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Soldiers wish politicians would embed with them
CNN News ^ | 09-11-07 | Arwa Damon

Posted on 09/11/2007 10:22:30 AM PDT by MNJohnnie

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Army Staff Sgt. Antonio Gonzales points his weapon across the Tigris River, keeping a close eye on a bridge that was cracked in half by an insurgent attack a few months ago.

He's 31 and on his second tour in Iraq. His survival and that of the men he serves with rely on an instinctive ability to spot hidden threats. A pile of trash, an odd formation of wires, a cart seemingly left innocently by the side of the road -- all could mean death.

"If you don't come out here, then you really have no clue," says Gonzales, a member of Task Force Justice, which is operating in northern Baghdad. "They don't understand what it is [like] driving down the road and to wonder if you are going to get blown up or not."

Gonzales and soldiers like him across Iraq must continue the day-to-day duties even as debate back home intensifies about the 160,000-plus U.S. forces in Iraq. Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, testified before Congress Monday that the "surge" has improved security and that some U.S. troops could begin leaving Iraq by the end of the year.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iraq; military; supportthetroops; wot
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An excellent idea.
1 posted on 09/11/2007 10:22:34 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
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To: MNJohnnie
I agree. Maybe if some of them saw the truth about what is happening there they would start supporting the troops instead of running them down.
2 posted on 09/11/2007 10:24:29 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (RIP Eric Medlen. You will be missed.)
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To: MNJohnnie

Except the morons probably would get their hosts killed by pointing them out to the enemy!


3 posted on 09/11/2007 10:24:49 AM PDT by keepitreal
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To: MNJohnnie

I would pay to see Harry Reid imbedded with a few Marines. That crybaby wouldn’t know which way to run.


4 posted on 09/11/2007 10:25:37 AM PDT by SWEETSUNNYSOUTH (Help stamp out liberalism!)
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To: MNJohnnie

I would be more than happy to embed with them as long as I can do armed patrols with them. I consider it the highest honor, and I’m sure I’m not alone, to serve one’s country and to fight alongside your countrymen.


5 posted on 09/11/2007 10:26:20 AM PDT by wastedyears (George Orwell was a clairvoyant.)
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To: MNJohnnie

This is an excellent idea. If we could make it a requirement to be in office it would make TERM LIMITS a reality without having term limits. These pussies would resign when it was their turn to be embedded and we would have a constant turnover. A DREAM come true.


6 posted on 09/11/2007 10:26:22 AM PDT by mortal19440
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To: MNJohnnie
The only problem with this plan is that the only politicians who would volunteer for this program are the ones who don't need to. Rather than embedding politicians after they are elected to office, it would make more sense to elect soldiers to office who had already been there...

Obviously I'm not suggesting that military service be an absolute requirement for elected office, but a properly educated electorate would certainly give military service far more appropriate weight in evaluating a candidate's fitness for office in the first place.

7 posted on 09/11/2007 10:27:20 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: keepitreal
NAH...they might get hurt if they did that.

Self preservation is a big lib trait. That and the fear if they got killed there would be one less leftist to take over the country.

8 posted on 09/11/2007 10:27:33 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (RIP Eric Medlen. You will be missed.)
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To: SWEETSUNNYSOUTH

I agree, they better come up with an industrial strength Depends for our brave, couragous democrat politicians.


9 posted on 09/11/2007 10:28:04 AM PDT by upsdriver (DUNCAN HUNTER FOR PRESIDENT!!!!)
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To: MNJohnnie
Gonzales says the future of Iraq could still go either way. "We're hoping what we're doing here is helping keep them on our side, rather than have them go into full-blown chaos," he says. "We definitely want a fast resolution here, but it's going to take time, a lot more than we thought and that's fine, we're committed to it."

THAT statement should be mandatory reading for all of the cut and runners!

10 posted on 09/11/2007 10:29:51 AM PDT by Hazcat (We won an immigration BATTLE, the WAR is not over. Be ever vigilant.)
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To: SWEETSUNNYSOUTH

How about Murtha and Pelosi embedded with marines...


11 posted on 09/11/2007 10:30:21 AM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: MNJohnnie


12 posted on 09/11/2007 10:30:29 AM PDT by vietvet67
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To: MNJohnnie

the politicians are cowards. self-preservation is numero uno for them. they’d never embed themselves with our heroes fighting the battle no one else is prepared to fight.


13 posted on 09/11/2007 10:31:51 AM PDT by Ancient Drive
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To: MNJohnnie

That’s not a bad idea; however, I would much rather they used them for bait. LOL!


14 posted on 09/11/2007 10:31:55 AM PDT by NRA2BFree (It's time for "Tea Party II" This time we'll meet at the border and toss Mexicans back over it.)
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To: SWEETSUNNYSOUTH
That crybaby wouldn’t know which way to run.

might be a victim of friendly fire?

15 posted on 09/11/2007 10:32:02 AM PDT by maine-iac7 ( "...but you can't fool all of the people all the time." LINCOLN)
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To: MNJohnnie

I’m sure there would be a rash of “friendly fire” incidents with the Dems.

:^)


16 posted on 09/11/2007 10:32:30 AM PDT by Disambiguator (What's the temperature, Albert?)
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To: MNJohnnie

Considering the simpering fools in congress they had better include plenty of Depends if they were to embed.


17 posted on 09/11/2007 10:32:33 AM PDT by NCBraveheart
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To: MNJohnnie

Unleash Chuckie Schumer!

18 posted on 09/11/2007 10:34:27 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: MNJohnnie

“The U.S. troops are at the heart of the surge and trying to maintain stability so, as Julian puts it, Iraqis aren’t “stuck in strife and turmoil.” He says the Iraqi children treat them like “kings,” which helps keep the soldiers going.”

But but but I thought the Iraqis didnt like us?


19 posted on 09/11/2007 10:34:33 AM PDT by donnab
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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick

And the problem if they do get hurt is...?


20 posted on 09/11/2007 10:37:07 AM PDT by SAJ
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