posted on January 11, 2004 04:41:12 PM new
Well that would indict the CIA, Pentagon...DOD, FBI, NSA and in this case, Great Britain....Bush was advised that WMD were not there yet he disregarded that information.
He wasn't advised by any intelligence agency that Iraq had WMD ready to deploy in 45 minutes. Yet that is the message that we were given.
posted on January 11, 2004 05:53:31 PM new
gravid - I have entertained that same thought a time or two.
But the UN knew he had them. And from the first agreement that stopped the 1991 war, he agreed to destroy them. Said at some point they were destroyed but never did prove that to the UN. But rather the game playing with the UN continued all these years. Seems to me if he didn't have them it would have been easier to just give the inspectors free reign, or give the proof.
posted on January 11, 2004 07:30:21 PM new
My question is why wasn't Sgt. Feldbusch wearing his ballistic protection glasses? When I was in the Gulf War, everyone was issued "Gargoyles" which protect the eye area from shrapnel. The piece of shrapnel that took Sgt. Feldbusch's sight probably would've been stopped by the glasses. Otherwise, it would've killed him. He screwed up and now he's bitter.
Anyone who joins the Infantry knows the risks of death or maiming. Nobody is forced to join the Infantry (or Rangers) and there are plenty of safe jobs available in the US military. Sgt. Feldbusch is a non commissioned officer and he should act like one.
posted on January 11, 2004 08:07:31 PM new
I would think that as a former soldier that you might have some compassion for fellow members of the Armed forces. You should know the danger and the variable situations which might prevent full protection from shrapnel.
It's callous to blame the victim because he either failed to wear his ballistic glasses in anticipation of a bomb blast or he had no glasses to wear. I understand that bullet proof vests are not available to all soldiers in Iraq. Family members are trying to buy those. You say the glasses would probably work...I guess that means they probably might not work either.
A gripping letter from a U.S. solider about the real situation "on the ground" in Iraq
Hi guys, I got some internet time so I thought I'd drop you a line....
You may have heard about Fallujah in the news--it's the most dangerous place in Iraq. My best buddy was seriously wounded day before yesterday...in downtown Fallujah. We've had one soldier killed and about 8 wounded in my company of 65 guys. My buddy who was wounded is from a sister company of ours. We get shelled nightly (yesterday night a rocket wounded 3 guys who were leaving the shower tent about 60 yards from my barracks), although it's pretty inaccurate and I generally sleep right through it (like a thunderstorm). How in the Hell I ended up here I have no idea--life's been quite a journey since late January of last year when this mess all began. I'm not bitter about it anymore--I was and remain convinced that this war was wrong and more importantly that it was a terrible strategic error....Nevertheless, I'm going to do my job and try to get out of here with me and my men unscathed, and just wash my hands of it and move on. It does bother me knowing the damage that this has done to America's standing in the world and also knowing that Iraq is too important geopolitically and economically to lose. Everytime I see someone's arm, leg, or face blown off or see dead bodies (Iraqi and American), I get this terrible pit in my stomach. What a waste.
