Our 914 club member in Iraq, Anybody heard from him? Options

[Dave_Darling]

Regardless of our reasons for being there, we've got people like Rust-Boy over there putting their lives on the line for us. Thanks for your willingness to do that, Lawrence--and I hope it never comes to that!!

Damn, I wish there was a good way to get all of our people out of there... It's become a huge tar-baby. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

--DD

[Curvie Roadlover]

Regardless of our reasons for being there, we've got people like Rust-Boy over there putting their lives on the line for us. Thanks for your willingness to do that, Lawrence

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

[ein 6er]

Regardless of our reasons for being there, we've got people like Rust-Boy over there putting their lives on the line for us.  Thanks for your willingness to do that, Lawrence

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[Hawktel]

I think at this point, we need to get the UN into it asap, get some kind of structure setup, and then start pulling out, while remaining a token force there, concintrate on Afganistan (still a dangerous place) and let them hatefull irritating losers live in poverty and despair forever.

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[Jake Raby]

I was there in the 90s... It wasn't really a hot zone when i was there, our unit missed some action by about 2 weeks...

When you are even in that environment, you do exactly what you are told, exactly when you are told to do it- no questions.

Right now we need to get done what we have to do, finish it, and ask questions later.

The type of missions that they are doing right now are the riskiest missions that can be done. 90% of all the tactical training that we went through was for situations just like this, as it is a reality that comes with the mission is close to being accomplished...

There is MUCH more going on there than anyone of us knows, no news reporter knows it, and most of the government probably doesn't even know it...

Support the troops while they are there, and ask questions when they are back at home.... You don't ask questions in the middle of a mission or operation unless you want a whole damn unit to die.

Each of those rifle teams there is only as strong as its weakest member, usually that weakest member is the one who asks a question......

[J P Stein]

Damn, Jake, we finally agree on something (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Bleyseng]

It is reported how many GI's have been killed which is very sad, but what I want to hear reported is how many GI's are wounded. What type wounds? I hear on the news daily "Three US soldiers were injured when their HumVee was hit by a RPG" Ok,
the reporter makes it sound like oh, no big deal, they are just injured. Like what ? They have a little Boo Boo? I can't imagine what a RPG would do to a HumVee but it don't sound good and not a BooBoo type of injury to the personal.
I am/was sick of this Bush War and still don't have a clue as to what the "Mission" is or was. To me the "Mission" is done so get the "F" out now. Leave the Iraqis to their own demise or success. I don't think you can impose a democracy on anyone. It has to come from within.

Geoff

A Brad welcome to G Bush (IMG:style_emoticons/default/finger.gif)

[J P Stein]

Lessee....Here's how it's went in my life time.

Roosevelt's war
Truman's war
Kennedy's war
Johnson's war
Nixon's war
Regan's wars were so quick that no one noticed
Bush's war
Clinton's war was with his dick
Bush's war

None of them were worth fighting, eh, Geoff?
You warpping yourself in humanity or is it politics? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[krk]

Boy, I almost hate to return this thread to the topic. Rusty, get your butt home safely. Get your unit home safely as best you can. Back here, the best we can to is HOPE for you!!! And we do. Big time.

kim.

[campbellcj]

Rusty, I too extend my gratitude and best wishes to you and the troops. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)

Unfortunately even as a "moderate Republican" at heart, I am inclined to agree more and more every day that Iraq was just a bad idea from the start that's gotten progressively worse. I figure it will backfire on GWB and swing just enough votes to Kerry to put him over the top.

The trump card...which I would almost bet money on...is that Osama Bin Laden will be suddenly discovered in some rathole or cave right around 9/11/04. I seriously would not put a staged re-election stunt like that past our career bureaucrats.

There IS a quick way to get out of Iraq...just pack up the ships and planes and LEAVE. Let 'em sort out their own shit now that we have supposedly removed the #1 obstacle to their ability to establish a peoples' government.

