AN EMAIL FROM THE FRONT

andrew sullivan ^ | Wednesday, April 14, 2004 | in iraq

[dennisw]

AN EMAIL FROM THE FRONT:
Here's an email from a soldier I first corresponded with when he was a cadet at West Point. He's legit - and his email is worth printing in full, I think. I'm not endorsing everything he says, but it's worth hearing what a very bright and committed young soldier is going through right now:

Troop strength - I think we have consistently underestimated the number of troops it would take to pacify Iraq. Gen Shinseki's original estimates were much closer to the mark. The fact that the 1st Armored Division (my unit) has now been extended for at least 4 months shows there aren't enough troops - in order to deal with a fairly minor uprising we had to break the one-year-boots-on-ground pledge. If we had had a strategic reserve, this would not be necessary. However, the dirty secret is that there aren't any more troops to be had - at least not the active-duty armor/infantry brigades and divisions requried to fight a tough enemy. Furthermore, the frenetic destruction that occured after the fall of Baghdad set us way back in terms of reconstruction - more troops could have limited if not prevented the extensive looting.

Sadir et al. - Although his uprising is seen as a ominious sign for the coalition, it does have an upside. His poorly trained and poorly equiped rag-bad militia is being chewed up by our army. His defeat and eventual marginalization will serve the coalition well. After one year of occupation, I think many Iraqis have come to see the army as rather toothless - we get blown up by roadside bombs or mortars and yet we continue to rebuild schools, enforce the laws, train police etc. Now because of Fallujah and what has been going on in Baghdad, our potency and resolve are on full display. My task force alone has killed many insurgents in the last two weeks - something that was not happening before. By confronting us in a conventional way, Sadir et al. are playing to our military strengths - and it isn't going well for them.

Long term prospects - I have to admit that after one year here I am largely pessimistic. Iraqi society is sick in many ways. Sometimes it's hard to tell if Saddam was the problem or the symptom. I just don't know how a society so divided along ethnic and tribal lines, with no democratic or liberal traditions and almost zero respect for the rule of law can build any kind of society accept and autocratic one. I'm not ashamed that the US came here with good intentions and noble sentiments about the universality of our values - democracy, liberty, the rule of law etc., but I think all our efforts might be eventually futile. In essence, we have given the Iraqis an enormous gift, but they don't seem to be seizing the opportunity. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink...

The Army - Most soldiers in my unit were pretty demoralized by the extension. We were promised a one year tour and now that promise has been broken. Retention will certainly suffer. However, we are facing a difficult time in Iraq and our continued presence is necessary. What I would like to hear and I think most soldiers feel the same way - is for someone high up to say "Look, we didn't plan for this. Things have gotten screwed up and we need your continued sacrifice. This is why it is so important you stay." Instead we have gotten vague comments about "managing the troop redeployment" - as if it were some little snafu or inconvenience. The truth is, our division is now getting ready for another bloody and hellishly hot summer that none of us expected to ever go through again.

Good and bad. But it's only one year.

- 1:42:52 AM

[Joe_October]

In this matter, I'm a Bush-bot. There is no choice in the matter. No shame in being a bot.

I could actually respect a rat that stood with the President (not the I'm supporting the soldiers crap BUT blah blah blah nonsense.)

But, if they had the courage and integrity to do the right thing, I fear they couldn't be rats.

[CSM]

In this matter, I too am a bot. However, in many things he is to far left for me....

I agree, the "I support the troops, but....." is what is strengthening our enemies!

[u-89]

>There weren't any lies.

When discussing the reasons for war it might sound better if you quoted Ahmad Chalabi -

"We are heroes in error. As far as we're concerned we've been entirely successful. That tyrant Saddam is gone and the Americans are in Baghdad. What was said before is not important."

[Joe_October]

Agreed. It will be interesting to read the truth after the President's second term and see the impacts. I think they are sincere and not emotional. But, politics is politics. It will be interesting to see it played out.

Until then, we still live in the greatest nation in history. We are richer and more free than we have ever been. Tomorrow will be brighter than today. If Clinton couldn't ruin it and he didn't, we have a bright future (optimism tear wipe).

[u-89]

>fraudulent testimony...Remember all those stories about Iraqi soldiers going through Kuwaiti hospitals and removing all the babies from the incubators?

I seem to recall Bush the Elder shamelessly repeating those discredited stories recently when talking about the righteousness of the current war.

[Alberta's Child]

I know exactly what the June 30th date is -- my point is that U.S. military personnel will be packed away (for the most part) on their compounds for the duration of this campaign. Bush will not win in November if there are casualty reports out of Iraq like you've seen in the last few weeks.

[SMARTY]

Only a really narrow, partisan and earthbound view of of the facts and the stakes in this could permit a person to see this President or his policies as anything less than totally efficient and effective. You COULD say that Bush is not clairvoyant. But then who is?

How many ways can it be?

'He knew about the attacks and was preparing all along?' ...OK Then why say that the deployment of force was either pre emptive or too minimal?

'He was badly served?' OK...then why blame the man personally or condemn the recent setbacks, (which would not really be called setbacks by anyone who has ever read military history)?

In any case, if he was or is badly served, (and I don't buy that either) he's doing really well for a 'bumbling fool' who permitted himself to be misled. ( A little sarcasm here.)

Misjudge and underestimate this President at your own peril.

[CSM]

"We are richer and more free than we have ever been."

This is where we would disagree, on other threads of course!

On this thread, we are still in 100% agreement.

[CSM]

"I know exactly what the June 30th date is -- my point is that U.S. military personnel will be packed away (for the most part) on their compounds for the duration of this campaign. Bush will not win in November if there are casualty reports out of Iraq like you've seen in the last few weeks."

And here is where you are incorrectly translating the actions of GWB. Regardless if we agree with his decisions, he makes his decisions based on convictions that he truly believes in. He believes that we must complete the liberation of Iraq. He believes he is doing the "Right" thing with regards to this action.

Because of this belief and his willingness to act on his word, he will not risk the completion of this mission to ensure he wins an election. If he loses the election, he will accept that the American public didn't agree with his belief, however he will not waver in that belief!

He knows to accomplish this mission, he must be 100% militarily committed. He is allowing the Commanders in the field to make the logistical and supply decisions. He has made it clear that they are free to request anything and he will do his best to get it to them. He will not tie their hands and "pack away" the military!

[APFel]

God, I hate to have had to report him, but I get enough of that "Bush is a liar" crap-o-rama from the news and on my college campus. If I wanted to engage somelone like him in a discussion or a debate, I would go to the DUmp.

APf

[Alberta's Child]

I'm as big a fan of George W. Bush as anyone, but if you really believe that someone can be as successful as he has in public office without having a keen sense of political ramifications of everything he does, then I think you're terribly naive.

[RightOnline]

" The American people will not tolerate incompetence."

You CAN'T be serious. They reelected Bill Clinton, didn't they???