tw - what a load of horseshit.
1) to compare a military enlistment contract to communism is just asinine.

2)a large part of the problem in vietnam was indeed the foolish politicians, but the protesters deserve their share of the blame.

i don't question their right to protest or the conviction that the war was wrong. however, the anti-war movement once it got rolling scared the pols who wanted to stay in office. it became a nasty cycle of balancing enough "victories" to force peace vs. not making too large of gains (wouldn't want to draw negative attention,now would we?) it was no longer a war of strategy, but one of tactics. a war cannot be effectively without a concise strategy. vietnam was a CF for a lot of reasons, but it wasn't ALL the lies from top management. the largest problem with the soldier in vietnam is that they knew they were despised in their own country. and that is a tragedy.

3) voting for GWB does not constitute selling the soldier out. a soldier goes to fight, knowing there is a chance of death. they accept it. politicians talk, grandstand, lie, whatever... soldiers kill and try to stay alive. it is their job. as long as they have the material support and the general goodwill of the american people they will do the soldiers' job with great skill and endurance.
the last thing a soldier wants is a CinC who flipflops on military issues and is willing to tuck tail and walk away if the polls (or the french) swing the other way.

there are plenty of reasons to dislike Bush - but to equate a vote for him with selling out the soldier is preposterous.