Controversial Topic Discussion

I think the point you make in your third paragraph is the most important. The "Support the Troops mantra" is much stronger now because of the Vietnam war and how poorly those individuals were treated, even just by lack of acknowledgment upon their return home. This is why many people feel obliged to "support the troops" today. I think there may be two different definitions of this. One is people thinking that support is well wishing and sending baskets to keep up moral. The second is from those people like yourself arch, who include morally supporting the troops in that same definition. The first may still disagree with the war but separate that from the troops where you don't feel like that can be done (I'm guessing and using you as an example, correct me if I am wrong.) I think, by the first definition, you do support the troops as most people using the second definition do. And visa-versa, many people today using the first definition probably wouldn't be able to "support the troops" if they included the moral implications as well.