Troops "Warned" About Politics

Everyone have a right to have his/hers own opinion and everyone have right of free speach. I think that troops aren't any diffrence here.

This is just one more example of the insidious nature of this stinking war. Every single piece of information managed by our fearless leader. No cameras at Dover AFB, where the flag draped coffins are off-loaded. All reporters imbedded so the news can be managed down to the last semicolon. There is a law preventing federal employees from electioneering at work or on gov't property, as I was subject to it when I worked for the Navy, but that didn't apply to political discussions...electioneering isn't a right; the free exchange of ideas is. We were never reprimanded in Nam for arguing politics or even the pros and cons of the war itself. We would get yelled at by lifers for not being gung ho when we talked to a reporter, but nothing would come of it. If you gave an honest, negative opinion of our involvement, it would get printed...except in Stars and Stripes. What's happening here is a morale crusher...I know we felt like the government owned us lock stock and barrel, to be stripped of the basic right of a U.S.citizen would have been a bridge too far. The press was allowed to freelance Vietnam, at their own risk, and they did an excellent job covering it. They brought it into our living rooms and we, as a country slowly, but surely began to get it. Bush/Cheney don't want everybody to get it...it's to FUBAR to let us see thru the smoke and mirrors.

My dad worked for a not for profit that was associated with the government of Texas and he said that we (while in his household) could not participate in politics because he had to work with whoever won. Alianating some group just wasn't to be done so long as he was putting the roof over our heads. Since I've been out, I have, but maybe less than some might prefer.