1. Do you think your country did the right thing sending you into Iraq?
Yes.
2. Are you doing what America set out to do to make Iraq a democracy, or have we failed so badly that we should pack up and get out before more of you are killed?
America set out to remove Saddam Hussein from power, overthrow his government, inspect his country for WMD, and set up a republic (not a democracy) in place of the old Baathist thugocracy. We have done or are doing all those things. Leaving so soon, and with so much at stake, would simply set the stage for much worse down the line. It's far too early in the surgery to give up on the patient.
3. Do the orders you get handed down from one headquarters to another, all far removed from the fighting, seem sensible, or do you think our highest command is out of touch with the reality of your situation?
They seem sensible enough. Anyone who's set foot in Iraq knows that this place is a vipers nest of factions, tribes, and competing powers. The job of the 'high command' is to find a way to keep order, repair the country's physical and political infrastructure, and do so in a professional, timely, and careful manner. They may not be serving me breakfast in bed, or 'feeling my pain' but they are doing their job.
4. If you could have a medal or a trip home, which would you take?
I'd take a medal that reflected my actions, and a trip home when the mission is over.
5. Are you encouraged by all the talk back home about how brave you are and how everyone supports you?
Yes, the support is noted and appreciated. (The talk about bravery is speculation on their part, of course. I could spend all day cowering in a concrete bunker for all they know.) I suspect you asked the question like that to imply a certain level of 'brainwashing' from the public motivates us to fight more bravely.
Sneaky, sneaky, Mr. Rooney. In fact, all five of your questions seem a tad biased. Hinting at something, are we?
Our soldiers in Iraq are people, young men and women, and they behave like people - sometimes good and sometimes bad, sometimes brave, sometimes fearful. It's disingenuous of the rest of us to encourage them to fight this war by idolizing them.
Who was it that once said 'Show me a hero and I'll write you a tragedy?'. Few soldiers would actually call themselves 'heroes', but fewer still are perfect human beings. Some of the greatest heroes in history were scared silly on numerous occasions, but did the job anyway. Others were plagued by personal demons, but still tried to do the right thing when it counted.
A relatively small number are professional soldiers. During the last few years, when millions of jobs disappeared, many young people, desperate for some income, enlisted in the Army. About 40 percent of our soldiers in Iraq enlisted in the National Guard or the Army Reserve to pick up some extra money and never thought they'd be called on to fight. They want to come home.
Please report to supply immediately and sign for some Kleenex. While you're waiting in line, read over the enlistment contract you voluntarily signed, or recite the Oath of Enlistment you voluntarily took.
One indication that not all soldiers in Iraq are happy warriors is the report recently released by the Army showing that 23 of them committed suicide there last year. This is a dismaying figure. If 22 young men and one woman killed themselves because they couldn't take it, think how many more are desperately unhappy but unwilling to die.
23 our of how many? Care to check that number against a normal year of peacetime among a similar number of troops? It's not wildly different.
We must support our soldiers in Iraq because it's our fault they're risking their lives there. However, we should not bestow the mantle of heroism on all of them for simply being where we sent them. Most are victims, not heroes.
Now we're talking! What kind of compensation are we talking here, Mr. Rooney. I'm feeling kind of victimized myself, and I think that a little recompense is in order. Are we talking more pay per month, or a lump sum?
As far as the 'mantle of heroism', that's in the eye of the beholder. One man's hero is another man's overpaid crybaby athlete.
Choosing your hero, is like choosing to enlist. It's entirely up to you.