# The war has begun??? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 20, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706 "2003-03-20T02:38:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/21 "2003-03-20T03:40:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Gimme a fucking break. This “now is not the time” crap is so fucking lame. If it were up to half of Bush’s supporters, it would NEVER be time to criticize his holy fucking highness. I am not a Bush supporter. And I’ve still got a fencepost up my ass about this war. All I said was “now is not the time.” Meaning, _now_ is not the time. Burn your effigies tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/22 "2003-03-20T03:41:06Z")
And since when are opposing Bush’s warmongering policies on one hand, and being concerned for those fighting and dying on the other, mutually exclusive. We just had a whole thread in which virtually everyone, even war supprters, agreed that it was possible to both oppose the war and support the troops. But, of course, as soon as the bombing starts the jingoists crank it back up to 11 again and tell us that “now is not the time” for dissent. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/23 "2003-03-20T03:48:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Persephone \* > \*\*Now is not the time, \*\*Jomo. \*\* > > No one’s particularly happy that war is occurring. But instead of saying “Down With Bush” right now, perhaps a moment of silence, a thought or prayer for those who are fighting, something along those lines? \*\* Would that include the Iraqis being killed? ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/24 "2003-03-20T03:50:18Z")
Too bad we couldn’t book Bush in a hotel room in the Hague. I am against this war, and I hope that there are NO casualties, civilian or armed forces. When the media reports that before offically declaring “war” that there were missiles launched into Baghdad for the purpose of assassinating Hussein, Bush commited a war crime. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/25 "2003-03-20T03:50:25Z")
Why wouldn’t it? Isn’t it possible to do that without ranting about how much everyone (except the Evil Sycophants, of course) hate George Bush? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/26 "2003-03-20T03:50:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EasyPhil \* > \*\*Would that include the Iraqis being killed? \*\* Absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/27 "2003-03-20T03:53:31Z")
> [@](#): > > No one’s particularly happy that war is occurring. But instead of saying “Down With Bush” right now, perhaps a moment of silence, a thought or prayer for those who are fighting, something along those lines? Fuck Bush. If you want to pray, then don’t forget to pray for those who are innocent. There are children being terrorized tonight…for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/28 "2003-03-20T03:53:36Z")
Let me add btw that I am NOT a supporter of Saddam, and I am NOT against the military before we get into that debate again. I hope that every life possible is spared, on BOTH sides. The end does NOT justify the means. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/29 "2003-03-20T03:55:12Z")
> [@](#): > > We just had a whole thread in which virtually everyone, even war supprters, agreed that it was possible to both oppose the war and support the troops. But, of course, as soon as the bombing starts the jingoists crank it back up to 11 again and tell us that “now is not the time” for dissent. \*\*mhendo, \*\* I like you. But please, open a window and take a breath, okay? I never said that it wasn’t possible to both oppose the war and support the troops. In fact, I wholeheartedly agree. And if you’ll read my previous post, I stated flat out that I am still riding the fence here. Dissent is \*fine. \* The fact that this nation allows such vocal and vociferous dissent to this war is one of the things that makes this country great. We’re not the Iraqi people, who get shot for voicing opposition to their leaders. All I suggested that **Jomo** do is take a minute to think of everyone that’s gonna die here in the next few…minutes? Hours? Months? Years? Maybe just chill for a second, think of everyone out there on the front, putting their asses on the line, and as you said, _support the troops._ Howl for Bush’s ass on a platter in the morning, after the body count starts, okay? ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/30 "2003-03-20T03:57:46Z")
And yes, I do mean \*everyone. \* Soldiers, civilians, everyone that takes a bullet in this conflict. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/31 "2003-03-20T03:58:11Z")
Oh, fuck it. This IS the Pit after all. GEORGE W BUSH: FUCK YOU. FUCK YOUR ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION FOR SUPPORTING THE ILLEGAL MILITARY ACTION YOUR COUNTRY IS TAKING. Fuck you George W Bush. I invite you to cordially visit an Iraqi presidential palace and sit up on the rooftop there for a few hours while ordering your airstrikes. Don’t worry that you will be hurt though. As the leader of a nation, no one wil ltry to illegally assassinate you, and you will not die from “acceptable collateral damges and losses.” Fucker. If you are so confident of your high moral standing and the ability of your military, you have nothing to fear by sitting up on that roof. Go fuck yourself. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/32 "2003-03-20T04:12:08Z")
