My Son ships off to Iraq in about 45 days. My take on the whole Wiki Leaks thing

[The Straight Story]

When Matthew Brady showed his photos of the Civil War people started to have a different view of the war.

It brought it 'home'. Not that the letters from soldiers didn't, and it is not like loved ones did not already know the pain of war. But there were times where people actually had picnics to watch battles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Bull_Run).

WW2, Korea (Where my Uncle fought and was wounded twice, and eventually died from the cancer he got there), Vietnam, et al. We have a cone of silence it seems.

We hear the 'good' news and treat it all as though the people fighting and dying are nothing more than objects.

That object, that little news blurb you hear about in a fire fight, is a person. And soon that person will be my son.

Two little girls at home and a son on the way. God willing if my paycheck gets here this Friday (sometimes it comes on Saturday) I will be buying him a ticket home to see us all before he goes.

He is treated by the military and the press as nothing more that a little marker, a grunt they have no problem sending off to die in a war that we should not be in anyway.

You think these leaks will endanger his life? Maybe - but these wars we started do that more than anything else. I have said a long time now, we 'won' the wars - we defeated the armies of those we said were our enemies. You win, you leave, and you tell people you will come back if you have to.

Does anyone really think that Iraq or Afghanistan can really do us harm now? Even if you did then, they cannot now. If they cause problems, go back. What is the point of what we are doing right now.....but the BIGGER question is:

Why is the government so afraid of being transparent to the rest of us when they demand more and more that ours lives be an open book to them?

You want my boy to go to your war? You show me, him, and those with a stake in it (ie, us tax payers) the books - the same way you demand to know how every penny spend is spent. You want my money and my kid, you damn well better do for me what you expect me to do for you.

You can't travel to Canada or Mexico without a passport now, we lock down schools over simple things, you want us to live in fear all the while you tell us your wars will remove the problem. If that is so - why are you scared that you want to read my emails, listen in on my calls, etc?

You can try all you want to hide behind the shield of 'We are just protecting you' - but I am sure as hell not buying it. You are protecting YOURSELF from all the lies.

[panader0]

1. Wow......what a hard thing to deal with.

My son is17. For quite a while when he was younger, he wanted to join the service. After these past few years of news, and hearing my rants against these wars, I'm pretty sure he has changed his mind. All of my best hopes to your son.
K&R

[JonLP24]

50. I do hope

He gets life set-up in a way where he doesn't need the military. I was in the same boat when I was 18. I was against the Iraq war before they were sent out in 2003. But I didn't have a job and was desperate and a recruiter came up to me and asked (mind you while I was on my way to apply for a job) "What job trains you in over 200 different kind of jobs for FREE." I decided to talk it over despite the people on bus stop urging me not to (I didn't even know them). Anyways I didn't want a combat job because I don't have the heart to kill so I choose 88M which is large truck driving. There are different kind of truck driving companies(Army speak) and I ended up in a long haul unit. They drive the semi-trucks, M915A2 Truck and Trailer. Anyways best of hopes to your son as well as the OP's.

[Donnachaidh]

2. k&r n/t

[deminwi]

3. I had to recommend

God bless your son and your family! I hope that your son is kept safe while serving in Iraq. I agree with you, bring our military personnel home from these hell holes!!! These countries do not really appreciate the sacrifice that our military personnel are making for them and we should let them take care of themselves. That's the way they want it and that's the way we should give it to them.

[SammyWinstonJack]

I bet the people of these countries also don't appreciate being killed by our troops, either.

Just imo. :shrug:

[flyarm]

4. K&R and I am crying here..and in Full 100% agreement with you..

I will keep your son in my prayers and your family..and Your son's young family!

We need transparency and we need it now..Kucinich was just on CNN the John KIng show and I applaud everything he said..

It is long past the time for transparency..and long past time to hold war criminals responsible for their crimes..and it is time to stop these illegal wars of profit and greed!

No parent should have to lose their children in these illegal wars!..nor should any child lose their parent ..nor should the civilians and their families who have been killed in these illegal wars not have justice for crimes against them and their humanity.

It is way past time for truth and accountability!

