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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'I Am Sorry That It Has Come to This': A Soldier's Last Words
Source: Gawker
Daniel Somers was a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was part of Task Force Lightning, an intelligence unit. In 2004-2005, he was mainly assigned to a Tactical Human-Intelligence Team (THT) in Baghdad, Iraq, where he ran more than 400 combat missions as a machine gunner in the turret of a Humvee, interviewed countless Iraqis ranging from concerned citizens to community leaders and and government officials, and interrogated dozens of insurgents and terrorist suspects. ... On June 10, 2013, Daniel wrote the following letter to his family before taking his life. Daniel was 30 years old. His wife and family have given permission to publish it.
... The fact is, for as long as I can remember my motivation for getting up every day has been so that you would not have to bury me. As things have continued to get worse, it has become clear that this alone is not a sufficient reason to carry on. The fact is, I am not getting better, I am not going to get better, and I will most certainly deteriorate further as time goes on. From a logical standpoint, it is better to simply end things quickly and let any repercussions from that play out in the short term than to drag things out into the long term.
... You must not blame yourself. The simple truth is this: During my first deployment, I was made to participate in things, the enormity of which is hard to describe. War crimes, crimes against humanity. Though I did not participate willingly, and made what I thought was my best effort to stop these events, there are some things that a person simply can not come back from. I take some pride in that, actually, as to move on in life after being part of such a thing would be the mark of a sociopath in my mind. These things go far beyond what most are even aware of.
To force me to do these things and then participate in the ensuing coverup is more than any government has the right to demand. Then, the same government has turned around and abandoned me. They offer no help, and actively block the pursuit of gaining outside help via their corrupt agents at the DEA. Any blame rests with them.
Read more: http://gawker.com/i-am-sorry-that-it-has-come-to-this-a-soldiers-last-534538357
Catherina
(35,568 posts)How many more of our young people are we going to sacrifice, destroy their lives, their minds, their mental health, for a multi-Trillion dollar war machine that does not serve us?
This letter is so terrible to read. RIP Daniel and thank you for writing it.
No more fallen.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)HardTimes99
(2,049 posts)sign that he or she has read it before being given any more ballots.
Because, see, if you are 31 or older now, that means you were 18 or older in 2000. You own this solider's death and the thousands of other deaths and injuries among U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians.
Blood pressure rising, so going to STFU before I totally lose it.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)HardTimes99
(2,049 posts)rhetorically, to mean 'anyone.'
Actually, I think your suggestion to put it on every front page is a great start. I think it should be rubbed in the faces of every god-damned Republican and Dem who fucking voted for this.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)I mostly use it for local news...this...I posted with no comment.
PDJane
(10,103 posts)to start over with people who will help.
GeorgeGist
(25,323 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,417 posts)Thanks for the thread, Newsjock.
flamingdem
(39,321 posts)Jarla
(156 posts)And all the other soldiers and their families whom our country has forgotten or ignored.
Monkie
(1,301 posts)they just chose to ignore it, due to greed or psychopathy. may they rot in hell along with their cheer leaders.
r.i.p.
HardTimes99
(2,049 posts)than backward, but I find I simply cannot.
I want to know why Bush and Cheney are still walking around free men. They are the real war criminals, not this poor soldier.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)other more important priorities such as busting mmj dispensaries.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)HardTimes99
(2,049 posts)terrorists disguised as children, right?
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)yodermon
(6,143 posts)It's always dressed up with lots of justifications, but civilians always suffer, *always*, yet we keep fighting them and shrug and say "collateral damage" etc etc.
http://www.psychohistory.com/htm/eln06_war.html
217. Ruth Seifert, "War and Rape: A Preliminary Analysis." In Alexandra Stiglmayer, Ed., The War Against Women in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1993, p. 63.
223. Martin van Creveld, The Transformation of War. New York: The Free Press, 1991, p. 179.
brer cat
(24,605 posts)Those responsible will never read or care about this tortured soul.
HardTimes99
(2,049 posts)view people -- including the many dead and wounded Iraqis -- as mere instruments of their will. History will not judge them kindly.
Civilization2
(649 posts)bare.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)This letter in itself should compel us to begin powerfully & collectively insisting on the immediate systematic dismantlement of the Military/Prison/Poisoning Industrial/Financial Complex. We can do better than this.
DLevine
(1,788 posts)cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
1monster
(11,012 posts)enlisting should be made to read this and then write a essay on it to make sure they understand what is being said.
I always have a hard time supporting the military because the military is used by government for things it was never meant for and then the individual members and all in general are thrown out like yesterdays trash by the same government.
But my soul bleeds for those who lose their souls, their minds, and the use of their bodies because they did join the military for perhaps patriotic, or other innocent reasons.
Godspeed Daniel Somers
Th1onein
(8,514 posts)This is so very sad. Poor baby. I wish him peace. I wish all of us peace.
Agony
(2,605 posts)This is why War should always be the LAST resort... and if, as a people, we decide that it is that important that we go to war... then each and every one of us should be FULLY engaged in that WAR. There should never be a War where "life goes on like normal" for the rest of us... this is a sickness, the idea that some go "off to war" and the rest of us "go to the movies".
"I am free. I ask that you be happy for me for that. It is perhaps the best break I could have hoped for. Please accept this and be glad for me."
Peace, Daniel.
Agony
johnnyreb
(915 posts)...and I will share them with everyone I can.
Hekate
(90,793 posts)I wish there were enough justice in this world to let them rot in prison.
Vinnie From Indy
(10,820 posts)What have we become?
cali
(114,904 posts)good night all.
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,775 posts)malaise
(269,157 posts)sorefeet
(1,241 posts)as much as anybody. They DON'T give a fuck. They have very selective hearing. They are there to humor you not help. I call my VA doctor a probation officer. He don't give two fucks about me, his priority is if I can pass a drug test once a fucking year. Doctors are so fucking scared of the DEA and losing their fucking jobs that they don't care who suffers as long as it isn't them. The VA doctor follows policy to the gnats ass and NEVER question it or make waves. I have heard plenty of horror stories from Vets and it isn't no wonder the suicide rate is so high. They are forced to give up and suicide seems the only way out. The VA forces a hopeless feeling on many Vets. I know from personal experience.
pacalo
(24,721 posts)A person who could write these words are not better off dead; we need many more like him:
With a war-happy government that places money & profit above the welfare of its people, those who serve in the military are perhaps the most used doormats of us all. Military personnel are taught to hate the hippies of the '60s who protested the VietNam war; & to hate those of us today who think for themselves, aren't prone to believe lame propaganda, & who cried the loudest when Bush/Cheney started the Middle East wars over oil & war profits. Who really loves this country -- those who cheered "kiss their ass, take their gas", with no regard for those who would be killed or maimed, or those who were outraged about the immorality of it all?
I grieve for Daniel Somers; he was a good, good man.