Ticker Tape Parade for Returning Iraqi War Veterans?

[XLFD]

There is a bit of dissembling as far as whether to welcome the returning veterans with great fanfare or limit it to just the hugs of sweethearts, family members, and friends.  The Pentagon seems to be of the mind to not have such large celebrations due to the possible implications that such may have with troops still in the field over in Afghanistan, or the possible occurence of a terrorist incident happening at one of these galas. 

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57348814/as-iraq-war-ends-no...

From the article:  ""It's going to be a bit awkward to be celebrating too much, given how much there is going on and how much there will be going on in Afghanistan," said Don Mrozek, a military history professor at Kansas State University."

 

Awkward!?  Because maybe it would remind us that these troops in Afghanistan are fighting and sacrificing in harm's way for the outcome of a foreign, tribal, civil war that is no longer related to America's national defense, similar to what Iraq became?  Or awkward because those other troops should be withdrawing too?  Maybe the awkward would go away if they would come home and could be part of the ticker tape parade too.

 

Perhaps we should not use our soldiers as props for politicians that tell us to "Support Our Troops", while their actions tell us that they abuse, ignore, and don't support our troops.  

[Lisa O'Brien]

While I greatly admire their selflessness, I think a ticker tape parade would be a bad idea - not because they are not deserving of one - but I feel that some nut job out there would find a way to turn it into some terrorist attack.

[XLFD]

But then, Lisa, are we not effectively stating that we have lost the war against terrorism?  I liked FDR's speeches better than his actual policies, and among those speeches he enumerated the four freedoms we as Americans need to fight for, and one of them was the freedom from fear.  "The only thing we need to fear, is fear itself.", et. al.  

If we are to have our servicemen serve as the world's police force, we should give them some commendation when they have selflessly done their job professionally, and we shouldn't care whether some of the world's bad guys take offense, or fear them crashing the event.  If we succumb to fear, we show that we as a group are not willing to fight for our freedom.

[Willy]

I agree with X on this. The terrorist win when we start  "not doing"  our business because we fear acts of terrorism. If you think about it, the terrorists have not had to raise a finger against us since 911. We have imposed our own punishments out of fear. Everything from the "Patriot Act" to man handling old ladies and children who try to board airplanes. It doesn't take much to get  people to act like nervous rabbits.

[Marty Redman]

Screw the public celebrations.  If you live near a place where the troops come home, go there to welcome them.  Get a bunch of people together to share costs, rent a large hall, and throw private parties to show how much the people that matter think of them.  These poor guys have been pawns and props for the Pentagon and Prezident.  Leave them to cower in their bunkers.