POW's
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From: Tustin,Ca
POW's
OK, I can not stand this any longer......
I am damn glad most of our POW/MIAs have returned safe.
My problem is the fanfare the living POWs have been getting. Sure they went thru hell and back but do they really deserve the positive attention they are receiving? Shopping sprees, new cars etc... While there many still there doing their job and still many fallen soldiers who's families don't , somehow, rate the same treatment.
Correct me if I am mistaken but in order to become a POW doesn't something have to go wrong? Like making a wrong turn or your aircraft has failed? Sure there is bravery and courage when you have to , literally, fight for your life but to reward a FUBAR situation and the participants is beyond me.
What kind of message does this send to our troops still in the mix of things??? Get captured so you reap insurmountable rewards?? HUH!!!
I stand behind and will stand beside our troops thru anything that they go thru. God bless them all.
It's just that, well, how can we become so naive as to reward failure???? Is it just me or is everyone so caught up in the moment that they think this is the finest moments of a soldiers life by getting caught by the enemy and then putting more lives in danger to have to be rescued?
To me it's a shame we not as eager to help the fallen's families as much as most deem necessary to put POWs on a pedestal.
Sorry for the rant but I beleive we need to recognize the ones that are still there doing the job and give our utmost recognition to the fallens soldiers and their families whom both have suffered the ultimate price paid.
Go America!!!!
I am damn glad most of our POW/MIAs have returned safe.
My problem is the fanfare the living POWs have been getting. Sure they went thru hell and back but do they really deserve the positive attention they are receiving? Shopping sprees, new cars etc... While there many still there doing their job and still many fallen soldiers who's families don't , somehow, rate the same treatment.
Correct me if I am mistaken but in order to become a POW doesn't something have to go wrong? Like making a wrong turn or your aircraft has failed? Sure there is bravery and courage when you have to , literally, fight for your life but to reward a FUBAR situation and the participants is beyond me.
What kind of message does this send to our troops still in the mix of things??? Get captured so you reap insurmountable rewards?? HUH!!!
I stand behind and will stand beside our troops thru anything that they go thru. God bless them all.
It's just that, well, how can we become so naive as to reward failure???? Is it just me or is everyone so caught up in the moment that they think this is the finest moments of a soldiers life by getting caught by the enemy and then putting more lives in danger to have to be rescued?
To me it's a shame we not as eager to help the fallen's families as much as most deem necessary to put POWs on a pedestal.
Sorry for the rant but I beleive we need to recognize the ones that are still there doing the job and give our utmost recognition to the fallens soldiers and their families whom both have suffered the ultimate price paid.
Go America!!!!
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From: The Bluegrass State
I share 110% of your feeling.
I think my main peeve is that the majority of the POWs that we rescued (less the chopper pilots) became POWs because they took a friggin WRONG TURN straight into the middle of a Republican Guard camp. Well DUHHHH!!!
Just seems like to me that if I was out in a hostile territory that I'd be damn sure of every last turn and make 110% use of the onboard GPS system that I have that downlinks from CentCom's intellegence.
I just don't have a lot of passion for an error like that.
Yes. I am a true American and am genuinely glad that they were rescued and that they are back stateside however; stupidity is NOT an excuse.
RP
I think my main peeve is that the majority of the POWs that we rescued (less the chopper pilots) became POWs because they took a friggin WRONG TURN straight into the middle of a Republican Guard camp. Well DUHHHH!!!
Just seems like to me that if I was out in a hostile territory that I'd be damn sure of every last turn and make 110% use of the onboard GPS system that I have that downlinks from CentCom's intellegence.
I just don't have a lot of passion for an error like that.
Yes. I am a true American and am genuinely glad that they were rescued and that they are back stateside however; stupidity is NOT an excuse.
RP
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From: NH
I honest believe it is a part of how the Vietnam vets were treated when they returned.
What I mean by that is many people, including myself, though I was like 5 know how poorly and absolutely horrible the Vietnam vets were treated. Spit on, called names etc.
I think what we are seeing now, as well as durning Desert Storm is people like myself, though maybe over doing it, showing just how screwed up and how those that welcomed the Vietnam vets back should be ashamed for how they treated them.
I guess you could say another generation correcting a wrong from the past but maybe over doing it. Kind of like telling the morons from the 60's and 70's "Here is how you PROPERLY treat vets".
What I mean by that is many people, including myself, though I was like 5 know how poorly and absolutely horrible the Vietnam vets were treated. Spit on, called names etc.
I think what we are seeing now, as well as durning Desert Storm is people like myself, though maybe over doing it, showing just how screwed up and how those that welcomed the Vietnam vets back should be ashamed for how they treated them.
I guess you could say another generation correcting a wrong from the past but maybe over doing it. Kind of like telling the morons from the 60's and 70's "Here is how you PROPERLY treat vets".
