It appalls me how deeply the Administration's insidious, corrupt, style has infiltrated the upper ranks of the military. Having unit commanders defending their troops in person to a blind command is SO catch-22, but NOT funny by any means.

Joseph McCarthy learned the hard way not to mess with the Army.

Bill Clinton had a bad start with the Pentagon as well. As a gay Vet, I was pushing for BC to roar in and change the rules for us GLBTs that want to serve. At the time I was working at a defense contractor where the Old Man was a retired Marine Pilot and Hero of the Korean War. Well, when news got around that Clinton wanted to allow us gays to serve (openly), these "Old Men" of the armed services are the ones that shut him down.

I overheard the phone chain in action.

Every retired Commander out in the world and able to communicate gathered together. Subsequently, we were left with the stinking pile of garbage called "Don't Ask Don't Tell". What a travesty! I was crushed, Clinton had gotten exactly the opposite of what we wanted and the Pentagon started a mass purge of gay brothers and sisters like we had never seen before. We were deceived, deluded, duped and discarded by the Clintons, who ran from the topic as fast as they could.

The Military is diseased right now and the tight Military/Industrial Complex is making it difficult for the Band of Old Men to take control for now. However, I shudder to think of what will happen when it shatters for real, this M/I complex is an unnatural beast and may just destroy itself. I just don't want to be in the way...

Dijonaise

Time magazine currently has a huge cover article about how the Army has been sucked dry by this benighted, endless war. Why, then, did I read not a word about this outrage?

The horror that is the Walter Reed scandal has shocked the nation. But-- however bad it is to fail to treat soldiers who have laid their life and limbs on the line for this country, it is a specially fetid brand of evil that takes those soldiers and not only fails to treat them, but throws them, broken and in pain, back into the maw of battle.

The people responsible are overdue for a long, dark, painful trip to the deepest pits of Hell. Ultimate shame on them, and shame as well on the mainstream press for failing to report on this.

When I make any objection to the war in Iraq I almost always get a snarl from someone with a yellow ribbon on the back of their SUV which boasts "Support Our Troops." What does that mean?

I support our troops because I want them home, given quality medical treatment, financial support and all of the love and emotional support we can muster up to try to thank them for putting their lives on the line for us. I support them by speaking out against the war so that as many of our troops can come home as soon as possible. I support our troops by working hard to elect representatives to our government who will hopefully take action to give our vets the medical and financial support they need for life. I support our troops by thanking them every time I meet a soldier and by telling them that if s/he is brave enough to do his/her job on the front lines then I see it as my job to put pressure on lawmakers to bring an end to our involvement in this war. I made a special ops soldier cry, thank me and hug me by telling him that right before he left for his next tour.

If you are one of those people who snarl at me when I speak out do you think it is best to "Support Our Troops" by not telling them that they are being forced to fight a political war and that we have already lost? Do you think they don't know that?

Do you "Support Our Troops" by standing idly by while severely injured troops are sent back into battle, while thousands return home irrevocably damaged with no support whatsoever? Do you support our troops by sending over kevlar vests because our government saw fit to spend hundreds of billions on Halliburton contracts, yet a pittance on personal protection for our soldiers? Do you "Support Our Troops" by promoting our military recruiters to target our poor neighborhoods to mislead our minority and poor young men and women into this awful mess?

What does that yellow ribbon mean to you?

I couldn't have said it better than JenniferinMO. I have blue ribbons on my car - 5 of them. They say "Support Peace".

I get so insulted when people make the assumption that not supporting the war equals not supporting the troops. So I decided to walk my talk and do something tangible, something more than making sure my voice is heard (loudly!) by every representative I have.

I went to "SoldiersAngels.org", a non-profit, non-denominational service started by the mother of a soldier that matched me up with a soldier in Iraq. I send him letters about twice a week and care packages monthly. The knowledge that I am helping one soldier know that someone cares, that his name will be called at mail call, that he will get the Folger's coffee he asked for...helps me feel like I am really making a difference.

Until this despicable administration is brought to its knees and our soldiers are brought home, I will make sure my one soldier know he is appreciated for serving his country...I write it in every letter I send him.

In response to Jennifermo I am one of those yellow ribbon SUV drivers. My answear and reason for my yellow ribbon of support is of the troops and bring them home and getting them and their families the support they need. Bush is sending beautiful young men and women over there to fight a war not once, not twice, but now OUR troops are going for a thrid tour. I wish it was a tour of a collage, disneyland, any thing else but what they are seeing and coping with on a daily bases. A lot of these troops are coming home PTSD and not getting the help they need due to labeling and then not being able to go into carrer choices they have. Behaviors are damaging to them, and there families. These men and women are coming home damage, mind, body and souls.

My yellow ribbon is support for the troops and them coming home. What is your yellow ribbon for.

P.S. My ribbon will be on there until every last one comes home, so far it has been on there for the last three and half years.