Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Idiot Loose in Florida

What follows is bits and pieces of an article printed in the Gainesville, FL newspaper, written by one Chas Chiodo...to see the entire thing go HERE.
It is a perfect example of, just because a person served in the military, it doesn't necessarily mean that their (or even my) opinion should be given any special consideration. This guy is a weasel that is trying to trade on his military experience to say that we're all criminals...except him of course. And who the hell prints an article under the name Chas, Charles?


I don't support the troops
By CHAS CHIODO

Special to the Sun
July 08. 2006 6:01AM

I'm a military combat veteran and critic of our government's invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, and I don't support the troops. I'll protest in the streets to end the war, and when the troops come home, I'll do what I can to see that they get the benefits and treatment they need and deserve. That's my contribution to the troops.

Many people "oppose the war but support the troops." Rotten war, brave soldiers. I don't buy this at all. Although little Johnny or Judy might have once been that nice kid next door, he or she may now be engaged in massacres and atrocities.

"The troops" are waging war against a civilian population, making little or no attempt to distinguish between "insurgents" and "collateral" innocents in the vicinity. When faced with frequent sniping, mines, ambushes and treachery by supposed local "allies," even the best-trained occupation armies soon become brutal, sadistic, cynical and demoralized.

That is just plain wrong. Maybe in Mr. Chiodo's fevered imagination this is going on. I was truly surprised at how much restraint soldiers displayed while I was there...he is so wrong on this it boggles the mind.



People are convinced that however evil, wicked and misguided the president might have been to launch the war, the ordinary soldiers who are actually waging it are overwhelmingly dedicated and honorable. The average person thinks that "99.9 percent of the troops" are as pure as driven snow, our "best and brightest." I don't buy either of those jingoistic platitudes. When I was in the military, it was composed of many different kinds of people, including a fair share of losers, brutes and bloodthirsty thugs.

Well, your politics are showing now Mister. If anyone honestly believes that the President of the United States is in fact EVIL...you need to step away from the Kool-Aid right now. Yes, he has made mistakes. Could things have been done differently? Of course they could. But evil, give me a break.

The problem in Iraq and Afghanistan is not that the U.S. forces have a few bad apples. The barrel itself is rotten. To remain morally upright, people need to steer clear of voluntary association with criminals and acting as their mercenaries.


The American military machine has killed and tortured millions of innocent people and will continue to do so until made to stop. I call on my fellow vets to heed Thoreau's advice that we use our lives to "stop the machine" and thereby expiate the legacy of pain, suffering and death we participated in.

You are a sad misguided man, Mr. Chiodo.
H/T Blackfive
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