What are your views on the Military and the war with Iraq?

Question

I am an American soldier currently stationed in Iraq. I have spoked a few times with some of the people of this country. They believe that if the US and its allies were to ever pull out of here that Iran and Syria would come in and take them over in a matter of weeks. Over 80% of the population of Iraq wants us here and believes that we are doing them a great service. Why is it that the American people are so caught up in saying that President Bush only came here for oil, and can't see that we really are making a difference in these people's lives?

Answer 1

Answering your last question is quite easy; American people are so caught up in "BAD-BUSH-OIL-MAN" because the news media needs a boogey man, and liberal, left-wing, Socialists control most US news outlets. Most Americans never come close to critical thinking, and believe the "party-line:" America is bad, the UN is benevolent; firearms are bad, criminals rehabilitate; taxes are good, free-market enterprise can't survive without government; and so on.

Don't stay up late waiting for US news media to be open, academic, and honest about what Iraqis want; the US news media sides with the Iraqi 20% that do not want US soldiers in Iraq.

OTBPOC

Answer 2

I have good friends who have been stationed in Iraq, and who fortunately made it back in one piece. Before saying anything else, let me wish the same for you and yours.

That being said, I think the military presence in Iraq is a mistake. The military was not created to be an organization of nation builders. It is neither trained nor equipped for this task. Now, you guys and gals are doing a heck of a good job making do with what you've got, but it's not your mission.

The role of the military is to defend the US. Not fight someone else's civil war. Let's grant all your points. I don't think your statistics are accurate, but let's assume they are. Let's say that 80% of the population does want you and the rest of the US military over there, and that it is possible to build a new stable government. It's still going to take decades. And that new government is still going to be subject to attack from everyone around them, either now or later.

Let's give Bush the absolute benefit of both the doubt and hindsight. Let's say that the only reason US forces went to Iraq was to depose a tyrant and restore peace and freedom to the land. Wonderful goals. But still not easily achievable given the resources available, and certainly not any time soon.

Is the US military ready and willing to be that nation's police force for the next two decades? Is that what you enlisted for? And what about the next country that wants our help? And the next? And the next? Is the military on a first-come-first-saved plan? Or do you advocate doing the same thing (invade, topple, nation-build, protect) to every country that has problems?

Even if we assume that the US has the right to go in, take over other countries and install a new government that does things our way, do we have the resources to do so? How many countries can we stay in to fight civil wars against the insurgents who don't like the US invasion? How long are we going to stay there protecting these new governments from their neighbors?

It's not a matter of whether helping people is a good idea. Of course it is. It's question of whether the US has the resources to do, and what that costs are. The US military was created to defend the US. If the US wants to create a whole new organization whose job is nation building, fine. It's not like we have any problems at home that need attention. And if huge numbers of the current US military want to transfer into this new organization, and engage in nation building, fine. That would be their choice. But the men and women who enlisted five or ten years ago never signed up to be nation-builders overseas. They signed up to defend this country. And that should be their primary goal.

Answer 3

I agree with you! I think we are helping the Iraqi people a lot and working towards world peace. Terrorism is a serious threat. I wish people would stop saying that Bush is murdering our troops! Thank you for helping to protect our country. Happy 4th!