Thanks for posting that link. I tried to find happier stories about the state of affairs there because I do know that the media likes to report bad news over good news but the pickings were scarce. Here's one that isn't happy but interesting never the less.
SPC Murphy was stationed in Iraq for 15 months, including several months as an MP (Military Police) at Abu Ghraib Prison.
I feel uneasy returning this month to American soil after my 15-month tour in Iraq. This dreadful feeling is inescapable. Every day I must look in the mirror and face the fact that I served in a war based on flawed premises. I was told that Iraq was an imminent threat, that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. There were no WMD. I was told that Saddam had collaborated with Al Qaeda. He had not. Later I was told that we invaded Iraq to bring its people freedom and democracy. In my time in Iraq I witnessed the security situation deteriorate daily, and elections have yet to be held. (Incidentally, before the war I believed in the humanitarian cause of liberating the Iraqi people from the evil of Saddam, and I still believe in that cause.) My personal experiences on the ground epitomize broader, and sometimes troubling, issues in the war.
When my company landed in theatre in May, I was one of the few soldiers equipped with body armor effective at stopping powerful AK-47 ammunition. My mother, an elementary school art teacher, shipped the bullet-proof ceramic plates to me from the States. Other soldiers weren’t so lucky, having to raid buildings and patrol dangerous streets while wearing inferior Vietnam-era flak jackets. Later I learned that 40,000 troops had been sent into Iraq without effective body armor. We rode in ‘soft shell’ Humvees, equipped with flimsy fiber-glass doors. A Volvo has more protection. I saw the blood of American soldiers spilled because of the lack of ‘up-armored’ Humvees.
After training 2,000 police, and bringing law and order to the city of Al Hilla, my unit was tasked to run Abu Ghraib prison, a mission for which we had no prior training. We were combat support military police, ideal for conducting convoy security, not administering prisoner-of-war camps. My unit was desperately under-manned, so I was assigned to run an entire tier at the ‘hard site’. Even as a junior-enlisted soldier, I was personally responsible for 320 prisoners and a staff of four or five ill-disciplined Iraqi police. At Abu Ghraib, we were not afforded basic necessities such as cleaning supplies, instead prisoners cleaned their cells with water alone. Worst of all, nobody ever knew for sure who was actually in charge of the prison: military police, military intelligence or civilian contractors. All the while, insurgents’ mortars rained down on a near-daily basis, killing and wounding scores of soldiers and prisoners alike.
My one-year ‘boots on the ground’ came to an end in May. In Kuwait and just days from flying home, Secretary Rumsfeld reneged on his one-year promise and extended my unit’s tour by three months. We headed back to Iraq. Our new mission was to guard Halliburton truck drivers, civilian contractors who made three and four times my $20,000 salary. I wondered what on earth civilian truck drivers were doing in a combat zone. Riding with Halliburton on long convoys, we faced roadside bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire to protect these high-paid contractors. Finally, we were sent home in August.
I enlisted in the Army Reserve following September 11, 2001, one of the hardest and best decisions I have made in my life. I love the United States, the Army and my unit. Out of this deep love, I ask that we as Americans take a long look in the mirror. We must ask ourselves who we are and what we stand for. We as a nation must face the monster we have created in Iraq, sooner rather than later. We must find a way out of the mess in Iraq with minimal loss of American and Iraqi life. We owe it to the soldiers on the ground and the embattled Iraqi people.
As of Thursday, Sept. 9, 1,005 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq (news - web sites) in March 2003, according to the Defense Department.
Out of 1,000 deaths, nearly 250 were from non-combat causes. Heart attacks claimed 11. There have been seven electrocutions. And surprisingly, for a desert land, 45 troops have drowned in Iraq's rivers and canals.
Suicides account for 24 deaths, tormenting families back home. Some refuse to accept it.
While America mourns the deaths of more than 1,000 of its sons and daughters in the Iraq campaign, far more Iraqis have died since the United States invaded in March 2003. No official, reliable figures exist, but private estimates range from 10,000 to 30,000 killed across the nation.
