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Marines letter lays out life in Iraq

AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
edited October 2006 in A Moving Train
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1543658-1,00.html?cnn=yes
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    I just read that and I'm speechless.
    Most Memorable Scene — In the middle of the night, on a dusty airfield, watching the better part of a battalion of Marines packed up and ready to go home after over six months in al-Anbar, the relief etched in their young faces even in the moonlight. Then watching these same Marines exchange glances with a similar number of grunts loaded down with gear file past — their replacements. Nothing was said. Nothing needed to be said.

    Why are will still there? Fuck politics, let's just get out of there.
    If you want to do something for me, kiss a cop, flush a toilet, and drink a beer.

    Will do, soldier!
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    fuckin rumsfield, we needed more than double the amount of troops.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    Truth lies within the foot soldier in the foxhole... not in the General or politician behind the desk, on the other side of the globe.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • AbuskedtiAbuskedti Posts: 1,917
    jlew24asu wrote:
    fuckin rumsfield, we needed more than double the amount of troops.

    That is a fact.. but only if we cared about securing Iraq and its people..

    Far more than double.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    jlew24asu wrote:
    fuckin rumsfield, we needed more than double the amount of troops.
    ...
    How can President Bush and this Administration... and the War's supporters... believe we are serious on this 'War On Terror', if we are fighting this thing in such a half-assed manner?
    I mean, if we reallty ARE serious about it... don't you think we should throw ALL of our resources into it to get the damn thing done?
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    How can President Bush and this Administration... and the War's supporters... believe we are serious on this 'War On Terror', if we are fighting this thing in such a half-assed manner?
    I mean, if we reallty ARE serious about it... don't you think we should throw ALL of our resources into it to get the damn thing done?


    Amen
  • AhnimusAhnimus Posts: 10,560
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    How can President Bush and this Administration... and the War's supporters... believe we are serious on this 'War On Terror', if we are fighting this thing in such a half-assed manner?
    I mean, if we reallty ARE serious about it... don't you think we should throw ALL of our resources into it to get the damn thing done?

    Rumsfeld believed Saddam's regime could be toppled with 20,000 troops. While Collin Powell warned of the aftermath and suggested more like 400,000 troops.
    I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    Ahnimus wrote:
    Rumsfeld believed Saddam's regime could be toppled with 20,000 troops. While Collin Powell warned of the aftermath and suggested more like 400,000 troops.
    ...
    The blitzkrieg type of war we are capable of executing can be accomplished with smaller numbers of troops with coordination and cooperation between the individual branches of our military. Rumsfelf is right on that point.
    However, he is completely dellusional when it comes to the occupation of a foriegn country... one with a completely differing set of customs, culture, religious base, language and outlok on life. Technology will not help us in this type of urban guerilla war where the enemy is not clearly defined and blends in with the populous.
    If we were at war with Florida, we could get away with a smaller number of occupational troops because it is more than likely that Floridans would greet us as liberators. But Iraq... or any other Middle Eastern nation... any African Nation... any Asian nation... all bets are off. You really need to come up with several contingency plans for the myriad of scenarios you would more than likely face.
    Even i know that... and I'm just a regular working Joe.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • AhnimusAhnimus Posts: 10,560
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    The blitzkrieg type of war we are capable of executing can be accomplished with smaller numbers of troops with coordination and cooperation between the individual branches of our military. Rumsfelf is right on that point.
    However, he is completely dellusional when it comes to the occupation of a foriegn country... one with a completely differing set of customs, culture, religious base, language and outlok on life. Technology will not help us in this type of urban guerilla war where the enemy is not clearly defined and blends in with the populous.
    If we were at war with Florida, we could get away with a smaller number of occupational troops because it is more than likely that Floridans would greet us as liberators. But Iraq... or any other Middle Eastern nation... any African Nation... any Asian nation... all bets are off. You really need to come up with several contingency plans for the myriad of scenarios you would more than likely face.
    Even i know that... and I'm just a regular working Joe.

    Yea, makes me wonder about the electoral process. How does a guy like Rumsfeld end up where he is?
    I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    That was facinating. I don't know how these guys do it. I don't support the war, but I support every one of the men and women over there.
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • old and in the wayold and in the way Posts: 62
    Ahnimus wrote:
    Yea, makes me wonder about the electoral process. How does a guy like Rumsfeld end up where he is?

    Well first of all he didn't end up there by being elected. He was nominated approved and then appointed. Now he may very well have totally shit in his mess kit with many decisions on Iraq but believe it or not he was one of the most qualified people to lead the DOD. He is well respected in the pentagon still for what it's worth at this stage. I didn't get the message from this brave Marine's letter that he was crying out for help but more that he is saying -yeah it's tough but we are Marines. It's supposed to be tough so fewer of my fellow Marines have to be here. It's gotta be a hard call to judge the right amount of troop strength, the balance between being seen as a full on occupation with too many and risking force security with too few.
    Don't Ignore The Rusted Signs

    1998 Seattle 7-21
    2000 Seattle 11-06
    2003 Seattle Benaroya 10-22
    2005 Gorge 9-1
    2006 Gorge 7-23
  • AhnimusAhnimus Posts: 10,560
    old and in the way wrote:
    Well first of all he didn't end up there by being elected. He was nominated approved and then appointed. Now he may very well have totally shit in his mess kit with many decisions on Iraq but believe it or not he was one of the most qualified people to lead the DOD. He is well respected in the pentagon still for what it's worth at this stage. I didn't get the message from this brave Marine's letter that he was crying out for help but more that he is saying -yeah it's tough but we are Marines. It's supposed to be tough so fewer of my fellow Marines have to be here. It's gotta be a hard call to judge the right amount of troop strength, the balance between being seen as a full on occupation with too many and risking force security with too few.

    None of that changes the fact that going to Iraq was a bad idea.
    I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
  • old and in the wayold and in the way Posts: 62
    Ahnimus wrote:
    None of that changes the fact that going to Iraq was a bad idea.

    Of course it wouldn't, if that's your position, fine. I was just trying to contribute some thought to the posted responses, and answer the question you posed. I think it was a important letter for many of the Jammers here to share in. I get the sense that many have no connection or exposure to military life much less deployed military.Thanks to the poster of the letter
    Don't Ignore The Rusted Signs

    1998 Seattle 7-21
    2000 Seattle 11-06
    2003 Seattle Benaroya 10-22
    2005 Gorge 9-1
    2006 Gorge 7-23
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