Someday we'll figure out if we drop food on a country they will like us a lot more than if we "accidentally" bomb their families, shoot at their wedding from the air, or kill their son during interrogation by mistake...etc.

Think about it from another perspective. If Iraq came here to protect you and accidentally killed all your neighbors I doubt you would feel all warm and fuzzy

Maybe we could do like what Jimmy Buffet once suggested. We drop Victoria's Secret catalogs and five dollar bills. The Afghans would read the catalogs, they would spend their new money in America, and the Afghans would have thong panties into the next century!

maybe if they didn't give material and moral support to a-holes who flew passenger jets into our buildings.

Hardly Steve, the populations of developing countries are easily swayed and often manipulated. North Korea is an extreme example, but let's take a look at it. The people have essentially been brainwashed to the point that they think their dictators are deities. If we were to send aid (like we have several times), that aid either gets rerouted (to the military like the last time) or said dictator portrays it as a gift from him. The same thing has been going on in Somalia and plenty of other countries for years/decades.

By the way, the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan have killed far far more people than we have through accidental or other means. We just get more publicity about it because the people have grown accustomed to killing each other, but I guess even a single accidental death by us offsets all the good we've tried to do there. It's pretty messed up.

My wife has always said - "build a McDonald's and they will come" to the peace table that is.

Smedley Butler (1881-1940) One of only 19 men to win the Medal of Honor twice and the only man to win the Medal of Honor twice and the Marine Corps Brevet Medal. All were for seperate actions. He wrote a book in 1935 called "War Is A Racket".

Here is a quote from this man from 1935: "I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for the American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."

You will never learn about Smedley Butler in public schools. There is a reason for that.

Free country to do what he likes. More power to him.

At the same time, what did he think? That everyone over there would jump up and down for joy that American soldiers were there? Really people, too much TV

It's war! People die, mistakes happen. Anyone who has served in combat knows this is an unfortunate fact.

Personally, I am fine that he wants to give it back because this action is exactly what America is all about. At the same time, this entire situation is yet another showing of the pussification of our country. A perfect example is STEVE'S COMMENTS above. Your right Steve, after 9-11 we should have just dropped food for Osama and now 10 yrs later, he would be so grateful and we all be dancing around the gum drop trees in lollipop land!

He will hand back his military service medals at the NATO summit in Chicago, an act one veteran calls "disgraceful"

I totally agree. I know several people that feel the same way. A medal can be bought at the flea market for $ 10.00.

The army only appreciates people when they are good and young for combat. After that, they are discarded as TRASH.

I support the vets on this actions. They deserve more than a "Patriotic Rhetoric speech"in Veteran's day. Especially from the GOP, that keeps on trying to send them now to Iran.

RE-INSTALL THE DRAFT, IF YOU WANT AMERICANS TO GO TO COMBAT. That will bring attention to the problems of the vets.

At the same time, this entire situation is yet another showing of the pussification of our country.

Really people, too much TV

I agree. People think that going to war is a "macho" thing, where you come out as a hero. If you think that there is to much "pussification" you should enlist to save the country. That way you will experience first hand how "patriotic" it is to have your arms and legs blown away by a roadside bomb.

REINSTALL THE DRAFT, so you will go to war and appreciate what it is like to be a soldier.

RE-INSTALL THE DRAFT, IF YOU WANT AMERICANS TO GO TO COMBAT.

Why reinstall the draft? We have enough people volunteering to serve their country. Why draft others that do not want to serve? If this soldier was so against the war, why did he join? You don't join the service not expecting to go to combat, especially when there is a war already in progress.

In 1971 there was the draft. Totally different set of circumstances today, all volunteer. Surely he understood that if he was volunteering to be a warrior he might end up killing the enemy. Warriors kill...that's what they do. I totally agree with dumping the UN, however.

The man and the rest of us all have the right in this country to protest what the government is or has done in any legal manner we so chosse. They are speaking as individuals and the last time I checked they are on the right side of the discussion on this worthless war. I have 2 sons who spent a lot of time over there and both of them will never be the same and when you get to the question for what there is no answer.

I disagree with this idea of the draft. Many people disagree with the wars that are being fought. Without a draft, those people who decide to enlist know what they are getting into. We already had Vietnam as an example. You can't go over to another country and change an entire culture, even through military force. The people who enlisted often enlisted because of the benefits they receive from the military. Some also fought in Iraq because they sincerely believed in the war on terror, but I think that number is not so large because most people don't even know why we are there. I do agree though that more people would understand what vets are going through if there was a draft. I don't think we would be fighting any of these useless wars for big oil if there was a draft. The fact is, most Americans could care less about the sacrifices that these young people made because there is no draft. To make matters worse, it is difficult for vets who have risked their lives in these wars to realize that the entire idea of these wars is not based on winning, but on controlling these countries' resources and taking them away until a date when the troops will withdraw, such as 2014 in Afghanistan. You will see all of these puppet regimes our government has propped up in Afghanistan and Iraq eventually crumble away in less than 10 years. Entire generations will grow up not knowing what the Iraq war was. The fact is the war was a colossal waste of money and a mistake. To be sure, Hussein was a dictator, but I don't believe he posed a real threat to the United States. The Afghanistan war wasn't really necessary because bin Laden was in Pakistan all the time. We could have taken him out with drones, and not one life would have been lost. So, there must be another rationale for the war, and that is control of the resources of the Middle East as countries scramble for more oil. If we just invested in alternative energy, we wouldn't be fighting these wars because we wouldn't be dependent on the Middle East. You can't invade other countries and make the people who live in the country think of you as a friend, not in a hundred years. My advice: people should think twice about enlisting in the military just for money and benefits if that is their rationale. Maybe mental health and a life without PTSD is worth more than all the benefits the military can provide.

I feel sorry for these vets who had to endure so much. We should only send our military into missions that have a clear humanitarian purpose.

My wife has always said - "build a McDonald's and they will come" to the peace table that is.

That's nice but I'm afraid Thomas L. Friedman beat her to it.

The Lexus and The Olive Tree.

Our wars ate a total waste of money and human lives. End these wars NOW!!!

They earned their medals and therefore have the right to do with them what they want. Taking a stand against the wars in this fashion to protest the injustices takes courage and conviction as there was a tragic loss of life and limbs on both sides.

We don't have to agree with their protest, but we should respect their view and peaceful protest with the hope that further conflicts are entered into lawfully and with complete due diligence by our government with war as the last option.

IRESPOND - Too late, I've already served 2 tours. How about you mastermind? What's your service history?

As for your thoughtless comment about losing arms and limbs, yes I am very familiar with this. I also knew that this could happen BEFORE I WENT TO WAR, or even more BEFORE I CHOSE TO ENLIST. Now that one of the worse case scenarios happened, I'm not stomping my feet saying that it isn't fair like you seem to want me to do. Joining the military isn't the "in" thing to do IRESPOND, it's a commitment. When you do it, you know what the chances are and you accept them IF thus chances happen.

Again, I'm perfectly fine with this soldier turning in his medals. Its the pussies like you that disgust me

The one 1930's marine had it dead to rights, the medal racket in our military is just a shameful disgrace.

Here's a story from when I was in the Army, and temporarily stationed in Berlin around the time the Wall came down. I was working in a screening unit questioning East Germans for possible intelligence on various aspect of the East German military and its industry. We worked with the Brits and shared the same headquarters. For civilians who have never been in such a place, there is always a wall that shows the entire chain of command, starting from the Head of State, in my case the elder bush, and for the brits the Queen, going all the way down to the commander of the unit whose HQ that is. One day I was at our combined HQ and noticed that the British senior officers had VERY few ribbons, usually only two, while the US officers ALL sported fruit salad (that mass of ribbons you see on the right chest). I asked the secretary for the Brit CO if the British army had some regulation restricting the numbers of decorations you could put on your uniform, and she said she didn't know, but would ask her boss. I went to work, but came back later that day and saw her again. She said she had asked her boss, and his response was, the British Army does not hand out awards every time you successfully cross the street. I laughed for about 15 minutes after that, becasue it was oh so very true. You get awards in the US military for NOT f--ing up, LITERALLY, if you are not a screw up, you get an award.

The medal system in the US is total BS and always has been.

Why is this crybaby keeping some medals but not the others. What did he think war was, a game of kickball?

Nothing free about this country....sometime try to exercise your freedom of speech in public and say something the majority doesn't agree with. If you do this, you will see that there are a myriad of exceptions to free speech that can be used against you.

If he wants to return his metals thats his choise, He should take down the pictures behind him also, buy displaying them it makes him look prowd of the war!! PTDS is being blamed for many other problems when vets return home, My cousins son killed himself after he came home and they blame it on PTSD and are trying to sue the government for it, When in fact, He came home to a wife that was cheating on him and leaving him for someone else, He tried killing himself 3 times in an attempt to get her back, until he finely put a Desert Eagle to his head. All vets that have seen combat suffer some type of disorder, only since the doctors put a name on it has it become a popular issue.

Ok all of you Reich Wing Fascists, It is ok for Americans to renounce there citizenship for the mighty dollar but you want to tar and feather men and women who SERVE there country and have the right to do what they want to do with THERE medals, No wonder this country all messed up

For those that are saying that he earned the medals and he can do what he wants with them and that he has free speech - did you think the Marine that got discharged for speaking out against Obama also had free speech?

As a former Vet I am beginning to get just a little disgusted with the way SOME of our uniformed Military Representatives are disgracing our country overseas. From the dopers to killers of innocents to those selling weapons to China to posing with bodies etc etc etc.Now even Afgans are killing American Soldiers. You have to ask WHY?

Desecrating medals others have put their lives on the line for is disgusting. It is no better than doing foul things to our flag such as wearing it on their azzes.

Its the pussies like you that disgust me

Nobody cares what "disgusts" you, Especially the Government. I do not need to let you or anybody else if I served or not in the military. It is NONE of your business. It is people like you that convince others that joining the army and fight "stupid"wars is our duty.

What did Iraq ever did to us? Why do people have to "volunteer" to go kill others, when the Army recruiters know how to convince young people, saying that it is the "opportunity of life"Yeah ! RIGHT!

Go back...I do not care. Win another medal. That and a dollar will get you a cup of BAD coffee

I would like to hear about how returning vets are helping others instead of drowning in their self pity

What an interesting statement, considering that all you do IN YOUR "COMMENT"after that is exactly that: Self-pity about everything and everybody that is not EXACTLY LIKE YOU.

A soldier is a soldier wether a war is justified or not. if he feels disgrace of being a vete, then he joined for the wrong reasons, making him not a real soldier. soldiers are warriors/hereos wether or not a war is justified. it is up to the government desicion making and the public/civilians who elect them to justify a war.

I'd like to smack the smug right off his face.

The American military complex is broken.

