A Soldier's thoughts and observations on Iraq (712 hits)
Category: Politics -> IraqRating: 1.13 on 30 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by The Foodman (View user info) at 2006-05-25 03:48:58 EDT
I took a couple minutes to write this up the other day:
With the Iraq war dragging on and more Americans dying every day, popularity for the Iraq war and the Bush Administration is at an all-time low. Many people around the world and, now, a growing number in the United States are questioning the reasoning, motives, and overall efficacy of the war. As a soldier currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, here are some of my thoughts and observations.
This whole mess began on September 11th, 2001, when 19 terrorists supported by the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization hijacked some commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in rural Pennsylvania. Almost immediately, the US did what any reasonable nation would do. They struck back against those responsible. Within weeks, the Taliban government in Afghanistan which was supporting Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden had been toppled by coalition forces. This was viewed by the whole world as a necessary step; punishment for a wrong committed. Unfortunately, paranoia and fear back on the homefront were about to plunge the US headlong into a witch-hunt that would take several years, cost thousands of people their lives, and yield few of the intended results.
After 9/11, fearmongering news organizations terrorized the American public with videos and audiotapes of Osama Bin Laden making more threats and promising more attacks on US soil in the future. America had been violated in a way not seen since the infamous Pearl Harbor attack of December 7th, 1941. People were scared, and at the time when they needed him the most, our President declared a global war on terrorism. This was great for his approval ratings. Democrats and Republicans united in the halls of Congress to pass bills and measures to stem the spread of terrorism and to prevent any more heinous acts from being committed against our citizenry. This is when things went horribly wrong.
Congress passed the Patriot Act and other similar measures which gave the government nearly free reign to spy on its own citizens with little or no oversight. The big kicker, of course, was when the Bush Administration claimed to have evidence that Saddam Hussein was once again producing biological and chemical weapons. They even went so far as to have a slideshow with photos of so-called "mobile weapons labs" compiled for Colin Powell to show the UN when he pleaded America's case for war in front of the General Assembly. For most people this seemed pretty legit. Bio and Chemical weapons, and they had pictures! An open and shut case right? Well...When coalition forces moved into Iraq, something obviously wasn't right. Where were all the weapons? We were all assured they'd be found soon enough...But they weren't.
You'd think the Bush Administration would have said "Oops, we messed up." But they didn't. Instead, they forgot about the weapons of mass destruction, and instead switched to the weak case that Saddam Hussein was harboring and funding terrorists. In fact, the only international terrorism ever linked to Saddam Hussein was his payment to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. Many experts on the Middle East agree that this was mostly a political maneuver to try and bolster some support for his oppressive dictatorship which many Muslims, including Osama Bin Laden, strongly disapproved of. Of course, none of that should have mattered anyway. This war was supposed to be about stopping terrorist groups around the world who had ill intentions toward the USA. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, while certainly not fans of America, had neither the resources nor any real interest in attacking the US. Their interest was to drive the Israelis out of the Holy Land and establish a Palestinian-controlled state.
Still, the Bush Administration persisted. What was the purpose of the lies? I'm not exactly sure of that myself, but I can make a few guesses. With much of the oil infrastructure in Iraq either damaged or destroyed, the country's capacity to export was severely diminished. What this led to in the beginning was a sudden shortage of petroleum products and an unwillingness by OPEC nations to sharply increase their production to offset the cost. Result: Anyone selling oil pretty much anywhere in the world started making a good deal more money at the expense of consumers. The Bush and Cheney familes both have deep ties to the Texas oil industry and they have been laughing their way to the bank in the mean time. Now that supplies have recovered, the oil industry still claims to have a shortage despite all of the big companies posting never before seen profits each quarter.
While we're on the topic of war profiteering, let's look at the civilian companies involved in this war. KBR and Halliburton are two of the companies with the largest contracts with the US Government to rebuild Iraq. Not only do these multi-billion dollar companies have powerful lobbyists in Washington, D.C., but they have strong personal and professional ties to some of the highest officials in the country, including Vice President Dick Cheney. Strange coincidence, eh? KBR and Halliburton aren't the only ones, though. There are numerous other companies and organizations who have way too much financial interest in this war to be comfortable with seeing it end any time soon.
Deep down, though, I think the continuation of this war might simply be due to our President's inability to admit his mistakes. To invade another country swearing that you have proof of their wrong-doings only to find no evidence of said wrongdoings must make a person feel like a real idiot. Solution: make up another reason, and another, and another, until the American people are either satisfied or too confused to see the truth of it all.
