Troops in survey back Bush 4-to-1 over Kerry
By Dave Moniz, USA TODAY
An unscientific survey of U.S. military personnel shows they support President Bush for re-election by a 4-to-1 ratio. Two-thirds of those responding said John Kerry's anti-war activities after he returned from Vietnam make them less likely to vote for him.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-10-03-bush-troops_x.htm
By Dave Moniz, USA TODAY
An unscientific survey of U.S. military personnel shows they support President Bush for re-election by a 4-to-1 ratio. Two-thirds of those responding said John Kerry's anti-war activities after he returned from Vietnam make them less likely to vote for him.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-10-03-bush-troops_x.htm
USA TODAY
THEY WOULD BACK KERRY
9 out of 10 of the people I talk to, it wouldn't matter who ran against Bush — they'd vote for them," said a U.S. soldier in the southern city of Najaf, seeking out a reporter to make his views known. "People are so fed up with Iraq, and fed up with Bush."
With only three weeks until an Oct. 11 deadline set for hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops abroad to mail in absentee ballots, this segment of the military vote is important — symbolically, as a reflection on Bush as a wartime commander, and politically, as absentee ballots could end up tipping the balance in closely contested states.
It is difficult to gauge the extent of disaffection with Bush, which emerged in interviews in June and July with ground forces in central, northern, and southern Iraq. No scientific polls exist on the political leanings of currently deployed troops, military experts and officials say.
Whether representing pockets of opposition to Bush or something bigger, soldiers and marines on Iraq's front lines can be impassioned in their criticism. One Marine officer in Ramadi who had lost several men said he was thinking about throwing his medals over the White House wall.
"Nobody I know wants Bush," says an enlisted soldier in Najaf, adding, "This whole war was based on lies." Like several others interviewed, his animosity centered on a belief that the war lacked a clear purpose even as it took a tremendous toll on U.S. troops, many of whom are in Iraq involuntarily under "stop loss" orders that keep them in the service for months beyond their scheduled exit in order to keep units together during deployments.
"There's no clear definition of why we came here," says Army Spc. Nathan Swink, of Quincy, Ill. "First they said they have WMD and nuclear weapons, then it was to get Saddam Hussein out of office, and then to rebuild Iraq. I want to fight for my nation and for my family, to protect the United States against enemies foreign and domestic, not to protect Iraqi civilians or deal with Sadr's militia," he said.
Swink, who comes from a family of both Democrats and Republicans, plans to vote for Kerry. "Kerry protested the war in Vietnam. He is the one to end this stuff, to lead to our exit of Iraq," he said.
Other U.S. troops expressed feelings of guilt over killing Iraqis in a war they believe is unjust.
"We shouldn't be here," said one Marine infantryman bluntly. "There was no reason for invading this country in the first place. We just came here and [angered people] and killed a lot of innocent people," said the marine, who has seen regular combat in Ramadi. "I don't enjoy killing women and children, it's not my thing."
As with his comrades, the marine accepted some of the most controversial claims of Fahrenheit 9/11, which critics have called biased. "Bush didn't want to attack [Osama] Bin Laden because he was doing business with Bin Laden's family," he said.
THEY WOULD BACK KERRY
9 out of 10 of the people I talk to, it wouldn't matter who ran against Bush — they'd vote for them," said a U.S. soldier in the southern city of Najaf, seeking out a reporter to make his views known. "People are so fed up with Iraq, and fed up with Bush."
With only three weeks until an Oct. 11 deadline set for hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops abroad to mail in absentee ballots, this segment of the military vote is important — symbolically, as a reflection on Bush as a wartime commander, and politically, as absentee ballots could end up tipping the balance in closely contested states.
It is difficult to gauge the extent of disaffection with Bush, which emerged in interviews in June and July with ground forces in central, northern, and southern Iraq. No scientific polls exist on the political leanings of currently deployed troops, military experts and officials say.
Whether representing pockets of opposition to Bush or something bigger, soldiers and marines on Iraq's front lines can be impassioned in their criticism. One Marine officer in Ramadi who had lost several men said he was thinking about throwing his medals over the White House wall.
