Posted on 07/17/2005 6:46:15 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
I am a soldier from Fairbanks who is stationed in Hawaii and recently returned from a 13-month deployment to the Kirkuk area of Iraq. I am writing this as a response to the general opinion given by a lot of people about the war in Iraq.
I'll start off by asking two questions. First, I would like to ask, "Have you ever been to Iraq?" I would have to guess that the answer is "no." Second, I would like to ask, "Have you ever been to war?" Again, I'm guessing that the answer is "no." It's been said that people need to educate themselves to arm themselves. Well, I would like to take this opportunity to give you one man's perspective so that you may better understand what's happening over there.
No, not everyone in the country greeted us with flowers and open arms, but after talking to many of the Iraqi people, they are very glad that we are there. Second, the number of people that the Red Cross claims are innocent in the prisons over there are not. Now I'm not saying that they are all guilty, but those people were arrested for a reason. People must think that we just walk down the streets arresting people for the way they look at us or for them pointing at us. We arrest those people because they shoot at us, they fire rocket-propelled grenades at us; or we arrest them because when we do searches through neighborhoods we find more than the allowed number of weapons, or we find bomb-making materials in their houses.
I know this because I've been on those patrols where we got shot at, and I've searched houses and found bomb-making material as well as fully assembled bombs, both roadside and car bombs.
It's also been mentioned that the number of attacks on U.S. troops is around 75 attacks a day. Now, while I'm not the smartest guy in the world, it is a war, and in war people get attacked, people get shot at and, yes, people die. I know that that sounds harsh and cold, but I'm a realist and I believe that we, not as Americans, but as decent human beings need to be over there to help rebuild that country and allow others to have the same opportunities that we ourselves so often take for granted.
And while many people don't feel that we need to be over there, they also haven't looked into the eyes of the people that we are helping and who do care. I on the other hand have looked into the eyes of many children of grade-school age who now have schools and teachers and are getting an education regardless of whether or not they are Sunni, Shiite or Kurd. I've looked into the eyes of people who until we were there lived their entire lives in fear. Fear that they would be the next group that Saddam and his regime would be targeting.
The general public has no idea what it's like for the people who are over there, both the Iraqis and the men and women of our armed forces. All you hear is what the media puts out. The media puts out what sells, and while it may be the truth, it's only a partial truth. They don't show you some of the things that I have told you about. I've been there, so I know what it's like, and until you make that trip across the ocean and spend some time in the desert, you never will.
As I said, this is just one person's perspective on the whole situation. I hope it helps some of you better understand the truth of what is happening in Iraq. Just one last little thing for thought: If this war was all about oil like a lot of people claim, why am I still paying $2.42 for a gallon of gas?
Sgt. Samuel A. Fevos is from Fairbanks. He is a 1998 graduate of Lathrop High School and is currently stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
*APPLAUSE* These pieces always lift my spirits and make me even MORE proud of our current crop of military service members. Thanks for posting that! :)
Bttt
Thnak you Sgt. Fevos. Your story needs to be shouted from the housetops!!
First hand experience from the two way range is hard to dispute.
$2.42 a gallon? You must be buying 87 octane from midnight auto supply!
Really, thank you for this post. It's good to hear from our protectors now and then, to keep those of us back at home, that are safe and sound, within reality.
I have a friend that recently returned, another still over there. It ain't pretty, as they tell it, but they too feel that they are doing the right thing. And, they too agree with what you say.
The MSM's spin isn't working, IMO, with the majority of Americans. But because of their domination of the airwaves it's hard to see it that way sometimes.
Again, thank you for your service, your protection, your sacrifice, and your post.
>$2.42 a gallon? You must be buying 87 octane from midnight auto supply! <
He's in Hawaii. The gasoline is higher (as is everything else) over there.
"Second, the number of people that the Red Cross claims are innocent in the prisons over there are not."
Uh...I think by now it's painfully obvious there are people in key positions within both the American Red Cross and the International Red Cross who are trying to "sandbag" US anti-terror efforts. I believe it was the American Red Cross that collected charitable contributions after 911 and used part of the donations to provide legal representation to terror suspects.
Thank you.
Good post!
Ms.B
I'm old and my ideas are likely old fashioned but the war I remember was actually declared a war and we went to kill the enemy and break all their stuff so they could not make war anytime soon thereafter. I'm not certain I would volunteer to build them new condos in the hopes of impressing on the remaining enemy our political philosphy and moral concepts yet alone have that be the primary political objective.
Stop making sense....
If this war was all about oil like a lot of people claim, why am I still paying $2.42 for a gallon of gas?
The question could be asked a different way..........
The question could be asked a different way..........
How about--"If one could blur the supply issue enough, would that provide sufficient cover for some price gouging?"
What a fine young man! I wish that the media would report more of the things that he is saying. I believe that FOX is the only one really showing to positive aspects of our fight over there. However, FOX is not viewed by the majority of people.
I would like to see the Senators and Congressmen and women go over there and really stay and see for themselves what this young man has told us.
The people who really need to see it, won't.
The dino media do not put out what sells which is a reason why they are going to die in the tarpit.
The dino media do not put out the truth which is the main reason why they are going to die in the tarpit.
Today bought at $2.44 a gal from a Shell.
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