Compassionate opposition: how to support the troops *and* oppose the war

Two news articles brought tears to my eyes, a new respect for the military, and a profound disappointment with President Bush and his administration.

My friend orcmid referred me to Gary Trudeau's article in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle detailing his experiences getting behind the lines and talking to wounded soldier's recently returned from Iraq. This article made real for me how dedicated our soldiers are, and how much respect and care they deserve. Read the entire article.

The second article is Dexter Filkins' feature from yesterday's New York Times Magazine that details the realities faced by US troops battling the Iraqi insurgency. While the article describes questionable behavior by US troops, it also makes clear how ill-trained and ill-equipped they are for the work they need to do. I'd like to think that I would have behaved differently than some of the soldiers described in this article. But I really don't know that to be true.

If insurgencies are the future of international conflict then we have no choice but to support the troops by providing education, training, supplies and, above all, respect for their efforts and sacrifices.

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