Every 13 hours, a United States Soldier, Marine, Sailor, or Airman attempts to take his or her own life.

I'd like to smack the smug right off his face.

Instead, you could help him with his problems. After all, he is the "hero" that went to war to defend you from terrorists. Where is the parade now? See? He is just trash for all of you.

You are one ungrateful "patriotic" goup of "Americans"

Me too bscol. You can bet hes not giving up his veterans benefits or his TriCare if he still has that. This is a joke, not to mention the awards that he received were given to people who were stuck at the FOB eating Cinnabon and hanging around the chowhall all day. Its not like he is giving back a bronze or a silver star. There isnt even anything mentioned about a purple heart. This guy couldve been a cook for all we know.

He just wants his notoriety now that his importance is fading. Shameful to everyone else that gave so much.

Soldiers are trained to follow orders. Period. The problem is with the liberal mindset of questioning anything and everything which is totally opposite to what the services are trying to instill in our soldiers. The military is not like civilian life folks. Army protestors are abhorred by their fellow brethren. War is hell, if you din't think about all the consequences of your enlisting then you should not have joined to begin with. Never in my life have i seen the questioning of authority as has developed in America over the past few decade. The Vietnam protests were a disgrace to this country and it seems it has only gotten worse thanks to the pacifists who would rather "talk it out' with leaders like Kim, Hussein, Assad, etcc. instead of just bombing them into oblivion like they deserve.

Hey Irespond - I spent 8 years in the United States Army and if he has the right to free speech, so do I. I earned it. I never said he was trash - you did. He enlisted in the military during war time. He accepted money for his training and combat pay for his service overseas. He accepted the medals that he now wants to give back. He looks like a spoiled smug brat in this picture, and yes - if I was his parent I would smack the smug right off his face. Don't tell me I'm not patriotic - I served my country in the first Gulf War and my son spent 5 years of his life in the Marine Corps.

@IRESPOND

His medals were given to every one with a heartbeat that did any menial job in Iraq. He wasnt in a combat MOS or it wouldve been the first thing mentioned. He was a REMF, probably did laundry or drove a forklift. Thats great and all but the REAL heroes that defended your freedom with everything they had will not back this guys play. How do I know? I served with 1st bravo co. 2nd bn USMC and put everything on the line. This guy did not and now wants the limelight.

Its a smart move...not very original but smart....John Kerry parlayed a similar stunt into a career in the Senate and sloppy seconds from the rich widow of a dead republican. Its not a message but rather a method of self promotion.

Nothing free about this country....sometime try to exercise your freedom of speech in public and say something the majority doesn't agree with. If you do this, you will see that there are a myriad of exceptions to free speech that can be used against you.

No one is saying that he doesn't have the right to express himself this way. He has the freedom to do it. And we have the freedom to say he's a douche for doing it.

That's what freedom of speech is about. Everybody has a right to express their views, and to express their opinions about someone elses views. Me saying you're a douche because of the views you express is in no way implying that you shouldn't be allowed your douchey views.

Support your Troops no matter what.

When we sign up to serve our country, it's a selfless act. It seems these men didn't think this through.

Don't shame your service because you have diffrent political views....be proud of your service to your country.

You have a future in the Democrat party aling with Kerry and John Murtha, an influential Pennsylvania lawmaker and outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, said Marines had “killed innocent civilians in cold blood

JoeB-460595

A lot of people suffered and died to give this person the "Right" to march and protest. However, you are a disgrace to every man and woman who fought in past and current conflicts and any person currently in Uniform. If you don't want the Awards, give them back or burn them, but don't make them part of your "Right of Free Speech". Give up your medals in protest, then you should give up any and all Veteran's Benefits that you currently receive.

Hey Joe, did you serve? If so I respect your right to voice an opinion on this subject. If not, do us a favor and STFU. I admit I have mixed feelings regarding his act, but he's earned the right! This is about him, not you and not me. If he gains a sense of closure in giving his medals back then more power to him. If this is about making a statement, again he's earned the right.

@dkd123, firstly , I don't believe that you tried to join and were refused because you're a mother. You most certainly wouldn't have been the 1st single mother to enlist... And what the hell do you mean by "drowning in their self pity"??? The unmitigated gall of you to even say that, let alone to think it!! Little girl, who does nothing but dream and watch far too many movies, I can only assume that you don't even know a war vet and I don't mean someone who spent their time as a photographer, sitting behind a desk pushing paper and answering phones. My deceased husband was a WWII vet who enlisted as a too young teenager, the horror that he witnessed and participated in stayed with him throughout the rest of his life. The nightmares, the sudden breaking out in a heavy perspiration, the shaking, the dysentery, none of that ever left him. You know what my husband was just one of untold thousands with these same issues.

I discovered upon his death that ALL of his medals (8) had disappeared over the passage of time, the letters of commendation had disappeared also. But now, these young people don't even have a job to come home to and some have had their educational benefits STOLEN from them by on line schools. Come home to what little girl? The military nor the VA hospitals still don't treat the mental illness that they come home with.

You need to go to the nearest VA clinic and/or VA hospital, just stand outside of the doors and listen to them. "Self pity" my ass little girl. Those vets will range from early 20's on up to their 90's, you need to get a grip on reality before you speak, you don't really know who you're talking to. If you are brave enough to go, please for your sake don't speak the way you have spoken here.

(#1.4) The people have essentially been brainwashed...

Couldn't agree more - Americans certainly have been. They think that their cause is just no matter the reason for interfering into others' lives. What could those politicians have been thinking when they decided that the way of life that mid-easterners had been living for centuries needed to be replaced by a social system of a mere 200 years - instantaneously.

As for the return of the medals, there is nothing disgraceful by the soldiers change of heart for whatever reason. Some vets get ribbons/medals just for being there. If there is anything disgraceful, it would be receiving recognition just for showing up. It also demeans the "value" of the recognition for those that actually did something. I liken it to a person on a sports team receiving a letter just because he was on the team. How does the varsity standout feel knowing that he played his hardest and the guy who never got off the bench got the same award?

Napoleon Bonaparte (15 July 1815) - "A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of coloured ribbon."

I think we should be uniting around, and protesting to get, our wounded soldiers the treatment and services they need as they return home. As far as the wars themselves go, they are winding down and the damage is already done.

I bet this is a very small handful of vets doing this. MSNBC and the liberal media will try to blow it out of proportion, blame it on Bush and conservatives, make a bigger issue out of it than it is. Be prepared for much more of this type spinning the next few months.

IRESPOND - I do not need to let you or anybody else if I served or not in the military. It is NONE of your business. - Well, that answers that question. Enough said

Where did I say I agreed with the war in Iraq? What I said is that you and many people like you want to sit in the comfort of your little cubicle and critisise those that give you the protection of not being blown up like the office buildings in the ME. Or even better, let's go join the military because I need money and then whine about it because you actually got called up to do what you knew you had to do to begin with.
As much as the rest of the world may like to see that this miraculous peace, as long as these POS over there are raised and committed to killing you, your mother, your kids, and my family, I am willing to hold up my end of the agreement with our government. Now that my end is up, I've left because I don't agree with us being there. What I'm not willing to do is make a grown up decision to enlist and then when things don't go my way, quit. That is the pussification that you stand for. Enjoy those gumdrops in tootie fruity land where everyone loves one another and lives in harmonious peace

if I was his parent I would smack the smug right off his face. Don't tell me I'm not patriotic - I served my country in the first Gulf War and my son spent 5 years of his life in the Marine Corps.

You obviously have unresolved anger issues, the way you speak of "SMACKING"other people. Having joined and served does not mean that you will be remembered "for life"as a hero. You are proof that Combat is not for everybody.

Once you are in the Army THEY PUT YOU IN JAIL IF YOU TRY TO LEAVE....Oh! What a concept! I WONDER WHY??????

All this "Patriotic"BS is just a bunch of rhetoric that has NO MEANING for people with mental problems

I do not remember Iraq flying planes into our buildings, in fact it was George Bushes friends (or x friends (Saudi)), and we still receive lots of oil from them!--and now also from Iraq, they got converted to sell at the right price!!--We even went over to "protect the big Afghan pipeline--protecting out interest!

So I can see this soldier having problems with this hypocrisy!--I hired a lot of ex Vietnam former soldiers, --then later engineers on GI Bill and most of those felt the same way.

His medals were given to every one with a heartbeat that did any menial job in Iraq

His medals and a Purple heart medal will be sold for the same price at the local flea market...

Oh What a tragedy!

He fought for his right. If you're offended by their protest, look the other way.

Where is all of the vet outrage for repealing the medals of those soldiers that "raped, pillaged, and plundered" with serving their country? They still received medal/ribbons for participating in the wars and yet these few speaking out are a disgrace to the soldiers who served proudly?

As a vet myself, I believe they are free to do what they want with them. They earned them. However, I will say that this has been done before with no results. The politicians in charge don't give a dam* about any of them or their medals. Perhaps there are more effective ways to protest. Still, nothing will change.

dkd::: I know how vets who have returned from war help others. I volunteer at a vet center, and I can see how being among others can help. I have seen guys come to a group session wrapped in their own self-- and after the session gets going there is much laughing coming from the room. They come out following their group session feeling much better.

Many of them live in their own little world but things are so much better when the group session is over. And the counselors are vets themselves and understand the guys they counsel.

Oh, I am the widow of a combat vet so I get along with "my guys" (and some of my guys are gals). Every one a combat vet-- or the one group is spouses of combat vets.

To add to my above post. I volunteered at a V A hospital for over 20 years-- loved it and loved the people with whom I came in contact. I hung up my boots in December 2007-- "retired". Started volunteering at the vet center in September 2008. But between them I volunteered at our state veterans cemetery.

My ties to the military go back to before I was born-- and hopefully will end with my death. Tho the staff at the vet center expect me to come back as a ghost and work there.

Does the military "take medals back?" I thought that they gave them out for the reasons the various medals are given out. If someone doesn't want it they can throw it away, give it away, burn it, or whatever. It's in the records that he received his medals. I don't think they go back and strike that fact from the record books.

As an alternative he could give them to John Kerry.

Dan of Earth

Let's see, he volunteered to serve and fight our enemies? After all, this is an ALL VOLUNTEER ARMY! If he is so offended by his voluntary service, then why doesn't he give back his Honorable Discharge papers too? Why become an enemy sympathizer? Sounds more like he's protesting NATO. I voluntarily joined the service during Vietnam when many were being drafted and I could understand this issue more if he had been drafted, but he didn't, he joined of his own free will. He's a disgrace to the other "injured" soldiers, the ones who came home in a box, and the ones who were maimed, who lost arms & legs serving! Medals awarded for service, are a personal thing to me, I have them, but have never displayed or worn them on my civilian clothing and I would never give any of them back.

We have a good reason for going into Afghanistan. 9/11 and Bin Laden.

