"I am so shellshocked that I started to laugh at the news that we could be here for longer"

Letter from a U.S. Soldier
by sfluke
Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 10:42:11 AM PDT

Dear XXXX,

We have completed our mission in Baquaba and head to Baghdad tomorrow. It has been a rather difficult 2 months. Early on, three members of my platoon were shot by a sniper, sufficient to be taken out of missions, but not enough to be sent home. A horrible fate in Iraq to be shot and not be sent home. But worse still is the 5 soldiers that we lost recently. They entered a house during a raid to find a bomb waiting their entrance. The news came over the radio, "Bring bodybags." I saw that their weapons were made brittle and that was sufficient to tell me that I did not want to see more. So close to end that we were counting the days, and now so far from ever getting home. But as Plato said, "Only the dead have seen the end of battle."

I am not looking forward to our convoy tomorrow, as the insurgents have blown up the bridge. This will force us to take a longer route, which I am sure they have prepared for our arrival. Gives to new meaning to the Arab mores concerning graciousnes to stangers. Regardless, go we will. In Baghdad we are told, we will begin our preparations to go home. However, after 14 months in Iraq, I know enough of the Army ways that I only believe what is happening, never what I am told. They might be further extensions, as the surge has had a marginal effect. They have scotched the insurgency, not killed it. I am so shellshocked that I started to laugh at the news that we could be here for longer. To taunt us a sergeant was singing, "I will be home for christmas." And in response we chanted, "in a bodybag." Some find our levity for such a graveness perplexing. But laugh we will for cry we won't.

At this point, lets just pray. Enough said.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/22/133145/392

<snip>

But laugh we will for cry we won't.

How can we get these guys out?