“I don't see what the problem is here. Why do some people (especially the media) love to confligate not supporting an unjust war with not supporting the troops order to fight by our unaccountable politicians?
The people who have been changing the posters clearly care about the lives of the people involved, it's in the message (left out of the article above) - "for their sake, bring 'em home."
It seems to me that the modified billboards simply reflect public opinion while the media stick to their old trick of suggesting that you can't support the troops and be anti-war.
Most of the British population want the troops brought home before xmas. We're up to 222 British soldiers killed in Afghanistan now, so yeah, for their sake, let's bring the troops home!”

“I don't see how this could be seen as an attack on individual servicemen, it is clearly an attack on the politicians who have sent them to face death and injury.

I am anti war and I appreciate that servicemen don't get to pick and choose which wars they take part in. The fact that I want to see Blair prosecuted as a war criminal is not contradictory to this view.”

“I was medically discharged from the RAF last year, and have had to rely on donations from the Royal British Legion and will be eternally thankful for its work. The people who have grafittied these posters should be strung up by their toes. The RBL and members of the armed forces do not sanctify war they are merely doing their jobs, jobs they have taken because many of them do not have other opportunities open to them before going down the careers office to sign on. As for the war in Afghanistan...need I have to point out to the anti war readers that should the Taliban gain a stronghold in Afghanistan and more importantly in Pakistan (a nuclear power) which is where they are heading then they will be very quick to wipe the western world off the face of the planet. Do you really want the Taliban in charge of nuclear weapons? Me thinks not....the last group of people like this were called Nazis and we know what happened there!”

“Lee,
I bow to your experience. I cannot imagine what four tours of Northern Ireland must have been like. If I knew you, I would buy you a pint. But you are wrong! Gerry Adams might be despised by hard-line republicans but he is loved by the Irish-Americans. Let¿s face it, that is all that counts.
I too will be wearing my poppy with pride but also with some cynicism regarding the politicians who send our troops into these conflicts. Surely we owe the dead and wounded that?

Simon,
I feel inadequate compared to your experiences. However, do you honestly feel that the best way forward is to continue with this struggle?

Michelle,
You are spot on, apart from condemning Jo, who wishes only the best for our boys out there.

Lisa,
I can understand your devotion to the position your son is in but isn¿t it possible that campaigning to bring him out of there is the best way forward?

I¿m sorry to all the others who simply support the poppy campaign but I hope you can see it really isn¿t that straight forward.”

“I always wear my poppy to support the troops of all countries who were duped and tricked into the previous wars by the evil conspiring zionist elite. I can't really feel sorry for people who join the army these days where people have no excuse to be uneducated or naive. It is like they have made the decision to fight for the enemy so that they can pillage far away lands just so that global zionist elite such as Rockefellar, Rothschild, and various other Oligarch can ride around in £1.7 billion yachts.”

“What sort of scum would do this? It is about time the left wing rent-a-mob were reigned in.”

“Simon, West Bridgford, no I have not been to Afghanistan and I have not served in the TA. I have only served in the Royal Navy. I have visited other trouble zones, including Gaza, and the truth that I saw is not what the politicians or media tell us. I did find that out for myself. You do not have to be insulting to make your point, although it does seem to be the standard approach for many. Every country has its heroes and each side in a war is proud of its soldiers. That does not make the leaders right in their policies.

Civilian deaths from the conflict in Afghanistan are averaging about 100 per month over the last few years. Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said, "The recent airstrikes killing dozens of Afghans make clear that the system is still broken and that civilians continue to pay the ultimate price. Civilian deaths from airstrikes act as a recruiting tool for the Taliban and risk fatally undermining the international effort to provide basic security to the people of Afghanistan."

Life for women in some countries we regard as friends is rather bleak, and democracy is lacking as well. Also, while our governments send their troops to fight against terrorism, significant funding for Al Qaeda comes from Saudi Arabia, supposedly one of our closest allies.

The mental level of some commentators on here must be in question when they try to make the discussion into a Nottingham versus Derby conflict. This attitude shows a simplistic view of life that causes disputes around the world.”

“Exacatly Simon they have never been to Afghanistan or spoke to the locals or contributed in anyway yet think they know everything just because they have read a few conspiracy theories on the internet. I would believe my nephew who is proud and we are proud of him to be helping these people make a good life for themselves without being bullied and beaten by extremists. Sure not everything is perfect but they are at least trying and i would believe everything he tells me first hand from being on the frontline than these small minded nutters in Derby.”

“This anti war people are a joke, no one likes war but at the end of the day we have to fight sometimes for the greater good. These people would rather let other people be denied the same human rights the rest of us enjoy just for the sake of being of cowards.

Simple fact, these cowards hiding behind the anti war banner are doing nothing to try and improve or help the people in said countries while the servicemen and women are and are faced with the threat of death every day for doing so, so who deserves the respect and who is the brave one in the situatuon, errr I think that is a no brainer the servicemen and women of the forces everytime.

If we had these cowards like Jack Straws dad around during the world wars we would all be speaking German and there would be no jews or any other group they didn't like in the world.

The anti war mobs will moan about war and tony blair but will still vote labour everytime at the election, because despite their barking they know not bite the hand that feeds them their benefits.”

“Kat- It is the persons choice if they want to join the army but i think you will agree its only the brave that do. As the saying goes' If you cant stand behind our Troops then stand in front of them' and we will then see how brave the do-gooders are !!!”