Posted on 08/26/2003 6:28:52 AM PDT by m1-lightning
A U.S. soldier in Iraq wonders: 'How many more must die?'
August 24, 2003
By TIM PREDMORE
"Shock and Awe" were the words used to describe the awesome display of power the world was to view upon the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was to be an up-close, dramatic display of military strength and advanced technology within the arsenal of the United States and the United Kingdom's military.
But as a soldier preparing for the invasion of Iraq, the words "shock and awe" rang deeper within my psyche. These two great superpowers were about to break the very rules they demand of others. Without the consent of the United Nations, and ignoring the pleas of their own citizens, the United States and Britain invaded Iraq.
"Shock and Awe"? Yes, the words correctly described the emotional impact I felt as we prepared to participate in what I believed not to be an act of justice but of hypocrisy. L
From the moment the first shot was fired in this so-called war of liberation and freedom, hypocrisy reigned. Following the broadcasting of recorded images of captured and dead U.S. soldiers over Arab television, American and British leaders vowed revenge while verbally assaulting the networks for displaying such vivid images. Yet within hours of the deaths of Saddam's two sons, the American government released horrific photos of the two dead brothers for the entire world to view. Again, a "do as we say and not as we do" scenario.
As soldiers serving in Iraq, we have been told that our purpose here is to help the people of Iraq by providing them the necessary assistance militarily as well as in humanitarian efforts. Then tell me where the humanity was in the recent Stars and Stripes account of two young children brought to a U.S. military camp by their mother, in search of medical care? The two children had been, unbeknown to them, playing with explosive ordinance they had found and as a result were severely burned. The account tells how the two children, following an hour-long wait, were denied care by two U.S. military doctors. The soldier described the incident as one of many "atrocities" he has witnessed on the part of the U.S. military.
So then, what is our purpose here? Was this invasion due to weapons of mass destruction as we so often heard? If so, where are they? Did we invade to dispose of a leader and his regime on the account of close association with Osama bin Laden? If so, where is the proof? Or is it that our incursion is a result of our own economic advantage? Iraq's oil can be refined at the lowest cost of any in the world. Coincidence?
This looks like a modern-day crusade not to free an oppressed people or to rid the world of a demonic dictator relentless in his pursuit of conquest and domination but a crusade to control another nation's natural resource. At least for us here, oil seems to be the reason for our presence.
There is only one truth, and it is that Americans are dying. There are an estimated 10- to 14-attacks on our servicemen and women daily in Iraq. As the body count continues to grow, it would appear that there is no immediate end in sight.
I once believed that I served for a cause: "to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Now, I no longer believe; I have lost my conviction, my determination. I can no longer justify my service for what I believe to be half-truths and bold lies. My time is done as well as that of many others with whom I serve. We have all faced death here without reason or justification.
How many more must die? How many more tears must be shed before America awakens and demands the return of the men and women whose job it is to protect them rather than their leader's interest?
Tim Predmore is on active duty with the 101st Airborne Division near Mosul, Iraq. A 1985 Richwoods High School graduate and native Peorian, he has been in Iraq since March and in the military for about five years.
I noticed that. Who cares about the debates that have occured in Iraq or the elections coming up for their people or any other progress being made over there. All they care about is making this war out to be another vietnam.
What part of the UCMJ did you not understand, or are you deliberately suggesting that the section you quoted also applies to enlisted personnel?
I hope those in the military don't take offense to this off-hand remark by someone who obviously never served in his nation's armed forces.
Are you asking me or are you asking the poster in [1]?
I wish I could forward it on to the Army Office of Public Affairs but they don't have an e-mail address.
LOL.
When I was in the service during Vietnam, I too was a malcontent like Tommy. I threatened to write letters to my hometown newspaper, to my Congressman, to anyone who would listen.
The only problem was I made these threats to a Staff Sergeant who was a virulently patriotic, redneck Jew from West Texas . . . a little bulldog who'd lost his entire family during the Holocaust AND during Russia's purges . . . and he beat the holy sh*t outta me. I was, and am, a big fella but this little-bitty gristle of meat had fought and clawed his way out of Communist Russia -- the Ukraine to be exact -- when he was thirteen years old and he blind-sided me when I stepped out of the bar and I had no chance. He was one mad Jew. He knew the evils of Communism. Firsthand.
After Yoni broke my nose and ruined a helluva drunk, he took me to the base hospital and waited for me while I was patched up, then took me to the base commander and admitted to beating me up.
I didn't press charges. Yoni and I became best friends. He even followed me back to West Texas after we got out of the service. He was my best man but, dammit, he refused to pay for his part when I was divorced. LOL.
Yoni taught me an important lesson. The US of A ain't always right . . . but it's right a damn site more than any other country in this crazy world of ours and every soldier had to take an oath before they became a soldier. If one is gonna complain, in Yoni's world -- and now in mine, one had best complain before you take the oath because afterwards you've made a pledge to this country and it's people to protect them. You don't welch on pledges in Yoni's world.
PS -- I did kick Yoni's ass when I sobered up. But my nose is still crooked and Yoni still gets entirely too much satisfaction outta telling the story to his grandkids.
I remember getting hollered at by my TI during USAF Basic [S]Training....I started to crack up and laugh and the TI thought it was so funny that I started to laugh, that he started to laugh. Fortunately, we both quickly gained our composure. I think we both realized, at the same time, that it wasn't conducive to good order and discipline.
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