Troops not so sure about escalation
When it comes to the troop "surge" or swell or crescendo or whatever it is, the troops are maybe not so enthused. From the AP via the San Jose Mercury News:
Of course, as Americans, they have the same rights as all of us, and are free to form their own opinions. But these soldiers were willing to put their names behind their comments, so these statements have more meaning than suspect "friend of a friend" messages so commonly passed around by the right wing.
The "surge" is about covering for the fact that George W. Bush won't admit his mistake. One has to wonder how long military families are willing to pay the price for that. They've already endured a lot, and in some cases soldiers and Marines are on their third tours of duty in Iraq.
Democrats owe it to all Americans, but especially the families of service personnel deployed to Iraq, to oppose the "surge."
The George W. Bush presidential library is not worth anyone's life. The policy is a failure, just like the movement and president who enacted it. We can't get out of Iraq until more people come to grips with that. It's an unpleasant and harsh reality, but that's what happens when you go to war based on lies.
Spc. Don Roberts, who was stationed in Baghdad in 2004, said the situation had gotten worse because of increasing violence between Shiites and Sunnis.There are, of course, soldiers who believe otherwise, as the AP article notes.
"I don't know what could help at this point," said Roberts, 22, of Paonia, Colo. "What would more guys do? We can't pick sides. It's almost like we have to watch them kill each other, then ask questions."
Based in Fort Lewis, Wash., the battalion is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division. Deployed in June, its men were moved to Baghdad from Mosul in late November to relieve another Stryker battalion that had reached the end of its tour.
"Nothing's going to help. It's a religious war, and we're caught in the middle of it," said Sgt. Josh Keim, a native of Canton, Ohio, who is on his second tour in Iraq. "It's hard to be somewhere where there's no mission and we just drive around."
Of course, as Americans, they have the same rights as all of us, and are free to form their own opinions. But these soldiers were willing to put their names behind their comments, so these statements have more meaning than suspect "friend of a friend" messages so commonly passed around by the right wing.
The "surge" is about covering for the fact that George W. Bush won't admit his mistake. One has to wonder how long military families are willing to pay the price for that. They've already endured a lot, and in some cases soldiers and Marines are on their third tours of duty in Iraq.
Democrats owe it to all Americans, but especially the families of service personnel deployed to Iraq, to oppose the "surge."
The George W. Bush presidential library is not worth anyone's life. The policy is a failure, just like the movement and president who enacted it. We can't get out of Iraq until more people come to grips with that. It's an unpleasant and harsh reality, but that's what happens when you go to war based on lies.
