There is no true love without respect

"We must denounce this war! But we must support our troops!"

There is no true love or support without respect. It's otherwise just a word or a hope, or an empty thought of emotion. Real love requires action, and to truly show love to American troops, citizens must support their decision to fight overseas. That includes trusting them to know what the best course of action overseas is.

While not all troops believe the US should be there, a hosting majority, especially those who have been on the frontline, believe in what is being accomplished. As much as Congress denounces the war, troops denounce the cowardice on Capitol Hill. What has made this into a Vietnam is less because of the actions in the Military Area of Responsibility, but more of the indecisive nature of politicians and the games of power they play at the expense of solid military support.

President George W. Bush may not be a perfect president - who has been? - and while mistakes have been made, the end goal is more important than how comfortable Americans feel, namely because the war is keeping citizens alive. Unfortunately, too many prefer luxurious comfort to breathing.

Vocalizing a support for troops, but disregarding their voluntary decision to join the service and fight overseas, is no different than going to a doctor and disbelieving his diagnosis of a serious illness. The troops see a sickness that, left unchecked, will cause incalculable damage to any free-thinking nation.

Americans need to turn off CNN and talk to a soldier who's been out there - not the dropouts, the kicked-outs or the dishonorably discharged - and make their decisions by first-hand accounts. Look up soldier blogs on-line that display the good being done, the people being saved and the respect of the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan troops earn by their actions.

Americans here can decry war and the US's involvement in Iraq, but the military is finally accomplishing a difficult task that has needed doing for far too long. Whatever the initial motivations for the country to enter this wa , let there be no misconception as to when it began. It began centuries ago by two incredibly different forms of thought powering them - radical Christianity and Islam.

Radical Christianity has, for the most part tapered. The Roman Catholic church no longer leads armies or dominates world leaders as it did in its empiric days. Radical Islam, however, has resurfaced with little opposition - an arrangement that only increases its bloodlust for world domination.

Troops have seen the necessity of American actions overseas. While the situation has been less than favorable at times, they're making a difference. So next time anyone wants to doubt the dangers involved, ask a soldier who has trained to see the dangers, has seen the dangers firsthand and has been willing to put his or her life on the line to see that those dangers don't come home.

Johnathan Cross
Marietta