Here is an exchange between Captain David Chasteen and his wife, Angela, that occurred while Captain Chasteen was serving in Iraq. Chasteen responds to his wife’s e-mail in sections, distinguished by the bold-face type:
----------->>>Note: I don't have all the iViallage bells and whistles so the bold won't show up on my post. The wife posts first and I added dashed lines to seperate David's responsed from Angela's...I also had to edit some of the four letter words because it wouldn't let me post them.
April 20th, 2003:
David,
Every time I see another funeral for a soldier on TV or the Internet, another burial at Arlington, I think about what it would be like to have to make those decisions, like where you would be buried. If something were to happen to you during this thing, if I didn't already know you wanted to be buried at Arlington, I would tell Uncle Sam to f*ck off - he doesn't deserve to have you there, not for this. But if that's what you wanted, that's what I'd do. I'd hate you for it the rest of my life, but I'd do it.
-Arlington is bigger than any single conflict, and so is America. When this thing first started, I felt so disgusted with my country that I came dangerously close to falling out of love with America for good. I never thought I would be asked to fight an unjust war. I mean Jesus, we've talked about this. Vietnam was more justified than this war, and I don't think there are many people out there who thought that we would ever have another Vietnam, but here we are. This country is not John Ashcroft. It's not W. These guys are flashes in the pan. Our country will be remembered for the Washingtons, the Jeffersons, the Adamses, the Lincolns, the Trumans; men who took the hard right over the easy wrong, not every single time, but the times that it mattered most. Men who didn't necessarily do what was popular, but did what needed to be done and stuck to their guns when they knew they were right. This country isn't this war. It's the constitution that inspires other countries around the world to think that maybe it's possible to have a government that is subject to the rule of law and to the people.
This army isn't about this war either. It's about the idea that a military force should be subject to civilian oversight and duly elected authority. It's about doing the right thing, not every single time, but hopefully when it matters most. There are a lot of guys over here, just like me, who think this whole thing is absolutely ridiculous, one of the dumbest things we've done strategically and morally. But we do what we are told because the responsibility for that decision lies squarely on the shoulders of the president and the Congress, and when we were ordered to invade this country we found the method that would be the most moral, the most humane and the most gentle on civilian lives, homes and infrastructure. We don't have the right or responsibility for deciding to GO to war, but we do have a responsibility to execute our orders in the most humane and professional manner possible and I think we have done that.
Arlington is full of men who shared this view of service and the responsibility of being a professional, of sacrificing your life to an ideal because there are worse things than dying. It's a place to honor those who gave their lives serving their country, prematurely or otherwise, and I feel that I would be in good company there. I have always wanted to DESERVE to be buried in Arlington. I have wanted to be the kind of man who lives that kind of life, and as sad as it was that stupid wars like Vietnam and The Great Crusade of 2003 were opportunities for men like that to step forward and sacrifice, we still honor their service, and rightly so. I will not be among those who give their lives here, it now seems, (not to jinx myself) but I do still love my country as much as I love myself (and you know how much that is) and I will spend my life trying to make it live up to its promise. I will do everything I can to wrench power from the neohawks, fundies, and morons currently at the reiqns, and return it to someone who has a little intelligence and respect for, well, the idea of not invading people at random just because you're in the mood and the polling supports it. Imagine if we spent the 20 Billion dollars we spent on this war trying to actually make things better for the starving, dirty, pissed-off people who seem enamored with the idea of sending us all to hell. Imagine if we sent real live Americens to do it in person. Actually backing up the promises the President made during the previous state of the union might be a good place to start.
As far as your ever growing ego is concerned, I hope it's worth it. You knew what this was about when you signed up for it, so I really don't have much sympathy. I haven't said much about this before now, but since things have settled down I feel I can be more frank. You know as well as I that you wanted something like this to happen, because your chances of coming back in one piece were good and there was much to be gained professionally. So a few thousand Iraqis had to die - at least you get something good out of it, right? And that's what really counts. Congratulations, you got what you wanted. I hope it was worth it. Everyone will look at you differently now, including me, only my eyes will probably not be seeing the same thing as theirs. I love you, but I'd be lying if I said I'm not feeling at least a little bit of disgust at what your attitude toward this situation seems to be.
