Torn

I am against this war on Iraq. It can't be justified by any stretch of the imagination. George's entire rationale seems to be "He tried to kill my Daddy!" - great reason to kill a bunch of civilians that have the misfortune to be born in the wrong country. In my mind, there is no excuse for the U.S. to destroy a country, then rebuild it simply because the President doesn't like the guy that's running the place.

The part I'm finding difficult is how to show support for our troops without being mistaken for someone who supports the war. Maybe when you think "military", you think of a bunch of generals guided by clueless civilians from the Executive branch. When I think of the military, I certainly see those things, but I focus on different people. The kid from coal country in Appalachia, for whom the military is the only escape from a life of grinding poverty. The former gang-banger that decided to get out of that life because he wants to live past 25. Men and women with few options in their hometowns, for whom belonging to the military is a chance at a better life, inclusion in a family, and a source of great pride. And yes, the dumb kid just out of high school that liked the way the uniform looked. It's people like this that will be put at risk, and many will pay the ultimate price.

So I'm in an odd position: I am against the war that our troops will be fighting in, but I want our troops to be able to accomplish their mission so that they can come home. I'd like nothing better than for our troops to be called home right now to be with their families.

If you're looking to where the fault lies in this impending war, look no further than the White House. Yes, Saddam is a brutal dictator with an interest in acquiring weapons of mass destruction. But the President seems to have forgotten about the "other war": we're supposed to be fighting terrorism, remember?