Profile: "Unknown Soldier" Speaks Out To Bring Troops Home

[huckleberry]

A soldier back from Iraq discusses the war and the U.S. soldiers fighting that war, the suicides, and much more.
Interview by Daniel Redwood

Because members of the military are limited in their ability to speak out publicly, the soldier interviewed here must remain anonymous. A military medic who served in the Gulf War in the early 1990s, he is a member of the Reserves who was called up to serve in the current war in Iraq. His primary role is to deliver medical care to U.S. military personnel as well as Iraqis.

Profoundly patriotic and committed to protecting his country, he is deeply concerned that the U.S. invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq, which has resulted in the deaths of over 500 American soldiers and uncounted thousands of Iraqis, may now be edging toward disaster. He believes that the troops have done their job and should be brought home.

In this interview, he notes that the troop rotations currently underway (between now and June) will place into the Iraq combat zone a significantly higher percentage of Reserves than has been deployed in any previous war. Because Reserves receive far less extensive training than active duty forces, he warns that the summer of 2004 may be a particularly dangerous time for U.S. forces in Iraq.

Stationed in the area of the Baghdad Airport at the time of President Bush’s Thanksgiving 2003 visit to the troops there, he also recounts that on the day before the president’s visit, the troops were given a questionnaire that asked them whether they “supported the president.” Those who did not declare their support with sufficient enthusiasm were not permitted to take part in the Thanksgiving meal, and had to make do with MREs (meals ready to eat, referred to by the soldiers as “meals refused by Ethiopians”) in their quarters.

This interview offers a rare, unfiltered report from a first-hand participant in the invasion and ongoing occupation of Iraq.


much more at
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=668

[FloridaPat]

1. You mean the $28 a day per soldier MRE meals. The DOD

has already stated that they were not giving the reserves all the benefits that regualar army was getting - like Kevlar vests, good rifles and guns. Because they weren't expected to be in the main fighting that much.

And I thought this was a disaster the day Bush started the invasion. There is another report that those who are openly against this war are given land mine duty - to go find land mines.

How much longer are those flag waving jerks that wanted this war going to keep ignoring all this. This was a criminal act to begin with and the criminals are getting filthy rich off this while our armed forces get screwed. Sixty percent of the population wanted this war - I say send them and the Bush people.

[emc]

2. great piece

I sent this out to all my republicans friends who dont who believe all the crap thats being spouted by the Bush people....as must read..

[enough]

3. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1200517