-I don't know if you want me to get mad here or not. I pretty much agree with everything you've said, to include the disgust. That's why I brought it up. If anything, I'm glad you understand because, other than myself, it sounds like you're the only one who does. I've talked about this with some people here, but even those who started out opposed to the war have drank the kool-aid. (more so than I) And people back home, if anything, are like "Oooh, he's morally sensitive." I feel dirty and I feel guilty and I feel guilty about not feelinq more guilty and dirty. I'm happy that all of my friends are coming home alive, and that I am coming home alive, but I feel guilty about that too. A lot of American and Iraqi sons and daughters won't be so lucky. I used to say that I felt guilty about being so safe, but that changed when I saw those pictures from the 2BCT TOC that was hit just 5KMs away from us. 2 soldiers and 2 reporters went home in body bags from that TOC and a few more won't be going home with all their parts.
I am NOT looking for sympathy. Especially not yours. But I do miss my friend very very much and I wanted you to know what I am feeling right now. It seems like the whole country looks up to us, to me, right now, with the notable exceptions of my wife and myself. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to feel. I didn't think I would be part of an invasion force. I didn't think I would be asked to go to war aqainst a country that poses no threat. I didn't think I would be a soldier of empire, but here I am. I just wanted to serve my country. I wanted to be the guy who pulls up outside the concentration camp and opens the gates. I wanted to be the guy. The good guy. The guy who is here to make things better.
Instead, I ended up being part of an invasion force that I don't support politically but am duty-bound to support in reality. The thing that bothers me about the glory that comes from this job is that Americans, almost universally apply it without any caveats. Very few people, mostly soldiers and the people very close to them realize that war itself is not a noble thing. That the soldiers coming back from this war should be praised, but not for the things that most Americans think they should be praised for. I am not happy about this war. I am not glad to be here. I am not glad that I risked my life for something as stupid as this. But I did take an oath to follow the orders of the president and a lot of parents were counting on me to get their kids home safe, and I did that. And I did risk my life to serve my country which is more than just about any of the congressmen and the president who sent me here can say, so as far as I am concerned, if a soldier earns some political capital from being over here then that's nothing but a good thinq. Maybe the next time someone with the clout to say so with some efiect will stand up and say that it's a stupid f*cking idea. I don't see that as a bad thing. I am ambitious, I do want glory, but I want glory for doing the right thing. I want to deserve it. And I don't feel like I deserve it for this.
Well I'd better wrap this up. I don't know what to expect when you come home. I long for it and fear it at the same time. Maybe you know what I mean, or maybe you think I'm nuts. Whatever, that's how I feel. When will you be able to call again? I guessI'll hear from you when I hear from you. Take care.
I'm going to try to call today. I know why you're a little afraid and you shouldn't be. Things will not be like they were before, they will be better. I love you for who you are. I love you for your honesty. I love you for a million little things that I think about all the time. It looks like tomorrow I head to the terminal tonwork with the XO coordinating incoming NGOs. This could be very cool. I'll tell you all about it.
The thing I find most interesting about this is the conflicted feelings this man has. It kind of expressed what I thought John Kerry might have been thinking when he came back from Vietnam - some insight into his testifying in 71/throwing away his medals/protesting etc... (I know I KNOW! I've been asking people to move on from this subject and here I go bringing it up again....spank me ;o)
Here are some of the things he said that made me think of this....(I had been thinking this way before but not ever having been in a war I thoought perhaps I was being liberal with my imagination....but this guy was there so it confirms some of my thoughts)
Wait just one minute. Are you implying that these number are not facts? That these people have not been killed on either side? If that is not what you are implying then please by all means explain as to why the facts posted is anti-american propoganda.
