Is there no good news in the world? There's precious little in this thread.

[innerSpaceman]

And yet we cannot say "we don't support the troops" and remotely hope to persuade others to our peaceful point of view. That's quite a paradox right there.

Are we morally reprehensible for telling a lie in order to gain support for what we believe will prevent more death? It's quite a balancing act necessary to prioritize moral transgressions. It would be great if pure truth could achieve world peace. I would be wonderful if our soldiers could kill only terrorists and not Iraqi's fighting from their freedom from an occupying army.


I don't buy this bit about soldiers not enlisting for service in Iraq. They enlisted to be warriors wherever the Pentagon tells them to be warriors.

And yet I don't want to treat them as shabily as returning Vietnam vets were treated. I don't hate them. I pity them. They have made terrible choices and will have to live with the consequences. I feel no need to add any measure of my displeasure.

But they lost my support the minute they signed up.