# 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:** 2
**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, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/21 "2004-11-05T17:59:58Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > **Fear Itself** , you are an intentional spreader of ignorance and should be ashamed of yourself. All I did was reprint a Pentagon Press release, and express my opinion. That fact is, they don’t want individuals sending unsolicited mail to soldiers, for very flimsy, speculative reasons. I see no reason to feel ashamed for exposing this practice, and I reject your justification of it. You’ve been AWOL from the fight against ignorance so long, you don’t even know what it is anymore. ---
**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, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/22 "2004-11-05T18:08:29Z")
Sure, chief. And what is your justification for leaving off the part of the press release in which the DoD provides a link to allow people to support the troops, thus making a mockery and a lie out of your thread title? ---
**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, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/23 "2004-11-05T18:21:34Z")
Well then, by all means, allow me to modify my lying mockery of a title: \*\*Pentagon says, “Don’t Support the Troops, Unless It Is In A Sanitized, Impersonal DoD-Approved Manner!!” \*\* Happy? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/24 "2004-11-05T18:57:00Z")
Wrong again, but don’t let facts get in the way of a useless rant. [http://www.defendamerica.mil/support\_troops.html](http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html) > **[U.S. Department of Defense](https://www.defense.gov/)** > > The Department of Defense is America's largest government agency. With our military tracing its roots back to pre-Revolutionary times, the department has grown and evolved with our nation. [http://www.anysoldier.us/index.cfm](http://www.anysoldier.us/index.cfm) Whether or not you agree with it, the “brass” has asked the American public that wants to show support to do so through one of the MANY (look at the list on the left on the first link) approved support programs in order to help increase operational security. There is NO shortage of ways for the public to show support and appreciation of the troops. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/25 "2004-11-05T19:31:52Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > I was thinking of sending over a package of buttons that said, “DON’T BOMB ME, I VOTED FOR KERRY.” Guess not. > > Daniel Wow. So you want to let the troops you supposedly support that you fear them bombing you in NC? Way to support troop morale while fighting a war. Gallagher’s [Army[?JSESSIONID=BLVtdKgPCbF4qBLKyF021kjLhDwhn0C286oHkJegs2iRa8qXQQPD!1349205983](http://www.gallaghersarmy.com/) is doing a lot of good. Click the contact link and ask them what they’ve done so far. He’s dedicated to helping the families. ---
**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, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/26 "2004-11-05T19:35:22Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Wow. So you want to let the troops you supposedly support that you fear them bombing you in NC? _Whoooosh!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/27 "2004-11-05T19:38:13Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > _Whoooosh!!!_ Wasn’t it, though? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/28 "2004-11-05T19:40:08Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > (look at the list on the left on the first link) That would be your _other_ left :smack: ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/29 "2004-11-05T19:43:05Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > _Whoooosh!!!_ BTW, you’ve been proven that your anger in the OP is bullshit. Are you really mad about this? Or are you just stumbling around trying to be original with an angry thread? If so, you’re failing miserably. I think I see where the whoosh really lies. :wally ---
**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, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/30 "2004-11-05T19:50:38Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Wasn’t it, though? Fuck if I know–I can’t make heads or tails of how you’re interpreting my previous post in this thread. Daniel ---
**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, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/31 "2004-11-05T19:55:12Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > \*\*Pentagon says, “Don’t Support the Troops, Unless It Is In A Sanitized, Impersonal DoD-Approved Manner!!” \*\* Where did the Pentagon say, “Don’t support the troops?” If you bothered to look at the [link](http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html) that’s been posted here three times already, the first words at the top of the page read: > [@](#): > > How You Can Help > Thousands of Americans are asking what they can do to show their support for service members, especially those serving overseas in this time of war. > Listed here are Web sites for several organizations that are sponsoring programs for members of the armed forces overseas. While it would be inappropriate for the Defense Department to endorse any specifically, service members do value and appreciate this support. Then there’s a list of four military support programs, five service aid society links, and 43 charitable organizations, all of which allow folks to help out the troops, from donating blood to emailing any servicemember to sending gift bags or phone cards. So, when can any one of these organizations expect your donation? Or do you have an axe to grind with the USO, the Red Cross, Operation Dear Abby, and dozens of other similar programs? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/32 "2004-11-05T20:20:46Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Fuck if I know–I can’t make heads or tails of how you’re interpreting my previous post in this thread. > > Daniel That quote was directed to **Fear**. In the whole of the exchange, it’s up to you to figure out what it means since it was your post that got us started. Lighten up, man. I wasn’t trying to attack you. Unless you were serious, which would be ludicrous based on what I know of you as a doper. ---
**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, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/33 "2004-11-05T20:24:27Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Wow. So you want to let the troops you supposedly support that you fear them bombing you in NC? Way to support troop morale while fighting a war. I think I’m not the only one who could stand to lighten up :). Hints: 1. It was a joke. 2. The buttons aren’t for me to wear; if they were, I wouldn’t be sending them to Iraq. 3. Soldiers who voted for Bush wouldn’t get a button. 4. It was a really classy joke, not at all based in bitterness and despair. Daniel ---
**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, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/34 "2004-11-05T20:32:44Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Operation Dear Abby That was suspended along with the Any Servicemember program. ---
**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, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/35 "2004-11-05T20:40:14Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > That was suspended along with the Any Servicemember program. It’s not what it used to be (and it’s pretty lame now) but it is still up: [http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/](http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/) ---
**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, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/36 "2004-11-05T20:57:25Z")
Sorry, I meant that physical mail has been suspended. I knew the site was still up. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/37 "2004-11-06T06:39:47Z")
If we want to support the troops maybe we should send jockstraps for the men and sports bras for the women. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2004, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/38 "2004-11-06T09:45:22Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > If we want to support the troops maybe we should send jockstraps for the men and sports bras for the women. Oh God, I had to read that 3 times before it occured to me what you meant. :smack: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2004, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/39 "2004-11-06T11:42:22Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Wow. So you want to let the troops you supposedly support that you fear them bombing you in NC? Well, as long as they’ll agree to stop [strafing the schools](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=284915), I’m willing to be friends. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186/40 "2004-11-06T12:59:10Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Which is small consolation to those who have neither. You realize this is an ongoing **security** measure? And to get around this, there are several sites where one can still send packages to troops they don’t know - run by The American Legion, VFW, and other veteran’s groups - which allow random person wanting to send a care package to a _specific_ service member? If you’re so concerned about supporting the troops, why are you only **now** getting upset about not being able to send care packages to random grunts? Like I said, it’s been an ongoing change in military mails for years, now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pentagon-says-dont-support-the-troops/273186.md?page=3)