[girl gone mad]

5. k & r

Just got my cousin back from Afghanistan (for good) after 6 years.

I am sleeping a lot better these days.

[RKP5637]

6. I was telling someone just this afternoon with all of the years over there

something is really wrong when we have to constantly spend money and lives in Iraq and Afghanistan year after year after year.

Frankly I often think we continue because the profiteering corporations and others make lots of money and they now practically run our gov./country. It's become a mindset.

I recall Vietnam well and the draft. Back then people took notice as to what was going on. Now someone else is doing it and it's sadly out of sight out of mind for many Americans, yet the false patriots will wave the flag for war, never having served. And not having seen/experienced the horrors of war.

I hope your son is safe. And I agree so much, "You can try all you want to hide behind the shield of 'We are just protecting you' - but I am sure as hell not buying it. You are protecting YOURSELF from all the lies."

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

53. The draft made it real for us during Nam.

We also saw on TeeVee what was going on there. Now it may be on TeeVee, but unless you or a family member volunteer to enlist, its not your problem.

I'm part of a small group that does a peace vigil every week in our town. Most passsersby support our sentiments - the opponents are a smaller and smaller minority every week.

To the OP - K & R for a righteous rant. May your son be safe and come home sound in body and mind.

[Recursion]

7. Fair winds and following seas to him and you

Send him foot powder*, and remind him he's not alone when he comes back.

*Seriously. Foot powder and dip (Kodiak, Skoal, Copenhagen, etc.). They're better than cash over there.

And thank you for posting this.

[sulphurdunn]

58. Do the grunts still need

Tabasco Sauce these days?

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Tell him to keep his head down

and no idiocy awards.

If this is his first deployment, tell him to ask the sergeant what that means.

[The Straight Story]

11. God willing I will be able to tell him that this weekend in person

Ticket prices keep going up, I will use my whole check to get him here if need be. Will be the last time I see him for a year to 18 months.

He is getting nervous and a little scared, but will go an do his job.

Hopefully our officials we worked hard to elect will do theirs.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Hugs and if in the next 18months

you need to talk... feel free.

Been there, done that, that is sending a husband to war, TWICE... directly... as in at the pier and all that.

So I get it.

[USArmyParatrooper]

61. What unit is he with and what's his MOS?

[Hayabusa]

9. K & R, NT

nt

[Arugula Latte]

10. I'm curious. Why/when did he join the military?

Job? Education? Ideology? Mixture? etc.

Hope he stays safe.

[The Straight Story]

14. More than anything, it was he needed the work and health insruance

He went to Basic last year, though it seems much longer ago.

His mom died in 2005, and I think in some ways that also affected his decision. He was a wreck for a long time and life was going nowhere, and the few jobs he could find were temp ones.

Now he can get a paycheck, afford college, provide health care and a home for his kids, and they can pay the bills (and he got a nice signing bonus that pays out 10k/year extra for 4 years).

My youngest son joined as well, but did not make it through boot camp - he had a lot of issues (mentally, over his mom's death) and left, got an honorable discharge, but is now looking at going back in.

[barbtries]

39. "His mom died in 2005"

this is very telling. after my daughter was killed in 2001, my son, 17 at the time and in his first semester at college, quit school, quit his job, was spending all his time sleeping or worse. he joined the navy. was in boot camp when gw began the "war that shouldn't be" as i call it.

fortunately (IMO) he failed a pee test and was let go in 2005. never left the states. i remember when he told me his first command after DINFOS would be in VA i fell on the floor in relief. just can't, i just cannot lose another child.

i believe with all my heart that if Bekah had lived he would have never joined up.

like you i am glad the truth is coming to light. public opinion has to turn and in a big big way to put the pressure on the lawmakers to bring these gawdawful wars to an end. spend our treasure at home, save our children. dismantle the MIC and start over.

there's a big part of me that wishes your son would refuse to go. that they ALL would refuse. the PTB cannot have a war without bodies. and that's all they are to them. they're like sticks of wood they pile on the fire that keeps them warm.