You know what is disgracing to the other injured soldiers and the ones that came home in a box? That their sacrifice was for nothing for going into Iraq. Please tell me a good reason for going there? WMDs, promoting democracy or fighting terrorism? We still haven't found WMDs, no Al Qaida until we showed up and democracy is not doing to well with the civil war going around. But if you tell me because so the foreign oil companies can go in and lock down on long term contracts ......... then I might actually believe you. Then again, the first thing we did there was occupy and protect oil ministries while ignoring everything else including National Museum of Iraq. Lot of looting there.

You are a Vietnam vet so you should know. Social security funds paid for the war and never paid back. Countless lives lost for what?

-Iraq and Afghanistan vet.

Svenolafson

A bunch of John Kerry wannabees. At least they're using their own medals, I think

Contrary to what your role model Karl Rove said - Kerry won purple hearts for saving people. I find it amazing the amount of idiots out there who believe anything. I forget - did Bush have any medals for fighting for his country? Cheney? ROFL!

What have you done for your country other than take up space?

bscol- "Why reinstall the draft?

" We have enough people volunteering to serve their country. Why draft others that do not want to serve? If this soldier was so against the war, why did he join? You don't join the service not expecting to go to combat, especially when there is a war already in progress." -

Why reinstall the draft? Because they composition of our "volunteer" military force is heavily weighted with young men and women from the lower socio-economic strata of our society, according to numerous studies. In plain english, the poorest among us go into the military to try and get away from the bleak future that awaits them at home. At least they might have a chance of learning a skill that will translate to a decent paying job and a brighter future when they get out. Have Mitt Romney's strapping young sons done any military service? The Bush twins? Any other children of wealthy parents? Yes a few, but not many.

When a draft starts forcing the rich kids to fight, you will see a sudden reluctance to go to war.

bscol- "Why reinstall the draft?

" We have enough people volunteering to serve their country. Why draft others that do not want to serve? If this soldier was so against the war, why did he join? You don't join the service not expecting to go to combat, especially when there is a war already in progress." -

Why reinstall the draft? Because they composition of our "volunteer" military force is heavily weighted with young men and women from the lower socio-economic strata of our society, according to numerous studies. In plain english, the poorest among us go into the military to try and get away from the bleak future that awaits them at home. At least they might have a chance of learning a skill that will translate to a decent paying job and a brighter future when they get out. Have Mitt Romney's strapping young sons done any military service? The Bush twins? Any other children of wealthy parents? Yes a few, but not many.

When a draft starts forcing the rich kids to fight, you will see a sudden reluctance to go to war.

The root cause of this dispute goes beyond war, to a mindset steeped in political upheavals in our country. We have a nation led by political leaders, (supposedly,) that have no conscience, or care, for the average person on the street, regardless of what they spew from their mouths, or their speech writers determine the public "wants" to hear.

Even the military leaders, of today, are not immune to this trash. They know where their bread is buttered, and will cater to that group of "suppliers" as if they are all that counts. This "One World Order" our present "leaders" are always spouting off about is based on one (1) culture, and one (1) people, not the true diversity of our entire nation, or the entire globe. Until they get their acts together, and show they are true to the people giving everything they've got, up to and including their lives, (which not one of the political leaders of today would be willing to do,) nothing is really going to change.

When one considers during WWI and II, soldiers served, for the duration of the war, plus six months, and most of those involved, as well as their families at home, there were none, or very few, of the problems we see today. The entire nation served, one way or another, unliike today, when only the "volunteers" and theoir immediate families serve.

Frosty, I know of no leader or politiciaon who has ever used the phrase "One World Order." But you are right that leaders should not be so free with the lives of other people's children.

Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeldt, and the president's cabinet deliberately falsified data(lied) to create the Iraq war for personal reasons and for war profiteers. Nothing honorable about the war, however, everyone who served in any capacity in that war arena, can hold their heads up with honor. There comes a point where innocent people and soldiers must help stop the madness of people like Bush/Cheney. They must speak of the horror of a false war so it can end. If war was so rightious, why did Cheney get 6 deferments? Never forget how they called people unpatriotic and traitors for not wanting to go to war in Iraq. Whatever helps a soldier to heal from physical and mental wounds is fine with me. Someone needs to tell the story of truth so it will not happen again. ........................"For what its worth." Buffalo Springfield

Mike-416

What have you done for your country other than take up space?

Well, you don't have to be in some 3rd world war zone to serve your country.

For me, I'm content paying taxes, obeying our laws, supporting our soldiers, and practicing my freedoms if I feel my rights are violated.

I don't think our founding fathers had it in mind that to serve our country we have to be thousands of miles away fighting those who don't pose a threat to our liberties.

I served in Vietnam, 5th Cav, 71/72. What did my brothers and I come home to in the land of the Big PX? For the most part the people didn't give a damn. They were all singing koombayah, dancing around poles, having sit-ins and what not. The point is, I made it home. 3 out of 10 of the boys I graduated high school with didn't.

War is a nasty, uncivilized buisness. Innocent's along with the emeny die. That's war. It's not some video game you kids play. No nation should go to war and ask its young men and women to sacrifice their lives unless that entire nation is also willing to make the sacrifice. No nation should make war unless it is with one thought and one thought alone....total victory at any cost! None of the BS where you're ordered not to fire on an enemy unless he fires at you first. None of this buisness where you're trying to win the hearts and minds of the enemy. If those scoundrels in our government aren't prepared to make an equal sacrifice that they are asking our young men and women to do, then they are traitors to their own people and to our soldiers who are giving their all.

What's the big issue today? The President supports Gay Marriage. That's the big issue why we presently have young men and women fighting in a far off land!? Why many families of GI's have to resort to living on food stamps? The disgrace isn't these young hero's who've made it home and want to throw their medals back into the faces of the politicians whom sent them there, the disgrace is the people who've forgotten them. The disgrace is those who've sympathized more with our enemy and care more about them then these men and women who've given their all. This Commander-in-Chief we have now is a disgrace.

Enough said, otherwise it'll just be the ranting of an old man.

God Bless America

My father is still waiting for the 4 medals he should have received for his 4 years in WW2. I have his father's WW1 medal. Then my father would like the thousands of dollars he was cheated out of from the GI Bill benefits he never received, plus 66 years of interest and maybe an apology would be nice too!

Its high time for a new "War on Terror" policy:

Opening statement: If we (the U.S.) prove that there is a group actively recruiting and/or planning for attacks against our country inside your borders, you have 1 week from the time we inform you to prove to us that are you seriously dealing with the problem.

If you do not:

1) We will; swiftly! And we will not care about being PC (win your own hearts and minds).

2) We will not be descriminatory, If terrorist are hiding amongst your civilians, your civilians better turn them in or get out of the way.

3) We will finish the job and leave immediately

4) We will not rebuild your country, give you aid, or train your troops. The mess is your problem, deal with it.

5) If, after we leave, you allow the terrorists back in we will come back in, and God save you, because we will not be gentle.

6) WE WILL NOT APPOLOGIZE, to you or the world, for a problem you should have dealt with.

7) Warn your citizens, because we are done propping up, tearing down, and buiding back up!

A simple protest indeed. A Medal cannot be returned. The soldier can do whatever they want with it. There will be nobody to return it too. The soldier can leave it behind, set it down, give it away. The only thing the soldier cannot do is return it.

Joe B: Please don't you dare assume what other veterans think....you have NO idea what other veterans think!! I dislike people who "assume" they can speak for a group of people when they have NO idea what they're talking about. As a veteran myself (MAJ, US, Ret), I find it rude that you would presume to know how I feel about this article. Please, in the future, SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!! I may not agree with this soldier's methods of protest, but he has the right to do what he feels is best for him. My only question is....why did you accept the medals in the first place if you didn't agree with what you did to get them?

Sorry Dan, not true at all. You mail it back to your service and ask for it to be removed from your service records. It CAN be done. This guy attaching it/them to a flag and "returning" them to NATO is not only ridiculous but meaningless.

4) We will not rebuild your country, give you aid, or train your troops. The mess is your problem, deal with it.

That's right, Saudi Arabia! Iran!... We don't need your stinkin' oil! Oh... wait....

@deweydan

"A simple protest indeed. A Medal cannot be returned."

I was about to post something similar. The actual medal is a uniform item meant to be worn to display an accomplishment. The medal represents the award. I'm sure this guy's DD 214 has them all listed, so giving away the medal is nothing more than a token gesture. Even if it is possible to "return" a medal, giving it to some NATO official at a conference is definately not the way. But mailing your medal and a request to the board of military corrections is not worthy of a news story.

Bush used propaganda to get us in the war, "WMD's" hmmmm, turned out there weren't any, in fact he purposefully ignored evidence to the contrary. And you can sit there on your fat ass and judge our vets who have a brain and call yourself Americans, shame on you sheeple.

You people are a bunch of idiots. Yes, when I joined I knew I might have to kill the enemy. It's what a military is for however, Iraq was not our enemy. In fact if you look back at congressional records from just a couple years prior to the war - Saddam was our friend. Or so the weapons we sold to him leads me to believe.

Bush wouldn't give the order to our delta operators in the Tora Bora mountains to take out Bin Laden. They had him scoped but were not allowed to take the shot. Why? Without Bin Laden there would be no BS to sling around about how in some far fetched way Iraq was responsible for 9/11. I'll give you a bit of information - Bin Laden considered Saddam as much of an infidel as America. For a multitude of reasons one of which was that he dealt with the US.

Once Bin Laden was out of Afghanistan we should have left or just moved to Pakistan. Every guy over the knew he was in Pakistan, everyone. The government played the "but they're our friend, they don't harbor terrorists" fiddle and all of you bought it like good little substandard inbreds.

You eat these things up just like you eat up the whole idea that there's a 'real' threat from terrorists everyday. If there really were such a large threat, I've seen how these guys are and stuff would be blowing up everyday. You really think that pu**y TSA reject can stop a terrorist with a bomb? Or that the terrorist even cares that there's a checkpoint? You really think they wouldn't just lite s**t up right there at the scanner? Of course you do because you're good little mindless puppets.

So why should these soldiers be a disgrace for finally saying they're not proud of being a part of all that? That they hate how they were used. That they are f**ked up 20 different ways because of some rich pricks and the American people who can't seem to hold the balls between their legs off the ground.

I'm sorry, I'm just going to have to humbly disagree with my brothers and sisters who've done their time and say that they knew what they were getting into before they joined up to serve our country, and so shouldn't be whining about it now.

We all swore an oath to defend this country and the constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Soldiers are put in the field of combat when: 1) We are under attack and are called to defend, or 2) When the diplomats have either failed in their mission or are unable to reason with an antagonist. The soldiers job is to conduct combat and subdue the enemy, not play the role of statesman or diplomat.

