Support Our Troops

This is a break from counterinsurgency. I’ve tried to write it several times and felt that whatever I might write was still insufficient. But I do care about supporting our troops, their families, and disabled vets. So here’s my attempt.

Things sure have changed since Vietnam. Most cars sport some kind of “Support Our Troops” stickers. Roadside sign tell to support the troops. Yet many of our troops feel that America is no longer supporting them because the majority of American no longer believe in the Iraq War. How can the average citizen support our troops and still be against this war?

When the American public began openly displaying those “Support Our Troops” stickers and American flags, I was happy for the troops. I was even happier when a stranger noticed my Vietnam Veteran license plate and thanked me for my service – the first time ever for me. But I was also a little reserved about all this attention to our troops. I’d seen that support fade more than once. I’d seen an angry public cause a humiliating defeat in Vietnam which ended with a helicopter escape from the roof of our embassy in Saigon. I’d seen public outcries remove troops from the battle zone before the job was completed and with a loss of lives for nothing gained. Would this happen again with Iraq?

I’ve been against the invasion of Iraq since it was obvious the Administration was bent on invading a country that had nothing to do with the terrorists at that time. But we are there and we need to find a workable political solution. The current operations under General Petraeus stand a better chance of finding that solution but past mismanagement of the war by this Administration leaves us few options. My research on counterinsurgency operations strongly indicates we can’t win even with the new operations. I hope I am wrong.

In the meantime I hope America will renew its support of the troops and begin to understand that such support must extend to their families and loved ones. As a start I recommend removing those now faded and torn “Support Our Troops” decals and buy new ones. Remove those dirty and frayed flags from car antennas and buy new ones. Displaying a dirty and frayed flag is an insult to the troops and disrespects the flag.

Next I would ask every American to become acquainted with small war, counterinsurgency operations, or whatever you might like to call this new kind of war. As with the general public, our Congress and much of the Administration has little or no military experience. I don’t think this will change in the near future since the draft seems out of the question barring a major conventional war. Today’s military requires troops with a higher level of intelligence and skill that the draft cannot provide.

A public that understands more about our military and the kind of wars we now fight can also force our civilian leaders to make wiser choices, especially in the coming 2008 election. “Staying the course” is a bankrupt plan, but a mindless withdrawal is equally bankrupt. One of the worst ideas in this war was when we pulled troop back into protected enclaves. I knew the Vietnam War was lost when we did that. A current plan bandied about in Congress is to withdraw the bulk of troops, leaving only a few to “finish” training the Iraqi army and protect borders. Such a plan repeats the protected enclave idea but without the necessary protection.

I have my own ideas on some workable plans but I think we should wait for General Petraeus’ report next month before deciding on any plan. He promised a report. We have the responsibility to wait for it.

In the end, however, our troops may interpret opposition to the war as opposition to their role in that war. We can’t fix that be we can try to understand the commitment our troops made. I’ve often compared military service to ministry. Each member is serving a cause much greater than the himself or herself. For the minister the cause is God’s message. For the service member the cause is the defense of the United States and its ideals. In both cases, the cause comes before self and family. One must believe in that cause and the rightness of it to endure the many kinds of sacrifices of which civilians are only vaguely aware.

The cause and the war become one in the minds of most troops. While citizens against a war does not translate into opposition to the cause, troops will often see it that way. When that happens, the impact on the moral of the troops, their families and their loved can be devastating. I have no solutions, but understanding may help. If you are against this war, please remember that our troops are doing the job they were assigned and that they are doing that job with excellence and dedication.

Finally, if you see a service man or woman take the time to thank them. If they have family or loved ones with them, then thank them also because they too are sacrificing. It takes only a few seconds but the thanks lasts for years.

For some first hand accounts of the sacrifices of military families, please visit Trying to Grok.