[w8liftinglady]

84. I just want to give you a coast-to-coast hug...If you ever need to vent,I'm here

[w8liftinglady]

12. K&R...if it's any consolation

...according to My son,a 3 time Iraq War vet,Iraq is actually better to go to than Afghanistan these days.That being said,I will send positive thoughts your way,that we quickly leave,and he is with his family soon.
Your post brings up some great topics that need to be reinforced....Thanks.

[The Straight Story]

15. He was supposed to go to Afghanistan originally, plans changed

And he was supposed to be driving a tank, now he will be doing convoy security.

I keep hoping they will change it all again and he does not have to go :)

[JonLP24]

51. Convoy security

That is right up my alley. He'll likely be in a gun truck humvee or that other vehicle they got. I drove M915A2 truck and trailers deployed over there. He'll also likely be guarded TCN trucks where those guys are targeted more because of their fiberglass Mercedes semi-trucks and lack of body armor. We would have 5 "green"(Army) truck and trailers, 2 bobcats(truck without a trailer in-case something happened) and 20+ "whites" because the Mercedes semi-trucks are the color white. Then there are usually 3 sometimes 4 "gun trucks" (which I imagine your son will be in).

A couple things I will say is to tell you son don't get complacent. He may go on many missions where nothing happens so it is very easy to become complacent. I recall we worked all day and drove all night because of less visibility and little to no traffic. The very first time we crossed the border from Kuwait into Iraq I was alert and looking around. I got bored real quick and since I was passenger not used to being up all night I fell asleep. I was so tired almost forgot to drop my magazine when I went to clear me weapon before going into the first base of our mission. :scared:
My sleep schedule to this day is screwed up because of working all day and driving all night.

Another thing I ask is to treat the TCNs with respect which many troops fail to do so. If you don't know what a TCN is.. I highly recommend this article--http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12675 I can vouch for many of the things the article such as the work well below US minimum wage. Also that they told many things that I didn't know. If you have the time after that I ask you to check out my journal where I add some personal stories.

Anyways best of luck!

On edit-Aside from complacency, if he is in a gun truck humvee, tell him (I'm sure he will be told this many times) keep an eye out for roadside bombs, IED, EFP. The trucks I drove can absorb a blast from an IED(EFP-different story) pretty good but a humvee is very vulnerable to a blast of any kind.

[TheKentuckian]

13. I hope and pray he stays safe and comes home whole

[DesertFlower]

16. sad. nt

[amborin]

17. K&R

[proud patriot]

18. k and r

I value your perspective here . Thanks for posting such a passionate plea .

I will send an email today . I guess I needed a kick in the seat .

[Demoiselle]

20. You're right, of course. I'm gonna send prayers and good vibes for your son every day.

Bless you and your family.

[me b zola]

21. K&R

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

22. It is so hard for me to read this.

I will know my son's deployment schedule some time in November when he joins his unit. He is at Ft. Sill right now, learning how to be an Artillery officer, and then he reports to Ft. Wainwright.

I am going to be an absolute basket case from the time I learn his schedule until he goes. And then... I can't even imagine what you are going through.

My son decided on ROTC and the military because he did not think he would make it through college without someone kicking his butt out of bed every morning. I think he would have been fine, but too late now.

I am not a religious person, so no prayers from me, but I will be sending my best wishes for your son and the rest of your family.:grouphug:

I am a proud Army mom, but I wish he was doing something else with his life...

[Viva_La_Revolution]

23. My boy just got back...

may yours also return healthy and whole. :hug:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. Most of the nasty shit is happening in Afghanistan now, I think.

He'll be (relatively) safe. :hug:

[snot]

25. Maybe it's time we focus on educating young men . . .

about the morality of becoming mercenaries.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but.

I realize that many young men have few options; and I realize that that situation may even have been deliberately engineered by t.p.t.b.

But there can be no war if there are no soldiers. Why should soldiers be exempted from responsibility for their choices, any more than anyone else?

But more usefully, why do we behave as if there's nothing more we can do to dissuade these young men from agreeing to go kill people for a living?

How many anti-enlistment campaigns are you aware of?

I do NOT condemn or pass judgment on these young men. But WE have to look at how we've failed to educate them.