This nation DOES owe more then gratitude for its servicemen and women, it owes them much more then that. It owes them a guarantee that they will stand out of the way to allow its combat forces to finish their job because you are there as a last resort, not to play games at the whim of politicians. After you've subdued your enemy, and terms are met, then the diplomats and politicians can come back in and try and "win the hearts" of the vanquished.

If these soldiers who've made it home want to protest by throwing the medals back at the pukes who've played games with their lives that's their right, just as much as it's the right of others not to. Personally, I didn't have the luxory of being a protestor when I came home. I had to work and raise a family. But if I could talk to this young man and others like him, I would say to them to visit their local VFW post. You'll find others who'll listen to you and know where you're coming from.

Once again the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces and US Civilians NOT told why.

***BEFORE ALL THE NAME CALLING STARTS, GO TO THE NEAREST VFW (talk with the participants of the events below), OR DO YOUR OWN (NOT WIKIPEDIA, wikipedia disclaims the validity of their articles) RESEARCH***I GAVE YOU FACTS of WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE, HOW MANY, etc.. and even those Interrelated Events (without stating Classified Information)***

First, US Civilian Control over the US Military. US Military does NOT determine where, who, why, we must Fight, the US Civilians as Represented by the US Politicians that the US Civilians hired (Elected) determine that.

Second:

Iraq: US Laws: US Congress House of Representatives H.R.4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998", and US Senate 2002 Iraqi War Resolution. To Declare a War takes both Houses of US Congress. The US President CANNOT Declare War Unilaterally, and can send the US Military in to "Limited Involvements" only if the President meets the requirements of the US Law 1973 War Powers Resolution.

2002-2003 Operation Hotel California conducted by US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces (full knowledge of the Facts of Iraq as who, what, where, when, how, etc.): Attack the Al Quada and Islamic Jihadists as Ansar Al Islam at Northern Iraq. Seize the Iraqis Chemical Weapons Facility at Sargat. Create an Strategic Operational Feint by attacking, seizing and securing the Northern Iraqis Oil Fields to make the Iraqis Military Command believe that the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces would attack thru US Ally Turkey, so that they would redeploy their Main Iraqis Military Forces north of Baghdad. Prepare for the 2003 US Military Conventional Warfare Forces Liberation of Iraq by attacking the Iraqis Military C4I, Iraqis Military and Political Leadership, and the Iraqis Military deployed north of Baghdad (destroy 6 Full Strength Iraqis Armored and Mechanized Infantry Divisions (historical record says 5 (five) divisions destroyed, but did not count the 1 (one) Iraqis Reserved division also destroyed) with Companies of US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces and Kurdistanis Companies with no air support (violation of airspace)). This is why in 2003 the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces coming from US Ally Kuwait and US Ally Saudi Arabia met little or no organized defenses of the Iraqis Military (also never explained to the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces nor the US Public). Many of the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces receive their second, or third Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars,Silver Stars (for Valor in Combat), the CIA SAD/SOG quitely Redacted during Classified Ceremonies.

The US Military Asymmetric Warfare Commanders inform the US Political Leadership that the War At Iraq will turn from Conventional Warfare into an Asymmetric War. The 97% Majority of the US Military is Conventional Warfare Only and are not trained nor experienced to conduct sustained Asymmetric Warfare, the remaining 3% of US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces are overtasked, outnumbered, and underfunded. 92% of US Citizens refuse to Serve in the US Military according to Candidate Obama, with Candidate Obama's Solution to start the Selective Service (aka Draft) or Mandatory Compulsory US Military Service to Force the 92% of US Citizens to "Do their Fair Share" as "US Citizenship is not an Entitlement and US Military Service is a Civic Duty"; during the Presidential Debates of Candidate Obama and Candidate McCain, Candidate McPain opposed the Candidate Obama Vietnam like "Draft"; many of the US Military that had been deployed numerous times voted for Candidate Obama due to his promised (verbal contract) Solution of the Selective Service aka "Draft" (with no deferments). President Obama's April 2009 US Military Defense Budget Cuts of the USAF and USN during Two Wars (and 4 President Obama Secret Wars) means that the "Draftees" will become US Army or USMC Ground Combatants.

Afghanistan: Weeks after the 9/11 2001 Attacks, US Congressional Laws. US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces attached to the CIA's SAD/SOG are sent into Afghanistan to attack the Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadist Organization Al Quada (planned and executed the 9/11 2001 Attacks and the 1993 First World Trade Center Bombing) and Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadist Training Camps as fully Supported by the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government (involved: Russian Federation (USSR) backed Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran). President Bush defers US Military Matters to the US Military Experts (also making them completely Accountable and Responsible, Scapegoats in case of failures).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY

Tora Bora President Bush is informed by US Congress that he cannot authorize the Assassination of Osama Bin Laden as this is against the US No Assassination Policy (International Laws, Treaties). President Bush authorizes the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces leading the Pro US Afghans to allow the Pro US Afghans to capture and do what they will to Osama Bin Laden. After this President Bush to circumvent US Congress Amends the US No Assassination Policy by Executive Order in 2006 to allow the Termination of Osama Bin Laden.

US Military Conventional Warfare Forces start to arrive at Afghanistan (NOT Trained for Afghanistan's Asymmetric War) and repeat the same Conventional Warfare mistakes of the USSR 40th Army Occupation that were exploited by us and the 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen during Operation Cyclone. US made the mistake of abandoning the US Ally 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen instead of assisting them to rebuild Afghanistan back to the previous 20th Century "Little America" that Afghanistan was as built up by the US from the 1950s to 1979. The Pro USSR Afghans that fled the USSR 40th Army Occupation (massacres of ANY Afghans, Pro US or Pro USSR did not matter) return from USSR Backed Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran, and massacred the US Ally 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen (20,000 to 50,000), and then the (Civilian) Collaborators to the Christians, Jews, Unbelievers (large percentage of Civilian Population) and become the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban. And NO we did NOT train Osama Bin Laden, as Osama Bin Laden was still living with his Rich Relatives at Saudi Arabia forming his Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadist Organization of Al Quada being Anti US, Anti US Ally, Anti US Ally Saudi Arabian Government. I told you where the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban came from as to why to this day they are still fully supported by the Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran (equipped, trained by Iranian Special Forces Quds, funds (from Worldwide Mandatory Islamic Tithes of 1.5 Billion Islamic Believers, Trillions USDs each year), Islamic Sanctuary, use of the Southern Old Silk Road to get to and from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, lots of etc.).

Al Quada and the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government are Overthrown at Afghanistan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY. The survivors flee to Northern Iraq by the Old Silk Road. The Few US Military Teams attached to CIA SAD/SOG that Survived (the link) start to pursue the surviving Al Quada, Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists, and Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government along the Southern part of Old Silk Road (Northwestern Afghanistan --->Northern Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran --->NortheasternIraq (actually the whole northern 1/4 of Iraq)). The surviving US Military Asymmetric Warfare Teams attached to the CIA's SAD/SOG closed in and are decimating them with extreme prejudice; US Congress, US Department of State objects (violations of other Sovereign Nations) as there is NO US Law to allow this and demand President Bush as Commander In Chief Order us to stop the pursuit, the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces stop their pursuit of the surviving Al Quada, Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists, and Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government (Militias, actually size of an Army).

2002 the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Commanders and the US Intelligence Agencies develop a plan to defeat the Al Quada, Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists, and Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government that escaped to Northern Iraq as Operation Hotel California; President Bush as Commander In Chief starts pushing for the US Law 2002 Iraqi War Resolution to have a US Law to authorize Operation Hotel California. As soon as the ink dried on the US Senate US Law, 2002 Iraqi War Resolution the surviving Team Members of the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces attached to the CIA's SAD/SOG from Afghanistan augmented by the US Army 10th Special Forces Group in 2002 are redeployed from Afghanistan to Northern Iraq and attack the surviving Al Quada, Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadists, and Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban Government that escaped to Northern Iraq from Afghanistan and formed up as Fundamentalist Islamic Jihadist Organization Ansar Al Islam. see above about Iraq about 2002-2003 Operation Hotel California.

After losing significant numbers of US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces and CIA SAD/SOG during Afghanistan weeks after the 9/11 2001 Attacks, and later 2002-2003 Operation Hotel California these Teams are given a break to replace the Dead (many buddies for decades), Medically Disqualified (missing limbs), Severely Wounded (months to years to recover); train new Team Members; etc.. And are redeployed in 2005 to Afghanistan, Iraq, Redacted, Redacted, lots of etc..

None of this was explained to the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces nor the US Public. So, yes, protesting something that you know nothing about, or receiving "participation" awards, decorations, medals, is a slap in our faces andthe many of the US Military Asymmetric Warfare Team Members attached to the CIA's SAD/SOG that died weeks after the 9/11 2001 Attacks and 2002-2003 Operation California to stop the capability for them to conduct more 9/11 2001 Attacks or massacres; as well as making everything easier for the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces (still not trained to fight Asymmetric Wars, as to why they keep getting killed).

I am a veteran and I believe in freedom of speech. However, I believe it is foolish to return one's medals – because that act means absolutely nothing. There are better ways to make your point.

All of us need to remember that Republicans and Democrats took up the challenge of where the Soviet Union and the Russians failed in Afghanistan.

In the combined political belief that the U.S. could get the job done, we now are in a gigantic money whirlpool that is sucking millions of dollars every hour of the day. The military expenses in Afghanistan are totally unbelievable, in dollars, and in injuries and lives.

The U.S. and NATO need to wake up and realize that they cannot change the way of life of a society stuck in a 14th century feudal system, and drag or pull them into 2012. It simply is not possible to do that.

The U.S. and NATO forces need to get out of Afghanistan NOW, no later than June 30, 2012, not next year.

Let the feudal societies fight amongst themselves. I do not give a damn who wins. We just need to put them on notice that if they screw with us, we will nuke them, and turn their civilized areas into glass deserts.

5 years in the service and only one combat deployment ????? That boy was seriously in hide mode - send your medals back - pussy

WhistleBerries - All of us need to remember that Republicans and Democrats took up the challenge of where the Soviet Union and the Russians failed in Afghanistan.

Like I stated before (and you are proving my statement at post#1.85): None of this was explained to the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces nor the US Public.

Do you know who f**ked us up after we did this (barely survived): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxKhJIjIiY. The f**kedup US Politicians got involved, with their beliefs in Conventional Warfare and NO concept of Asymmetric Warfare.

WhistleBerries- In the combined political belief that the U.S. could get the job done, we now are in a gigantic money whirlpool that is sucking millions of dollars every hour of the day. The military expenses in Afghanistan are totally unbelievable, in dollars, and in injuries and lives.

