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when the first bombs were dropped and now. (The only obligation longer than 5 years that I know of is for pilots - eight to nine years.)

Point being: we (service-members) asked for what we got. We signed up for this war. The Vietnam vets didn't necessarily want to go fight a war. They just didn't want to either run to Canada or go to jail. Many didn't even want to think of either of these options, and simply wanted to do what they believed was the most honorable thing. They should certainly not have been blamed for answering the call of their country. We, on the other hand, while not responsible for the nation's policies, can and should be held accountable for our decision to join up. We willingly and knowingly chose to take part in this war. Period. So if you're against the war, go ahead and be against the troops! I for one am sick of this pandering: "Support our troops! Support our troops and their commander-in-chief! Support the troops, not the war! Support our troops, bring them home!" Does either side really care about the troops? If so, should they? Should they care more about us than about any other group of Americans?

We are legal adults, and almost to a T, we all at least have high school diplomas. We can't blame the US economy for joining up: there are jobs out there outside of the military. It was not "sign up or starve." We are being paid, pretty well, if you ask me, to deploy. I am not saying that any amount of money can compensate loss of life or limb: no amount ever could. But there are people who die or are horrifically injured on the highway every day. Actually, many more Americans die needlessly in car accidents than in the Middle East. The troops, and their families, know that this can happen to them, and go in knowing, and accepting the risk. In a way, it's more fair to die in Iraq, fighting for what you believe, than it is to die on your home, because some jerk wasn't paying attention while he was changing lanes and caused ten cars to pile up in front of you.

What am I asking for here? Just this: keep us out of it. Leave the troops out of discussions on Iraq, and the right course of action, and "should we stay or should we go" debates. By pulling the troops into the discussion, political leaders, media spokesmen, and others are taking advantage of a tender spot in the American psyche, an unhealed scar left by Vietnam. It's an attempt to make amends to military men and women, a belated and misaddressed apology. It's trying to get cool points for being the one who cares the most about the troops, those poor troops who are so mistreated by the other party. Today's troops, all volunteers, do not need to be treated like the innocent, victimized children of parents in the middle of an angry divorce. Decide what you're going to do and don't say you're doing it to "support the troops." When you finish arguing, we'll still be here to do what needs to be done.

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