**Persephone** , i understand what you’re saying, and i realize that you are not exactly in the nose-up-Bush’s-arse brigade. I suppose all i would add is that those of us who oppose the war have, over the past weeks and months, been taking much more than > [@](#): > > a minute to think of everyone that’s gonna die here in the next few…minutes? Hours? Months? Years? Those people who are going to die - Iraqi and American and who knows who else - are some of the main reasons we have spent so much time and energy opposing this action. And, given that this is the case, it rather aggravating to be accused, either directly or obliquely, of not thinking enough about those who are involved in the fighting. I, and most other anti-war people i’ve met, can comfortably combine my absolute scorn for the fuckwad dickhead imbecile in the White House with my support and good wishes for the Americans and Iraqis who are suffering emotionally and, pretty soon, physically because of this ill-advised and illegal action. (“Action” is the name i will try to use from here on. Dignifying this campaign with the name “war” is like calling a fight between Mike Tyson and my 5’3" girlfriend a “boxing match.”) ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/33 "2003-03-20T04:18:25Z")
> [@](#): > > I, and most other anti-war people i’ve met, can comfortably combine my absolute scorn for the fuckwad dickhead imbecile in the White House with my support and good wishes for the Americans and Iraqis who are suffering emotionally and, pretty soon, physically because of this ill-advised and illegal action. That’s fine. So can I. I didn’t vote for Bush, either. So now let’s kiss and make up, okay? I’ll start by saying once again that dissent is good. And I’ll close with a brief aside, just to say that \*\*mhendo, \*\* your sig cracks me up every time I read it. Now, back to your regularly scheduled Pit thread. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/34 "2003-03-20T04:22:18Z")
> [@](#): > > GEORGE W BUSH: FUCK YOU. FUCK YOUR ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION FOR SUPPORTING THE ILLEGAL MILITARY ACTION YOUR COUNTRY IS TAKING. Well sure, but W’s off to a good start. Maybe he’ll get lucky and actually take out Saddam tonight. That’d save the troops and civilians caught up in this thing a _lot_ of trouble. ---
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/35 "2003-03-20T04:31:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*The rest of us are ashamed you’re an American, too. \*\* You fool! You ignorant fool. Why don’t you take your ass over there and get it shot off. Saddam Hussein (if he is still alive) has more balls than all you phoney warmongers put together. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/36 "2003-03-20T04:37:12Z")
I feel as though I have to say this, and it’s for the troops that are over there right now, on both sides: Good luck. Do your duty the best you can, and please do everything you can to protect any and all civilians you come across. Soon I’ll be over there, and I will represent my country to the very best of my ability, so help me God. I would hope that you would all do the same. That being said, at this point there’s nothing jingoistic about respectfully asking you to abstain from ripping Bush. Your opinions are noted for the record, and I respect them. What I would respect even more is if you guys could put that aside for the moment and give good wishes to people on both sides of this war. Right now, that’s just a bit more important. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/37 "2003-03-20T04:41:45Z")
And if there’s anything I can do for you and your family, \*\*Airman, \*\* let me know. Meeting you last weekend was a pleasure and an honor. Thank you, and you’ll be in my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/38 "2003-03-20T04:43:41Z")
Good luck, Godspeed (for whatever that’s worth from an atheist), and come back safe. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/39 "2003-03-20T04:50:12Z")
Airman, my good wishes for you lie in the fact that I do not wish to see anyone hurt. It just happens that I believe that representing your country to the best of your ability should be by the use of words and not guns. I respect the fact that you put your life on the line for that in which you believe in (or that which your country asks you to do - not necessarily one and the same). I respect the fact that your task is not an easy one, and that there will be people that won’t go home from both sides. And I offer my support insofar as I do not wish to see anyone get hurt. That all being said, I think that the reasons why you are (the military, not you personally) heading to Iraq are bullshit, and that your commander in chief needs to be tried for war crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706/40 "2003-03-20T04:52:48Z")
Good luck Airman ! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-war-has-begun/162706.md?page=3)