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From: Buffalo, NY US
I just wanted to make a quick point about the GPS & that wrong turn those soldiers took - don't forget the Embassy bombing which we did "by accident" because our "Intelligence" didn't "realize" the target had moved out a few weeks before & the Chinese set up their Embassy there in the interim! There's always a possibility they were given incomplete directions/info or that American GPS systems just plain don't work well in a desert.
I'm really happy they are all safe & sound & back home & VERY thankful to the Iraqi citizens who risked their lives to save our soldiers. To me they are hero's too for caring enough about the American's to do something to help.
I'm still praying for the safe return of the rest of the Allied Forces, especially the remaining MIA's. God Bless them all.
I'm really happy they are all safe & sound & back home & VERY thankful to the Iraqi citizens who risked their lives to save our soldiers. To me they are hero's too for caring enough about the American's to do something to help.
I'm still praying for the safe return of the rest of the Allied Forces, especially the remaining MIA's. God Bless them all.
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Originally posted by 01 XLT Sport
I honest believe it is a part of how the Vietnam vets were treated when they returned.
What I mean by that is many people, including myself, though I was like 5 know how poorly and absolutely horrible the Vietnam vets were treated. Spit on, called names etc.
I think what we are seeing now, as well as durning Desert Storm is people like myself, though maybe over doing it, showing just how screwed up and how those that welcomed the Vietnam vets back should be ashamed for how they treated them.
I guess you could say another generation correcting a wrong from the past but maybe over doing it. Kind of like telling the morons from the 60's and 70's "Here is how you PROPERLY treat vets".
I honest believe it is a part of how the Vietnam vets were treated when they returned.
What I mean by that is many people, including myself, though I was like 5 know how poorly and absolutely horrible the Vietnam vets were treated. Spit on, called names etc.
I think what we are seeing now, as well as durning Desert Storm is people like myself, though maybe over doing it, showing just how screwed up and how those that welcomed the Vietnam vets back should be ashamed for how they treated them.
I guess you could say another generation correcting a wrong from the past but maybe over doing it. Kind of like telling the morons from the 60's and 70's "Here is how you PROPERLY treat vets".
I just wish some of those people could have stepped off the plane with me in 1970 in San Francisco, LA, Memphis, Atlanta, and Charlotte on my way home in uniform. Not a single person shook my hand till I got to Charlotte and my Dad and Mom hugged me and thanked me. The west coast was absolutely the worst, shouting and signs against the war and against a bunch of guys that left the same place a year ago as a kid, and returned a man or not at all. No disrespect on West Coast folks, it's just where most guys got back into country, so most of the protesters were there.
I definitely think we are going way overboard on this round of POW's. Just let them get back to their loved ones, that's all most of them want.
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From: NH
The other thing I would point out is do "not" be angry or upset with the actual POW'S themselves, like the Jessica Lynch's ect. None of them have asked for all the attention. If you recall Jessica, from what I understand from news accounts, asked her parents if her home town knew what happen to her.
She had no clue the whole country knew about her and what happen. It is the media driven by ratings that are trying to make more out of these young people, then the young people themselves.
I mean you really can't blame them when attention is giving to them to suck some of that up, who wouldn't? The point being is it is this media driven culture that is putting them up high for a possible bad fall. Anyone in the military in my opinion is a hero, deserve just as much attention as the POW'S, having been in the military I can tell you the pay sucks, the day's are long, it is 90% boring, and alot of time missed with the family, so anyone willing to do that to do their part in protecting America is a hero.
You also need to think about "why" some of them are being as gunho as they are, waving the flag, PRO-America 100%. They seen and heard the news accounts of the moron's here in the states protesting the war and trying to save their King Saddam and his magical land. So these few people (POW'S) have the chance to basically, with gestures, tell the protesters to "Go **** themselves"...
She had no clue the whole country knew about her and what happen. It is the media driven by ratings that are trying to make more out of these young people, then the young people themselves.
I mean you really can't blame them when attention is giving to them to suck some of that up, who wouldn't? The point being is it is this media driven culture that is putting them up high for a possible bad fall. Anyone in the military in my opinion is a hero, deserve just as much attention as the POW'S, having been in the military I can tell you the pay sucks, the day's are long, it is 90% boring, and alot of time missed with the family, so anyone willing to do that to do their part in protecting America is a hero.
You also need to think about "why" some of them are being as gunho as they are, waving the flag, PRO-America 100%. They seen and heard the news accounts of the moron's here in the states protesting the war and trying to save their King Saddam and his magical land. So these few people (POW'S) have the chance to basically, with gestures, tell the protesters to "Go **** themselves"...
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From: North Canton, Ohio
serotta is on course----
Some were treated bad by the ignorant throngs of those who had never been to, nor had the oppurtunity to go to war as many of us did in Viet Nam.
Luckily, for them, I was never approached by any of those mentioned above upon any of my 4 returns from Viet Nam.
