I have been married to a Marine Corps veteran for the past 15 years, and I am confident in saying that sympathy is not what those in the U.S. armed forces want. They want the support and the respect of those they risk life and limb to protect. If they get spat upon, or accused of being terrorists or torturers instead, they do their jobs anyway. It makes the job easier though when they know the support and respect is there, and it is impossible to properly respect those in our military without acknowledging the work they are doing and the value of the sacrifices they are making.
We frequently hear even major opponents of the war say they "support the troops." What we rarely ever hear, though, is much about what the troops have done right in Iraq. I would love to hear anyone who disagrees with me on this one list of a dozen U.S. military accomplishments in Iraq that the average American could name. To say that things have not gone as hoped in Iraq is an incredible understatement, but that does not mean there have not been significant accomplishments made in the face of great difficulty.
In a blogger conference call prior to the President’s speech on Wednesday, I asked Tony Snow if the President would be talking about some of the accomplishments of our troops in Iraq that have not received much media coverage. He said that although that would not be part of Wednesday’s address, the President would be talking more about it in upcoming weeks.
The troops appear poised to receive new support in Iraq in the form of a new plan and additional boots on the ground. My hope is that they will also begin to receive additional respect as the American people eventually hear much more about not only how many schools and hospitals have been built by our military in Iraq, but also how many bad guys have been killed, how many terrorist plots have been disrupted, and how many steps have been achieved that could make it possible for Iraq to become a functioning democracy in the heart of the Middle East.
If you want to support the troops, then spare them the pity. Instead show them some respect and acknowledge their incredible work over the past four years.