# Why should I thank the troops in Iraq? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 2, 2009, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075 "2009-05-02T09:36:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/61 "2009-05-03T00:59:41Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’d put a bullet in my own head first. I can think of a dozen replies to this post, but not a one of them won’t get me in trouble. More’s the pity. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/62 "2009-05-03T01:15:02Z")
The general idea is: 1. The government of a representative democracy and the actions of that government are a proxy for the will of the people. 2. The military of the nation deserves a certain measure of gratitude for being willing to put themselves in harm’s way on behalf of the nation. 3. Whether or not the government or its actions are actually reflective of the will of the people is another issue. Military personnel (at least in the US) are professional warriors who carry out orders from the legitimate civilian authorities to the best of their abilities. They have little input into policymaking, and are often handed the short end of the stick by politicians. This tends to enhance the gratitude that many give to the military. The thing that several halfwits in this thread don’t seem to understand is that the military personnel don’t get to make policy on their own. Sure, they can disobey orders and end up in Leavenworth or Portsmouth, but to expect a significant portion of the forces to do so is both stupid and unrealistic. In many cases, that’s asking people with dependents to choose a nebulous and vague ideological concept that they may or may not agree with over providing for their dependents. Like the saying goes, wishing won’t make it so, and decrying all of them for not agreeing with you is just… astoundingly unrealistic and kind of frightening that someone would actually think that way. And **Der Trihs** what about my buddy who got back from being deployed a while back? He was with the CID battalion for Iraq and Afghanistan, who investigate crimes committed by US troops in theater. Surely you’re not so blinkered as to accuse him of being a babykiller or some sort of moral defective? ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/63 "2009-05-03T01:34:07Z")
Not to mention all the guys driving supply trucks, doing paperwork, cooking, and doing all of the other basic things that go on when a military is stationed somewhere. Are THEY all a bunch of “thugs in uniform” too? ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/64 "2009-05-03T01:42:12Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’d put a bullet in my own head first. Feel free. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/65 "2009-05-03T01:44:39Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > They’ve done fuck all to defend this country. Before he rejoined the regular army, as part of his duties in the California National Guard, his unit was attached to the Border patrol. Apparently it’s fairly common for National Guard logistics units to do that sort of thing there. Directly and absolutely helping to defend this country. A long time friend of my family, a member of the Montana Air National Guard, on at least 2 occasions I can think of, was activated briefly to help put out fires. Thereby directly helping the people of this country. If you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, you should probably just shut the fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/66 "2009-05-03T02:24:06Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Now, the grown-ups are having a discussion, so you run along and play with your little superhero dollies. Here’s your juice box. [QUOTE=Der Trihs] In other words, I’m right, and you have no meaningful response. [/QUOTE] Nope. She (he?) was just giving your uninformed opinion its due attention. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/67 "2009-05-03T02:24:49Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I ask this question in earnest. **Der Trihs** , is there _any_ military that you support? Do you even think that countries should have militaries at all? What does that have to do with anything ? I’m not angry with the military because they are military; I’m angry because they are engaging in a war of conquest and committing atrocities. > [@bump](#): > > The general idea is: > > 1. The government of a representative democracy and the actions of that government are a proxy for the will of the people. And when that will is evil, they are evil for serving it. > [@bump](#): > > The thing that several halfwits in this thread don’t seem to understand is that the military personnel don’t get to make policy on their own. Sure, they can disobey orders and end up in Leavenworth or Portsmouth, but to expect a significant portion of the forces to do so is both stupid and unrealistic. In many cases, that’s asking people with dependents to choose a nebulous and vague ideological concept that they may or may not agree with over providing for their dependents. “Don’t engage in wars of conquest and torture people” is too complex and subtle for soldiers to grasp ? No, I don’t “expect” them to put principle ahead of the opportunity to kill, rape and torture, but that’s because I have a very low opinion of them. > [@bump](#): > > And **Der Trihs** what about my buddy who got back from being deployed a while back? He was with the CID battalion for Iraq and Afghanistan, who investigate crimes committed by US troops in theater. Surely you’re not so blinkered as to accuse him of being a babykiller or some sort of moral defective? Or incompetent, giving the way our people have acted. > [@Tristan](#): > > Before he rejoined the regular army, as part of his duties in the California National Guard, his unit was attached to the Border patrol. Apparently it’s fairly common for National Guard logistics units to do that sort of thing there. > > Directly and absolutely helping to defend this country. > > A long time friend of my family, a member of the Montana Air National Guard, on at least 2 occasions I can think of, was activated briefly to help put out fires. Thereby directly helping the people of this country. In case you didn’t notice, an awful lot of those people were sent to Iraq - where they are not only not protecting the country, but endangering it. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/68 "2009-05-03T02:46:53Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’d put a bullet in my own head first. Walk into a Marine Corps or Army base bar and tell the cowardly soldiers what thugs they are and how they like to conquer women and rape children. It will have the same effect and save you the price of the bullet. ---