Needless to say, the situation on the ground here is deterioriating. We were woefully unprepared. We need about 40,000 more interpreters (preferrably former Iraqi military--they can spot trouble more quickly than we can or our interpreters can) and about 100,000 more troops (preferrably an international mix) if we really want to do this right and make the best out of a real mess. Unfortunately, that appears to be neither possible nor politically feasible for the administration since the idealogues in the Pentagon are bent on saying that they were right and since they and the rest of the administration have alienated all of our friends, particularly the two most powerful countries in continental Europe. There are numerous misunderstandings here on the ground every day, and there's no doubt in my mind that we've alienated 90% of those who were at least pre-disposed to give the Americans the benefit of their patience to see if things got better post-Saddam. It is plainly obvious to even the lowest private that in this region 95% of the people want us dead. We get ambushed in plain daylight daily in downtown Fallujah by remote-detonated roadside bombs usually followed up with small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire. With so many of the people on the street watching, they HAVE to know who's behind the
attacks. Yet our intelligence fails to ever generate any leads as to who's actually behind the attacks (by the way, our intelligence is pathetic--all of this purported "iron fist" policy is a shot in the dark--they don't know who the insurgents are). The sheiks always claim it's foreign fighters, but when we get lucky and kill one of the attackers, his mother always comes to claim the body--I doubt these impoverished women come all the way from Syria or Yemen the next day to claim their dead son. When we raid someone's house and find a weapons cache, they always claim that they don't know where they weapons came from, that Allah must have left them there, or that Saddam told them to keep these weapons, blah blah blah. I've definitely met some very friendly, decent Iraqis, most of whom work on our base. They're mainly former exiles who've returned. They're so worried, and I feel bad for them because I know they'll have to leave again when we leave, which I'm sure we eventually will. Fallujah is a traditional, Sunni Wahabi extremist tribal hotbed (this is what the Baghdad Iraqis tell me, also). It is worth noting that the Wahabi mosques are heavily funded by Saudi "charities." You almost NEVER see a woman out on the street, and their treatment of women is absolutely barbaric (beatings, honor killings, etc.). I generally try to be respectful of foreign cultures (having lived in several myself, I understand resentment against American cultural hegemony), but I must admit that the treatment of women here is absolutely appalling and unacceptable. Also, the level of misinformation here is unbelievable. Reading the intelligence reports makes you laugh out loud, especially the accounts of the ridiculous market rumors (market rumermongering is the main way of learning the news in Iraq). It is widely believed that Jewish drug dealers and prostitutes have been smuggled into the country by the Americans to pollute Iraqi culture. I know that sounds laughable, but people here really do believe such fantastic
conspiracy theories. It is widely believed, even among fairly sophisticated Iraqis, that the Mossad and CIA conspired to undertake 9/11. Not only are
the rumors wildly anti-semitic, but there are also wild rumors about the powers that American soldiers have (X Ray vision to violate the sanctity of the Muslim home), and wild rumors about Saddam's imminent triumphant return to power. While these rumors may be laughable due to their being outrageous, it's also scary to hear the virulence of the anti-semitism and anti-Americanism that is so deeply ingrained in the psyche here. It also illustrates the challenge of trying to communicate to a society that's been brutalized and lied to for 2 generations, and that has an inherent distrust of the media (remember the media here communicated that the first Gulf War was going to be the "Mother of All Battles." )
So, like I say, the population's resistance is massive. They find other ways besides overt violence to demonstrate their resistance, and that clearly wasn't the case in June or July. We estimate that 85% of the men of Fallujah and west along the Euphrates are unemployed (from the number sitting around, it certainly appears that there's not a lot of work getting done anywhere). I must say that I don't blame them for resenting the occupation--I would also. Nevertheless, it doesn't make me feel any better when they're trying to kill us daily. The sheiks claim they're powerless to do anything to stop the insurgents. Incidentally, soldiers here become indignant when they hear politicians on television (we purchased satellite TV off of some folks in Baghdad and get lots of US and British news stations--see www.orbit.net) describe the insurgency as "terrorists, killers, or thugs." That's bull$hit, they're a very well organized, smart insurgency. Their strategy is brilliant, and it's like a carbon copy of what we did with the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan in the 1980s, of course adjusted for the nuances of the current situation (like going after any potential ally, like Spain, Turkey, and now Italy, and of course the NGOs like the Red Cross and to some extent the UN). The Soviets tried to dismiss the Afghan insurgents as terrorists, killers, and thugs, also (see Pravda, 1986-89). The Soviet troops never quite figured out who the ghosts were who were attacking them, much like we're not sure who these guys are.
The bottom line is that there is no plan, there was no plan, and it's very apparent that even higher level army officers are pretty cynical--the prevailing attitude is, "let's keep the body count low and rotate the hell out of here." I know that all of us reservists are pretty cynical, but I'm surprised at the cynicism of some fairly high ranking active duty officers.
