suprised there is no thread about the protest against our troops

[2shoes]

here
disgusting imo

me too i was really shocked that it wasn't just dealt with aswell instead of splashing these people all over the papers giving them the publicity they really want

It si disgusting as does the lack of response to the murders in NI.

Perhaps it was the wrong occasion but I can't ever be against protest. It's something that is sadly dying out, as people will just put up and shut up.

There are good reasons to be angry about the current wars we are involved in. Charlie Brooker summed up my feelings far better than I can.

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/02/charlie-brooker-politicians

love the fact the crowd turned on the protesters, though.

I opposed the Iraq war but think it's very nasty and unpleasant to have a go at the troops. If you have an objection, take it to the politicians, not the servicemen and women.

Protest against those who send the troops out to Afghanistan and Iraq, not the poor sods who are doing what they are told to do.

And have lost friends and colleagues doing so.

I don't have a problem with the protest per se. It is our right to voice an opinion on things that are done in our name. I have my doubts about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan TBH. But it was fairly revolting to aim that protest at the soldiers themselves when they were on the way home, having no doubt lost some of their colleagues. Quite horrible and lacking in compassion

i strongly opposed the war and still do but this is about young men and woman risking their lives and being away for months on end and i really feel it was an insult.If a bunch of average joes took to the streets and behaved like that rather than these extremists do you think it would have been allowed to last as lomg as it did?I think not

quite, edam.

many of the servicemen and women involved have differing views - but they do understand how a democracy should work, and are prepared to do their duty in lyalty to their country. targeting the troops is a bit 'shooting the messenger' for me. no issue at all with protest, but target it appropriately.

TheDevilWearsPrimark protesting against the war is fine imo.
but not against the soldiers.

Well as protest outside parliament is no longer allowed how exactly do you go about attacking the politicians? I think it is reasonable to protest at a media covered event.

And realistically, a lot of soldiers will be in agreement with the protesters. They had to go there, it is their job, but a vast majority are against the war.

But holding placards calling the troops cowards and terrorists isn't even attempting to tackle the politicians. Just the individual soldiers.

The protesters sickened me. There's no excuse for heckling the troops in any circumstances.

People talk about the right to protest, but I do wonder how the protesters would feel if they themselves were living under the Taliban in Afghanistan with no freedom to express any opinions whatsoever. Maybe they might change their attitute a little then.

Whatever your opinion of the war in Afghanistan is, you should address your protests to the politicians not the soldiers.

I saw footage on the news this morning and you could see that the troops were shocked and upset by the protest. It must feel like a smack in the face.

They have a right to protest in a democracy. That's the difference between the UK and Iraq. I might not agree with them, but I support their right of protest.

Somehow, I think the soldiers are big enough to take it.

It was just a barrage of insults from soldiers who are doing what most of us would never want to and I for one would hate my son to go there.Anti war protesting should not target the soldiers.If this country was ever under direct attack and god knows it could happen those protesters would be being protected by teh very people they were heckling

Were they protesting against the war or where they there to incite trouble? I'm not so sure it makes me very uncomfortable.

Well, I found their behaviour disgusting. They weren't protesting, they were carrying signs calling for those soldiers to go to hell.

I'm glad the crowd turned on them. I would have.

Take it to the head.

exactly FO - no problem with protest, but you really do have to wonder what their motives were. i would have thought it a bit off if there had been well worded anti-war slogans, but would have accepted the right of people to express their views on the decisions of the politicians. attacking the troops at that sort of personal level is not only pointless, but rather thoughtless - not sure at all exactly what they hoped to achieve from the occasion other than stirring up trouble for media coverage.

presumably they would all be conscientious objectors (although again, that implies a level of thought)

it's all very interesting at a theoretical level though - at what point do you decide that you are no longer prepared to serve your country if you believe it is making the wrong decision? even having made that decision there would be a time delay before you were free of your obligations. these men and women deal with that sort of decision periodically at a far greater level than random punters hurling abuse in the streets.

definitely poorly targeted 'protest'

I don't necessarily agree with the protesters, but I don't see what's 'sickening' or 'disgusting' about people exercising their right to protest peacefully against war.

If they were really holding up signs saying 'go to hell', that's totally off.

But people do have a right to protest. Freedom of speech, it's called.

they weren't just holding up signs saying 'go to hell' mrrsmattie, they were shouting it venomously in the troops faces.

Let me see

'Anglian soldiers: criminals, murderers, terrorists'

'Anglian soldiers: butchers of Basra'

Nice

"go to hell"
"butchers of baghdad"

Not really a peaceful protest.

That's right "butchers of Basra!"