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In reply to the discussion: Like it or Not, Bradley Manning is a Traitor [View all]4bucksagallon
(975 posts)endangers our fighting men that is a crime. I opposed going into Iraq like many did but once the decision is made to go the soldier is due the backing of us and his government. One should not have to have served in the military to understand that. I came back from Vietnam and joined the VVAW, am still a member to this day. But even though I opposed the war I had to keep in mind that the soldiers in the boonies were just like me, when I was there, a pawn in the game. I could have run away to Canada or stayed in school to avoid going but it was something, at that time, that appeared to be the right thing to do. Ask not, domino theory, khe sanh, Ia Drang, gulf of Tonkin incident, and on and on. Of course that was proven wrong later on, but I admit when I am wrong unlike many others. I don't hold any moral high ground, but I ask anyone that looks at this to see it from the soldiers perspective. The soldiers are the ones, even though we can disagree about the war being right or wrong, they face the ultimate, sacrifice if someone like Manning decides on a whim to release information that can be used to kill or cripple our soldiers and/or their fighting spirit. Like I said he was a rear echelon pogie that was bored and wanted to stir the shit, and then seemed surprised when the shit landed on him. Doh! So thanks for understanding and your thoughtful reply unlike some of the others I have had here. Got to laugh or it can cripple you, and I refuse to be crippled or shut down. Let them put me on ignore, I have gained 2 more in the last week, that's that many less of them I have to deal with. Personally I don't put anyone on ignore, like the godfather said "keep your friends close and your enemies closer".