# Pentagon says, "Don't Support the Troops!!" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 5, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186 "2004-11-05T14:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/1 "2004-11-05T14:41:09Z")
In [a press release](http://www.pentagon.mil/releases/2004/nr20041102-1468.html) put out on Tuesday, the Pentagon is now discouraging the public from supporting the troops in Iraq by sending any unsolicited mail or packages: > [@](#): > > The Department of Defense announced today the continued suspension of > the “Any Servicemember” mail program. Accordingly, the general public is urged not to send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service members during the holiday season. > > [snip] > > DoD continues to emphasize that names and addresses of military service members must not be distributed by the media, Web sites, companies, non-profit organizations, schools and individuals for the purpose of collecting letters of support or donations for mailing to service members. > > Service members should receive mail only from those friends and family members to whom they personally give their address. So, any of you patriots serving In Iraq without families back home, it’s going to be a long, lonely slog through the Falluja meatgrinder this Christmas. And your government wants it that way. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/2 "2004-11-05T14:43:16Z")
This is officially weird. I’m sure, however, that someone will pop in here with one of those oh-so-reasonable explanations and botch a perfectly good Pit thread. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/3 "2004-11-05T14:45:35Z")
They stopped the Any Servicemember program shortly after the anthrax crisis, as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/4 "2004-11-05T14:50:51Z")
I was thinking of sending over a package of buttons that said, “DON’T BOMB ME, I VOTED FOR KERRY.” Guess not. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/5 "2004-11-05T14:50:56Z")
> [@](#): > > The Department of Defense announced today the **continued suspension** of the “Any Servicemember” mail program… Just to support what **friedo** said. And you take the time and effort to click the link, and read what was \, the timing of the announcement is because the Holiday Season increases the “Any Servicemember” type mail and the added bulk delays delivery of the WHOLE mail system, including mail from family members and friends of the servicepeople. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/6 "2004-11-05T15:00:51Z")
> [@UncleBill](#): > > Just to support what **friedo** said. And you take the time and effort to click the link, and read what was \, the timing of the announcement is because the Holiday Season increases the “Any Servicemember” type mail and the added bulk delays delivery of the WHOLE mail system, including mail from family members and friends of the servicepeople. I’m sure our troops appreciate the terrible burden placed on the goverment by delivering mail to them. Why not simply increase capacity, instead of punishing the soldiers dying in Iraq? Does it cost too much ? Is there just not enough money to be made in postal delivery by Halliburton? Or is this just another example of “compassionate conservatism”? ---
**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/7 "2004-11-05T15:04:54Z")
> [@UncleBill](#): > > …the timing of the announcement is because the Holiday Season increases the “Any Servicemember” type mail and the added bulk delays delivery of the WHOLE mail system, including mail from family members and friends of the servicepeople. Rather than ask people not to send mails and packages, it would make more sense that they improved and raised the level of the service to meet the increased load during the holiday season. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/8 "2004-11-05T15:10:06Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > I’m sure our troops appreciate the terrible burden placed on the goverment by delivering mail to them. Why not simply increase capacity, instead of punishing the soldiers dying in Iraq? You do realize that they’re not stopping _all_ packages, right? Servicemembers can still receive packages from their family & friends. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/9 "2004-11-05T15:11:59Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > You do realize that they’re not stopping _all_ packages, right? Servicemembers can still receive packages from their family & friends. Which is small consolation to those who have neither. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/10 "2004-11-05T15:21:03Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Which is small consolation to those who have neither. Neither? I don’t buy that. While I’m sure that some of them don’t have close relatives, they will always have other servicemembers. All it takes is one of them to say, “Hey, Pvt. Smith doesn’t have anyone to send him stuff. How about addressing a package to him?” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/11 "2004-11-05T15:26:24Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Neither? I don’t buy that. While I’m sure that some of them don’t have close relatives, they will always have other servicemembers. All it takes is one of them to say, “Hey, Pvt. Smith doesn’t have anyone to send him stuff. How about addressing a package to him?” So why is it too much trouble to add postal capacity so that all soldiers can receive support from any citizens who just want to help? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/12 "2004-11-05T15:31:10Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > So why is it too much trouble to add postal capacity so that all soldiers can receive support from any citizens who just want to help? Don’t ask me. Besides, capacity is only part if it - they also don’t want things going “boom”. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/13 "2004-11-05T15:34:31Z")