Now, do I think this is all worth it? Hell no. I joined the Army with the understanding that I would be serving my country and its best interests, not galavanting about the desert on some misguided quest to introduce peace, justice, and democracy to a people who don't even seem to appreciate it in the first place. Worst of all, people are being terribly mangled and dying for this cause. If I were to be wounded or die here, what good would it do? Would America be any safer? Would I or my loved ones feel satisfied that it wasn't all in vain? No. From were I'm sitting, this is all a horribe mistake that should have been owned up to long ago. America is just as unsafe now as it was when 9/11 happened, and Iraq is loaded with terrorists. It is ironic that Saddam's tyrannical governement was the reason the country was nearly free of terrorists. If someone was going to be killed, he would order it, no one else.
As far as I'm concerned, those responsible for continuing and profiting from this monstrosity should be thrown into jail for the rest of their lives for their crimes against humanity and their own people. For now, though, I'm here, I signed up, and there's nothing I can do about that. It's a mistake I made as a punk kid, and I admit that and have to live with it. I just hope that myself and everyone I know comes back alive and without anything missing. We need to get in and get out as safely as possible and move on.
User Reviews
Submitted by gank (user info) at 2006-05-31 11:37:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
So what are you then? A mercenary?
I might be wrong, but I think there are channels for you, as a conscientious objector of the Iraq war, to get a discharge or a transfer.
Either way, I will link you to anything written by Christopher Hitchens about what's been going on in Iraq. http://www.slate.com/?id=3944&cp=2073766&nav=navom
Submitted by georgemichael (user info) at 2006-05-26 04:12:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
This whole mess began on September 11th, 2001, when 19 terrorists supported by the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization hijacked some commercial airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in rural Pennsylvania.
_____________
WRONG
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-05-26 03:53:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Another ignorant fuck
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2006-05-25 23:31:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, I meant to mention: everyone interested in this post should look for the movie, "Why We Fight." It's a documentary that investigates why America is frequently getting involved in wars. It's pretty fascinating.
Submitted by Butler (user info) at 2006-05-25 17:18:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
To quote Noam Chomsky:
"Who in their right mind honestly believes the United States would have so-called liberated Iraq even if its main products were lettuce and pickles and [the] main energy resource of the world were in central Africa?"
Submitted by ih8u2man (user info) at 2006-05-25 17:01:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Food for Thought Man
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-05-25 16:52:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by dr_weazel (user info) at 2006-05-25 16:50:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-05-25 10:35:23 (#)
Ranking: -2
I could only read as far as the mobile lab shit and then I had to stop. Educate yourself before you write something like this. There were 2 mobile labs that were found and brought back to the US. I happened to be part of one of the teams that found one.
-------
No there weren't, and no YOU weren't. Shut the fuck up, cock-jockey. Go back to watching fox news and fantasising about being in the army whilst you beat-off to "Guns & Ammo" redneck.
+2 for the post though, at least SOMEONE in the U.S seems to have a realistic grip on the situation.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2006-05-25 16:49:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
An intelligent American soldier? I thought you guys were bred out of existence.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-05-25 14:43:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Need an answer about ANYTHING political? Just ask an Uber reviewer.
They have all the answers, yet work at paltry jobs that make no difference. :-/
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2006-05-25 13:55:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
For most people this seemed pretty legit. Bio and Chemical weapons, and they had pictures! An open and shut case right?"""
yes, those pictures really looked real http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/bushbeat/archive/images/powell-mobile-labs-iraq.jpg
LOL
Submitted by shitfuck (user info) at 2006-05-25 13:54:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
'With the Iraq war dragging on and more Americans dying every day, popularity for the Iraq war and the Bush Administration is at an all-time low. Many people around the world and, now, a growing number in the United States are questioning the reasoning, motives, and overall efficacy of the war. As a soldier currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, here are some of my thoughts and observations. '
Good point, but the intelligent people on this planet were questioning the war before it ever happened--moreover, we were questioning Bush AND the American people for being so absolutley inept as a population.
Can you smell the Roman Empire?
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2006-05-25 13:47:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The only reason I won't -2 this with hopes that you get the next IE blown off next to your ratty humvee"""
Wow...so much for support the troops.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2006-05-25 13:44:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-05-25 10:35:23 (#)
Ranking: -2
I could only read as far as the mobile lab shit and then I had to stop. Educate yourself before you write something like this. There were 2 mobile labs that were found and brought back to the US. I happened to be part of one of the teams that found one.