You say you are a "Veteran" however Facts are indicating otherwise. As the US Military Personnel as the 1% of US Citizens currently Serving in the US Military are paid below Minimum Wages, with so called "Benefits" like Medical TriCare Payroll Deductions, etc..

The Millions to Billions of USDs are being spent by President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State, these Billions USDs are NOT accessable by the US Military NOR the Afghans.

After General McChrystal (US Army Asymmetric Warfare (aka Special Forces), previous Commander JSOC, previous Commander JSOTF Iraq, detailed input into Operation Neptune as tasked by Admiral McRaven JSOC, etc.) a stated registered Democrat was nominated and became the Commander of Afghanistan, President Karzai asked General McChrystal to investigate why Billions were being spent by President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State and NOTHING was being built nor done. Because nothing was being built nor done the people of Afghanistan were getting pissed at President Karzai, he was told by the President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State that Kabul would finally get Electricity, this became one of President Karzai's later Campaign promises, so when the sh!t promised by President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State did not happen, the people of Afghanistan blamed President Karzai.

President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State find out about General McChrystal's Investigation of them and start to do things to get him Relieved of Command to stop his investigations of them. President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of Statestart screaming to the International News Media "Karzai Corrupt" to deflect blame from themselves.

Secretary of Defense Gates keeps advising President Obama not to relieve General McChrystal of Command of Afghanistan (General McChrystal one of the few Flag Officers with Experience to win the Asymmetric War at Afghanistan, the only other being lesser "on the ground" experienced Admiral McRaven).

After President Obama made a Deal with General McChrystal to obtain General McChrystal's Letter of Resignation, since President Obama did not have a Legal Leg to stand on, and a Public Congressional Hearing of everything of General McChrystal's "This Administration Does Not Know What It Is Doing" would destroy President Obama's Political Career (especially the Families, Parents, Relatives of the US Citizens of the US Military that died Unnecessarily due to President Obama's Policies, especially President Obama's March 2009 Policy).

After accepting President Obama's Deal to retire as a Four Star General instead of a Three Star General, General McChrystal was replaced by President Obama's nominee General Petraeus. Immediately during General Petraeus's meeting with President Karzai, President Karzai asked about the status of the Investigation of President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State started by General McChrystal. General Petraeus is caught completely unaware of the General McChrystal Investigations (he is briefed later, General McChrystal believed that President Obama and SOS Clinton were "in on it" (Spending of Billions USDs)). General Petraeus continues General McChrystal Investigations of President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State. After completing his Investigations of President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State General Petraeus turns in his Reports to President Karzai without informing President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State, SOS Clinton and President Obama. Within Days President Karzai demands that President Obama's Political Appointees of the US Department of State account for every dime spend in his Country or leave his Country. Pissed that General Petraeus did not inform him of the Investigations and Investigation Results President Obama wants to Relieve General Petraeus of Command, and has to make a Deal with General Petraeus to get his Letter of Resignation, just like President Obama had to do with General McKiernan, General McChrystal. President Obama's Deal was for General Petraeus to Retire to obtain General Petraeus's Letter of Resignation, General Petraeus negotiates to become the Director of the CIA also based on the information ("dirt") he has on President Obama pertaining to the Special Reconnaissance Mission to Pakistan (things that I previously posted are slowing leaking out, see Secretary of Defense Gates CBS News Interview, May 16, 2012, the "did not know" part.), to keep this from Public Knowledge (Required Public US Congressional Hearing to Relieve a US Military Commander from Command after being Confirmed by US Congress) President Obama accepts General Petraeus's Terms to obtain General Petraeus's Letter of Resignation.

WhistleBerries - The U.S. and NATO need to wake up and realize that they cannot change the way of life of a society stuck in a 14th century feudal system, and drag or pull them into 2012. It simply is not possible to do that.

US Ally Afghanistan was Built Up to a 20th Century "Little America" from the 1950s to 1979. After the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban became the Government of Afghanistan they destroyed everything that was "Non Islamic", "Modern", "Western", etc. and then the lights literally went out at Afghanistan after they destroyed the Electric Power Plants. During Operation Cyclone we observed that the USSR 40th Army Occupation was enjoying all the US Built 20th Century Comforts at the Afghan Cities, you would think that they were on vacation or something, while their USSR "Field" Units were getting repeatedly attacked by us leading the 1980s Pro US Afghan Muhajeen. The stup!d that continues today, as the USSR built more Bases to hold the ground (a Conventional Warfare Concept) and became fixed in place "Fish In a Barrel", so now the US Military Conventional Warfare Forces attempt to hold ground by occupying some of the same USSR Bases as FOBs/COBs.

WhistleBerries - We just need to put them on notice that if they screw with us, we will nuke them, and turn their civilized areas into glass deserts.

Not going to happen:

A. Limited numbers of Functional US Nuclear Weapons after SALT, START, INF Treaty ("Tactical Nuclear Weapons" destroyed along with manufacturing processes), etc..

B. Those involved that will be sucked into a Nuclear War, Fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran, Fundamentalist Islamic Arab League of Nations, Russian Federation, Chinese, North Korea, Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Libya, Islamic Republic of Egypt (Strategic Suez Canal), Islamic Nation of Oman, Islamic Republic of Iraq, current agreements of Central and South American Nations, etc. versus US, US Ally Saudi Arabia, US Ally Israel, maybe some of the US Ally European Nations (don't know where the French ICBMs are targeted). US Ally (Islamic) Turkey has their hands full with the Kurdistanis.

C. FYI, geography (land mass) makes a significant survival difference during and after a Nuclear War, the US and US Allies are the Minority NOT the Majority.

D. Ever heard the term "Nuclear Winter", Residual Radiation, if not go watch the 2011 movie "The Divide". Errata to the movie "The Divide" would be that anyone seeing the intial "flash" of the nuclear detonations would have had their retinas burned and been permanently blind.

E. Nuclear Blast and After Effects do NOT stay in a nice neat circle on a map.

F. EMP/EMR from Nuclear destroying all the "High Tech" of the US and US Allies that are heavily reliant on microprocessors (Cellphones, TVs, other Communications, Digital, Computers, ICBMs, Weapons Systems, Tanks, Vehicles, Aircraft, "smart batteries", electric power generation, nuclear power plants, lots of etc.). You do not need to have a Nuclear weapon direct hit, just one exploding in the area (air burst) up to thousands of miles away.

Before being asked to either switch my US Military Officer Specialty to "Middle East" Qualified Asymmetric Warfare or Resign My US Military Officer Commission I used to teach Nuclear (Weapons) Physics and Nuclear Physiology before being assigned to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF). Was also trained and experienced in Chemical Weapons (Iran Iraq Wars, later co authored Operation Steel Box and Operation Golden Python), Biological Weapons (USAMRIID, Epidemiology), Conventional Munitions, Wheeled and Tracked Vehicle Maintenance Officer, EOD, Missiles, etc..

starsailing: Nice claims you've made. Any proof to support them? So far no one has proven they've lied about anything. Sure, we heard from the dems for 8 years that Bush was a liar. We heard that he was dumb. Of course, he beat 2 separate opponents and beat them, so that doesn't say much for them. Don't forget, that for 7 years, while hearing how Bush was a liar, we also heard how terrible the economy was. Bush tried to warn against the problems in in sub-prime mortgage market and again we heard that Bush lied, and that everything was fine there. So, what happens. After 7 years of a booming economy the bottom falls out as a result of the problems Bush warned about in the sub-prime mortgage market. Sorry, by revisionism only works if everyone who experienced it is dead. Even then it rarely works.

How did he get PTSD and no CIB or Purple Heart?

Probably not allowed to re-enlist

REALLY WANT TO PI$$ off US Gov and US Military = If these people really want to pi$$ off the US Gov, Military, etc. = they should mail anything they want = back to any address in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. so those people can sell them.

And, it is the right of combat veterans to do whatever they want with their medals, ribbons, etc. = as it is their personal property. Period. I am sick and tired of people trying to tell other people how to live their lives and what to do with what they own.

Including US Gov and US Military trying to and demanding other countries to do what they = the US Gov and Us Military = want them to do by going to war, sending advisors, etc. USA military needs to stay on our own soil until and unless other countries are attacking us or planning to invade us, on or at our own soil, air space or water space or international boundaries, etc.

Those are Wars that even I would support, defending our own Nation and People here in the USA.

COMBAT VETERANS = JUST GET RID OF ANYTHING YOU WANT = BUT KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT = Because it is against Federal law for anyone in USA to sell medals, ribbons, etc. and also in USA for anyone who did not earn that specific medal, ribbon, etc. to purchase them. Fed law has been in place for years. Just remember to first, wipe them clean of your fingerprints, etc. and thereafter wear gloves when handling them, giving them to others and mailing them, etc.

US Gov and Military could care less anyway. And NATO and any such agency, dept, etc. will just give them all back to US Gov so that is rather stupid to hand anything over to them, in my opinion.

Our Father was awarded two (2) Bronze Stars for heroism and valor in World War II = but never was awarded his two (2) Purple Hearts and Silver Star or higher he deserved and never paid one penny on his disability he was approved after waking up from a three (3) month coma in Walter Reed. A nurse told him the doctors and most everyone had already written him off, not thinking he would make it; but she attended to him, praying by him and having faith that he would wake up.

When he finally decided to really fight = for all of what was due him, in his Seventies, = the VA employee told him his paperwork was lost and for him to give up and get over it.

FV VA for dishonoring our Father who, even though severely injured and left disabled during and from his combat days = our Father never lost his love of this country. Our Father always told us he fought for and ended up being severely injured and disabled = fighting in WWII and for our freedoms. Freedom of Speech being one, and to me, the main one.

Yes, I love this country too; and the men and woman Military Veterans in Combat and who were in Combat during any War. But I do not go along with the views and decisions on taking us to War; so the next war = I will be at front lines of protest because of how US Gov and Military lies and refuses treatment to Veterans and denying their disability benefits, etc. no matter.

Also, a guy I dearly loved and my best girlfriend’s brother, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously, during the Vietnam War. He was killed the day before he was to return home and had volunteered to go on that last mission. His Mother accepted the Medal of Honor on his behalf from the President. Along with all the other guys from our graduation class that died in Vietnam, his death is the one that made his sister and I bitter against that War and wanting to protest.

Out of respect for our Father, and him asking me not to = I never became a War Protestor. But I would have been right there beside Jane Fonda during Vietnam War and Cindy Sheehan during the last ones.

Before any of you out there volunteer to go to war = you need to quit volunteering for a Country who, in my opinion and millions of others, does not care about you. If you are drafted, then immediately look for options. And make your own decisions on what to do at that time. Listen to your heart, and the history of the US Gov and Military not supporting War Combat Veterans = not that you need a job, and that is why you join.

But just like this is my personal opinions, you have yours also, so choose your own path; but remember = you have no one else to blame if you volunteer; and you must live forever with your decisions and any injuries, illnesses, diseases, etc. you might receive.

