Support troops, not war

In the past couple of weeks, the debate over whether we should be in Iraq has become more and more heated. A divide exists between those who oppose the war and those who support it. Every time I turn on the television or the radio, no matter what the station, it seems that the programming in some way relates to the war sooner or later.

As I have listened to the growing debate, I continue to hear one argument put forth by those who support the war. They make the claim that people should support the war because if they don't, they aren't supporting our troops.

Of all the arguments that pro-war advocates make, none angers me more than this one.

I'll be honest. I vehemently oppose the war on Iraq for many reasons that I won't bore you with here. But the main reason I take issue with those who say that we should support the war because we should support our troops is because I strongly believe that because I support our troops, I have no choice but to oppose this war.

I simply cannot understand how people can go on believing that by letting people die they are supporting them. What kind of backward argument is this? Support America's troops and by doing so, let them continue to perish. How can anyone think that that equals support?

I think it makes far more sense that supporting the troops demands opposition to the war. Because I oppose the war, I absolutely support the troops in Iraq. I know that they are doing their job and suffering greatly for it. They are away from home, watching horrors daily, all because their country has told them to do so.

I feel nothing but the utmost respect and pride for these people who are willing to sacrifice everything in the name of their country. They go because their country has called them to war. They fight because their leaders tell them to. And they die because they are simply doing their jobs. That is why I want them to come home.

Because I support our troops, because I value human life and because I don't want any more Americans coming home in body bags, I want this war to end. That is the only true way to support our troops.

Make no mistake about it. As long as our leaders keep our troops on Iraqi soil, those of us who oppose the war will support them. We will continue to send letters, we will rally behind them, will welcome them when they come home and we will mourn them when they don't. And because of all that, we will continue to fight for an immediate end to this battle.