Marine who served in Iraq delivers Dems' radio address: End war to honor troops

[ProSense]

Marine who served: End war to honor troops

For their weekly radio address, Democrats called on Elliot Anderson of Las Vegas, who spent four years on active duty with the Marine Corps, including a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

Anderson said patriotism is an American value, not a Democratic or a Republican one.

"I strongly oppose our involvement in Iraq's civil war, but I am still proud of my service to my country," Anderson said.

"But I know I speak for many of my friends overseas when I say that the best way to honor the troops is to responsibly end our involvement in Iraq's civil war. As long as President Bush stays committed to the same policies that aren't working, it won't be easy. But I am proud to see Democrats and now some brave Republicans standing up to him."

link

Video: Remember and Honor

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[mloutre]

2. Yes. Just so.

Honor the warrior, not the war.

http://culturekitchen.com/m_loutre/blog/worth_a_thousand_words_and_then_some

[fedupinBushcountry]

10. Exactly

:patriot:

[Sparkly]

3. Except he didn't say "end the war," at least not in what was quoted.

He said, "...responsibly end our involvement in Iraq's civil war." Unless he used the phrase "end the war," AP's headline is incorrect.

Just sayin'.

[ProSense]

4. "end our involvement in Iraq's civil war"

End the war! The headline didn't say end the civil war. I think anyone with a brain knows it doesn't mean end the civil war.

[Sparkly]

5. Accuracy is important.

"End the war" and "end our involvement in the war" are two different things. I think Americans do want to believe that withdrawing US forces means "ending the war," focusing on ourselves alone (as in, "WE are done with that war"). I think it's harder to keep in mind that the war itself won't end there.

And I don't think "anyone with a brain," figuratively speaking, describes every voter in this country. Even slight twists of phrasing affect the ways people think of things.

[ProSense]

6. The point is this is not going to cause any confusion

Americans already know this. Every poll showing American opposition to the war shows that a significant majority of Americans believe the civil war will continue when the U.S. troops are withdrawn, no matter when it happens.

[Sparkly]

7. Then why do we say "end the war?" It's just not correct.

Who are we kidding by using that term? Does it make the whole thing easier to swallow? Why use a factually incorrect term when we can state things correctly?

[ProSense]

8. "Who are we kidding by using that term?"

No one, everyone understands what it means. It's a sound bite for "end U.S. involvement in the war."

[Sparkly]

11. Do you mean it's said that way because it takes fewer words? nt

[Edgeoforever]

9. So simple, so logical...why is it so hard for some???

[bonito]

12. K&R