God and Jesus Bless the men and woman Combat Veterans of the US Military. I love you all.

David,

Either you need to indicate where you have sourced your information from or you are missing some key facts, of which one of the most obvious is that Secretary of Defense Gates, is NOW Secretary of Defense Pinetta. Personally I think it is plagiarism because it sounds like an opinion piece that has been cut and paste.

Witch .........the WHOLE world knows they lied about WMD in Iraq. Ask Colin Powelll why he quit the Bush Cabinet...Read his book........Jesus either you have been hiding in a cave, or you are a liar. Watch the u tube video of Bush making fun of the whole nation when he was giving a speech after the lie was exposed. Watch Bush look under podium and table then come back and look into camera and say...No Weapons of Mass destruction there, THEN HE LAUGHED IN EVERYONES FACE. Laughed in the faces of the dead and dying and wounded soldiers from Iraq war. Basically laughing saying so what, what are you going to do about it. Bush warned us about the economy.??????..yeah while it was crashing!!!!!!!!!!!!! Didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out when I got layoff news...duh!

@ What Else Is New: You had me until you mentioned Saigon Jane and dodging the draft. I could have run off to Canada when I got my notice. I lived ten minutes away from the Ambassador Bridge to Canada. Sure, it'd have been easy to hop in the piece of crap I was driving around in, in those days and went on over.

No. Right or wrong, if this is your country, we all inherited our liberties. Rich, poor, Republican or Democrat, we all share the same fate. We rise together and we fall together. We certainly don't always agree with one another, but we all live under one flag. Some things are treasonous though, and to protest injustice isn't one of them. To protest a war you don't agree with isn't either. But to duck out on your country when they call upon you or to sit on an emenies anti-aircraft gun aimed at our pilots is the ultimate betrayal.

War is hell. I shared that hell with alot of good men, and today's vets experienced their own brand of hell. You find your way to cope with it. Your families you leave behind and God willing, if you return to them, find their way to cope with it. I don't know, that's just the way I see it. I love these young men and women who've given thier all. Whether the war is righteous or not, I love them and it makes me angry that why they are fighting, life just goes on here and the majority of this country is dull to the effects. No shared sacrifice. People like Saigon Jane should have been arrested and tried for treason when she placed her feet back on American soil.

jak-3696747

Why is this crybaby keeping some medals but not the others. What did he think war was, a game of kickball?

Exactly, he wants to return his medals? Fine. Just make sure to return ALL of them, otherwise you just look like a bigger douche.

People like Saigon Hanoi Jane should have been arrested and tried for treason when she placed her feet back on American soil.

THIS. What else is new obviously doesn't know what horrors she committed, and how many of our servicemen paid with their lives because of it.

I did put Saigon Jane, didn't I. Another Senior moment. Thanks, 1SGFitzsWife. My wife would have correcte dme on that one too.

**********************************************************************************************************************************

All the veterans who sacrificed so that the US would be a place safe for Americans DIED FOR NOTHING if today's Americans allow the United States to be invaded by Latin America under the word "immigration".

*********************************************************************************************************************************

starsailing: So, are you also upset that Pelosi, Reid, Gore, and the rest of the dems lied to you? And why do you think a book by Powell would hold any sway with people. Remember, he claimed he was a repub but then supports Obama. So, either he is a racist or he is a liar.

The extent of the Bush lie is analogous to someone coming up to you and introducing you to "John," and then you turn around and introduce "John" to others, only it turns out that his name was "Bill." So, someone screams out "YOU LIE, that's not John, that's Bill." The fact is that there was intelligence out there that indicated that Saddam was seeking to develop WMDs. Even to this day, that's never been disputed. Nor has it been proven that he never had them. Actually, there were reports that we found old stashes of WMDs. Anyway, in the interest of political correctness and troop deployment, we gave the Iraqis plenty of time to ship WMDs out of the country. Just because we didn't find any doesn't mean they didn't exist. Besides, as you imply in your post, never did Bush come out and say Sadaam has WMDs. It was believed that he did. Quite frankly, a major part of the reason for this belief was a direct result of Saddam himself. You may not be old enough to remember Gulf I, but the agreement that was signed, where the allies allowed Sadaam to stay in power, specifically provided for Sadaam to prove that he had destroyed his weapons, including WMDs. This agreement provided for verification. Sadaam constantly was booting the UN investigators out of the country, in violation of the agreement he signed. So, only a fool and a damn fool would believe his claims that he had none and wasn't working on anything.

If you have people working under you who say they have evidence of one thing, and you have another group of people who say, that isn't the case, are you lying if you say "we have reason to believe" (take your pick of believing either group). So, no, Bush didn't lie. You just don't remember what he said.

Witch pure B.S. Million stories about the big lie and how Bush and all repubs started calling anyone who would not go along....traitors, unpatriotic. and the MEDIA knew it was old false info, but even the media was scared to call them out on it. Take your B.S. someplace else. It doesn't play here or any other place in the world. Bush even made fun of the whole nation after it was exposed they deliberately used false intel. At the podium at the beginning of a speech, Bush pretended he was looking under table and podium for something, then with that @!$%# eating grins looks into camera and says"No WMDS there!" Real funny to all the dead and dying and to their families. Powell supports Obama because the repubs are that bad. He was part of their cabinet, he knows what is going on and quit the cabinet, he lost any chance himself of becoming president because the info they gave him was B.S. He stood up in front of the whole world and said words that Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeldt knew were lies. Witch I was evac Medic during Viet Nam, you probably were TOO YOUNG to know about fake wars for profit, just like Iraq under Bush II. Guess you believed Sadamm so that makes you the D..... fool. Saddam was totally contained. Going no where. Bush and Cabinet KNEW he had no WMDS, but Haliburton was going bankrupt, hence the no bid contracts to bail them out, Cheneys old company. Witch go get educated someplace else then come back to blogs w/out the b.S.

It's NATO, not the U.N.

Steven::: Obama and Bush? Seems to me that Iraq and Afganistan (sp) were started by Bush and handed over to Obama. Now he has to try and finish the mess that was handed to him.

The two conflicts are 11 years old or there abouts. That means the majority of those two conflicts were under Bush's watch. He could have taken care of it on his watch, but he didn't care to do so.

I hope we can find an end to this mess we are in, get our boys home and stay home from here to eternity.

Steven100

Giving up his medals is a slap in the face of Obama and Bush who deserve to have their faces slapped for all the damage that has been done to our sons and daughters.

News flash - Bush got us into those wars - Obama is getting us out. Along with Bush chasing bin Laden only to be eliminated under the Obama administration.

Nothing new.....Obama loves taking credit for the work begun by others...LOL!

hambone johnson - It's NATO, not the U.N.

FYI, NATO is the US Military based on Money, Manpower, Equipment, etc. percentage of NATO as to why the Ultimate Commander of NATO as SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander Europe) is routinely a US Military General or Admiral.

Susie-2759697 - Steven::: Obama and Bush? Seems to me that Iraq and Afganistan (sp) were started by Bush and handed over to Obama.

Mike-416 - News flash - Bush got us into those wars

YOU TOO Mike-416 and those that voted for your Post:

Ignorance is NOT Bliss - Christopher Matgouranis and Matthew Denhart

The War at Iraq STARTED with US Law H.R.4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998" (FYI President Clinton's justification Weapons of Mass Destruction, see Section 2 "Findings" Weapons of Mass Destruction). This US Law later becomes US Military Operation Iraqis Freedom 1998 to 2011. Also President Clinton's Demanding War with Iraq, justification Weapons of Mass Destruction, with his 1998 State of the Union Address.

See post#1.85 about US Senate Law, 2002 Iraqi War Resolution, and 2002-2003 Operation Hotel California.

Afghanistan: It was President Clinton's Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies and the Cut to the Bone Reduction In Forces (RIFs) of the US Military that left the US wide open to the 9/11 2001 Attacks. President Clinton's Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies caused Intelligence Blackouts Worldwide, especially the "Middle East" (including Afghanistan); resulting in a loss of Intelligence Assets at many Hostile and Potentially Hostile Nations that took Decades to create, and were gone in months after President Clinton's Gutting of the US Intelligence Agencies. The US then had to rely on information (not even intelligence) from "Potentially Hostile Nations" like Pakistan and Jordan, this information was NOT crediable, reliable, nor verifiable (President Clinton's Cut to the Bone RIFs of US Military included RIFs of US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces that independently verify intelligence to become "Actionable Intelligence", these US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces that took decades (at least 10.5 years, not including language(s) and culture(s)) were gone in months). Before you start flinging your emotive non factual opinions or name calling, that was the result of the Investigations, Findings, and Recommendations of the US Congressional 9/ 11 2001 Committee (Chaired and Majority Democratic Party).

Pay close attention to these Details:

Iraq: "US Military Combatants leaving Iraq" - President Obama. (not stated) Replaced by US Military "Non Combatants" trained as Combatants. To protect and secure the 104 Acre $1 Billion US Embassy Compound (costs $1 Billion per year to operate, just like the other US Department of State $1 Billion Disneyland Resort and Spa at Pakistan) by conducting Patrols to keep mortars, snipers, rockets out of range 16,000 minus the 1,500 US Embassy Personnel.

Afghanistan: Firsthand experience NOT your uneducated non factual opinion: Our departure date. 2001. 2002 for Operation Hotel California 2003. Down time to replace dead. 2005. 2006. 2007. Redacted. 2009. 2011. 2012. 2013. 2014. Indefinite ? (President Obama signs Treaty with President Karzai, May 2012), most of us are going back on EARNED Retirement with NO Replacements trained (due to President Clinton's Cut to the Bone RIFs, as that is how long minimum training takes). The ONLY way they can legally Recall us back to Active Duty US Military is if the US is invaded.

GO POST YOUR EMOTIVE NON FACTUAL OPINIONS ON YOUR OWN PERSONAL BLOG. NEWSVINE "GET SMARTER HERE" IS FOR ADULTS TO DISCUSS FACTS (who, what, where, why, when, how, how many, etc.).

If he feels so badly, then he should cut off any connnection to the armed serices...go out and get a job, pay for his own health care....be a real man...

mrsmajor: Why? He earned it all. He can do with it as he pleases.

Go back to watching Army Wives or whatever that fake reality bs is mrsmajor or better yet why don't you go serve on the front lines in the ME. I hear they love your type.

I don't agree he should lose his benefits he did the time, but I think if he's going to return his medals he should return all of them.

I don't see the big deal. I don't even know where my medals are but if I though giving them back would do any good, I would.

John - Speaking to those members would not fit the editorial policy of the media outlet. Like many, I harbored a distrust of the media in my 20+ years that has not abated after retirement.