When your post is an attempt to demoralize and erode support for our Commander in Chief and those in his command in time of war, it is not only propaganda but also treason if you're an American citizen.
But I understand the ends justify the means because Gore lost in 2000.
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http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=hear&htmlId=1125
The U.S. must face the monster it created
SPC Murphy was stationed in Iraq for 15 months, including several months as an MP (Military Police) at Abu Ghraib Prison.
I feel uneasy returning this month to American soil after my 15-month tour in Iraq. This dreadful feeling is inescapable. Every day I must look in the mirror and face the fact that I served in a war based on flawed premises. I was told that Iraq was an imminent threat, that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. There were no WMD. I was told that Saddam had collaborated with Al Qaeda. He had not. Later I was told that we invaded Iraq to bring its people freedom and democracy. In my time in Iraq I witnessed the security situation deteriorate daily, and elections have yet to be held. (Incidentally, before the war I believed in the humanitarian cause of liberating the Iraqi people from the evil of Saddam, and I still believe in that cause.) My personal experiences on the ground epitomize broader, and sometimes troubling, issues in the war.
When my company landed in theatre in May, I was one of the few soldiers equipped with body armor effective at stopping powerful AK-47 ammunition. My mother, an elementary school art teacher, shipped the bullet-proof ceramic plates to me from the States. Other soldiers weren’t so lucky, having to raid buildings and patrol dangerous streets while wearing inferior Vietnam-era flak jackets. Later I learned that 40,000 troops had been sent into Iraq without effective body armor. We rode in ‘soft shell’ Humvees, equipped with flimsy fiber-glass doors. A Volvo has more protection. I saw the blood of American soldiers spilled because of the lack of ‘up-armored’ Humvees.
After training 2,000 police, and bringing law and order to the city of Al Hilla, my unit was tasked to run Abu Ghraib prison, a mission for which we had no prior training. We were combat support military police, ideal for conducting convoy security, not administering prisoner-of-war camps. My unit was desperately under-manned, so I was assigned to run an entire tier at the ‘hard site’. Even as a junior-enlisted soldier, I was personally responsible for 320 prisoners and a staff of four or five ill-disciplined Iraqi police. At Abu Ghraib, we were not afforded basic necessities such as cleaning supplies, instead prisoners cleaned their cells with water alone. Worst of all, nobody ever knew for sure who was actually in charge of the prison: military police, military intelligence or civilian contractors. All the while, insurgents’ mortars rained down on a near-daily basis, killing and wounding scores of soldiers and prisoners alike.
My one-year ‘boots on the ground’ came to an end in May. In Kuwait and just days from flying home, Secretary Rumsfeld reneged on his one-year promise and extended my unit’s tour by three months. We headed back to Iraq. Our new mission was to guard Halliburton truck drivers, civilian contractors who made three and four times my $20,000 salary. I wondered what on earth civilian truck drivers were doing in a combat zone. Riding with Halliburton on long convoys, we faced roadside bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire to protect these high-paid contractors. Finally, we were sent home in August.
I enlisted in the Army Reserve following September 11, 2001, one of the hardest and best decisions I have made in my life. I love the United States, the Army and my unit. Out of this deep love, I ask that we as Americans take a long look in the mirror. We must ask ourselves who we are and what we stand for. We as a nation must face the monster we have created in Iraq, sooner rather than later. We must find a way out of the mess in Iraq with minimal loss of American and Iraqi life. We owe it to the soldiers on the ground and the embattled Iraqi people.
As of Thursday, Sept. 9, 1,005 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq (news - web sites) in March 2003, according to the Defense Department.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=10&u=/ap/20040909/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_us_deaths
Out of 1,000 deaths, nearly 250 were from non-combat causes. Heart attacks claimed 11. There have been seven electrocutions. And surprisingly, for a desert land, 45 troops have drowned in Iraq's rivers and canals.
Suicides account for 24 deaths, tormenting families back home. Some refuse to accept it.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20040908/ts_usatoday/tollbringshomepainpatriotismacrossusa
While America mourns the deaths of more than 1,000 of its sons and daughters in the Iraq campaign, far more Iraqis have died since the United States invaded in March 2003. No official, reliable figures exist, but private estimates range from 10,000 to 30,000 killed across the nation.
