Former reserve colonel criticizes Iraq war

By the Associated Press

Published September 6, 2004

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Iraq war was a mistake and as long as it continues to use up military resources the United States will be increasingly less safe, says a recently retired colonel who commanded West Virginia's largest Army Reserve unit, which served in Iraq and Kuwait.

"I feel we were not told the truth. I do not think we should be there," said Col. Lew G. Tyree of Charleston. "We tend to ignore that there are well over 1,000 dead and well over 7,000 injured. We use many of the soldiers time and time again. Where are the replacements going to come from? We're getting re-enlistments, but not recruits. Where is the strength for defending this country in another arena?"

Tyree said using so much military manpower in Iraq has left fewer forces to deal with terrorist threats, "so America is at a greater risk than before."

"We put our uniforms on with the clear expectation that we have to do our job to protect the interests of our country and our allies, and we do that willingly, although it is very frightening. What is bothersome to us is that we depend on our leadership not to use this resource lightly. We have all served honorably, but the judgment has not been good here."
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http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-wv--reserveleader0906sep06,0,5699619.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia

Good to see AP picking up stories like this.

:kick:

What balls this guy has. No wonder he's a commander. Hope his peers can see how speaking up is good for America, and her soldiers.

we can expect him to be smeared by the Neo Fascists.