Are soldiers tainted by their service?

[bigtree]

Does a soldier who has served in the Iraq war have to repudiate that war to be accepted by the left in a future presidential bid?

If so, what would he/she have to say to satisfy?

[demnan]

1. No

but a Senator who supported the war would.

[leftofthedial]

5. what do you mean by "supported the war"?

n/t

[demnan]

6. Simple

if he says, "I support the war against Iraq".

[Homer12]

2. If the soldeir ...

... labeled the war as unjustified, but said he had to do his duty as a soldier (which I do agree with to some extent).

The left would cut him or her some slack.

[Walt Starr]

3. Nope, only the politicians who sent them to war

are to be held responsible.

This does have an exception, when the soldier in question knowingly violates then UCMJ and attacks unarmed citizens, that is a war crime and they are to be held responsible for those actions.

To date, I know of no soldiers who have been charged with war crimes in Iraq, although there have been some allegations.

[DealsGapRider]

4. What do YOU think?

nt

[bigtree]

7. A lot of these soldiers believe they are doing the right thing

I think that as we judge someone on their war view we have to allow for the many influences that may have shaped those views when rendering our verdict.

Also, I am a strong believer in redemption. People should be allowed to change their view, although they have to demonstrate that change somehow.

[Divernan]

8. I thought you meant tainted by depleted uranium or mental illness

I think your question, while interesting, is moot. Any one who served in Iraq, (which means spending a year of exposure to brutalizing and dehumanizing behavior and conditions, the most dangerous of which is depleted uranium contamination)is not likely to be a viable candidate for office. Think about it. Over 1/2 the Gulf War veterans are suffering from some serious form of gulf war sydrome, and they were just there for a relatively brief time. This time around, the DU is supposed to be even more lethal. I read one medical opinion that because of the severe wind storms during the attacks, every one who was in Iraq will have inhaled DU.

[bigtree]

9. Thanks for the info on DU

DOD and DU-
http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8094

[Karenina]

10. That's where I went too...

more in the sense of traumatized, physically and psychicly injured.
GET THEM OUTTA THERE NOW!!!