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040909_178.html
http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=hear&htmlId=1046
Personal Identity in War
Here is an exchange between Captain David Chasteen and his wife, Angela, that occurred while Captain Chasteen was serving in Iraq. Chasteen responds to his wife’s e-mail in sections, distinguished by the bold-face type:
----------->>>Note: I don't have all the iViallage bells and whistles so the bold won't show up on my post. The wife posts first and I added dashed lines to seperate David's responsed from Angela's...I also had to edit some of the four letter words because it wouldn't let me post them.
April 20th, 2003:
David,
Every time I see another funeral for a soldier on TV or the Internet, another burial at Arlington, I think about what it would be like to have to make those decisions, like where you would be buried. If something were to happen to you during this thing, if I didn't already know you wanted to be buried at Arlington, I would tell Uncle Sam to f*ck off - he doesn't deserve to have you there, not for this. But if that's what you wanted, that's what I'd do. I'd hate you for it the rest of my life, but I'd do it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Arlington is bigger than any single conflict, and so is America. When this thing first started, I felt so disgusted with my country that I came dangerously close to falling out of love with America for good. I never thought I would be asked to fight an unjust war. I mean Jesus, we've talked about this. Vietnam was more justified than this war, and I don't think there are many people out there who thought that we would ever have another Vietnam, but here we are. This country is not John Ashcroft. It's not W. These guys are flashes in the pan. Our country will be remembered for the Washingtons, the Jeffersons, the Adamses, the Lincolns, the Trumans; men who took the hard right over the easy wrong, not every single time, but the times that it mattered most. Men who didn't necessarily do what was popular, but did what needed to be done and stuck to their guns when they knew they were right. This country isn't this war. It's the constitution that inspires other countries around the world to think that maybe it's possible to have a government that is subject to the rule of law and to the people.
This army isn't about this war either. It's about the idea that a military force should be subject to civilian oversight and duly elected authority. It's about doing the right thing, not every single time, but hopefully when it matters most. There are a lot of guys over here, just like me, who think this whole thing is absolutely ridiculous, one of the dumbest things we've done strategically and morally. But we do what we are told because the responsibility for that decision lies squarely on the shoulders of the president and the Congress, and when we were ordered to invade this country we found the method that would be the most moral, the most humane and the most gentle on civilian lives, homes and infrastructure. We don't have the right or responsibility for deciding to GO to war, but we do have a responsibility to execute our orders in the most humane and professional manner possible and I think we have done that.
Arlington is full of men who shared this view of service and the responsibility of being a professional, of sacrificing your life to an ideal because there are worse things than dying. It's a place to honor those who gave their lives serving their country, prematurely or otherwise, and I feel that I would be in good company there. I have always wanted to DESERVE to be buried in Arlington. I have wanted to be the kind of man who lives that kind of life, and as sad as it was that stupid wars like Vietnam and The Great Crusade of 2003 were opportunities for men like that to step forward and sacrifice, we still honor their service, and rightly so. I will not be among those who give their lives here, it now seems, (not to jinx myself) but I do still love my country as much as I love myself (and you know how much that is) and I will spend my life trying to make it live up to its promise. I will do everything I can to wrench power from the neohawks, fundies, and morons currently at the reiqns, and return it to someone who has a little intelligence and respect for, well, the idea of not invading people at random just because you're in the mood and the polling supports it. Imagine if we spent the 20 Billion dollars we spent on this war trying to actually make things better for the starving, dirty, pissed-off people who seem enamored with the idea of sending us all to hell. Imagine if we sent real live Americens to do it in person. Actually backing up the promises the President made during the previous state of the union might be a good place to start.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