[Alcibiades]

41. The military is a vast jobs program

In an economy where there is nothing for people with experience, a young person without a college degree has even fewer choices, particularly in some parts of the country where there is little opportunity.

They will get their soldiers from somewhere. Ratchet up the financial incentives even more, and there would be no problem getting warm bodies, some of whom get turned into cold ones. They can even recruit foreign nationals, offering a path to citizenship through service. The way to starve the beast is by cutting the budget and ending the wars.

[ChiciB1]

49. Watched The Movie "The Way Of War" & At The End Saw This Statement...

"Without Villains Can there Be Heroes???" That hit me like a brick up side my head because it seems that's the going phrase these days! And it's a phrase that is so wrong on it's very face!!

We can be heroes here at home, and HOME is where we SHOULD be growing HEROES, not in some sand pit thousands of miles away!

Again, Good Luck, Good Luck! And may this country begin to have "Eyes Wide Open!"

[Minimus]

Not all join the military to "go kill people for a living" and

not all join because of having few options. WE have not failed to educate ALL the young men and women who serve. Some actually just want to serve their country in some capacity... they do it out of sense of duty.

It is up to the rest of us to make sure the people we put in office do not put our young men and women in harms way. WE need to make sure there are no unjust and unnecessary wars. WE need to work on getting our military budget reduced. WE need to do our best to elect those that seek peaceful resolutions.

There are many things WE need to do to, but implying that when young men join the service it is simply to kill people for a living and calling them mercenaries is not one of them.

[Romulox]

52. Maybe we should educate their mothers about voting for warmongers?

See how that works? :hi:

[USArmyParatrooper]

62. So you believe the US doesn't need a military?

Also, just because some people have a different opionion or perspective from you doesn't mean they need to be "educated"

[PacerLJ35]

80. Many of us join because it is what we want to do, not because we're desparate

Check yourself...I had a bachelor's degree and a civilian job before I went active duty military. I joined because I wanted to. The vast majority of those in the military don't go around killing people for a living.

Ask those of us who worked 16-18 hour days flying relief supplies into Haiti, or my father who flew un-armed Cobra attack helicopters pulling border patrol on the Czech and E. German borders during the 70s and 80s while getting shot at by the Soviet forces (that hardly ever made the news).

Tell me with a straight face that I must have had no other options in life. Spare me the "well, your experiences are anecdotal"...they are not because I know and work with "the military", and while there are certainly SOME who might join because they have no other options, the majority of us aren't in it for the money, the education or anything else other than we want to be there.

[Mimosa]

26. K&R one of DU's best posts of all time

How kind of you to share your feelings with us at this stressful time, Straight Story.

Your point about Matthew Brady's strong photographs rings a bell.

Straight Story, why did your son join the military?


*My prayers go out to you and him*

[sabrina 1]

27. Very nice post, I hope your son comes home

safely. In fact, it would be wonderful if he didn't have to go at all. If this kind of truth had been told in the beginning, there would not have been any support for these wars. But the U.S. media was a disgrace and did nothing to inform the people of the truth. Which was, that neither Iraq nor Afghanistan were ever a threat to us. It was all about Oil.

[ConsAreLiars]

28. Thank you. Facts matter.

I understand how your kid made that (potentially or likely very bad) decision in good faith and with the most admirable of intentions, coupled with a fair bit of historical ignorance and naiveté. Hope for the best, and so on.

[ConsAreLiars]

29. self -deleted DU double belch.

[colorado_ufo]

30. Brilliant!

As a mother, my heart goes out to you, your son, his family, and all who love him.

You have summed up more than the current war situation; you have summed up the national situation, as well.

[democrank]

31. Bless you and your family.

I hope your son stays safe.


~PEACE~

[xchrom]

32. prayers for his safe return to you. nt

[secondwind]

33. I will pray that your son will stay safe, it appears that Iraq is a lot safer now than Afghanistan.

But we just cannot "return" at the drop of a hat to any place of conflict. (I'm not in favor of these wars to begin with, mind you).

It costs millions and millions of dollars to dismantle everything "over there" (including bathrooms, mess halls, etc., hospital and surgical areas) It costs a LOT of money.

