War in Iraq: Iraqi War Vet's story

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Dinner with Young Iraqi War Vet and more on the Iraqi War

I respect the flag. I respect the values our country was founded on. Sure seems like a lot of people have forgotten what they are. This administration certainly hasn't a clue. And as I've pointed out before here, you republicans never answered my question about how a patriot is supposed to go about disagreeing with the president. To hear you tell it, it just can't be done - you can't disagree with these peoples' disastrous policies without being a traitor. Now, what sense does that make?

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of buying dinner for a young Iraqi war vet. He is my girlfriend's niece's boyfriend (did anyone follow that?) and he just got back from his second tour of duty with the marines. His first tour was in Fallujah, which he described simply as "pretty bad". His second post was a bit less hairy. He's a machine gunner. I was glad to have the opportunity to get some straight news from someone who would know, who had been there, so I determined to keep my mouth shut and let him do the talking.
The Iraqi war vet said that nothing is really changing over there. He said that the Iraqi's are not showing an inclination to do what we want them to do - "stand up", as Bush says - and are, as he put it "lazy". That didn't sound very nice, but it was heartfelt, and he's been there, I haven't. He also said the scariest fighters he faced, the real ass-kickers, were the Syrians. He said they were trained, dedicated and deadly. He said he'd rather face a gang of home-grown Iraqi insurgents any day. This Marine saw a good friend blown away right next to him. He's killed people and people have tried to kill him. He's no Cindy Sheehan and he's no Michael Moore. If anyone has a reason to be invested, it's him - and he thinks we're wasting our time. That's good enough for me. I don't want him to go back there to die and I don't want any other soldier to do it, either. Nothing is going to change over there. We can leave now, or we can leave later, and the only difference will be the number of dead Marines, Reserves, and young soldiers from across our great culture.
But, hey, it's not our blood, right?
-Michael Bruno, New York, NY, Human & Peace Activist

I think we should support President Bush & come up with a plan to get out of Iraq. But folks are against the idea of working together to end the war. Half the country supports Saddam by bashing our President; when some solidarity and hard work would get the US out of Iraq.
But folks are against the idea of working together to end the war. Half the 2005 US has not a clue as to the words freedom and respect for the flag. We should speak as a nation behind our Prez. He is a good guy wanting to do what is best for the world and America. We should fix Iraq by having dialogue together such as: Iraq paying the US back -- they have the oil to do it, other countries getting involved, splitting up Iraq, It could somehow be done if we worked together. I think Washington should listen to your Marine friend.

You are wrong about things not changing over there; --- I guarantee they will change & you won't like it.

- Ron Jackson, MS, Republican

It will take someone who can speak up like Dean.....not some mealy mouthed person like Kerry....if Hillary expects to get in there she better start talking up.....I saw a banner today on a car here in Norman.... "Support our Troops, Bring them home now" Or we could wait until we can leave with honor. Like...Vietnam...
They kept saying we have to leave with honor...well we finally did, 55,000 dead troops later and they are still communist. You've heard that expression, “I'm going to do it or die trying"... Guess that is Bush's motto...except he isn't going to die.
-Shelly, Norman, OK, Moderate