RKMBs Forums .::Important::. Politics and Current Events Support the troops my ass!

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Anti-war protestors besieged wounded and disabled soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C, a new web report will claim!

CNSNews.com is planning to run an expose on Thursday featuring interviews with both protestors and veterans, as well as shots of protest signs with slogans like “Maimed for a Lie.”

The conservative outlet will post video evidence of the wounded veterans being taunted by protesters, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Developing late...

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wannabuyamonkey said:

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Anti-war protestors besieged wounded and disabled soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C, a new web report will claim!

CNSNews.com is planning to run an expose on Thursday featuring interviews with both protestors and veterans, as well as shots of protest signs with slogans like “Maimed for a Lie.”

The conservative outlet will post video evidence of the wounded veterans being taunted by protesters, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Developing late...

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If this story unfolds and reveals to be half as bad as it claims we're going to see a bunch of back-peddling from a few (the few beig all one person) of our left leaning posters. Better begin the damage controll now boys. er, I mean, Whomod.

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r3x29yz4a said:

okay, if all anti-war people are to be held accountable for the actions of a few anti-war protestors, then you need to be held accountable for Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwell.

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r3x29yz4a said:
okay, if all anti-war people are to be held accountable for the actions of a few anti-war protestors, then you need to be held accountable for Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwell.

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Walter Reed Medical Center to Be Closed

WASHINGTON - A federal commission voted to close the crown jewel of Army hospitals as it began its second day of decision-making on sweeping plans to restructure military bases across the country.

Located in the nation's capital, century-old Walter Reed Army Medical Center has treated presidents and foreign leaders as well as veterans and soldiers, including those returning from the Iraq war.

Most of Walter Reed's work would be relocated to a more modern, expanded hospital in Bethesda, Md., that will be renamed Walter Reed in a nod to the old facility's heritage.

The nine-member panel was voting on a host of big-ticket items in its second day of votes. Later Thursday it was to begin debating the Air Force's plans, arguably the most contentious of the group, as it steamrolled through hundreds of Pentagon proposals at a brisk pace after four months of study and preparation.

Under the Walter Reed plan, most of the staff and services would move from the old hospital's main post to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, to create the expanded facility. The remaining personnel and operations would move to a community hospital at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

The Pentagon calls this "jointness" — the services combining their strengths rather than working separately, part of an ambitious effort to save money by streamlining support services across the armed forces. Walter Reed's care is considered first-rate but the facility is showing its age, the commission found.

"Kids coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, all of them in harm's way, deserve to come back to 21st-century medical care," Commission Chairman Anthony Principi said Thursday, adding that the hospital is old. "It needs to be modernized."

One-time costs, including construction and renovations, would total $989 million. The Pentagon would save $301 million over 20 years, the commission said. The current hospital has about 185 beds, but the expanded facility would have 340.

Principi said he expected to finish all voting no later than Friday, a day earlier than planned. The commission must send its final report to President Bush by Sept. 8.

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Methos said:
Is this what you're referring to, Snapman?

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Randal_Flagg brought up the Walter Reed closing, not me.

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r3x29yz4a said:

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wannabuyamonkey said:

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Anti-war protestors besieged wounded and disabled soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C, a new web report will claim!

CNSNews.com is planning to run an expose on Thursday featuring interviews with both protestors and veterans, as well as shots of protest signs with slogans like “Maimed for a Lie.”

The conservative outlet will post video evidence of the wounded veterans being taunted by protesters, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Developing late...

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If this story unfolds and reveals to be half as bad as it claims we're going to see a bunch of back-peddling from a few (the few beig all one person) of our left leaning posters. Better begin the damage controll now boys. er, I mean, Whomod.

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okay, if all anti-war people are to be held accountable for the actions of a few anti-war protestors, then you need to be held accountable for Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwell.

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Snapman said:

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Methos said:
Is this what you're referring to, Snapman?

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Randal_Flagg brought up the Walter Reed closing, not me.

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Sorry 'bout that.

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Randal_Flagg said:
As a member of the left, I have this to say about that report. It is disturbing that anyone would taunt wounded soldiers and as many here have said these are the left wing equivalents of the right wing fanatics that bomb abortion clinics in the name of "life."

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BUT!!! IF THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS THE TROOPS WHY IN THE HELL ARE THEY CLOSING A MAJOR MILITARY HOSPITAL!?!?!?!

I am waiting for an explaination.

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Most of Walter Reed's work would be relocated to a more modern, expanded hospital in Bethesda, Md., that will be renamed Walter Reed in a nod to the old facility's heritage.