Well, I guess I'm fine. I read a lot and work out daily. Our barracks are comfortable (to the extent that army barracks can be comfortable)....The mail is still atrocious (generally takes a little over a month and a half...in WWI Harry Truman received his mail in the trenches of France from Missouri in just 2 months--it's pretty pathetic that in the jet age we can do just a little better than we did in WWI). The internet is up and down, so we finally bought our own internet off of an Iraqi contractor from Baghdad (Fallujah is so hostile that no Iraqi that works on our base is from there--they all commute from Baghdad. The Baghdad Iraqis say they fear for their lives in Baghdad because they're looked at as traitors. Fallujan contractors won't do business with Americans). I suppose the worst part is the boredom (instead of Operation Enduring Freedom we call it Operation Enduring Boredom), and the bitterness that basically our tour is really 1 year and 4 months, while the Active duty guys just got a 1 year tour. The food here on the base isn't so bad (the Iraqi food is pretty good but rough on the digestive system; Imodium AD is a staple for all soldiers), and we have air conditioned and heated buildings (rudimentary, but it works). It's getting cold, which is good because the flies, mosquitos, and sand fleas (sand fleas are a curse from the Devil) are finally going away. I hate cold weather, but it's better than the 150 degree heat (we really thought it was getting "cool" when it only got to 110 during the day). The cold here is really probably only low 60s, but it sure feels cold after the long hot summer we had here. People always want to know if I "feel safe." I guess I do. It's hard to explain. I suppose that after a while you just get fatalistic about it and don't worry too much. I'm a pretty peace-loving type, but of course I'll kill to protect myself and my men. It is scary at times, especially in urban areas....You basically can't drive into Fallujah without getting shot at in some way, shape or form (think Beirut). As long as you're on the base, it isn't scary per se. Convoying from one base to another can be tense, that's for sure. So far I've been lucky and haven't been ambushed too seriously. Numerous others in my unit haven't been so lucky. I'm so ready to get away from death and violence and bad news. It's weird.
Brian Leiter
[ edited by Helenjw on Jan 11, 2004 09:46 PM ]
posted on January 12, 2004 06:28:16 AM newI am wondering if the Guerrilla's are still fighting because they know that the troops do not have the full support of the American people.
Asinine thinking. Like the Palestinians who are still fighting the Israelis after almost 50 years, they are fighting because they don't want us there. Wouldn't matter if every single person in America stood up and chanted in unison "I believe in fa--Bush." Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on January 12, 2004 10:26:50 AM new
Saw an interview with the author of the O'Neal book and he offered over 1400 documents as well as interviewing many others in the Bush White House and they all support the claims made in the book.
Anyone voting for the liars in the White House needs their head examined.
posted on January 12, 2004 11:04:43 AM newI am wondering if the Guerrilla's are still fighting because they know that the troops do not have the full support of the American people...
Many people, elected officials, media, columnists, commentators, etc. have said exactly that. And used BinLadens [and Saddam's] statements to back it up. The terrorists see our national division on this issue, and are hoping the anti-Bush side wins.
I saw one statement that asked the question [paraphrasing here] "If you were BinLaden who would you most like to see get elected? Bush or an anti-war candidate?"
posted on January 12, 2004 11:08:44 AM newDraft will start to be muttered about in a low voice - after the election. From what I've taken from your posts, there are only three people left who will be voting for Bush's re-election. So are you suggesting another democrat will be muttering this wish?
And a democratic candidate has already been calling, LOUDLY, for a draft to be put in place.
posted on January 12, 2004 11:21:04 AM new
Democrats are not sneaky bastards.
People are dying, having their arms and legs blown off and blinded - all in a war based on lies.
The economy is a disaster. Jobs are leaving the country. Only 1,000 jobs were created in December. The deficit is astronomical and rising while the value of the dollar is sinking.
All this while our civil liberties are being eliminated in the name of safety? Millions of Americans don't even have health insurance. What a crock.
Don't worry your little biddy head. When George is defeated, you can go into your fantasy mode and just pretend that it's 2001 and Bush is still your president.
posted on January 12, 2004 07:23:59 PM new
Way I see it if I had to bet money on it is Bush will be president after the elections one way or another. Won't even use word win.
Kinda figure we are screwed either way.
Sort of like being asked which eye you want poked out. No decent choices.
posted on January 12, 2004 09:38:28 PM new Dedicated to Helen
Why everyone knows that YOU, Bear, are the brightest crayon in the box! Keep those crayons sharp to match your widdle pointy head and try to remember not to stick them in your ears again.
