FRESNO!!!!!! I didn't know anyone knew what that was. I lived there for too long. I also didn't know that kind of stuff went on, thought it only happened in sappy commercials.......cool

I've been up there a few times picking up people from the airport and have seen this type of thing alot.

Fresno, that had to be one of the most depressing looking towns I have ever been to.

You should try living in it!!! That is why I got the hell out of there. I do go back to visit family though.

I used to live in cali, not in Fresno, but I understand sort of what you mean, I left as soon as possible

I hate Fresno and the whole valley but I don't have much of a choice where I get stationed.

Thank you !!!

First off, for you aph21. Glad you returned safely. Second, my son wass one of the first to leave the US for parts unknown after 9-11. He has been in the AF for 11 years now and I am proud of him. He could not tell me where he was going or where he was after he got there. It was pure hell for me as a mother. There is not a salute icon here but if there was you would get it from me. Some of htese comments are made by young punks that have no respect for what these people are doing so they can sit on their ass and play playstation games and not worry about getting their asses shot off. I have nothing but respect for all our troops no matter where they are.

Thank you. I know what you mean, my wife still doesnt know some of the things I've done or places I went... more to keep from scaring her than anything!

wow that must of been a proud feeling, that you were that appreciated for waht you did for your country as they say

...for what? Bringing troops home?

Yah man Bush Might be stupid but their there and they need all the support they can get Its not just propaganda its also respect!

agreed, some of these people enlisted before bush, some of them are fulfilling their duty, wether they agree with the war or not. Still risking their lives

they're there of their own free will. they didn't have to make a dumb move and join the military. i'll bet those folks aint even real soldiers in the commercial.

(This comment was modified on Dec 01, 2005 01:29 PM)

And you're sitting smug at home of your own free will. I don't hear anyone clapping for you...

HERE HERE!!!!!!!!!

i couldn't enlist even if i wanted to. i don't want people clapping for me. why would i fight for a country that doesn't give two shits about me?

This country does care about it's troops, you are missing the fact too that someone paid thousands of dollars in production and spot fees, just to say thank you to those people. This person or company may not be able to serve in the capacity that they do. yes people care.

These people enlisted because they wanted to protect people like you... yes YOU, from someone like Saddam, The Taliban, or Hitler from taking your life away.

at least appreciate the effort they put forth.

what makes you think the company wasn't just looking for attention, or recognition? humans are greedy animals. the executives are p[robably sitting in a cushy office in hawaii or california, and decided to jump on the opportunity to really get their name out there.

september 11th ring a bell? every company in the united frigging states pounced on that. 'children orphaned by 9/11...' or 'jobs lost on 9/11...'. wake up and smell the corpses; it's all propaganda, and it works because pity sells to sops like you.

They don't give two shits about you because you're not out protecting them.

Yes, you could argue that the people in Iraq are doing more harm than good, etc, etc. But that's just an easy excuse for people who don't appreciate the fact that the only reason America has survived is because we have excellent troops that work to protect us every time something goes wrong.

This is, of course, in stark contrast to the people who are unwilling or unable to defend their country's people. So who would you respect more -- someone who willingly puts their life on the line to save your ass, or someone who complains that their country doesn't care about them when, in fact, people are dying to keep them safe?

(This comment was modified on Dec 01, 2005 02:02 PM)

talk is cheap, pal. the only soldiers who get mentioned are the ones who die, do something outrageous (abu ghraib), or who suck up to their superiors. other than that, they're just more meat for the grinder and you know it.

That's a nonsensical argument.

These soldiers deserve our respect -- whether they are alive or not.


"other than that, they're just more meat for the grinder and you know it."

And don't assume that you know how I think because you, quite obviously, do not.

(This comment was modified on Dec 02, 2005 04:05 PM)

it's a statement of fact, genius. death is a part of war. do you need me to spell it out for you?

the fighting will inevitably get them killed, arrested, tortured, or god only knows what else.

TacoMan, I don't like your tone. This is was a discussion, but you're turning it into an argument. Settle down.

it's still a discussion. call it a debate, if you wish. you express your point of view, i express mine.

TacoMan, if you don't know that the purpose of a discussion is to gain higher understanding of a subject by listening to opposing views instead of blindly stating your opinions, then, regrettably, you aren't worth the time taken to discuss this subject.

a little too late for that, now isn't it?

Maybe you cant enlist but you could show some respect for these men and women who do. My son has put his life on the line for assholes like you and it pisses me off that you have no respect for any of what they are doing. If you do not like this country MOVE. It would not hurt anyones feelings. Aph21 probably feels the same way. our troops!!!!!!

why should i respect people who go to another man's country and blow his brains out?? if someone comes to us, and ASKS us for help, or if there is a major threat, that's one thing. NO ONE in iraq asked us for help, people our leaders just sent them over.

if someone comes over here, and tries to invade us, you bet your ass i'd fight, and i'd respect those who do. but right now, the troops are ATTACKING, and INVADING, not defending.

Oh, you're absolutely right. I agree completely, and there are many more who agreed with you, too.

But then the evil President sent troops overseas. They fought, and died in the thousands...but who cares, they don't deserve our respect -- they were only over there to kill the enemy.

