U.S. military prefers Indonesian aid to Iraq war

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N04425615.htm

ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Jan 4 (Reuters) - U.S. military crews are launching more than 100 helicopter flights a day from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln ferrying food, water and medicine to tsunami victims, a task they say is far more satisfactory than the Iraq war that seems only to destroy.

"Oh yeah, no doubt," said U.S. Navy helicopter pilot Rachel Brainard. "Here we're helping people, not destroying things."

"It's the greatest thing to see all the smiling faces when we're taking off," she said on Tuesday. snip

Desperate Indonesian villagers have rushed the choppers to grab supplies but they also are expressing a gratitude -- something the U.S. military has not seen much of in Iraq since invading the country in 2003 to oust President Saddam Hussein.

more

[bowens43]

1. This is a good use of American troops.

This is a mission I can support.

[patdem]

2. This should announce to all who hate the troops they are HUMAN

just like we are, and they do not like the killing and destruction, which bush** foisted upon them. They prefer to help and support humanity. Good for our military! :thumbsup:

[mike_c]

3. you should know better than to propagate that "hate the troops..."

...RW talking point. "Hating the troops" simply because they're military is utterly irrational, and while the occasional irrationality rears it's head on DU from time to time, I'm sure most of us agree that DU is generally an oasis of rationality rather than idiocy.

I have been among the most vocal DU critics of the "troops," but have always made it clear that what I hate is their actions in Iraq, not any of them as individuals. There is a real difference between advocating that war criminals be held responsible for their crimes and "hating the troops." Failure to make that distinction is the heart of fascist nationalism and militarism. "Our troops" are not above the law.

The U.S. military is a group of honorable institutions working for dishonorable purposes in Iraq. That war is a crime of aggression, and like all crimes, it's participants are criminals by definition, or at least accomplices. That's not "hating the troops"-- it's standing up for the principles that they are supposed to serve. I think that's more important than being a good German, if you take my meaning.

I applaud the relief work being done by our military in South Asia. However, that doesn't make up for one iota of the criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq. I don't think many DUers-- if any-- "hate the troops." Many of us do hate what they're doing, and hope that they are ultimately held responsible for it. Our national honor is better served by the truth, IMO, than by whitewashing the crimes of our military in Iraq in the name of nationalistic jingoism. Our troops are committing despicable crimes in Iraq-- that truth needs to be recognized and understood if we are to avoid becoming international despots whose self-interest and brutality is feared more than their good will is respected.

I now return you to the original thread, with my apologies for the off-topic response.

[Demit]

4. It's a clean mission, as opposed to the dirty one in Iraq. And the

brass knows it:

"The U.S. military is bringing a steady stream of journalists to the Lincoln to publicize its relief operation, which began under a cloud of international condemnation that President George W. Bush had done too little too late to help tsunami victims."

One we publicize, one we don't. One to be proud of, one to be ashamed of.

[librarycard]

5. "Here we're helping people, not destroying things."

Just keep on doing what the US military does best, Ma'am.

[LynnTheDem]

6. TRAITORS!!! TRAITORS!!!

How DARE they prefer helping *people* over MARCHING WITH BUSH & GOD FOR FREEDOM!!!

Frag that pilot who DARED speak of destroying things in Iraq! We're only destroying TERRA-ISTS in Iraq who want to cut off your heads and my heads and your pet's heads and the heads of all your dolls!

-signed, freeping rightwingnut morans

[Jacobin]

7. Lot more fun to play Army, when they don't shoot back

[American Tragedy]

9. Where did you read that the Army was shooting in Indonesia?

I haven't heard that.

[flaminbats]

8. but we need to spend $100 billion more in Iraq..

who cares about a few freak tidal waves and over 100,000 deaths?

[pacifictiger]

10. I've always felt that

the military should focus more of their training on civilian support in times of chaos, rather "kill mentality."
Problem is, thats not profitable for munitions manufacturers and not as glamorous for the gun toting redneck types.
I would far rather my taxes contribute to catastrophe recovery rather than intentional destruction and to line the pockets of select warmongers.