. the soldiers choose to become soldiers because as far as i know there isnt a draft right now. they know that they have a greater chance of being killed if they become soldiers in the first place. they take that chance when they sign up and if they die its a part of the job

It's not like they want to be in the middle of the fucking dessert! They follow orders and actually have the balls fight for whichever country they are serving. It's completely fucking stupid that the fallen soldiers don't get the respect that they deserve. Don't get me wrong, I hate that my country has it'd nose in the middle east but you can't blame it on the troops.

I don't mean to come off that strong. But when someone says "I have no sympathy" it makes me think that they just plain don't respect. I lost someone very dear to me because if this crap going on in the middle east so I can be a little touchy. I don't mean to offend.

You do realize that you're on VT, right? We don't do that shit here.

Also, I respect troops, but I can't sympathize with them because I don't know them personally. I have great admiration for their service, but I don't feel when one of them dies — I'm not American, and I have no relation to them whatsoever.

I sort of jumped to conclusions there. If I flipped out on you (not sure who it was) I'm sorry about that. It's just a touchy subject for me.



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[Amnesiac]

I don't mean to come off that strong. But when someone says "I have no sympathy" it makes me think that they just plain don't respect. I lost someone very dear to me because if this crap going on in the middle east so I can be a little touchy. I don't mean to offend.

For most people, it's hard to have sympathy for someone you don't know, regardless of their occupation or level of heroism.

[Continuum]

Hold back from what? Attacking the US? They aren't going to do that because it would be one of the worst military decision ever made in the history of military decisions.


They'd refrain from attacking the South if it wasn't for the thought that they would be immediately bombarded by US ships quicker than usual if they ever do so.

[lightkun]

For most people, it's hard to have sympathy for someone you don't know, regardless of their occupation or level of heroism.

I just jumped to conclusions because it just sounded like some of us had no respect for a soldier's valor. Not saying they do or don't though.

[Korashk]

I just jumped to conclusions because it just sounded like some of us had no respect for a soldier's valor. Not saying they do or don't though.
Do you respect the butcher? The baker? The people that sell you shoes? The only difference is that these people do a different job and all of a sudden they deserve respect?

[lightkun]

Do you respect the butcher? The baker? The people that sell you shoes? The only difference is that these people do a different job and all of a sudden they deserve respect?

Well at least I'm grateful for their sacrifice. A baker does do nice things for us and so does the butcher. But are they risking their lives to keep us safe? I don't think so.

[Number02]

I just jumped to conclusions because it just sounded like some of us had no respect for a soldier's valor. Not saying they do or don't though.

I have none whatsoever. If ya don't agree with fighting in a war, don't freaking sign up. Simples.

Well at least I'm grateful for their sacrifice. A baker does do nice things for us and so does the butcher. But are they risking their lives to keep us safe? I don't think so.

We're (and by 'we' I mean the Allies, NOT America specifically) fighting terrorism. It can not be beaten via military means. Every Taliban or AL Qaeda footman you murder, just becomes a martyr, and makes the others fight harder. The problem is, you are fighting an idea. An ideology. For as long as someone can feasibly preach this idea and ideology, then Muslim extremists will continue to be active. What is required is a propaganda war, not a bunch of soldiers rolling round in under-armoured and under-armed jeeps having RPG-7s fired at them.

My point being, they aren't keeping us safe. From anything. At all. Al Qaeda or the Taliban could strike any time, anywhere, and the UN expeditionary force in the Afghan foothills isn't gonna change that. Hell, if you're not careful, you'll have the IRA turn on you (It's what the Taliban did), then you'll be proper fucked.

[lightkun]

I have none whatsoever. If ya don't agree with fighting in a war, don't freaking sign up. Simples.



We're (and by 'we' I mean the Allies, NOT America specifically) fighting terrorism. It can not be beaten via military means. Every Taliban or AL Qaeda footman you murder, just becomes a martyr, and makes the others fight harder. The problem is, you are fighting an idea. An ideology. For as long as someone can feasibly preach this idea and ideology, then Muslim extremists will continue to be active. What is required is a propaganda war, not a bunch of soldiers rolling round in under-armoured and under-armed jeeps having RPG-7s fired at them.

My point being, they aren't keeping us safe. From anything. At all. Al Qaeda or the Taliban could strike any time, anywhere, and the UN expeditionary force in the Afghan foothills isn't gonna change that. Hell, if you're not careful, you'll have the IRA turn on you (It's what the Taliban did), then you'll be proper fucked.

Right now, the goal is to help Afghanistan's government get back on it's feet and fight the Taliban/Al Qeada ideology. In my opinion, the foreign troops in that area are indirectly putting a stop to it. But I don't think that you can defeat them. Ether way, the troops that are over there deserve to come home. I don't give two shits if you (everyone in general) feel like the military forces there shouldn't be treated any different than a fucking butcher or a baker, the point is, they put their lives on the line to fight an un-winnable war. If your going to place blame, blame Washington (or whatever government capital you happen to have)

[Number02]

London? Mate, I'd happily nuke that hole. A couple of hundred times.

They deserve to come home, everyone does, yes. But then, the troopers chose to join up. I'm not going to be heartbroken when the inevitable happens.

[lightkun]

London? Mate, I'd happily nuke that hole. A couple of hundred times.

They deserve to come home, everyone does, yes. But then, the troopers chose to join up. I'm not going to be heartbroken when the inevitable happens.

I guess I have a biased view. I just feel such sympathy for the families of fallen troops because my brother was killed in Afghanistan last October. Just hope that nobody in your family decides to join the military. It's unimaginably horrible to know that your brother died for a pointless war. Tony was supposed to come home one month after he was killed.

[Number02]

I'm sorry your bro lost his life.

If his career path had been any different, he wouldn't have suffered at the hands of his foolish superiors..

[lightkun]

I'm sorry your bro lost his life.

If his career path had been any different, he wouldn't have suffered at the hands of his foolish superiors..

That's exactly how I feel. Fuck Washington. I thought Obama was supposed to bring em home.

[Azunite]

That's exactly how I feel. Fuck Washington. I thought Obama was supposed to bring em home.

He said 2011 earliest

[Number02]

That's the problem. Give a desperate people a limited promise, they expect miracles..

[Sith Lord 13]

You do realize that you're on VT, right? We don't do that shit here.

Or saying the exact opposite of what your parents/authority figures tell you then.

I'm a psychopath. That should answer your question.

I believe you mean sociopath.

I have none whatsoever. If ya don't agree with fighting in a war, don't freaking sign up. Simples.

Not quite that simple. For some it's the only decent job they can get. For others, it was the only way to pay for college.

My point being, they aren't keeping us safe. From anything. At all.

That's not entirely true. By disrupting training camps we're slowing down the frequency and skill with which they can attack. We're keeping them on their toes. We're putting them on the defensive. It's leading to less lives being lost, IMO (you can't state either way with certainty).

[Magus]

Should the United States bring all it's troops back from overseas? And do you have any sympothy if a troop gets killed?
What will be the worst case scenario? Terrorists are like a hydras, cut one of the heads, and more will grow in its place. Leave, and you have left an abomination chasing behind you. And that will be the worst decision ever.

Iraq, however is a bit stable, and can fend itself now with the new government and stuff. But I have the fear it will become an elite Shi'ite country, like Iran.

I don't suggest leaving Afghanistan. You have put yourself in that deadly pit of moving sand, and now you are hoping to get out easily from it?