Vets (espicially recent ones) how are you dealing with buddies being...

[malmapus]

in this shit?

Basically, I have always been against us being in Iraq. I called BS from the start.

I know us being there is totally wrong, but at the same time having buddies I trained with and served with in hostile areas, I keep having these feelings that I need to be there.

My future father-in-law who's a fellow vet told me that this isn't my war. But I think its easier for him to say that as his war was 30 years ago. These are guys I know, I just feel guilty (and alot lately) that I'm here living the civilian life, going out for dinner and meanwhile buds are over there.

[ihaveaquestion]

1. My Father-in-Law is LIVID!

He's a very conservative Vietnam Vet (3 tours) and a retired Master Sargent from Alabama. He's so mad he can barely speak and will only say that he can't believe that "they're doing it again," meaning sending troops to be slaughtered in a senseless war.

[malmapus]

3. Yeah mine can't either, he was there at the start of Vietnam

One of the "advisors" so he has alot of guilt he feels about that.

I've hated the fact that I have been so torn, I believe strongly that this is a senseless war and that our country was wrong to go in there in the first place.

But at the same time, I have always held dear to the buddy system that the Army taught me. Espicially after what you go through with people and I know alot who are still in. I just feel like my part should be there watching their backs.

Its gotten really bad lately, I feel guilty and depressed going out now...like my family took us to Outback the other night and I was just sitting there looking around at all these people eating steak dinners and what not, thinking that on the other side of the world..well they're not having it so good.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[MindPilot]

2. survivor guilt -- it's real and it hurts

and you don't have to have watched your buddy get hit when you didn't to feel it. Anyone with a conscience will have it to a certain extent -- especially with THIS war.

edited for spelling

[atreides1]

4. Not My War

I got out 13 years ago, and none of the guys that I was with in Desert Storm are there. Do I feel a need to be there, hell no, this is nothing more then a war of aggression against the Iraqi people.

This administration has turned the US military into the 21st Century version of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen SS. There is nothing honorable or noble about this war, because you cannot have a noble cause that is based on lies.

The main duty of the US military is to defend the US and the Constitution. I don't see where having 150,000 troops in and around
Iraq fills that requirement, why didn't we attack Saudi Arabia, most of the terrorists on those planes were from that country, the Saudi government has also supported Wahabism, which is what Bin Laden bases
his own beliefs on.

And while it's a good thing that Saddam is no longer in power, at least under his government there were no daily car bombings.

If you feel the need to go, then go, if you feel guilty that your buds are there and you're not then get back in. But if you truly feel that this war is totally wrong, then do whatever you can to get
this travesty stopped, before your buds come home in flag draped coffins, I know I am.

[malmapus]

6. Yeah I need a total kick in the ass man

You are right, scary part is I have found myself very close to re-enlisting...which really pisses me off.

lol I might as well, I'm so screwed up chances are Army wouldn't take me back anyway

on EDIT

have been doing my part to try and get buds back home, but the more this drags on and the more than I feel my efforts here have been falling on deaf ears, espicially when I write / call my reps and senators in congress...I mean with Boxer I'm preaching to the choir...lol I'm probaly on a SS list now with couple letters I've writter to our glorious CiC....UGH

[anarchy1999]

5. Seek support from fellow Vets and check out Vets for Peace in your area.

They need guys like you all they're there to help all of you returning from this disaster. They all are dealing with or have dealt with feelings you all are having now and would like to see it stop.

[Qanisqineq]

7. There's also a board where vets against the Iraq War can talk

Veterans Against the Iraq War
http://www.vaiw.org/vet/index.php

or if you are a veteran of the Iraq War, there is a site (no message board that I know of):
Iraq Veterans Against the War
http://www.ivaw.net/