John Reynozo - Soldiers see people being helped, girls going to school for the first time without fear of beatings or even death, and even the ability to disagree openly with the direction of the government. Why not talk with those Service Members as opposed to the the small minority?

Two words: Sensationalism Sells.

John Reynozo - and even the ability to disagree openly with the direction of the government.

Nope if you are in the US Military you cannot do that unless you do it completely anonymously. The hypocrites screaming "Freedom of Speech" as long as their exemptions of Rights do not pertain to them. Freedom of Speech against Actions of President Bush; but, not against Actions of President Obama.

So by obama dragging it out for another decade plus makes the departure so much easier and more palatable?

That's like saying, "honey, I am divorcing you ten years from next month, but I'll continue to sleep with you so that you won't feel used."

Chip Girouard - Obama, really???? Bush totally botched Afghanistan and Bush launched a war against a sovereign nation without cause. Obama is trying to get out of those countries without leaving them worse than how we broke them.

*****************************YES OBAMA REALLY**********************************

Read posts#1.85, 1.88 and 4.5.

FACTS (who, what, where, when, why, how, how many, etc.) ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR "Popular" NON FACTUAL UNEDUCATED EMOTIVE OPINIONS.

How about this you get your lazy arse and research the Name (Title) of President Obama's March 2009 Policy that f**ked up everything at the "Middle East", Africa, Asia, South and Central Americas, etc. and then post the name (title) of that President Obama Policy below. After all the adverse effects became known President Obama's March 2009 Policy was removed from the Democratic National Committees List of President Obama Achievements.

According to Janet Napolitano, if they're a veteran, they need to be on a watch list. After all, they're trained killers of women and children and other innocents. (Sarcasm intended.)

seemssoobvious - How many of them will wind up on some watch list and be branded a potential terrorist ?

Then Representative of All Democrats, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, "Anyone returning from the Wars is a Potential Homegrown Domestic Terrorist".

President Obama's January 21, 2009 Patriot Acts that included the Defeated as Unconstitutional US Senate S.1959 and US House of Representatives H.R.1955 aka the George Orwell 1984 Thought Crimes Laws, in that the written or verbal statement is also the Crime. example from President Obama's January 21, 2009 Patriot Acts, "Anyone stating a radical change to (US) Government is a Homegrown Domestic Terrorist".

Is that clear enough, seemssoobvious

Or become VP of the United States (DICK CHENEY) after haveing spent the VN years - when he was of the right generation to be drafted - by using every deferment trick in the book to avoid service and than attack those of the opposite party who did serve. (I wanted to though Bush in there but technically he did serve, and Obama is too young).

or become prez for the same reasons ala BJ billie in Oxford University.

Hollykb - Or become VP of the United States (DICK CHENEY) after haveing spent the VN years

Before you sling sh!t, you might want tolook at the Biographical information for the Current Democratic Politicians (like the current Vice President, hint if I got a Medical Deferment from a known Anti War Doctor for $20,000;

and was defeated during Presidential Campaigns in my Home State as too sick to hold Public Office due to that Medical Deferment;

or getting numerous Student Deferments eventhough receiving a F- for cheating;

I would not be slinging sh!t.

As such, what will it really mean?

It is not just an attempt to garner publicity but a move to "heal" himself. His medals won't be awarded to someone else. Someone else will receive their own unused medals. But the military hands out medals and ribbons like they are candy at a parade is a statement that he is really trying to make. He doesn't want the reminder of the wars and his participation.

Fair enough thethinker.. I meant what he discards are ultimately, symbolically or otherwise, awarded to someone else.

Believe me, giving up that medal makes a statement but can't come near to healing.. I know allll about it.

Thinker - I take great exception to your statement "But the military hands out medals and ribbons like they are candy at a parade..."

I remember seeing folks like you during the Viet Nam era when I was in high school. You seem to enjoy finding fault in the Military and those who serve. You seem to relish making comments to show how you disdain the military and how you are above the folks who choose to serve. I have just one question for you:

Did you ever serve? I did for more than 24 years. I do not believe I was "handed" my 2 Purple Heart medals, nor any of the other awards that I earned by hard work, sacrifice and sweat, like candy at a parade. Even what we jokingly called the "I was there" awards meant you had to be there. Where have you been?

Folks like to praise the Newsies who accompany the troops as being so brave, but are they making the same as a Private or PFC in the Army? The PVT or PFC is every bit as much in danger as the reporter, maybe even more as they are often guarding the reporters, yet they are doing it for about 1% of what the newsie is paying in taxes and love of country. And for someone to question why they do it or try to demean an award give for service is very annoying to those of us who did serve.

Bob - Yes I have served. And yes I have received my "been there" medals. I was in from the early '70s through the late '80s. No, I don't have disdain for the military members. I do however have disdain for the military leaders.

As you pointed out, the leaders are concerned about protecting the media so that the media can tell the folks back home what a great job the military is doing - most would liken it to narcissism. Risk your life to get a newscast rather than focus on executing a political agenda. Then the military censors the newscast before permitting its broadcast. Even when things go badly the military tries to deceive the people back home. But this is just one example of military ineptitude.

He doesn't want the reminder of the wars and his participation.

Then why is he only giving back a couple of his medals? Why not all of them?

Actually the VietNam war trumps the Iraq war for being unpopular..and deadly. Having been in the former and living through that era I can tell you everyone was strongly opinionated one way or the other at the time. You'd hardly know there was a war on during Iraq unless you were actually serving, you know..."smart phones" take everyone's attention now. Sad but true.

Gotta go with Joe on this one, i wasn't even alive during Vietnam, but to hear the stories of how my father and his friends were treated when they got home trumps Iraq, my husband's been in and out of Iraq several times since Desert Storm, and he's only been spit on once, unfortunately for that woman (her hospital stay) and our checkbook (my bail) it was done in front of me. Had I been around during the Vietnam war I don't think I would've done well, I would've been in jail a LOT.

No one spit on any soldiers during Viet Nam, that came from the Rambo movie. Veterens have a website debunking all spit on stories and are pissed about it. Viet Nam was not propagadized as wwI was. We saw the dead and dying, we saw the execution of people on tv, we saw soldiers burn villages with people in them. We saw children being killed just as you see in Iraq. My best friend Bruce Ugelstad was killed his last week in Nam. We got his letters and phone calls, we heard the truth. Skip Schimdt signed up after Bruce went in. Skip came home to find wife left him and Bruce dead, so he killed himself because he wasted his time and life in V.N. We had reporters among soldiers during battles filming and reporting. One of my best friends came back from Iraq without being in any battles, had a good time. Another one was in battles day after day after day. Knowing children and women and innocent people caught in cross fire. Innocent people because of fake WMD stories, the real goal was the Oil and war profits and NO PLAN what to do when Saddam and war was over. DUHHHHHHHH. Notice how Bush would not allow coffin photos of soldiers returning? Whatever heals a Vet from what they expreienced is fine with me. I found that every mans blood was red no matter the color of the person. Corporations are not people. They only have red ink.

Invading Mexicans spit on the graves of US soldiers.

Thats right

Rob and Mike - If the war was based on lies, then was Clinton also lying when he bombed Iraq for the same reasons in the 90's? Was he just trying to deflect attention from his Impeachment Hearings? If the war was based on lies, then are the Democrats in Congress also culpable as they saw the same intelligence before voting for the war (before they voted against it)? Can you guys PLEASE come up with better rhetoric?

Bob: Yes, Clinton was lying. Yes, many Democrats are also culpable.

The issue isn't what party he is in, it's what 'war' he was sent to fight in.

Clinton bombed Iraq for trying to overtake Kuwait. Kuwait is an American ally, and we were justified in protecting them from oncoming Iraqi soldiers. This had nothing to do with the war that's going on now....it was just a prelude to problems. It was 9/11 that started the current wars, which occurred during Bush's watch!

PROOF THAT THE AVERAGE US CITIZEN IS TOO IGNORANT TO DETERMINE THE HIGHEST OFFICES OF THE LAND, PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT - FOUNDING FATHERS ARGUEMENTS WHILE ESTABLISHING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE:

Rob99 - Iraq as we all know was based on lies. Afghanistan became nothing more than a military industrial complex gold mine. These were not "national wars" like WWII or WW I.

Mike-1924427 - Thats right

Didi-376564 - Clinton bombed Iraq for trying to overtake Kuwait.

President Clinton's Reason for Starting the War at Iraq (that President Bush Inherited as US Military Operation Iraqis Freedom in accordance with US Law H.R. 4655 "Iraqis Liberation Act of 1998", Section 2 "Findings" Justification Weapons of Mass Destruction):

Together we must also confront the new hazards of chemical and biological weapons, and the outlaw states, terrorists and organized criminals seeking to acquire them. Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of this decade, and much of his nation's wealth, not on providing for the Iraqi people, but on developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. The United Nations weapons inspectors have done a truly remarkable job, finding and destroying more of Iraq's arsenal than was destroyed during the entire gulf war. Now, Saddam Hussein wants to stop them from completing their mission. I know I speak for everyone in this chamber, Republicans and Democrats, when I say to Saddam Hussein, "You cannot defy the will of the world", and when I say to him, "You have used weapons of mass destruction before; we are determined to deny you the capacity to use them again. - President Clinton's 1998 State of the Union Address.

I thought it was Bush Senior that bombed Iraq due to their involvement in Kuwait? When did Clinton Bomb them?

Clinton sent a bomb into an aspirin factory type thing he didn't do crap, and yes Thunder, Desert Storm was under former President Bush 1, I'm thinking Didi's picture isn't her and she's obviously 12 to not know that.

CNN:

Transcript President Clinton explains Iraq strike
CHEMICAL WEAPONS

December 16, 1998
Earlier today, I ordered Americas armed forces to strikemilitary and security targets in Iraq. They are joined byBritish forces. Their mission is to attack Iraqs nuclear,chemical and biological weapons programs and its militarycapacity to threaten its neighbors.

Their purpose is to protect the national interest of theUnited States, and indeed the interests of people throughout theMiddle East and around the world.

Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighborsor the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biologicalweapons....

Bill Clinton in an interview ca. 2005 at the Aspen Institute:

Walter Isaacson: What would you personally do on Iraq now?

President Clinton: Well first of all let me say I have a position that is typically not fish or foul. If I had been in the Senate I would have voted for the resolution that would have given the President the authority to use force. Because he gave a speech in Cincinnati that a lot of people have forgotten that was a very compelling speech saying that the intelligence — I think he overstated it a bit, but when I was President, let me tell you what the intelligence showed — showed that there was a substantial amount of unaccounted for, that is we don't know what happened to it, biological and chemical agents and that there was some limited laboratory capacity and a nuclear deal...
at the end of the first Gulf War, we had an inventory when the UN inspections started. Then as things were found and destroyed, they were taken off the inventory. In '95, when two of Saddam's son-in-laws defected to Jordan, one of them was in charge of the WMD program, and he said, "This is what we've got, this is where it is." We confronted the Iraqis, and they said, "Well, the boys are telling the truth. We've been lying to you all along. Here it is." We went and got it and destroyed it. That's by far the most stuff that had been destroyed, even more than in the first Gulf War. After that was destroyed, if you subtracted it from what was in the report, there were still unaccounted for stocks. So, Saddam Hussein never did anything he wasn't forced to do.

