It's "Not Too Important" When Troops Come Home?!?
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
June 11, 2008 8:33pm CST
Here's the conversation between John McCain and Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning:
MATT LAUER: A lot of people now say the surge is working.
JOHN McCAIN: Anyone who knows the facts on the ground say that.
LAUER: If it's working, senator, do you now have a better estimate of when American forces can come home from Iraq?
McCAIN: No, but that's not too important. What's important is the casualties in Iraq. Americans are in South Korea. Americans are in Japan. American troops are in Germany. That's all fine.
NOT TOO IMPORTANT? I know there are members of myLot who currently have loved ones in Iraq; I have two nephews in Afghanistan, where it's more dangerous than ever because we don't have enough troops there because they're all in Iraq, and a third who may be going to Iraq soon. NOT TOO IMPORTANT when they come home? Tell that to the fathers who have missed the birth of their first babies or have missed their children's first steps or other important milestones! NOT TOO IMPORTANT indeed!
Read more from VetVoice, a project of VoteVets.org:
http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1427
Now McCain is claiming he was taken out of context; "out of context" how? He said those exact words! As for his constant reminders about having troops in Germany, Japan and South Korea, surely even HE must be aware these are very different parts of the world with very different cultures. The people in the mideast are never going to accept a permanent presence of American troops there, we will always be resented and viewed as intruders and invaders by some.
What do you think, I'd especially love to hear from those of you who have someone in harm's way - do you agree that it's "NOT TOO IMPORTANT" when our troops come home?
Annie
3 people like this
12 responses
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
12 Jun 08
This is one of the main reasons I really don't like McCain. My little brother is going to be making his first trip to Iraq this coming September. I know it won't be his last time going to Iraq but I would at least like some kind of timeline of when we can start pulling out of this war. I understand we can't just up and pull everyone out and it's going to be a process. But to say it's not too important when the troops come home just lead me to believe McBush has absolutely no intentions of ending this war. Have we not lost enough of our American lives and money on this war?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I can't wait until we stop pouring money into the war machine
and get all our people home from their various spots around the world.
We're not just in Iraq.
Americans are spread across the globe.
I think it's time we focus on our own problems and the people in our country.
We have problems of our own!
We are all poorer since the Republicans took office.
I'm not voting for McCain. I'm not
voting Republican. They had their eight years
and they messed it up. He knew what he was saying.
He just didn't think anyone else would pick up his
slip of the tongue. Now we know what he is planning.
That's my opinion anyway.
I think I'm going to post the link to the article on my blog
so others can see the truth, too.
Best wishes to your brother on his safe return and to your family!
Be well.
1 person likes this
@calcynic (433)
• United States
12 Jun 08
When I was in VietNam, NOTHING was more important than saying goodbye to that stinking war. Even coming home in one piece was less important than just coming home. This didn't go for everyone, but a significant number of us would have settled for the "Million Dollar Wound" that would get us back to the world. I'm sure that Sen. McCain wanted more than anything to get out of the Hanoi Hilton and jump on the next MACV flight to Travis AFB.
Make no mistake...John McCain needs war. John McCain's life and career has been formed by and thru war. He views the world thru a rifle scope and that spells danger for all of us.
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I can't tell you how much it means to me to hear from someone who served in that horrid war in Vietnam! I know many people who served there since, as a member of the class of 1970 many of my lifelong classmates were there and those I've spoken to echo what you've said here. What did you think of Joe Lieberman's claim that nobody had the right to criticize what McCain said because of his service and experience as a POW and because his son had served in Iraq? I sure didn't agree, but hearing it from someone who had served would man a lot more.
Annie
@anawar (2404)
• United States
12 Jun 08
Oh, I have chills and I feel sick. My son should be coming home in a few weeks. You know the military, they change the dates all the time.
He's in harms way every day. He's the gunner in the lead tank. Always has to be first_
Did you know McCain has a son in the army? McCain is another Bush. Thoughtless and dumb.
Just keep my son safe a few more weeks. Not that it's important or anything, Senator McCain.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
12 Jun 08
My thoughts are with you in hopes that your son comes home soon! Best of luck! As for McCain's son I am thinking he is sitting right here in the US in a nice comfy office. I could be wrong but my uncle was in the army for 30 years and that's usually how it works when you have an important relative.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
12 Jun 08
As a retired Marine myself who has a son that has served three tours as an infantry Marine in Iraq, I don't have an issue at all with what he said.
The issue isn't that we have troops there, it is the casualties we are suffering as a result of what they are allowed/not allowed to do. Our military can get killed anywhere, and they do, even in garrison on home territory!
He may have used a poor choice of words, but I still don't have a problem with it. The very next words he spoke after the infamous 'not too important' explained exactly what he meant.
The people in the mideast are never going to accept a permanent presence of American troops there, we will always be resented and viewed as intruders and invaders by some
Don't kid yourself and think that there aren't people in Japan and other countries that still feel that way, even after decades of an American presence.
I served a year in Japan, and also visited Korea and London. While in London, you're not even allowed to wear your military uniform while commuting to/from work, as they don't like to see that 'military presence.'
2 people like this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I hate to burst your bubble here but the US cannot and will not leave Iraq that quickly. We finally got a good foot in the Middle East and we are not about to give it up. It doesn't matter what the candidates promise. They all know we can't leave. Having a position in the Middle East is way too important, politically and economically.
