Let me begin by stating that I know many members here have served their countries in the military and believe me I respect that. I may not agree with you and I may have not agreed with where you served. However, I respect and thank you for your service. You all deserve it. Now to my story. About a week ago a career U.S. Marine came into our shop inquiring about having an engagement ring sized. He chatted with my boss and I for a while. He has served 22 years been shot twice and is now going to have a desk position in the states as he recently took injuries on the head and hand from a grenade. A proud man I can assure you and HUGE! 6 foot 7 inches (he told us) and in top shape of course. He had spent plenty of time in Iraq with his last duties being in Basra. He shared a story that so many people would not even want to know happens but it does. It involved booby trapping children with C4 or other explosives. These children would approach soldiers for coins, etc and be detonated killing themselves and anything around them. I forget the exact distance honestly but he said if a child (or anyone else approached) and reached a certain distance they either halted or were shot. Not the kind of story one likes to hear and not one that a lot military personnel would share. I have an uncle that served in Viet Nam. Messed his head up for a long time. My mom told me he broke down one night and started telling her things I would neve want to hear. I can imagine they were like this. So as we continue talking to him my boss asks him what HE really thinks of the war in Iraq - all media coverage aside. I must add, at this point, that he was in charge of 1100 men over there so he's been around. His response was short and to the point. It's a total waste of time basically. Not to mention lives and money. He said we should have taken care of Sadam when Bush Sr. was in office and made it real clear that they would play by our rules. He also said the minute we leave it will revert back to old ways. I found his views very interesting to say the least and figured I'd share them with you. Personally, I agree with him on most points but I have never been there as most that comment on the war in Iraq have not. It's refreshing to hear opinions from those that actually have. Comments?
Man it is good to hear that I am not the only person who thought we should have finished the job off first time round, also even though I dont know the guy, I am extreemly pleased that he made it back in one piece.
We spent 12 years enforcing no fly zones and then another 6 in war now. We should have gone to Baghdad the first time around, took Saddam and everyone else out and then left.
I think we all can agree that it should have been dealt with the 1st time thru. As for the children and bombs, it is a good example of the quality of animals we are fighting. Google Nicholas Berg video, every American should see it. When your done weeping, you might have a better understanding of this enemy of ours.
They should have gone into Baghdad back in '91 and toppled Saddam. The whole country was falling apart at the seems, Kurdistan, the south where all the Shias are etc. The given reason was no UN mandate. But then the USA and UK didn't need a UN mandate back in '03.
I used to believe the same thing. That they should have toppled Saddam in 91. But looking at the situation.... What makes anybody believe it would be any different then, than it is now? Maybe we would have ended up with the same situation there is now, only it would have been going on since 1991? No exit strategy. When they left, the U.S. had jets and helicopters enforcing no-fly zones, and the pilots were instructed to not engage anything. So while enforcing these no-fly zones, they had to watch unarmed civilians getting mowed down on a regular basis. Chances are, it will be no different this time around. Only now we'll be left to wonder who will rise to power within 5 years.