Returning costs more, I would venture to guess. This is probably the reason why the Idiot decided to attack Iraq in the first place. He merely had to move troops from one area nearby to another area nearby. Two wars for the cost of one. Bastard.

I've a feeling that your son will be safe and come home to his family next year. Count on that.

[old mark]

34. Rec. All the best to you both. nt

[archiemo]

35. My heart breaks for you. I can't imagine the anxiety you must be

experiencing by having to watch your son go off to either one of these wars when there is no clear cut strategy going forward or to exit. My thoughts and well wishes go out to you and your family. Please thank your son for his service to our country.

[sendero]

36. "You are protecting YOURSELF from all the lies."

Exactly. And how could anyone be fooled by this bullshit yet again?

[Soylent Brice]

37. good vibes to your son, yourself, and your family.

excellent OP.

K&R

[barbtries]

38. great rant

warmest wishes on the well-being of your son straight story.

[ejpoeta]

40. i find it interesting the way the shows are all doing this story.

well, the ones i've seen that is. the only thing they have shown is that kids face that supposedly leaked this stuff. highly classified stuff and somehow i think that it's someone higher up that actually did it and this kid is probably the scapegoat. but i digress. they show his picture and talk about how this kid had access to this stuff and how dangerous is this to the soldiers. nothing about what's in it or what the documents say really. the focus is on the leak who leaked it and how it's so dangerous for the troops. and while it may be that, i think it is more that we think that the plausible deniablity is an excuse for why this stuff shouldn't be out there. because if we pretend we don't know what's going on, than somehow we can't be blamed for what our government does because we didn't know. it's ridiculous.

[Alcibiades]

42. It was ever thus

"None of these brave men of 1952 have yet offered to go out and pick the 10000 American mothers whose sons should have made the sacrifice to capture a worthless objective."

-- Eisenhower, on the subject of his critics who, in hindsight, though he should have made a push to Berlin to beat the Soviets there.

[Javaman]

43. Our fear is our undoing...

Peace to you and your son. May he come back home safe.

[Bandit]

44. Supposedly in forty five days all Combat troops are out of Iraq

Does it seem strange we are sending in more troops, when we are supposed to be getting troops out?

[USArmyParatrooper]

64. It's not strange at all.

Troops go in and out all the time on normal rotations, even when there are troop reductions. His unit will be replacing another who had likely been there for a year.

[L0oniX]

45. "do for me what you expect me to do for you" says it all.

Too bad JFK didn't say that.

[ChiciB1]

47. Let Me Add My Respect For That Statement Too. There Was A Post Last

night saying that Assange is only going to send more people to their deaths! My take is this... DEATH for the sake of WHAT??

If KILLING is going on NOW, more death to END SOME DEATH is the better path to take, IMHO!! The KILLING has NOT stopped, and to do something the COULD begin STOPPING this insanity makes much more sense to me!

We have a country right here that is falling apart and ROME runs through my mind on a daily basis! Somehow it must STOP, and the words of our leaders have long since fallen on my DEAD EARS!!

Good Luck to your son, and know that there are so many of us who are still "bleeding hearts" who want the kids such as your to have a "meaningful" productive life HERE IN America!! It's truly sad that so many are being "forced" to turn to a military life simply to make ends meet! And to know that our Government is counting on this being the case!!

:hug:

[pasto76]

46. wikileaks hasnt endangered anyone

except the folks who are making money on these wars.

Your boy has been well trained. His platoon has been well trained. His leadership are multiple deployment veterans. The bullets and explosives are dangerous, not releasing documents.

Be prepared for his "innocence to be gone" when he comes home. Thats what my mother said when I returned. Just be sure to send him frequent care packages.

SGT PASTO

[Mad_Dem_X]

48. K&R. For you and your son:

:hug: I hope he gets to see you before he leaves, and I hope he comes home quickly, safe and sound.

[upi402]

54. Send the Bush girls instead

Yellow elephant, chicken-hawk politicians should be mandated to have immediate family or relatives on the frontline of any war they vote for.


my .02

[Obamanaut]

79. If they enlist, they most certainly be eligible. Considering the draft

ended in the early 70s, it is not a stretch to guess that the majority of personnel on active duty, national guard, and reserves are volunteers.

