What's next? Mom, apple pies and Chevys? <insert Bill Hicks quote here> Bush Asks Americans to Support Soldiers Dec 7, 4:24 PM (ET) By JENNIFER LOVEN CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) - Standing before thousands of Marines, President Bush asked other Americans on Tuesday to make the war their own by helping battle-weary troops and their families. "The time of war is a time of sacrifice*, especially for our military families," Bush said, wearing a tan military jacket with epaulets. "I urge every American to find some way to thank our military and to help out the military family down the street." In October 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan to rout the terrorist-protecting Taliban government. The military took on the additional burden of the war in Iraq starting with the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. In all that time, while traveling widely to visit military personnel and sit at the bedsides of the wounded, the president has asked little of the civilian public. But with casualties increasing and the number of U.S. troops in Iraq slated to rise before next month's planned elections there, Bush urged civilians to do more. Speaking on the 63rd anniversary of Pearl Harbor, Bush's call to sacrifice recalled President Roosevelt's World War II-era requests for Americans to pitch in for the war effort. Citizens responded then by planting victory gardens, purchasing war bonds, contributing metals and transforming commercial factories into weapons-makers. Bush, who flew across the country and back in one long day to a base that has seen one of the highest casualty rates in Iraq, suggested ways Americans now can support troops - and their left-behind families - by citing the example of several already doing so. Groups have been established to welcome home the wounded, collect thank-you letters, build homes adapted to disabled vets, and raise money for military families who must forsake home and jobs to stand beside a recovering soldier, he said. "In this season of giving, let us stand with the men and women who stand up for America, our military," Bush said. The president spent the bulk of his visit to this southern California base behind closed doors. After his speech, he joined troops in a mess hall decorated for Christmas for a lunch of beef, noodles and rice. He then went into a base gymnasium to face hundreds of relatives of the fallen. According to a Camp Pendleton spokesman, Cpl. Patrick Carroll, 269 Marines from the base have been killed in action in Iraq. A total of more than 1,270 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war, including nearly 1,000 who have died as a result of hostile action. In his public remarks, Bush sought to console the survivors. "Words can only go so far in capturing the grief and sense of loss for the families of those who have died," he said. "But you can know this: They gave their lives for a cause that is just.** And as in other generations, their sacrifice will have spared millions from the lives of tyranny and sorrow." Recently, more than 21,000 Camp Pendleton Marines have been serving in Iraq's al-Anbar province, including the battle to secure the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah. Other missions have included being the first conventional forces to fight in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and rolling across Iraq's border for the march to Baghdad that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime. Bush declared the Fallujah campaign a success, saying, "We have dealt the enemy a severe blow." But he warned that troops will see more attacks and, without saying it explicitly, more losses as Iraq's Jan. 30 elections approach. "The enemies of freedom in Iraq have been wounded, but they're not yet defeated," the president said. "We can expect further violence from the terrorists. ... The terrorists will do all they can to delay and disrupt free elections in Iraq. And they will fail." Bush promised, as he has repeatedly over recent days, that the elections "will proceed as planned." * except for the fithy rich who get tax cuts ** forget about those carzy WMD, it was the Iraqi citizens we brutalized with economic sanctions that were the real just cause (or a just cause to be name later if GWB sees fits)
Would someone please tell George that he already won the election and he should just STFU. If he supported our troops he wouldn't have put them in harms way for a lie.
Let's support them any way we can...Whether it's a smile and a thank-you or visiting that website Bush spoke about to see what finicial conrtibutions or heartfelt thank-you we can muster... The Marines as well as any soldier deserves it...
Bush can kiss my ass for demanding Americans to die for a cause wholly unworthy of their sacrifice. Because of his greed, incompetence and blatant deception, thousands of families have been shattered and thousands more will be. This administration abused our trust and took advantage of our fears and patiotism to wage unprovoked war on a country that posed no threat to us. I honestly don't know how these "Christians" sleep at night. I whole-heartedly agree with a part of what Bush said, though: "I urge every American to find some way to thank our military and to help out the military family down the street."
You always amaze me with your viceral hatred of Bush and "christians". You should really be as understanding of others as you expect them to be of your views, but that's too much to ask isn't it? And seeing as there has been no significant drop in citizens joining the military since the Iraq war started and as we have a completely volunteer army your tired diatribe of Bush "sending our kids to die" should be put to rest.
Sorry if I touched a nerve, but my "viceral" remarks were targeted entirely at our government and its policies. I have no hatred for anyone, not you, not Bush, especially not Christians. Since I'm usually in the minority on things, I'm learned to be understanding of others' views -- but I have very, *very* little patience when our government plays on our fears and spirituality to veil themselves from criticism. I feel this war is horribly unjust and morally abhorrent, and it is simply not worth the pain, death, resources and money it is costing this great country. I support our troops -- but I cannot and will not support the administration that conned us into this disgusting situation.
GreenVegan76...nicely said...i like your passion. went a little too far on that one....a lot of people follow the gov. blindly thinking they are being true and patriotic to their soldiers and country...regardless of the whether it is right or wrong for the country to be actually involved in the war...soldiers have no choice but to go and fight or be labeled as traitors/cowardly or unpatriotic...it is the people at home who should speak up for or against what is going on for those who are fighting and risking their lives. but it is true the war was/is unjustified and is a modern era robbery... would not expect this to happen in the 21 century ..but hey the world is full of suprises...don't see why they just could'nt have Saddam murdered like they the leader before him...and put someone else in...but no the oil is too rich in blood....this counrty spends more on the military than most other countries total expenditures...there has to some reterns and unrest for the expenditure to justify itself...foreign policy again in question...nothing new.
I understand your point of view and I respect it. It just seems like sometimes those that preach tolerance don't practice it. Apologies if I seemed out of line.
This thread was reported for "getting out of hand," but I frankly find this to be one of the best examples of two people with very different opinions willing to accept the other even when they don't agree. GreenVegan76 and halfbreed should be commended on their openness to what is a very difficult and emotional issue.
It's all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T....if we all listened to what Aretha had to say, the D&D would be way less hystrionic than it is. And this is coming from someone who has shown D-I-S-R-E-S-P-E-C-T to other posters in this forum on several occasions, and I apologize for it. Be a lovah! Don't be a hata!
I DID!!!...just kidding This war is worth it on so many levels, I can't fathom another conflict being more noble to engage... Just another reason to salute the troops! GOD Bless America and the troops!