**Author:** ![mshar253](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@mshar253](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mshar253)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/69 "2009-05-03T03:07:52Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Walk into a Marine Corps or Army base bar and tell the cowardly soldiers what thugs they are and how they like to conquer women and rape children. It will have the same effect and save you the price of the bullet. I know what you’re trying to say, but I think that would only help his point. In truth, if this poor guy said anything to me, I’d probably just laugh at him. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/70 "2009-05-03T03:33:42Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Walk into a Marine Corps or Army base bar and tell the cowardly soldiers what thugs they are and how they like to conquer women and rape children. It will have the same effect and save you the price of the bullet. I do find it significant that the people who are so very fond of our soldiers think that assault or murder is an acceptable means of winning an argument. Although by all the accounts I’ve heard, they prefer to rape women, not children. Including their own fellow soldiers who happen to be women. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/71 "2009-05-03T03:38:07Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > If your country were invaded by another, the people that signed up for the military would defend your country. Would you want to thank them after they successfully repelled an invading army? …how many of the estimated 30 thousand Iraqi soldiers that were killed during the initial invasion by the US in 2003 have you thanked? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/72 "2009-05-03T03:42:33Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …how many of the estimated 30 thousand Iraqi soldiers that were killed during the initial invasion by the US in 2003 have you thanked? Ah, but they don’t count. It’s American soldiers who are heroes who deserve our praise; foreign soldiers are vermin, who deserved to be condemned for contaminating God-fearing American bullets with their flesh. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/73 "2009-05-03T04:03:49Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I do find it significant that the people who are so very fond of our soldiers think that assault or murder is an acceptable means of winning an argument. Although by all the accounts I’ve heard, they prefer to rape women, not children. Including their own fellow soldiers who happen to be women. I do find it significant that the same assholes in the United States that think Soldiers should refuse to fight an unpopular war have the ability to do so in English. These same people have also had the opportunity to receive public education at no cost, regardless of race, religion, or gender. It is also amazing that the same people who sleep warm in their beds at night have no idea and no care for many that cannot because they may be the wrong religion or tribe. I do have one last comment for you, **Der Trihs**. On behalf of the United States Armed Forces, and I would hope the law enforcement community in your hometown, “You are Welcome.” We do what we without regard for assholes that accept the service of the Armed Forces without accepting any of the responsibility. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/74 "2009-05-03T04:34:55Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > It is also amazing that the same people who sleep warm in their beds at night have no idea and no care for many that cannot because they may be the wrong religion or tribe. Like, for example, not being an American or Christian. So we support a dictator over them, or drop cluster bombs on them, or drag them off to be tortured. > [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > I do have one last comment for you, **Der Trihs**. On behalf of the United States Armed Forces, and I would hope the law enforcement community in your hometown, “You are Welcome.” We do what we without regard for assholes that accept the service of the Armed Forces without accepting any of the responsibility. Since I have consistently opposed such “services” as the slaughter, impoverishment, conquest, and abuse of people who are no threat to us - which these days is the main mission of the Armed Forces - you can keep your \*“You are Welcome.” \* ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/75 "2009-05-03T04:47:17Z")
I like when these threads come along and give Der Trihs a chance to remind everyone that he is a complete waste of organs. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/76 "2009-05-03T04:53:48Z")
You thank the troops because they volunteered to serve their country. If you don’t like the war they’re serving in, blame that on the politicians who sent them there not the troops themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/77 "2009-05-03T04:57:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you don’t like the war they’re serving in, blame that on the politicians who sent them there not the troops themselves. Or blame both. “I was just following orders” is NOT an excuse. This is just hypocritical jingoism; the people defending the troops and saying that we should thank them wouldn’t say the same about soldiers that invaded and conquered THEIR homelands. I’m simply applying the same standard to our soldiers i would apply to any others; I am hostile to them, because they are clearly in the wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/78 "2009-05-03T05:19:17Z")
> [@SSG\_Schwartz](#): > > I do find it significant that the same assholes in the United States that think Soldiers should refuse to fight an unpopular war have the ability to do so in English. I see nothing to suggest **Der Trihs** opposes the Iraq War because it is _unpopular_. He feels it evil because it is _unjust_, which is true or false regardless of whether it has public support. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/79 "2009-05-03T05:26:14Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I see nothing to suggest **Der Trihs** opposes the Iraq War because it is _unpopular_. He feels it evil because it is _unjust_, which is true or false regardless of whether it has public support. Close, but not quite. Der Trihs believes that the Iraq War is bad because we are doing it. He has said before he would like to see the US destroyed, as we are all evil and worthy of being wiped off the face of the planet. He never really got over the knee jerk Nihilism of being 13. Also, he will soon stop responding to this thread, as folks begin to attack him, which is his MO. Get folks riled up, then leave. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075/80 "2009-05-03T05:29:24Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > I see nothing to suggest **Der Trihs** opposes the Iraq War because it is _unpopular_. He feels it evil because it is _unjust_, which is true or false regardless of whether it has public support. I guess you don’t read many of his posts. That is ok with me. There are thousands of posters and only so much time to read them. For the Record, **Der Trihs** , is a moron. Winning WWII to him was a mistake as was the conquest of the Americas. SSG Schwartz [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-thank-the-troops-in-iraq/495075.md?page=5)