For someone to attempt to spit on, or curse at a returning Vet from any war only shows how totally unheartless and cowardly some can truly be.
I tend to agree that the current POW celebrity status is starting to get excessive, but then again, they did spend time in the enemies camp not knowing if they would ever see their families and loved ones again.
As for how and why they became POW's, once again if you have never experienced war you can not condemn them, whether it having been from being shot down, ambushed, or just plain lost.
Your mind does funny things to you in wartime.
I am very happy that the military has pledged that no present or future conflict will simulate Viet Nam.
I am so sad that we never lost a major battle, but ended up just walking away.
What a shame that we wasted the lives of 55,000 of MY brothers and sisters.
Marc
Luckily, for them, I was never approached by any of those mentioned above upon any of my 4 returns from Viet Nam.
For someone to attempt to spit on, or curse at a returning Vet from any war only shows how totally unheartless and cowardly some can truly be.
I tend to agree that the current POW celebrity status is starting to get excessive, but then again, they did spend time in the enemies camp not knowing if they would ever see their families and loved ones again.
As for how and why they became POW's, once again if you have never experienced war you can not condemn them, whether it having been from being shot down, ambushed, or just plain lost.
Your mind does funny things to you in wartime.
I am very happy that the military has pledged that no present or future conflict will simulate Viet Nam.
I am so sad that we never lost a major battle, but ended up just walking away.
What a shame that we wasted the lives of 55,000 of MY brothers and sisters.
Marc
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From: Tustin,Ca
I guess I might have seemed angry at the POWs themselves. That is not the case. I respect them for the job they do.
I don't blame them , just all of the media hype that seems to reward failure, human or machine. I think it's been excessive and misplaced.
It just goes to show how screwed up our mainstream media really is and has been. Kinda like the politicians they have backed in the past. It's just a lame attempt to boost ratings. However, it's not all of their fault . Alot of people buy into the emotional aspect and just want to help. Again misguided and misplaced.
I want to reiterate, I do not blame the POWs personally.
I don't blame them , just all of the media hype that seems to reward failure, human or machine. I think it's been excessive and misplaced.
It just goes to show how screwed up our mainstream media really is and has been. Kinda like the politicians they have backed in the past. It's just a lame attempt to boost ratings. However, it's not all of their fault . Alot of people buy into the emotional aspect and just want to help. Again misguided and misplaced.
I want to reiterate, I do not blame the POWs personally.
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From: NH
canyonslicker:
As far as I go, I knew you were "not" blaming the POW'S themselves but rather all the media attention and the media going after ratings. FOX did a great job at showing alot of positive things going on durning the very short time at war.
On the other hand CNN just could not wait to see untold thousdands of American's dead in the field to help boost their ratings...
I know CNN has the freedom to act and be a MORON, but personal I will never watch a news station (CNN) that can NOT tell the truth and holds the truth back, endangers lifes, all to help boost political gains for their loser friends in the social liberal wing and boost their own ratings, truly sad in this day and time...
As far as I go, I knew you were "not" blaming the POW'S themselves but rather all the media attention and the media going after ratings. FOX did a great job at showing alot of positive things going on durning the very short time at war.
On the other hand CNN just could not wait to see untold thousdands of American's dead in the field to help boost their ratings...
I know CNN has the freedom to act and be a MORON, but personal I will never watch a news station (CNN) that can NOT tell the truth and holds the truth back, endangers lifes, all to help boost political gains for their loser friends in the social liberal wing and boost their own ratings, truly sad in this day and time...
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From: The Bluegrass State
Originally posted by Cowlady
I just wanted to make a quick point about the GPS & that wrong turn those soldiers took - don't forget the Embassy bombing which we did "by accident" because our "Intelligence" didn't "realize" the target had moved out a few weeks before & the Chinese set up their Embassy there in the interim! There's always a possibility they were given incomplete directions/info or that American GPS systems just plain don't work well in a desert.
...I'm still praying for the safe return of the rest of the Allied Forces, especially the remaining MIA's. God Bless them all.
I just wanted to make a quick point about the GPS & that wrong turn those soldiers took - don't forget the Embassy bombing which we did "by accident" because our "Intelligence" didn't "realize" the target had moved out a few weeks before & the Chinese set up their Embassy there in the interim! There's always a possibility they were given incomplete directions/info or that American GPS systems just plain don't work well in a desert.
...I'm still praying for the safe return of the rest of the Allied Forces, especially the remaining MIA's. God Bless them all.
I deal with GPS based systems on a daily basis. Systems do go astray and become dust collectors however; in a desert environment, they would almost certainly work 10X better. Obstructions aren't as prevalent and would not interfere with reception.
Further, I realize intelligence could've been bad and that certainly wouldn't have been their fault. It happens. It's a war. Not a play script where everything is orchestrated.
And again, let me emphasize my thanks and prayers to all the men and women in uniform. I think the world of you. You are sincerely one of my heros.
RP