An Iraq Soldier Speaks

Responding to this article in The Army Times:

Rumsfeld apologizes, accepts responsibilty for POW abuse


http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2898887.php


The last part of this article says, soldiers are hanging there heads a little low right now. PEOPLE!! soldiers have been hanging thier heads low a lot longer than you think! I was in Iraq for my tour, and will be deploying back within 6 to 10 months. I'm already hanging my head low! First we exhaust our military units, than we moblize guard and reserve units with out proper training, pretty much throwing them into the meat grinder. Most who deploy go to secure locations, where they never see what really happens on the streets. Unless you are on a convoy and it gets ambushed, or your a "shooter" who is patroling the streets of Iraq.

Patroling with limits that are unbearable to the GRJNT, the soldier who's job is to fight. Dodge IED's and RPG's without being able to use all the weapons systems that we have. The fight now is with the Iraqi people, we have lost the intiative. With the photos of the POW abuse every Iraqi has now become a possible combative, there are no more winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. These soldiers who took the photos, the soldiers who were embarrassing the Iraqi POW. Yeah we screwed up bigtime, but now at the expence of the "regular" soldier we have to "tippy-toe" with the way we treat Iraqis from here on out. Everytime there is a mission there will be even more restrictions being enforced. when a unit conducts a raid or a coradon and search, troops will be walikng into a living time bomb of Iraqis.

Still we conduct those missions that our leaders issue to us, but we still wonder what the intent is, who are we trying to protect if the iraqi now truely belives that the American soldier is a threat, and not there to help.

Soldeirs are starting to feel the strain of this so-called 'libeartion" in Iraq and back home. Who will no look out for the soldiers, we are walking a thin line, and we are going to pay dearly with the loss of our own military men and women.

So Mr. Rumsfield apologizing, spilling his heart out to the people and to the house, but it still won't change a thing. The Iraqis hate us, they hate us more than ever. The longer we stay, the futher we fall into a hole, a hole without a cause.

Troops will continue die, but for what?

Somebody please tell me, because I don't know anymore.

http://www.militarycity.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1-292925-2898887


Support the troops--get rid of Rumsfeld.

/sarcasm

It's over. Its just a matter of how many more soldiers get killed before we are run out.

This is a catastrophe.

...there is something good that can come out from this...

...if we can use this as a justification to finally do the post WWII demobilization and get our military back down to the size needed to defend the country, not what is needed to pursue imperialism.

...I think we've reached a turning point. Even senior military officers are starting to speak out against Rummy and the rest of the NeoCons.

...did you see them naked Iraqis over there daddy? This is tragic beyond comprehension.

Don

Majority of Iraqis want U.S. to withdraw ( IMMEDIATELY)

Posted on Sun, May. 09, 2004



Majority of Iraqis want U.S. to withdraw

By HANNAH ALLAM

Knight Ridder Newspapers

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x542427