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Walter Reed Medical Center to Be Closed
AP - 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - A federal commission voted to close the crown jewel of Army hospitals as it began its second day of decision-making on sweeping plans to restructure military bases across the country. Located in the nation's capital, century-old Walter Reed Army Medical Center has treated presidents and foreign leaders as well as veterans and soldiers, including those returning from the Iraq war.

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wannabuyamonkey said:

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Randal_Flagg said:
As a member of the left, I have this to say about that report. It is disturbing that anyone would taunt wounded soldiers and as many here have said these are the left wing equivalents of the right wing fanatics that bomb abortion clinics in the name of "life."

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This comparrison is alwayse brought up, but when was the most recent abortion clinic bombing.

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magicjay38 said:
Anyone bother to check this story out? I find no mention of it on ABC News, CNN, The New York Times or The Washington Post.

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You've just described 98% of your links!

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britneyspearsatemyshorts said:

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magicjay38 said:
Anyone bother to check this story out? I find no mention of it on ABC News, CNN, The New York Times or The Washington Post.

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You've just described 98% of your links!

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Nope, I checked several other news sources, too. The only mention was on the sites of Freerepublic and Code Pink. Freerepublic engaged in a lot of name calling (Code Pinko, etc.) While Code Pink gave a statement of purpose. That's what they said and I've seen no evidence to the contrary. Feel free to enlighten me!

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Snapman said:


I'm sure a much, MUCH smaller percentage of pro-life people are bombing clinics, compared to the percentage of war protesters harassing wounded soldiers. Doesn't mean that you can't compare their actions (the bombers and harassers are both loony), or imply that this is typical of ALL war protesters.

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Steve T said:
I've always thought flag burning is a reasonable form of protest, however spitting at servicement (unless you know they have specifically done something) is not.

And these people are clearly a bunch of fucks who need a kick up the arse.

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The Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., the current home of hundreds of wounded veterans from the war in Iraq, has been the target of weekly anti-war demonstrations since March. The protesters hold signs that read "Maimed for Lies" and "Enlist here and die for Halliburton." . . .

Code Pink Women for Peace, one of the groups backing anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan's vigil outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford Texas, organizes the protests at Walter Reed as well. . . .

Kevin Pannell, who was recently treated at Walter Reed and had both legs amputated after an ambush grenade attack near Baghdad in 2004, considers the presence of the anti-war protesters in front of the hospital "distasteful."

When he was a patient at the hospital, Pannell said he initially tried to ignore the anti-war activists camped out in front of Walter Reed, until witnessing something that enraged him.

"We went by there one day and I drove by and [the anti-war protesters] had a bunch of flag-draped coffins laid out on the sidewalk. That, I thought, was probably the most distasteful thing I had ever seen. Ever," Pannell, a member of the Army's First Cavalry Division, told Cybercast News Service.

"You know that 95 percent of the guys in the hospital bed lost guys whenever they got hurt and survivors' guilt is the worst thing you can deal with," Pannell said, adding that other veterans recovering from wounds at Walter Reed share his resentment for the anti-war protesters.

"We don't like them and we don't like the fact that they can hang their signs and stuff on the fence at Walter Reed," he said. "[The wounded veterans] are there to recuperate. Once they get out in the real world, then they can start seeing that stuff (anti-war protests). I mean Walter Reed is a sheltered environment and it needs to stay that way."

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the G-man said:
The protesters hold signs that read "Maimed for Lies" and "Enlist here and die for Halliburton." . . .

Code Pink Women for Peace, one of the groups backing anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan's vigil outside President Bush's ranch in Crawford Texas, organizes the protests at Walter Reed as well. . . .

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And people wonder why Bush won't meet with that psycho (again).

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unrestrained id said:

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Steve T said:
I've always thought flag burning is a reasonable form of protest, however spitting at servicement (unless you know they have specifically done something) is not.

And these people are clearly a bunch of fucks who need a kick up the arse.

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Well, if you can find a documented instance of protestors actually spitting on the troops, It would be a revelation.

The Myth of the Spat-Upon Veteran

and

Myth Making and Spitting Images from Vietnam

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Here's a man who claimed it happened it to him.