Found something useful from 1998: > [@](#): > > [url=“[http://allard.senate.gov/issues/item.cfm?id=457&rands\_type=3](http://allard.senate.gov/issues/item.cfm?id=457&rands_type=3)”]Senator Wayne Allard Because the “Any Service Member Mail” can be sent anonymously, the military has decided to no longer accept packages. There was too big a risk of the program being used by a terrorist or criminal, who would be willing to strike out at a random soldier, sailor or airman to make a point. The military suggests that anyone seeking to utilize this program send a generic “Any Service Member” letter, introduce yourself and request the name and address of the service member who receives it. When they send it back, a “pen pal” has been established, and packages can be sent directly to that person. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/14 "2004-11-05T15:36:57Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Don’t ask me. Besides, capacity is only part if it - they also don’t want things going “boom”. So if I, as a dastardly terrorist, address a ticking package to “_Pfc. Joe Blow, from his Loving Ma_”, there’s a good chance it will fool the army’s security system? I rest easier at night knowing my country’s defense is in such capable hands. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/15 "2004-11-05T15:43:53Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > So if I, as a dastardly terrorist, address a ticking package to “_Pfc. Joe Blow, from his Loving Ma_”, there’s a good chance it will fool the army’s security system? I rest easier at night knowing my country’s defense is in such capable hands. :rolleyes: That was a figure of speech. BTW: what you are pitting isn’t anything new. > [@](#): > > [Wisonsin Department of Military Affairs](http://dma.wi.gov/MediaPublicAffairs/category.asp?linkcatid=308&linkid=55) > The Department of Defense suspended the “Any Service Member” mail program in 2001. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/16 "2004-11-05T15:49:13Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > BTW: what you are pitting isn’t anything new. So what? Does stupidity somehow improve with age? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/17 "2004-11-05T15:53:30Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Found something useful from 1998: Because the “Any Service Member Mail” can be sent anonymously, the military has decided to no longer accept packages. There was too big a risk of the program being used by a terrorist or criminal, who would be willing to strike out at a random soldier, sailor or airman to make a point. The military suggests that anyone seeking to utilize this program send a generic “Any Service Member” letter, introduce yourself and request the name and address of the service member who receives it. When they send it back, a “pen pal” has been established, and packages can be sent directly to that person. [/QUOTE] So all they have to do is change it so you can’t send it anonomously and it fixes the problem? Right? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/18 "2004-11-05T16:12:02Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > So what? They’ve been doing without for three years. Stands to reason that by now they’ve learned to improvise, adapt, and overcome. > [@Elenia28](#): > > So all they have to do is change it so you can’t send it anonomously and it fixes the problem? That’s military intelligence for ya. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/19 "2004-11-05T16:34:38Z")
So conveniently omitted from the OP was the end of the press release, which encourages Americans to support our troops through various programs that provide a lot of the same types of gifts that many people had sent through the Any Servicemember program. So instead of Joe Blow sending God knows what to any member of the armed forces, the USO and other organizations put together gift bags and other things that are then distributed to troops. It’s easier for DOD to work with the USO and other charitible organizations to monitor what goes into these gift bags than to screen thousands of letters for possibly malicious junk. In case anyone is actually interested in supporting our troops in this logical manner, as opposed to trying to make a political issue out of this, you can go to [http://www.defendamerica.mil/support\_troops.html](http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html) and find many ways to help. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/20 "2004-11-05T17:24:22Z")
To expand on **Ravenman** ’s point, [this](http://www.anysoldier.com/index.cfm) site even has a scheme for people who are addicted for whatever reason to the phrase “any servicemember.” They’ve got people to distribute stuff; you send it to them with the notation “ATTN: Any Servicemember” and they hand it out. It took Google all of .002 seconds to find this site. **Fear Itself** , you are an intentional spreader of ignorance and should be ashamed of yourself. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186.md?page=2)