U.S. soldiers reflect on Fallujah

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2004/Nov/20041128News021.asp

~snip~

When Fallujans do return en masse, they will find many parts of their city in ruins, with bank buildings scorched, mosques bombed, cars burned, doors to their homes forced open and their cupboards and drawers rifled by foreigners.

"It’s going to be difficult putting Fallujah together again, but not impossible," said Pashos. "That is the saddest, to have it all come to this, all these people’s homes destroyed."

But even before air and ground assault, Fallujah was poor by the Marines’ standards, with many of its people living in mud-brick homes in tight, crowded neighborhoods.

"After we rebuild Fallujah, it will be a lot better place to live," said Wyer, the Oklahoman, "something that was worth our sacrifice."

:eyes:

Will we ever learn?

Just the fraud alone would make sure there's not enough money in the whole world to result in a rebuilt small city.

What good are mud huts that last only about 3,000 years in a desert environment...and be repaired by the inhabitants..we build very complicated homes that can last up to 100 years..and require professionals to work on them every year or so...roofs, windows, plumbing, etc...see..it is called manufactured obsolesence...get those new foreign workers to work...do your part for the USA, you Iraqi's ... hop to it!!!

Our army is about to undergo its second largest unit rotation in history next March. The equipment goes with the units, and it is a very expensive undertaking. We're spending huge amounts of money on private contractors salaries, untold numbers on military equipment and salaries, and yet have a cavalier attitude about rebuilding Iraq. You have to love the optimism, but where's the reality?

Americans have the impression that we can spend with abandon without repercussion. I guess that's why the typical American has at least $7,000 on his/her credit card balance and will be adding to that over the holidays. Under the Bush administration, debt is good!

perhaps that is the way * gets Social Security in the red? Seriously though I doubt the US plans to spend any money to 'rebuild' unless it is oil pipelines and installations.

built upon the social unrest that already exists. We can't expect the Iraqis to live in squalor. Entire cities are obliterated thanks to Bush. Life was much better, despite 12 years of US sanctions, under Saddam. An election held in just small pockets of the country will do nothing to suppress Iraqi discontent.

Who will be at peace after so many of them have died for nothing?

the soldiers are trying to justify the destruction. Rending someone's life, destroying homes, the very fabric of society--this is mass destruction, and it will take more than concrete block row houses to make everything all right again.

if my family had been killed. I'd dig a hole and pull it in after me.

I noticed this thread on a forum on the "Soldiers for The Truth" website. These words were written by a soldier who's just gotten home, minus his arm:

--------------------------

"Since my return home I have come to see the light. I checked into this forum from time to time while in country and now that I am home and out of the army, I can say what I like. For all you guys who are talking %!@$, all I can say is keep talking. There are more of them then there are of us and these bastards don't mind dying.

I have read what you old timers have said about comparisons to viet nam, well I don't know about that, but all I can say is that what is happening is a true "meat grinder" a phrase I remember from a movie.

I have become very politically active, and I am working to stop this war and all the killing.

Glad to be home, but I don't recognize my country anymore.

-------------------------

You bet your ass i'm bitter. Why shouldn't I be.

Home in time for xmas and all I got was this stinking 214 and a new arm, nice and shiny.

Hell, it has taken me over 5 minutes to type this friggin message.

Reality of this war is that we are dying and getting mamed for nothing."


http://www.sftt.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2181

rational people. I think the nutcases have a bit of an edge, though, postwise.
:eyes:

But you can always count on Hackworth to write a common-sensical column, and many of the guys posting there are libertarian types who can't stand Bush.