What McCain meant it that they want to have bases there just like they have in those other countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Of course ideally just like in those areas, life would be peaceful for those stationed there. That's the goal for Iraq. It's not important to get the troups out, it's important to create a peaceful environment for them to be there while maintaining a strong and threatening position. If everything would have been peaceful right after Iraq had been overrun and Saddam found, nobody would care if we would station troups there and have a strong military presence. As it is, no matter how much people resent us being there, we can't move out. We would hand Iraq over to Iran or Syria on a gold plate and we would loose all control there. Completely undesirable. Let's face it, as it is we will not move out, probably not for a very long time.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I hate to burst YOUR bubble but having permanent bases in Iraq or anywhere in that part of the world is never going to be "just like they have in those other countries like Germany, Japan, and South Korea". How many loved ones do you have over there? If you had any I don't think you could be defending these insensitive and thoughtless words by the man who wants to be Commander-In-Chief.
Annie
1 person likes this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I never said I'm for the war, lol. But common sense tells me that it won't end and why we are there. You can attack me as much as you want for telling you how it is. Neither candidate will change it because it's not possible. That's why they are evading answers on a definite timeline and how it will be done. Because both know it can't be done. And for the record, I'm very far away from being Republican and yes, I do have several loved ones there. But I also have a brain I use and know about world affairs. Let's face it, we are there for economical and political reasons. Although it hasn't quite worked out the way it was supposed to, there is no way we will leave. If we would have a habit of leaving, there wouldn't be a base left in Germany or Japan or South Korea. But we always have a good reason for staying there don't we?
1 person likes this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
12 Jun 08
So, Mrs. Bush I didn't know you had to make ends meet by using mylot
1 person likes this
@pismeof (855)
• United States
14 Jun 08
Why don't you include emphasis on the rest of the conversation in your comments? Did he not speak of the reduction of the casualty count as being IMPORTANT ?
America has troops deployed all over the world as support for other nations as well as for our own national interest since WWII ; Does that upset you as well? How is it so simple to forget the atrocities that SADAM Hussein perpetuated on his own citizenry.Would you prefer we not help spread democratic principles to other nations? Do you take pleasure in seeing what other dictators around the world do to it's people? What has CULTURE got to do with what should be basic human rights.
Lets just "cut and run" like your boy OBAMA would like to do and leave the Middle East to the terrorist.
@calcynic (433)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I'm willing to bet Richard the LionHearted and his crew succumbed to the same line of faulty reasoning when he tried to jam western values (Christianity, for example) down the throats of the Islamic world.
When all was said and done, what remained of Richards brave troops was a sorry sight.
How much more can we whittle away at the fiber of our brave GIs?
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
12 Jun 08
It's just getting comical with McCain at this point. But thankfully he is shooting himself in the foot if anyone is paying attention. (Repulblicans)
Of course, it's important to bring them home safely. That isn't even a question. Sigh!!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Jun 08
mccain is just another goerge bush in disguise, as he
wants to keep the war going . for all of my friends
with husbands and sons and daughters in harms way
in Iraq its really really truly important when our troops
come home. my heart goes out to the parents and wivesand
their kin serveng in Iraq and I pray every day that they
are safe and will soon be home again. McCain does not seem
'to be a very thoughtful or caring person at all. shame on
him for saying such stupid things.I do not personally have
any one in harms way in Iraq but as a thinking caring person
I want our troops to come home soon to their loved ones.
1 person likes this
@calcynic (433)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I have nothing but seething contempt for those who sit, over here, on their well fed, flabby butts, and spout out reasons why other people's kids should be put thru a meat grinder. What is wrong with McCain? He can't even hold up his arms as a result of that stinking, dirty little war. Shouldn't he know better? When I came home in 1971, I thanked the people who protested and risked arrest and beatings for their true support of we, the troops. Paying money to keep us in the line of fire is not a show of support; at least not in these lousy overseas adventures we seem to be powerless to avoid. This ain't WWI or WWII. This is a criminal foray into a country that didn't do anything to us, just like Nam.
1 person likes this
@tessah (6617)
• United States
12 Jun 08
i have had, and do have, people i know and care for in iraq. i do understand what mccain meant when he said that the casualties were in fact more important than a date on their arrivals back in the states. military personel are all over the world.. be it a war zone or not.. there always will be those abroad at one time or another, which is what he was stressing in his comment. is it important to have them come home? absolutely.. is it more important to focus on getting them SAFE as opposed to a specific date as to their arrivals?? definitely
1 person likes this
@calcynic (433)
• United States
12 Jun 08
The big difference between the troops in Iraq and the ones in other duty stations is Iraq is a HOT ZONE and the others are not. Duty in S.Korea, Japan, Germany, Rota,, etc is relatively safe. When my nephew left his barracks in Manheim, he didn't have to be in full combat gear. I didn't worry. While he was deployed in Iraq, my stomach tied itself into a year long knot. When he got back to Germany, I was fine. Rotation dates are VERY important in a combat zone. While in Nam, all of us kept countdown calendars; these becoming short-timers calendars in the last 30 days. Marking off the days was a holy ritual. In Iraq, as in Vietnam, there is no such thing as "safe", just "somewhat safer". Safety is a nebulous concept as opposed to jumping on that freedom bird and getting back to the world. Senator McIdiot should know that better than most. He doesn't and thats a da*n dangerous shame.
2 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
12 Jun 08
Not too important, well I guess if I were talking about leaving the cereal opened. But when it comes to American (or anyone else's that is fighting with us in this war) lives be missed out because they are in another country for only God knows how long that's PRETTY DA** IMPORTANT!!
I surely hope that he has no snowballs chance in he** for winning this election because I really don't want another 8 years of not watching presidential speeches because the idiot giving it is so bad at public speaking they would be booed by pre-schoolers. I JUST want the president to give a speech and not use "ummm" more times than my 4 year old when I ask him if he did something wrong, now really is that too much to ask???
1 person likes this