[Bleyseng]

WW1-Wilson War-We weren't attacked but....hey my Grandfather was gassed !
WW2-Roosevelts War- Hmm, weren't we attacked? Yep, my dad fought in Europe!
Korea-Trumans War- still kinda going on isn't it? Well, we still have lots of GIs there
Vietnam- Really Johnsons war according to McNamara new movie "Fog of War" We were in the middle of a civil war so how do you win that one?
Nixon- He just made it last longer then ended it
Regan-
Bush Sr- According to Clarke he was the one who couldn't finish it and this is why we have Al Queda.
Clintons- Thats the kind of war every President should fight but he did send troops as part of the UN mission to Bosnia and Kosovo. Shit it almost working there, amazing!
Bush 1st war- Afghanistan- hmmm, we are still there but just like his dad we left too damn early
Bush 2nd war- Iraq- Where are these WMD's that we HAD to go to war to find before they used them on us? A war of lies and BS. I think that if the United Nations had gone in with us this Iraq thing might have worked. Now it just looks like American Imperialism to most of the world. Shoot they are probably right!
Bring the GIs home and let the Iraqs figure it out for themselves now because unless we stay there like Korea (50 years) do you think there is any chance any government is going to last? or be able to resist the Islamic extremists?

Unless we are attacked I don't see the need to send out young men and women to be killed or be maimed. We aren't the Earths policeforce, that is the function of the UN.
Geoff IMHO
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[DrifterJay]

for some "mysterious reason" lol we have been training every week for how to respond to attacks when on a convoy...hmmm I wonder why they are doing this...weapons draw at 5am.....being the youngest guy in my shop...I get to be the air gunner....the guy who lays on the roof of the 5ton when in the convoy...cant wait....4 hours of dust in my eyes tomorrow...then get to clean my m249 for 5 hours...then go to work after training...I love being a private in the army... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

(cant wait for the 36 hour convoy to baghdad woot!!...I hate this weapon...)

[tesserra]

The best result we could hope for in turning arround Iraq is how Iran was with the Shaw. They had enterprise, more freedom etc. Then came the Iyatolah (sp) and screwed everything up.
I am not sure what we hope to accomplish in Iraq but I know from people that lived in Iraq that it is a VERY GOOD thing that Sadam and his family is out.
They said that all the things you hear and worse are true and he was ruthless and wanted to be expansionary.
I just hope that our leaders make the right choices and our people stay safe.

George

[Bleyseng]

Never said that Saddam didn't deserve to go, lots of other f*ckers out there that deserve to go. There is a guy in Suriname that sure does......but he still sells the US the bauxite so we don't bother.

Geoff

[Rusty]

Some days are challenging, like today.

I know there's a wide range of opinions out there on why/how/if regarding our occupation of Iraq. Jake put it very well... soldiers don't need to ask questions over here. They need to believe that the sacrifice (time in this hellhole, time away from loved ones, sweat, blood, life) they're making is something valuable, and not being squandered.

I was going to print this thread out for them... but decided against it. Keeping morale up is such a leadership challenge. I understand the difference between support for a policy and support for soldiers... but the troop holding his rifle at the guard point doesn't always recognize that distinction. Next time my platoon sergeant gets the guys together, I'll verbally pass your support onto them.

humbled by your support,
-me

[Bleyseng]

I think ALL Americans support the guys over there Rusty. Some of us don't see the need to send you over there in the first place placing you in danger!
You are all in our thoughts and prayers and we all worry about keeping you safe and out of harms way.


keep your head down....


Geoff

[maxwelj]

Lawrence,
Hang in there buddy.... There are plenty of us that have your back as an individual AND support your mission.... I don't think we need to be the world's policeman, but I do think preemption is better than reaction... Good luck!

[Pam]

Hmmmm....do as you say, don't ask questions, do what you are told when you are told. Oh...and if you decide you don't like it....you can't get out and we WON'T send you home.

Isn't that at least part of what we claim we went over there to fight against???


-Pam

[Dave_Darling]

Yes, it is. However, there is a difference...

Lawrence and his peers knew that going in, and they did have a choice about it. They chose to (temporarily, at least) give up their right to question things, and to not do what someone else tells them to. And they have done so, in a very real sense, for all of us.

I hate the situation they have been into. But I am grateful that there are people like that...

--DD

[Rusty]

Oh, Pam... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

-Rusty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smoke.gif)