Timber,

The decline of the military actually started in the mid 80's as a result of the Graham-Rudman act. That was the post-vietnam major downsizing. Many senior officials believe it has resulted in a hollow corps required to do more with less.

Additionally, although many have claimed that Clinton tried to fill the ranks with gays, quite the opposite is true. Since the adoption of his "don't ask, don't tell" policy, the number of discharges for homosexuality has risen approximately 300%.

Finally, my biggest pay raise came while Clinton was in office. Matter of fact, Bush was going to severely limit the military pay raise for 2004 until the Pentagon pressured him into adding a significant raise to the upper ranks (none for the lower enlisted) to the upcoming budget.

Racer,

I believe the majority of anti-war protestors are genuinely concerned with peace, and I don't think it has anything to do with whether they support Bush or not.

I guess we should send the spouses of all the deployed soldiers to Iraq? You can't convince me that they are not opposed to their loved ones going off to battle. Ergo, they are anti-war protestors.

It's pretty easy to sit in front of a monitor and be an "armchair general," but until you've had to bury a soldier that you've lived and trained with, save your saber rattling for someone else. Anti-war protestors are not simply left wing radicals. Many are people that have loved ones they don't want to die. Many are veterans that have seen the horrors of war and wouldn't wish it upon anyone.

We took an oath to "defend the Constitution, and protect the United States against all enemies, foriegn and domestic." As far as I'm concerned, the US is in no danger from Iraq.... yet. There's a reason why it's called the Department of Defense, not the Department of Offense.

Silver Hilton,

Precisely.