===
hahahha
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2006-05-25 13:20:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"The Bush and Cheney familes both have deep ties to the Texas oil industry and they have been laughing their way to the bank in the mean time. Now that supplies have recovered, the oil industry still claims to have a shortage despite all of the big companies posting never before seen profits each quarter.
While we're on the topic of war profiteering, let's look at the civilian companies involved in this war. KBR and Halliburton are two of the companies with the largest contracts with the US Government to rebuild Iraq. Not only do these multi-billion dollar companies have powerful lobbyists in Washington, D.C., but they have strong personal and professional ties to some of the highest officials in the country, including Vice President Dick Cheney. Strange coincidence, eh? KBR and Halliburton aren't the only ones, though. There are numerous other companies and organizations who have way too much financial interest in this war to be comfortable with seeing it end any time soon."
YOU CAN BET YOUR SWEET ASS MONEY IS EXACTLY THE REASON WE'RE STILL AT WAR. Democracy? Terrorists? Don't make me laugh.
It ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS boils down to the Almighty $$$$!
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2006-05-25 11:31:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2006-05-25 10:44:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Wrong...very wrong. Was it about oil? In a way, yes, but not in the way you say it. This isn't about lining Cheney/Bush & CO's friends pockets...it is about "stability" in the region to keep oil flowing to us...cheaply, which obviously didn't happen.
The only reason I won't -2 this with hopes that you get the next IE blown off next to your ratty humvee is that you are correct that Bush won't admit his mistakes on this (and change his course of action on it). I don't know why these idiots in the government at all levels are this stupid... It is all about appeasing people who hate us rather than hooking up people that like us.
They should divide Iraq up like a god damn birthday cake. The Kurds love us, so we arm them to the teeth and give them their area. The shia muslims can have theirs without our weapons and such (they don't need them, they are close with Iran) and the Sunnis can get their little area to be wiped off the map after the shia muslims kick their ass.
The only way for peace in Iraq is to divide the country up and NOBODY speaks of this. The only thing a muslim hates more than an American is another muslim, and that's a fact.
Plus... I don't know why we are there in the first place to promote "democracy" so I will "0" this post. Iraq is a country so shitty, it isn't worth fighting for.
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-05-25 10:35:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I could only read as far as the mobile lab shit and then I had to stop. Educate yourself before you write something like this. There were 2 mobile labs that were found and brought back to the US. I happened to be part of one of the teams that found one.
Submitted by el_em_en_oh (user info) at 2006-05-25 10:10:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
well played. bring your ass home... alive.
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2006-05-25 10:06:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
thank you
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2006-05-25 10:02:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
it's teh french's fault...obviously
Submitted by mbstateside (user info) at 2006-05-25 09:51:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good Piece.
My brother is in the RAF he ships (or should I say flies) out to you guys in 6 days time. Meanwhile I'm stuck over here in Yankee land and can't even go out and have a beer with him to see him off.
Submitted by cuberat (user info) at 2006-05-25 09:47:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I hope you come back alive and in one piece.
B@W?
Submitted by SilvrWolf (user info) at 2006-05-25 09:35:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well played.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2006-05-25 09:28:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Forgot to rate.
PS: Fuck the Army.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2006-05-25 09:18:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Forward this to your First Sgt. and see what he thinks.
Submitted by MichelleNJ (user info) at 2006-05-25 08:06:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I didn't read all of it. But it sounded like it started off good.
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2006-05-25 07:47:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hooooooaaaahhhh, brother.
Keep your head up, you shit squared away, and your and your teams asses covered and get home safe, ya hear!
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-05-25 07:30:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Tell the truth: You are really a sixty-six year old man sitting at your
desk writing to Uber. :-D
Very few 21 year-olds can write with your coherency and skill. Keep your
young butt out of the line of fire and come back to write more.
My grandson graduates high school today, so I am justified in calling you young.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-05-25 04:50:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Sounds about accurate with the picture that's been painted over the last few years but there are some other things worth mentioning as well; for starters the fact that Sadaam and the Ba'thists where very bad men. The regime had a vast amount of human rights abuses, war crimes and other general crimes against humanity. That the US challenged them so is, I feel, a good thing.
Also of note is that it's done now and it is time to start looking at what benefits can be had from the situation. If American can rebuild Iraq to become a sort of second Israel, you know in terms of democracy and bob geldof chumminess as opposed to religion, then that would certainly help show America as being more even handed to the people of the middle east. You know, cut down on all those silly cries of 'zionists!'.
I don't think Bush is a good president though. I don't like him, he's crap.