How can you be against the war but support the troops?

I support our troops 110% and am 110% against the war. When these soldiers signed their name on the dotted line saying they would protect our butts at all costs they knew there was a possibility that they would be facing a war. But they aren't the ones who started the war or signed their orders to go over there and fight in it. I am completely against the war. We should be protecting our own people not sending them to a foreign country to get slaughtered for the freedoms of others. But these soldiers are risking their lives and they deserve our support and our devotion.

I support them as soldiers. Soldiers follow orders, soldiers usually believe what they're doing is good. War is not synonomous with soldiers. Many soldiers have not supported the war but obeyed because they didn't have any other choice. There have been soldiers in times of peace. I respect soldiers as a rule, and shake my head at the bad apples...but I fundementally believe, after doing much research on the subject that the war was either a huge mistake or done for greed. And I cannot support such things -- I'd give aid to soldiers if I could, and I'm in support of anyone who calls for the end of the war...but everyone has to draw the line somewhere. A war is not the soldiers. A war is two nations of people, a decision. And our President declared war without the consent on Congress, which technically is illegal. Therefore, my support is given based upon motives. Generally, soldiers motives are good and brave...but our President's -- no matter how well-meaning he was, are suspect. Does this explain things properly?

I don't support the war in Iraq, but it doesn't mean that I bear ill will toward the soldiers fighting it, even if those soldiers support the war. I want the troops to be as safe as possible. I want them to have protective gear. I want the returning wounded to have proper medical care, and I feel the troops should not have to pay the medical expenses for wounds they received in fighting the war. I believe that servicemen should be allowed to end their service once they've fulfilled the agreement they swore, instead of being kept against their will.

My husband is a marine but I am biased. Some people join the service for humanitarium purposes. They don't always blow things up. They helped with Huricane Katrina and various other things. I do not think that we should be in Iraq but I understand that my husband has signed a contract and has to do what his higher ups tell him to. He can't just say I quit. It's really hard to convey.