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I am a Vietnam era vet, honorably discharged in 1969 after approximately 2 years, 10 months and 22 days of service. I was spit on, although the real deal was the name calling, especially "baby killer," and the silence. A pilot friend, on getting out, was told, not asked, when the interviewer (young) said to him, "Oh, you're a baby killer." He broke his nose and went to Paris to cool off for a year. I wound up state side. Could fly half fare in uniform. I stopped traveling in uniform because of the name calling (some spitting). Without the uniform they would just looked at the closed cropped hair and scowl. When I applied for graduate school the grad students tried to keep me out on the "fact" that I was a baby killer. If a prof hadn't gone to bat for me I would not have gotten in. And although no one dared confrom me face to face, I was told that come the revolution (and they seriously believed a socialist revolution would "soon" take place), that I would be one of the first ones they would have shot. This was not personal, just intellectual business, something that had to be done across the board.

Many of the anti-war vets in DC in the 70s were guys who did not serve in Vietnam but did want extra compensation for having served. My view was that only combat vets deserved extra. In spring 2002, while in a HS class of my last son, Vietnam came up. I corrected a fact. I was asked by students if I was in the service during Vietnam. I nodded yes. They came up and shook my hand and thanked me for my service. First time in the 32.5 years since my service ended. That summer I ran into three guys from California in town for a training camp. We got to talking and each had the same exerience: Spring of post 9/11 we were each finally thanked by people for our service.

Now, why don't you hear about the spitting, etc? Because few vets whine. And who would brag about that? That's not our deal. We mostly grinned and bore it. I am in the VA system for health care. Go to any VA hospital, and check out the medical condition of many of the Vietnam combat veterans. Dispite the amputees and other problems, I have yet to hear someone complain except or the fact that too many are not supporting the guys on the line now in Iraq and Afghanistan. Don't make the mistake of thinking that because you don't hear complaints things didn't happen. Most that I know are proud of their service even when it isn't clear to them why they were at war. And most of us who were drafted (if we survived) were of the mind that we would never want to do it again but were glad to have done it.

Note the big difference between soldiers in Vietnam wanting to go home and many soldiers today wanting to go back, including amputees. It is a different military with a different sense of purpose. The country, in my view, will be the better for it as they rotate back to the states. We still need to do better making sure their families are taken care of while they are in combat rotation. Two good places to start would be a GI Bill and GI housing at reduced interest rates for combat veterans.

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Posted by: Peter Jessen | May 6, 2005 05:49 PM

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2005/05/who_spat_on_who.html

Maybe he's lying to support the Nixon administration.

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the G-man said:
I think the real issue is that a sizeable contingent of the antiwar left may "support" the troops, insofar as they don't wish them harm, and yet does not respect the troops.

Instead, it seeks to exploit their sacrifice by describing them as "children" and as victims.

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wannabuyamonkey said:
You can love the troops, you can care about the troops, you can sympathise with the troops, but to say you support the troops answer one simple question. Do you want the troops to succeed in thier mission?

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theory9 said:

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wannabuyamonkey said:
You can love the troops, you can care about the troops, you can sympathise with the troops, but to say you support the troops answer one simple question. Do you want the troops to succeed in thier mission?

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The troops don't choose their missions, which transforms the question into, "Do you support the war?" Politics aside, people have to decide what they believe the war is for. People can wish for the well-being of the troops without ever supporting the war itself--the two are easily separated.

Tangent: is it strange or coincidental that the draft become a (relatively) hot issue during unpopular wars? Vietnam had a draft, and the White House discussed (and are still discussing) a draft to supplement troops for this war?

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Randal_Flagg said:Furthermore, some of them are children.

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You can question my support for the troops. Heck, everyone of us could spare a bit more time and cash to send someone a care package or contribute to a military oriented charity. But, you got a lot of damn gaul to question our respect as a whole.

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the G-man said:

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Randal_Flagg said:Furthermore, some of them are children.

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They're old enough to vote, get married, drive cars, have sex, have abortions, have children, have jobs, pay taxes, etc.

How are they children?

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Now if someone doesn't support the politics behind the war, why should they be compelled to support the military's enforcement of said war?

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the G-man said:

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Randal_Flagg said:Furthermore, some of them are children.

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They're old enough to vote, get married, drive cars, have sex, have abortions, have children, have jobs, pay taxes, etc.

How are they children?

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You can question my support for the troops. Heck, everyone of us could spare a bit more time and cash to send someone a care package or contribute to a military oriented charity. But, you got a lot of damn gaul to question our respect as a whole.

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If you've ever raised a child or spent time around them you would know that chronology and maturity are 2 different things. Yes, they do have rights that are granted because of their chronological age, but their development is another issue.

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If you've ever raised a child or spent time around them you would know that chronology and maturity are 2 different things. Yes, they do have rights that are granted because of their chronological age, but their development is another issue.

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