So I supported the President, had I been a senator I'd have voted for it.

The Gulf War wasn't over, all they did was sign a cease fire on March 3, 1991. There were 16 different UN resolutions that the Iraqis refused to follow and they were bombed at different times during the Clinton administration. Bush 43 just made it a ground campaign instead of the Clinton's bomb them until they behave approach which did not work. The only thing Bush 43 was guilty of was horrible timing in that we should have finished things in Afghaistan first. The "Bush lied" nonsense is just that, nonsense.

Didi - You can't re-write history this close to the time it happened (no matter how clever the Obama WH tries). Clinton bombed Iraq because he believed there were WMD's in the country in the mid to late 90's. Iraq invaded Kuwait in 90 and was ousted in 91 by President GHW Bush. Clinton had nothing to do with the ouster of Iraq.

And, just so you know, a WMD (Weapon of Mass Destruction) is defined as a biological weapon, chemical weapon or nuclear weapon designed for a massive casualty count. There were chemical weapons found in Iraq, meaning both Clinton and GW Bush were RIGHT in saying there were WMD's in Iraq. There were also found evidence of both biological and nuclear material capable of turning into weapons found. That you will probably not read about it in the text you choose to read (the one stating Clinton bombed Iraq to save Kuwait) does not mean these facts are not true.

Why should he? You can earn those by sitting on your ass in Germany or Korea for your whole term of service.

He shouldn't have to give up any of his "bennies" as he did the time, but I think if you're going to return your medals in protest, you should return ALL of them.

He's returning the medals that symbolize a shameful act to him. He's not ashamed of the Army or being a soldier, he's ashamed of something that the Army participated in. There is a subtle, yet significant difference.

I bet one of those three wars was the civil war and you wore the Grey

...wait a minute! you didn't change your last name from Lee to Smith did you? You know, for political reasons and the like

stupidity , " black folks " sir, it is 2012 not 1912 thanks for your service

they paid a price that @!$%#s like you cant understand....so why dont you just shut your ignorant mouth or just say thanks.......

I served in Afghanistan their bud, he's 85, the last thing he knows about is what it's like to serve in today's military.

They've been some of the ones pushing for ridiculous budgets for dumb crap like strategic bombers and keeping gays out even though todays servicemen know we don't need stupid toys and we don't care about the gays (for the most part).

JSaff...... Let me guess, you went to bagram for a 120 day rotation, never went outside the wire, Right? The vets from our past wouldn't want to serve in the Pansy ass military of today. I would take the advice of an 80 year old vet, any day, and i would close my mind to your ignorance. And yes i was in the Military, retired with 29 years in march 2012, AND did my time in the AOR. As far as the Ribbons go they are a matter of record, this guy is going to give them back to who? he can buy them online. Medals are awarded and are also on record, like the the BRONZE STAR, MOH, COMENDATION, AIR MEDAL. The GWOT, and Afghanistan/ Iraq campaign medals are ribbons given to military troops just for being in the AOR ( AREA OF RESPONSABILTY ) and automatically show up on your award and decorations record. So, Steven Acheson make your statement, dumb ass.

"You'll be dead within the next 5 years, why do you care?"

JSaff's rebuke of the World War II veteran (Robert E. Smith) is the most reprehensible comment I have read in the four years I have read these articles and their comments. It has nothing to do with the "right" or the "wrong" of anyone's point of view. It has everything to do with human decency.

JSaff, I don't think you are a veteran at all. No veteran I have ever known would say that about another veteran . . . or, for that matter, anyone 85 years old.

I am sorry that life has turned out the way it has for you.

I agree Jsaff is full of crap . Anyone with any brains knows we learn from the past and the stories of old Vets are very important. And yes I did my time . But i was lucky enough to be a Cold War soldier

JSaff is a troll that jumps from news article to news article throwing 'grenades' to incite the masses...Your best bet is to tag his name and go to his 'page' and click on Ignore this Author in the upper right of his page...

I weep for this 'individual' for his views, comments, and beliefs...

:-/

Jsaff- you're a troll I don't care if you served or not, if it weren't for Robert, you wouldn't even be speaking english right now let alone being in the military, don't be a douche. People like you is the reason my husband left the military after 26 years.

Robert thank you for your service, please ignore the JSaff's of the world, you were the true military man, not the little girl's like JSaff our military is trying to create today.

Rocky wish I could give you a million up votes

You don't understand the meaning of the word protest, do you?

Therein lies the beauty of being an American, JTEX.

He (and the others) may express himself in the way that HE chooses--privately or publically. He isn't hurting anyone through his peaceful act. It is clearly an act of conscience for these soldiers, and perhaps one of the things that will allow them to make peace with their experiences and to heal emotionally. They have the right to that, and no one should begrudge them that--especially those who have never served and could not possibly understand.

Serving in a war is a very traumatizing thing to a human being--on many levels. (I am a retired Marine, and I have been there myself.) These guys served their country honorably and they did their duty. Now that their part is over, we should thank them for their service, and help/allow them to make sense of the things they witnessed and experienced, and to heal emotionally. If the public expression of their political views & feelings about the war they served in (not the good people serving in the military or military service itself) helps them to deal with it, and it helps them to heal and put it all behind them, then should not the American society they served afford them this right/opportunity without ridiculing or belittling them? They are, in fact, still American citizens and have the constitutionally guaranteed RIGHT to free expression. The difference is that THEY actually served in one of the organizations that makes the theoretical constitutional right of free speech a practical reality for the rest of us. Does not justice demand that this right extend equally to them as well?

I ask you (and others who join in this discussion) to be respecful and civil, and allow these war veterans to express themselves without ridicule or personal attacks. Each of us would expect no less if it were US with something deeply important to say.

And remember that even if you disagree with what they say or the place or method in which they say it, the fact that people can express themselves freely is an all-too-rare thing in our world. I believe that it is a fundamentally essential thing that individual American citizens have their constitutional right of free speech/expression protected--ALWAYS. Even seeing someone burning the American flag in anger or protest is a very sad, moving, or highly offensive thing to some of us, but in a MUCH larger sense, the fact that someone can do it as an individual expression of their free speech is living proof that the freedoms we all talk about, and cherish, and fight for are much more than theoretical--they are REAL, and intact, and there is great beauty and comfort to be found in that, for all of us.

I support these soldiers. They are not breaking any laws or harming anyone by expressing their political views (including other Iraq war veterans). They are patriots, and they have done their part and proven it. Now let's let them be Americans.

equality , america lol

Anthony: Oh-Rah!

Americans love servicemen but they take a dump on Vets as soon as budget cuts are needed and the war is over. It's been going on since the Revolutionary War. You don't have the right to tell this guy what to do with his medals, he served, most of you never will. As for this 1st Sergeant. I always like to ask when and where people served considering less than 1% of the population serve, and then a fraction of that ever deploy and a fraction of that fraction deploy to a combat zone and then an even smaller fraction ever see combat.

I've yet to meet a fellow Afghanistan Veteran who can describe their time over there as anything more than "Pointless and frustrating."

This is another example of the majority of Americans not understanding what it is to be a Veteran. The war doesn't stop when you leave the combat zone. If giving back a bit of ribbon and bronze helps him cope then he can do that, he earned the right to do what he pleases with it.

My ribbons are still sitting where I left them, on the left breast of my Blues Jacket in a big transit case I brought back from Afghanistan. My material Marine Corps memories are all stuffed in that big case and it has been closed for a year now. But I will still feel the war everyday until all of my brothers are home for good. My best friend is with 2/5 in Musa Qa'leh right now and I fear everyday that I'll look at the death reports and see his face.

I just want the damn war to end.

JSaff, you were wrong to tell Mr. Smith that he would "die within 5 years," but I was wrong, too. I should never have doubted your word that you were a veteran. Obviously, you are.

I want to tell you that your outlook suffers because it lacks the "long" view. I am 64 years old and a Viet Nam veteran. I certainly felt the "cold shoulder" when I returned to the "world," but maybe I was guilty of fulfilling my own prophecy. Because, in reality, it never was "that" bad. I accepted my discharge and returned to college, and the U.S. Government paid me $323/month (tax free) for the privilege. And this was in 1973, when that was a considerable sum.

Four years later, I decided to join the Reserves. I had a young wife and a child, and I needed the money. But, I felt good putting that uniform back on. And, I could begin to see the gratitude in the eyes of the people around me.

Now, 40 years later, everything has changed. Everywhere the Viet Nam vets go, strangers walk up to express their gratitude and say thanks. Veterans who were burned out on the War (and on their country) are joining the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in droves. They are attending parades and other patriotic functions. They are proud of their service. They put Viet Nam "service ribbon" bumper stickers on their cars.

My friend, get that uniform out of the foot locker and take it to the dry cleaner's. Then hang it up in a closet that you go into frequently, where you will see it and keep it groomed. Have your your medals put in a display case and put the case in your den, not far from the photo that was taken of you when you finished Basic.

And be patient. Give the public time to digest the last ten years and to demand of the Congress that it do right by the patients. And be proud of what you did.

From an older vet to a younger vet, I want to thank you sincerely for your patriotism and your service.

Served the country??? US Army fights the wars of Zionists. Average Joe borrows mortgage. Banks create money when they make loans. They don't lend existing money. Joe works for a lifetime to pay it with interest. If he can't, bank takes his home even though bank did not put a dime in the transaction. Homes would have been cheaper if the loan was not available in the first place. This is world wide financial slavery. The MATRIX is real. You are only a battery to them. Islam is the enemy, because it prohibits interest. And Johnny fights to protect his own slavery.

What are you smoking?

To all of you who replied "Well he has a right to do it, a right to free speech." Get a clue. No one is denying that this little self centered juvenile has the right to be disrespectful, callous and to lessen the sacrifices of his brothers by protesting a war that has been over for a year and that was started by a man who hasn't been president for three years.
I notice there is no mention of him returning a combat action badge. Does he even have one? Or is he keeping it to build his PTSD claim.

And yes, I was there.

Tanker first off thank you for serving, I also want to agree, he's returning a couple of his badges/ribbons if he's so vehement why isn't he returning all of them?

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msnbc Gremlins sorry for all the posts

1SGFitzWife4ID,

If you are going to delete 3 of your spams why not delete them all? Also from your screen name I would say, quit living through your husbands merits and get your own life.