Inasmuch as the Iraq/Afghanistan debacles have been ongoing for several years, it is not a stretch to guess that a large percentage of personnel on active duty, national guard, and reserves may well have heard of the conflict.

The simple answer is, if one doesn't want to take the chance of being involved in conflict, do not volunteer.

[datadiva]

55. Truth is a wonderful thing

and your post is so very sad and so very true.

[bobburgster]

56. For the longest time I was for the war in Afghanistan.

Iraq, I believe we never should have been there, and we should get out at a hell of a faster pace then we are currently in the process of doing. Afghanistan, well as I stated above, I truly believed it was justified to a certain degree. Now, I'm of the opinion it is a murky quandary with no obtainable objectives. As far as I can tell the only ones who benefit are the military industrial complex, and the congressmen who have those companies in their districts.
I get sick to my stomach when I read of 20 somethings getting killed fighting for something that is a figment, of some old fat cat sitting in an office, imagination.

[midnight]

57. K&R!

[sulphurdunn]

59. If we ever occupied a foreign country

and eventually left willingly, I'm unaware of it with the exception of our endless excursions and temporary basings in Latin and South America.

[stevenleser]

63. Iraq the first time along with Kuwait, Panama, Grenada, Haiti, just off the top of my head. n/t

[sulphurdunn]

71. We still have troops in Kuwait and Haiti.

The Iraq withdrawal was rectified by George the Lesser. Panama will be accepting two new US naval bases in the near future. Apparently, Granada has no US military presence. I stand corrected. Thanks for the input. It made me do some better research.

[stevenleser]

74. It would be more correct to say that we have troops AGAIN in Haiti. We sent troops in under Clinton.

They came home.

[sulphurdunn]

76. Correct again.

Accurately keeping track of where the legions are or where they've been on the borders of the empire is no small task.

[Ignis]

60. K&R

I hope your son comes home safely.

[Uncle Joe]

65. I wish the best for your son, and I couldn't agree more.

"Why is the government so afraid of being transparent to the rest of us when they demand more and more that ours lives be an open book to them?"

Thanks for the thread, The Straight Story.

[toymachines]

66. Any opinions on possibility of Wikileaks being CIA front?

Does anyone have a link to the history and background of Assange and other high ups in the wikileaks world?

[defendandprotect]

67. Some Democrats are actually taking a stand against financing any more of these wars . . .

everyone should be calling and get their reps to STOP voting for more money for war --

What you are saying about the insanity of our loss of freedom here in America is entirely

true -- the right wing is always paranoid, always fear-mongering, and always involved with

violence.

The reality is, the right wing is making life more dangerous for all of us --

from the fake Drug War to the fake wars -- to the bankrupting of our Treasury and destruction

of infrastructure and community!

Sad you have such personal involvement in this -- and I can only hope that very soon your

son will be returning home to you all -- safely.

Thank you for this heartfelt post!

[swilton]

68. The classification of information by the military is not

to keep secrets from our adversaries - they already know the truth and the lies - i.e., that we are murdering civilians. The cover-up is to protect our leaders executing this folly.

[USArmyParatrooper]

70. What utter BS

Do you even know anybody in the military who classifies information?

[DainBramaged]

85. And I for one thank you for your service

:patriot:

[BrklynLiberal]

69. Old men..mostly white...send other people's sons and daughters out to fight the wars THEY plan

and argue for.

Yours is an exquisite post....in its beauty, and its pain.

I cannot help but wonder how many wars would be fought today, if the old men who argue for them,
from all countries...
were the ones who had to actually go out and do the fighting...

May your son find his way home..soon...healthy, whole and happy..

[feslen]

72. I don't believe in war

but I believe in supporting and protecting our troops, who are pawns of greedy politicians. I hope he comes home safely...I can only imagine what you and your family must be going through; I recently had a friend with no hopes of employment enlist as a way to a "better future".

[mike_c]

73. sent the OP to my partner whose son is at Marine boot camp....

She appreciated your insights and said to say "Thanks!"

