What does the Army Think about the War in IRAQ?

I had an opportunity to have a casual meeting with a member of the Army National Guard. I was taken on a tour of the facility and was shown a Black Hawk and Chanuk helicopter that were in the hanger. As the tour was winding down I asked the person who was showing me around, and yes I am being very vague on who is who and where because I have no intention of getting anyone in trouble, what his thoughts were on the war in Iraq. You see he just got back from Iraq and I felt had a very good opion of what is really going on.


His comments will be paraphrased here but I want to give you the gist of what he said because his comments were insightful, and frankly for me I put more weight into his opinion that any talking heads on the radio or TV.


He first said that we really shouldn't be there. Nothing was found and they were really not doing anything to us at the time. Second he did say that at this point we can't really pull out, but that we should pull back to our bases and let the local Iraqis take care of the major ground work.


He also said the amount of money that is being wasted is amazing not to mention loss of life. He saw a fleet of brand new trucks just sitting there that were to be going to be used for the Iraqis police. He also saw one night one of those trucks "lite up" by and RPG. I am sure this was not the first one of the last one.


He also stated that we should be throwing all of our attention at Osama Bin laden. He started this, but yet is out there still running around. He also stated that there reception by the public has always been great. A lot better then troops returning home from Vietnam and Korea.


I thanked him for his time and explained to him that I and my family are extremely proud of him and the military and that we strongly support them no matter what.


This was a great conversation and it made me think. If this is the sentiment of one man in the military that has seen this first hand, it probably is the thoughts of many in the military. It also made me think he is right. We now have had four thousand troops who have lost there lives. Add to that the hundreds if not thousands of contractors that are over there who have been killed or kidnapped. There is a huge loss of life that is taking place in Iraq and I think now is the time to follow this soldiers recommendation and pull back. Regardless of why we are there, we are there! If we leave it will be chaos, if we stay in the same capacity that we are in now then we will keep getting killed. I think we do need to pull back to our bases, provide support to the Iraqis, but continue to limit that support. Sure, give them money, but start to keep our soldiers out of harms way.


Freedom isn't free, and it can't be handed to someone. Look at our history, we are a free country purely because we wanted it and fought for it. We keep it because we remember the sacrifices of those who helped get it in the first place. The Iraqis will never appreciate it unless they get it for themselves. Unless we pull back, not out, they will never have the feeling of accomplishment and appreciation for what they have. Taking this approach we would hopefully save some lives on our side and give the Iraqis a chance to claim freedom for themselves. Thus hopefully making them appreciate it more. It's kind of like with kids, but if you hand them everything they will never appreciate it. It's only when they get it for themselves do they appreciate it and take better care of it. Freedom is no different.


Then we concentrate on the search for Bin Laden and make him pay for what he has done and is doing.


Another note, this solider also stated that there is no question that the Iranians are supplying arms to the Terrorists in Iraq. He saw munitions with Iranian writing on them. This has been stated in the media (I think), but not to any consequence. What's up with that? This is proof but I guess, what can we do with that proof, we sure the heack don't want to run into Iran and start anything with them.


In closing this war has gone on long enough. We need to take more of a secondary roll. We did make the mess in Iraq, but now is the time to say enough. I am not a pull and run person, but our strategy should change. Leaving is not an option, but staying in the capacity that we are in now, just isn't going to continue to work.



ON A SIDE NOTE:

We have been in Iraq for 5 years. Wheres the freaking oil? We should be getting oil by the barrel full? We are dieing over there, it would be nice to be getting paid back for some of the financical and personal losses that we have paid. Our gas prices are through the roof, if we were pumping oil out of Iraq and bringing it home then we would be in a much better place. Even if we were getting it at a extremely discounted price I would be fine with that. Imagine if we started getting gallons of oil from Iraq, how things would be at home?