Those wounded Iraqi vets are afraid to tell the truth

[CatWoman]

about whether we should have gone in.

They were just too hestitant to answer.

For those watching 60 Minutes.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Yes I am watching

None were willing to say it was a mistake to go into Iraq.

[Oceansaway]

2. its clear they are...

cept this last dude....

[burythehatchet]

3. I don't think so

I think that most of them would be devestated if they admitted to themselves that their injuries were for nothing. I think its a question of keeping their own sanity, not logic.

[CatWoman]

4. as a veteran, I can tell you

that the service almost brain washes you.

It's hard to get it out of your system.

It took me a long time to be "me" again once I got out.

And I see that phenomenon in those vets.

[TahitiNut]

6. Ubetcha.

(nodding)

[MSgt213]

12. I think it was deeper then brain washing. At this point I truly think

these guys just don't want to admit out loud that they are suffering for nothing. They maybe will be able to in time, but not now.

[Armstead]

5. Agreed

[WinkyDink]

10. ITA. It's horrible enough to live with, now.

[gimama]

16. not ALLOWED to be 'political'

sworn to support & defend the Constitution, against ALL enemies, furin & domestic. Trouble is,most don't KNOW the Constitution. (I've been asking congress to supply each Soldier with a copy)but there's mil. regs AND peer pressure, not to be caught up in 'politics'. This is another reason it is so important for MILITARY FAMILIES to SPEAK OUT, they speak for those who CAN'T. (www.mfso.org)

There is also a whole bunch o' denial, some HAVE to believe,no matter what. Many Wounded express a real desire to return to the unit,despite awful injuries. I often see them as having ptsd,in need of mental health care, a counselor,or at least some good debreifing. At the same time, that same 'crazy' desire to get back to 'work' is a real motivation to get healthy again..

Please send some Light
& Love to those who SERVE, & their FAMILIES.~===]

[Vinca]

7. That was a hard piece to watch on 60 Minutes.

It makes me sadder . . . and madder . . . about what Bush has done to this country in a few short years. I can't fault the injured soldiers who support the war. In their place, I'd want to convince myself the sacrifice was worth it.

[slaveplanet]

8. This is just what you'd expect

If a gang member gets paralyzed in the commission of gangland activity, you don't denounce the gang even if they no longer have use for you.

[Loge23]

9. You have to justify the pain

That's what they are doing. They followed orders. They can't bring themselves to admit that following those orders was wrong.
I hope that the rest of life is good to them. They didn't deserve this.

[CatWoman]

13. yes, they followed orders

it could have easily have been me.

However, they have to find the courage to admit the truth.

I'm not talking about a "blame game".

I'm talking about facing up to the truth (if that IS the situation).

Personally, I think they are afraid to admit the truth, and to cross this administration.

Those folks have got to be at least 80 percent disabled, and are dependent on the VA for funds and treatment.

[leftchick]

11. I cried when I saw that

the gal who had part of her skull removed seemed about to cry as she said the words. Too fucking sad.

:cry:

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. They looked like they believed it, but the answers were still ultra-weak

I have no doubt that they still believe it. But these were still the lamest answer to the question, and you could see the smoke puttering out of the idea machine even as the ideas were being articulated. I mean "We have to finish the job"? "Because the president made the decision?" "Time will tell, but I think it was right"?

There's one thing you didn't hear in any of that: that any of this does a goddamn bit of good for the "Iraqi people." That answer was non-existent. Also non-existent is the notion that this the slightest goddamn bit of good for the American people. Both these points are probably obvious if you're over there.

The point here: what was NOT said by any of those folks is as interesting as what they did say. None of their statements were a particularly strong justification for the war.

[Kurovski]

15. Families can exert alot of "peer" pressure, as it were.

It's hard to go against everything your mom and dad believe to be true.

[Lorien]

17. Especially the first guy they asked

he looked extremely conflicted.

[annabanana]

18. I wonder if this is a questions for the soldiers?

This isn't their job.
Their job is to follow the orders of their superiors. If they didn't do that, we wouldn't have much of a military. None of them looked as if they had spent much time considering the question before. That doesn't surprise me.

[1620rock]

19. ...sigh, in a few short years...

...they will be as forgotten as the wounded and disabled Vietnam vets....they will have they rest of their lives to consider if it was 'worth it'.