[puebloknot]

75. K&R Kudos for courage from a WWII soldier's daughter. nt

[Shining Jack]

77. K&R

[marketbreakaway]

78. Out of Afghanistan - Now

Sure, breaking up Osama's people was necessary, but why are we still there?

Sure, the Taliban picked the wrong horse, but Afghans have picked the Taliban.

Is there no possible deal with the Taliban to keep Osama's folks at bay?

Honestly, is this a matter of honor now? Do we fight to prove we can?

My son lives, but some sons do not.

Out of Afghanistan, now.

[PacerLJ35]

81. My two cents on your son's deployment

I know you're worried about it, why wouldn't you after reading all the headlines and internet chatter that makes a deployment to Iraq seem like a death sentence, or at least a one-way ticket to a VA hospital minus legs or arms?

Certainly there are risks and threats in Iraq, I've seen them first hand. I've been deployed there four times, the last time in 2008-2009. Last time I had a somewhat unusual job...I was training and advising the Iraqi Air Force. We often went places that didn't have the protection of the US military. I survived, and in fact in the entire year I was deployed I never felt truly in danger.

Those times (when I felt in danger) were long over. 2005, 2006 were bad years. I was shot at plenty, and even though I was aircrew and flew over the cities, it's still not fun to be banking over Iraq somewhere at low altitude and airspeed dispensing flares as a missile tracks on your aircraft...or to be on a ramp while several mortars land on either side of your aircraft.

My last deployment, I expected more of the same, but in my longest deployment yet (my previous three were about 4 months long), I never once was shot at and only suffered three mortar attacks in twelve months despite being located on one of the larger bases in Iraq. The country is rapidly stabilizing, compared to several years ago when it was true chaos. The Iraqis we trained had moved to outlying cities and towns, fearing for the lives of their families...in fact, one of the Iraqis had his 7 year old son murdered by insurgents for his involvement in the new Air Force. I've told that story and many heartless people have said "well, maybe if he wasn't out bombing his fellow Iraqis...blah blah blah". No, this guy flew on transports and did important work like carrying ballot workers, transporting various government workers trying to bring the country back from the brink...he wasn't killing his citizens. In fact, the very insurgents some brazenly call "freedom fighters" were the ones sneaking into Iraqi homes murdering wives and children to send messages...and setting of bombs in market places, blowing up mosques...all in the name of trying to create deep divides and hatred that they could exploit to gain power.

Eventually life has gradually overcome death there, and the country's government, while not perfect from our perspective, is rapidly becoming more functional and when compared to other governments in the middle east (I've been all over that region...it's not a fun place), Iraq's government has the potential to become the new Turkey of the region. They have hurdles to overcome, sure, and there is no guarantee...but they've got the culture and mindset more like the Turks than the Saudis or Iranians.

I don't know what MOS your son is in, but unless he's in a combat-coded specialty, he probably won't see much, if any, action. In fact, it's so crazy over there that people will pose for "hero shots" with armor and guns to send home...it disgusts me because it's a slap in the face to the real combat troops who get shot at every day, but the fact is, the vast majority of those serving over there do so on heavily fortified bases and rarely have any threats other than the occasional poorly-aimed mortar or rocket attack that has so far killed very few troops in the past 7+ years.

I can and will agree that Iraq was poorly timed and conceived. But after spending four tours there, and especially after advising the Iraqis, I feel resolute that we should continue to try and help them on the road to recovery rather than leave them to a bloody fate that was caused by our own careless foreign policy. I look upon the Iraqis as my brothers, and even though at times their culture and ways of doing things made me beat my head into a wall in frustration, I know that most of them are good people, and despite all the rhetoric you hear in the media, the vast majority are glad Saddam is gone. They might have split feelings on the war itself, but there's no denying that they are looking to the future.

I wish your son well. And while there are no guarantees in life, I personally feel more at risk driving through my city's traffic every morning than I did in my last tour in Iraq.

[DainBramaged]

82. A HUGE hug and a kick!

:toast:

[Forkboy]

83. Where's Geektragedy?!?!?!?!

He seemed totally concerned a minute ago.....

[Th1onein]

86. Oh Straight Story.....you make me cry.

And you are spot on.

[Forkboy]

87. Kick