Kill them they did, and we won. But I still agree with you. We had no business stopping Hitler or any of the axis powers. World War II would have fizzled out anyway...




(This comment was modified on Dec 02, 2005 04:02 PM)

allow me to quote myself:"...MAJOR THREAT...'. any moron knows for a fact that hitler would have attacked the rest of the world when he was finished with europe, and could very well have decimated the human population (not that that is a particularly bad thing.) all of hussein's weapons were outdated and virtually useless, with the exception of some of the chemical weapons.

i'm not vouching for his innocence, but we had no business getting involved. and we didn't win; in case you hadn't noticed, there are still people fighting.

Sure, any moron knows that now. Then, however, the majority of people thought that Hitler would restrict himself to Europe. There was a major movement called isolationism whos primary focus was on staying out of other countries' business.

And it was working until the President was able to push us into war due to residual outcry from the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Sound familiar?

the fact remains, hitler was a threat. he managed to convince an entire country that not being tall, blonde haired and blue eyed was reason enough to be gased to death. hussein's little cronies are still using AK-47s and outdated RPGs. they couldn't hurt us even if they tried with their present armaments. we took their chemicals, we took their leader. had we not, it wouldn't have mattered. he's going to die soon anyway, and it was only a matter of time before his people revolted.

"hussein's little cronies are still using AK-47s and outdated RPGs."

Perhaps you should tell the troops that they have nothing to fear because we all know that AKs and Grenades can't actually hurt anyone.

"and it was only a matter of time before his people revolted."

...you know very little about how revolutions work. It's easy to say that they would have revolted in a short amount of time anyway when you're a privelaged person in a very rich country who (I'm assuming, judging from your responses) has never been in a situation in which revolution or outside help was the only solution to your suffering.

But this is the killer -- "they couldn't hurt us even if they tried with their present armaments. "

I'm sorry, but they have no armaments thanks to our troops. In fact, they don't even have an army. They do, however, have some fairly skilled terrorists that are currently attacking their own citizens.


But if they have no army, and no supplies for any potential army, then why are they there? Oh, I'm sure you've already done your research by either reading the new strategy that was recently published or by listening to the numerous broadcasts on the subject of why we are still there. Killing people isn't on the list, but protecting people is.

you think america is rich?! what the hell are you smoking and where can i get some? we are billions of dollars in debt to other countries. there are more civilians than 'troops' in iraq. weapons and skill count for quite a bit, granted, but sheer numbers CAN overwhelm them.

there is a difference between cowards blowing themselves to bits and real soldiers. these people have no extraordinary skill. they just know the terrain, the people, the environment. we can get all the aerial maps and satellite views we want, but just how many of our troops know the land the way the iraqis do? it's their home!! THAT'S why they're there. sure, they're power hungry scumbags, but wouldn't you fight to defend your home too, or would you just go off on a tangent to the likes of: 'i fought for you; now it's your turn.' ?

I don't see what point you're trying to make. Could you be more concise?

overall or just in the last post?

overall: i'm the bad guy.

last post: don't remember; i had only been up for about 5 minutes.

I have been watching these posts. I completely appreciate you trying to convince this idiot that the troops are there for him, but he is a lost cause. I just hope this guy never is in need of direct support from them. He would get the support and not appreciate it. Just wrap it up to ignorance on his part. His friends can always say and feel real proud. Tacoman needs to do some serious reading on the subject and forget the propaganda that is published.

What do you call the attacks on 9-11, and the other terrorists attacks on our people and troops?

they were afghanis and one or two egyptians. NOT iraqis. and you call me ignorant? nobody started attacking our troops until we attacked them. it was defensive. who invaded whom in this 'war'?

for making them look like heroes.

Should also show those who came back in casket, or those who lost an arm or two.

Seriously, you want to send your kids there?

Somebodies father, brother, son, mother, wife, daughter, husband, ETC. has to do these things. These people make a decision to protect your ass. Appreciate them. That is all we are saying. You enjoy your lifestyle, dont you. Well without someone doing this you may not be able to.

We are better off making friends aren't we?

Yes, All I ask is that you respect the military and what they are doing for all of us.

Hardly a hero's welcome. I'd expect a lot more whistling and cheering if I were a hero. It looks and sounds more like an appreciation to me. The sombre music also alludes to those who weren't so fortunate to come home alive.

Regardless of any political stance I might take, I'll always acknowledge those willing to follow the orders of superiors and do work which none of the rest of us choose to do.

I'm with Kat on this one. It's all about respect!

on 9-11, i watched from 7 miles away as the twin towers came down, and knew that my government failed middle eastern diplomacy 101.

Oh, you didn't witness D.C. or Pennsylvania... Add those to your list and realize the liberal whiners have prevented a lot of extra security which could have prevented it. It is YOU who have failed you bleeding heart loser!

Most people and the press have concentrated on NY, but the fact is the entire country was violated. We should not focus on one area like that. Yes most of the deaths were in the towers, but do not forget the others that died. Especially those in Pennsylvania who probably saved a lot of other lives by their actions.

the men and women are brave,, and i knock any bastard that puts them down!

I second that

instead of those bastards , to afraid to fight!if i wasnt so mad,,no do start me, ive said enough.