Few Americans share Iraq war's sacrifices("Marines are at war, America is at the mall.")

[RedEarth]

Ask Navy corpsman Adam Shepherd what he wants Americans to know about his service in Iraq and he says it boils down to one thing. "Just don't forget that we sacrificed a lot to be out here," says the medic, stationed at Camp Taqaddum, Iraq.

It's a sentiment that many servicemen and women express. Five years after President Bush declared war on Islamic extremism, the military has lost 3,599 troops and spent $503 billion in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet unlike past wars, even unpopular ones, most Americans have contributed little directly. Tire and paper drives of World War II are a dim memory. An increasingly narrow slice of the population serves in the military.

Now, a growing number of observers question whether Americans should make some kind of sacrifice for what Bush himself calls the "decisive ideological struggle of our time." Despite the billions spent on defense, which represents 4 percent of the gross domestic product, many inside the administration and conservatives outside it believe it's time to spend more. But raising defense spending at a time when Americans are frustrated with the Iraq war is problematic. It also raises questions for the growing number of Americans who don't support the president's war strategy. So what should citizens do – if anything – to support US troops?

Aside from sending care packages or volunteering to help those in uniform, Americans seem to have no ready answers.

All this comes at a time when lawmakers, analysts, and many current and former military officials blame Bush for failing to mobilize the nation by calling on Americans to join the military or creating national service programs or even raising additional resources to help pay for the war effort. Instead, he has doled out tax cuts and suggested Americans can be true patriots by keeping the economy going strong.

Says one retired general: "Marines are at war, America is at the mall."

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0326/p01s01-ussc.htm

[bluestateguy]

1. Passive opposition

That's how I describe the American people's attitudes about the Iraq War. They oppose it, but can't or won't do much about it because they are not (most of them anyway) personally, directly affected by the war. And when you have a stack of bills to pay and kids to take care of, that may not leave time for much else.

[htuttle]

6. That's one of the reasons they like using mercenaries so much

While the financial cost of using mercenary troops is much higher, the political cost is far, far lower than using actual US military personnel.

The other reason they like using mercenaries and outside contractors is that their own crime family makes a mint from it.

[atreides1]

2. My Comments

What does their sacrifice have to do with me, I have never supported the invasion of Iraq and still don't.

This man is there because he chose to be, whether that choice was made freely or because of lack of employment at home, or seeking adventure, or just trying to come with money for education, he and others made that choice.

They also chose to forget that they are the defenders of the Constitution, and did nothing as that document was and has been assaulted by this adminstration and members of Congress. When this young man and his peers do their sworn duty, I will stand with them. But as long as they continue to follow the orders of a madman, I will send care packages, I will donate to organizations that help his wounded comrades and their families, and will even go ahead and volunteer.

But, his personal sacrifice has nothing to do with me or whether I go to the Mall!!!!!!

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Exactly

Well said, atreides1.

[MasonJar]

4. There are obvious reasons. First Bush would have no war if the US

population had to sacrifice, because the US is not committed to this war enough to sacrifice. Secondly, this is war to aggrandize certain elements of the society in the US. No one is going to stop the powers that be if money can be acquired by corporations like GE and Exxon. They are too powerful and contribute too much to the Pugs. Give them tax cuts! Never expect these giant money grubbers to sacrifice for America. After all, why should they? Did Bush and Cheney sacrifice for America in the Vietnam debacle? Hell no!

[thinkbridge]

5. If there was a draft, there'd be a lot more opposition

I'm not saying the draft is necessarily a good thing, but a
mercenary army by choice means that, as with so much else
these days, there's no parity. The rich get richer, and more
distanced from the troubles and consequences of their actions
and policies (think Marie Antoinette) and the poor get poorer,
and for economic reasons, die younger and more frequently and
more violently, especially if you count the war dead. Bush
could afford not to fight. Others see the military as a
necessary option, and play into that role. If the draft were
universal, rich and poor would have to fight by law, and if
the war was obviously unjust, as is the case in Iraq, the
government would have a lot more trouble on their hands.

The protests have just started - a few years too late... 

If only the government would go back to the Constitution,
think of the DOD with emphasis on "defense" instead
of a euphemism for "offense",
"empire-building", and "oil-grabbing", and
then maybe sit down and use their minds for a few minutes,
maybe come up with the concept of diplomacy...WOW ... maybe
even learn to talk... then we could all participlate.