As far as your ever growing ego is concerned, I hope it's worth it. You knew what this was about when you signed up for it, so I really don't have much sympathy. I haven't said much about this before now, but since things have settled down I feel I can be more frank. You know as well as I that you wanted something like this to happen, because your chances of coming back in one piece were good and there was much to be gained professionally. So a few thousand Iraqis had to die - at least you get something good out of it, right? And that's what really counts. Congratulations, you got what you wanted. I hope it was worth it. Everyone will look at you differently now, including me, only my eyes will probably not be seeing the same thing as theirs. I love you, but I'd be lying if I said I'm not feeling at least a little bit of disgust at what your attitude toward this situation seems to be.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-I don't know if you want me to get mad here or not. I pretty much agree with everything you've said, to include the disgust. That's why I brought it up. If anything, I'm glad you understand because, other than myself, it sounds like you're the only one who does. I've talked about this with some people here, but even those who started out opposed to the war have drank the kool-aid. (more so than I) And people back home, if anything, are like "Oooh, he's morally sensitive." I feel dirty and I feel guilty and I feel guilty about not feelinq more guilty and dirty. I'm happy that all of my friends are coming home alive, and that I am coming home alive, but I feel guilty about that too. A lot of American and Iraqi sons and daughters won't be so lucky. I used to say that I felt guilty about being so safe, but that changed when I saw those pictures from the 2BCT TOC that was hit just 5KMs away from us. 2 soldiers and 2 reporters went home in body bags from that TOC and a few more won't be going home with all their parts.
I am NOT looking for sympathy. Especially not yours. But I do miss my friend very very much and I wanted you to know what I am feeling right now. It seems like the whole country looks up to us, to me, right now, with the notable exceptions of my wife and myself. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to feel. I didn't think I would be part of an invasion force. I didn't think I would be asked to go to war aqainst a country that poses no threat. I didn't think I would be a soldier of empire, but here I am. I just wanted to serve my country. I wanted to be the guy who pulls up outside the concentration camp and opens the gates. I wanted to be the guy. The good guy. The guy who is here to make things better.
Instead, I ended up being part of an invasion force that I don't support politically but am duty-bound to support in reality. The thing that bothers me about the glory that comes from this job is that Americans, almost universally apply it without any caveats. Very few people, mostly soldiers and the people very close to them realize that war itself is not a noble thing. That the soldiers coming back from this war should be praised, but not for the things that most Americans think they should be praised for. I am not happy about this war. I am not glad to be here. I am not glad that I risked my life for something as stupid as this. But I did take an oath to follow the orders of the president and a lot of parents were counting on me to get their kids home safe, and I did that. And I did risk my life to serve my country which is more than just about any of the congressmen and the president who sent me here can say, so as far as I am concerned, if a soldier earns some political capital from being over here then that's nothing but a good thinq. Maybe the next time someone with the clout to say so with some efiect will stand up and say that it's a stupid f*cking idea. I don't see that as a bad thing. I am ambitious, I do want glory, but I want glory for doing the right thing. I want to deserve it. And I don't feel like I deserve it for this.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well I'd better wrap this up. I don't know what to expect when you come home. I long for it and fear it at the same time. Maybe you know what I mean, or maybe you think I'm nuts. Whatever, that's how I feel. When will you be able to call again? I guessI'll hear from you when I hear from you. Take care.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm going to try to call today. I know why you're a little afraid and you shouldn't be. Things will not be like they were before, they will be better. I love you for who you are. I love you for your honesty. I love you for a million little things that I think about all the time. It looks like tomorrow I head to the terminal tonwork with the XO coordinating incoming NGOs. This could be very cool. I'll tell you all about it.
-David
Here are some of the things he said that made me think of this....(I had been thinking this way before but not ever having been in a war I thoought perhaps I was being liberal with my imagination....but this guy was there so it confirms some of my thoughts)
-------------------------------------------------------
<>
But I understand the ends justify the means because Gore lost in 2000.
Questioning GWB is not anti-American. Anti-American is supporting a president who is dragging our country down to an extent never before done.
Stand up for your country, not for a man.
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20040909_THOUSAND_GRAPHIC/index_PICTURES.html
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