"Nobody I know wants Bush," says an enlisted soldier in Najaf, adding, "This whole war was based on lies." Like several others interviewed, his animosity centered on a belief that the war lacked a clear purpose even as it took a tremendous toll on U.S. troops, many of whom are in Iraq involuntarily under "stop loss" orders that keep them in the service for months beyond their scheduled exit in order to keep units together during deployments.
"There's no clear definition of why we came here," says Army Spc. Nathan Swink, of Quincy, Ill. "First they said they have WMD and nuclear weapons, then it was to get Saddam Hussein out of office, and then to rebuild Iraq. I want to fight for my nation and for my family, to protect the United States against enemies foreign and domestic, not to protect Iraqi civilians or deal with Sadr's militia," he said.
Swink, who comes from a family of both Democrats and Republicans, plans to vote for Kerry. "Kerry protested the war in Vietnam. He is the one to end this stuff, to lead to our exit of Iraq," he said.
Other U.S. troops expressed feelings of guilt over killing Iraqis in a war they believe is unjust.
"We shouldn't be here," said one Marine infantryman bluntly. "There was no reason for invading this country in the first place. We just came here and [angered people] and killed a lot of innocent people," said the marine, who has seen regular combat in Ramadi. "I don't enjoy killing women and children, it's not my thing."
As with his comrades, the marine accepted some of the most controversial claims of Fahrenheit 9/11, which critics have called biased. "Bush didn't want to attack [Osama] Bin Laden because he was doing business with Bin Laden's family," he said.
thats just it. right from the boys that are actually over there. they know they are there for nothing. so when PB says things like "what kind of message does that send the troops" most of the troops there dont care as long as "the message" isnt being sent by PB anymore after november. this has to be the most senseless thing I have witnessed in my life, whats going on over there.
Funny ****.
I happen to have friends in the field, the majority of the soldiers get it.
The majority hate Kerry. Do you think any of them want to be under command of the UN? Under some worthless dictator type from Africa or another 3rd world hell hole? Do you think for a second they want to be judged by the world court?
Bush 63% Kerry 37%, why do you think the DNC threw out military votes in 2000?
I happen to have friends in the field, the majority of the soldiers get it.
The majority hate Kerry. Do you think any of them want to be under command of the UN? Under some worthless dictator type from Africa or another 3rd world hell hole? Do you think for a second they want to be judged by the world court?
Bush 63% Kerry 37%, why do you think the DNC threw out military votes in 2000?
I believe most service people in Iraq would still vote for Bush. When I was in the Marine Corps it was probably about two to one Republican over Democrat.
While there is probably a small percentage of service people in Iraq who normally would vote for Bush that will vote for Kerry cause they want to get the hell out or cause they think the war is a waste, I belive majority would vote to re-elect Bush.
It's amazing to me how many servicemen buy into Bush-Cheney being strong on defense and pro-military. Here you have a president who avoided Viet Nam by joining the champagne squadron of the National Guard and a Vice President who got five deferments to avoid the same War.
Then they put our troops in harms way in Iraq to rebuild the country and they do so without body armor. Then they cut combat pay and Veterans medical benefits.
It's kind of like how Bush & Repubs have remade Bush, the boy cheerleader from a prep school in Massachusetts into a tough-talking Texan cowboy - it's a freakin' sick joke is what it is.
While there is probably a small percentage of service people in Iraq who normally would vote for Bush that will vote for Kerry cause they want to get the hell out or cause they think the war is a waste, I belive majority would vote to re-elect Bush.
It's amazing to me how many servicemen buy into Bush-Cheney being strong on defense and pro-military. Here you have a president who avoided Viet Nam by joining the champagne squadron of the National Guard and a Vice President who got five deferments to avoid the same War.
Then they put our troops in harms way in Iraq to rebuild the country and they do so without body armor. Then they cut combat pay and Veterans medical benefits.
It's kind of like how Bush & Repubs have remade Bush, the boy cheerleader from a prep school in Massachusetts into a tough-talking Texan cowboy - it's a freakin' sick joke is what it is.
