Army veterans and soldiers, what do you think about the War in Iraq?

Question

I've been curious as to what veterans and soldiers think about the whole situation in Iraq. What do you think about it? Do you think the U.S. should be there? Has the right to be there? What are your opinions on the management of the war so far? What should be changed there? Any other opinions relating to this are welcome.

note: I'd appreciate it if ONLY veterans and/or soldiers responded, unless you are in a related position and think your opinion would be helpful to answering the question.

Answer 1

I was there, in Baghdad from March 2004 to March 2005. I was fortunately only called for one tour. My advice to you is: "Don't go. People get killed." No one who has actually been there feels it was worth it at this point. I can find 50 people easily who feel the same way I do. We went for the extra money, for the adventure, and because it was our duty to go, but not because we necessarily believed in the mission.

Personally, I feel it was a major distraction in the so-called War on Terror. It was the President's personal vendetta to eliminate Saddam. There are also imperialist reasons involved, like securing oil, forcing democracy, or developing some kind of staging area to attack other Middle East countries, all of which are ridiculous.

So, the short answer is no, we shouldn't have gone to Iraq. The time, manpower, and money would have been better spent in Afghanistan trying to track down Osama (who STILL hasn't been caught!). In that respect, the war has been horribly, horribly mismanaged.

I hear a lot of neocon clamor out there already telling me I'm wrong. But most of those neocons I've met are under 18, and therefore children who have no actual life experience, just "truthiness". If you can't even sign up, your opinion means jack-squat to me. So if you really want to "Support the troops", you'll do me the favor of not disrespecting me and shutting up for once.

Skylor Williams

Answer 2

The blogbaba is of the opinion that when Bush did his photo op on that aircraft carrier, the next day, our troops should have been gone.

Whether I think we should be there or not, we are there, and if Iran is the quickest way out of Iraq, then Terhan should be glowing radioactive tomorrow.

It appears might makes right, so yes, we have the right to go anywhere we are able to conquer.

The war has been mismanaged intentionally so that Bush and Cheney can steal the maximum amount of tax dollars possible through Halibut and the like while still in the White House. It is a disgrace, a clear definition of victory, or even who our enemy is has never been given by the White House.

American troops should withdraw to the oil fields they were sent to capture, and allow the rest of Iraq to degenerate into chaos, or simply destroy the oil fields and leave.

Answer 3

Now we've proved that Veterans can be just as misinformed as the general public
One still says Sadaam had WMDs when the Pentagon now admits he did not. Even the one we issued him to kill Iranians were dstroyed.
Another quotes UN resolutions he violated, only if there were WMDs and if we are going to use that as a guage Israel has violated over 30.
Both Hizb Allah and Hamas have the support of the Chritsian communities in thier countries. Indeed some elected Hamas delegates are Christian. It is US and Israeli policies that hav Christians leaving thier homes to refugee Camps

Army Retired
Nam twice

Answer 4

I actually like it here more than Texas, based on job satisfaction. I do feel that the Iraqi people deserved to not be under Saddam's rule. When we removed Hussein, however, it unfortunately opened the door for insurgent attacks and sectarian violence.

We need to go back to the days before war became some intricate politically correct process and kill terrorists.

Just to clear one thing up: I BELIEVE IN MY MISSION HERE. There, now no one can claim that no soldier who's been here believes in the mission.

Answer 5

We didnt need to go in to Iraq, but once we did, we as Americans are in it for the long hall, to bring peace and prosperity back to aa region that was once ruled by a tyrant and his tyrant sons, Looking back now, we should have left the sandbox once iraqs army had surrendered and saddam was not in power anymore, remember, he was hiding from his own people when we found him with millions of our money, his own people condemned him to death and hung him. We have lost so many of our bravest citizens in this conflict, brothers and sisters all. and it would be great if we just packed up and moved out and never went back, let the iraqi people have their country back and let them run it as they seem fit, and if they evr want to go at it again, then bomb them back to the stone age and who cares about collateral damage at that time, because we will never stop the hatred towards America, the only way is to kill them all.

Answer 6

We have been at war for over twenty years.
Iraq is but one front in a conflict that is worldwide.
Getting Osama does not defeat,Islamic Jihad,Hamas,Hezbollah, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Sayef, Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the hundreds of splinter groups with members and supporters in the MILLIONS.
there are many Iraqis who believe in us-why have the terrorists concentrated on Police and Security forces.
we should not abandon them.
The terrorist want us to leave so that they can declare victory like in the Gaza strip when Israel withdrew.Disengagement led to last year’s war in Lebanon.
Withdrawal without stability will lead to civil war and while it will save American lives in the short run it will cost many more in the next round OH YES, THERE WILL BE A NEXT ROUND!

We need to win this war! The politicians and the naysayers lost the VN war. And they are threatening to do it again. No surrender! No withdrawal! The enemy needs to get the message. These are not options.

Moral of story: What is Popular may not be what is right.
What is expectant in the short run may
have grave consequences in the future.
Doing whats right may be painful.

Answer 7

This Flyboy retired from the Airforce after getting back from Saudi Arabia during the Iraq and Iran conflict in 1982. It was called Elf-One Operations.

It is evident that the Middle East will never conform to nay legislation or Government of their own that will amount to anything.

The U.S. has entered into a World of Hell that has no resolution, but more destruction than before.

Bush say's we have an objective to reach I say we had a choice to not go either and 9/11 is one BIG giant excuse to enter Hell and that is exactly what we have done.

Aldo Rosado\
Retired AWACS ASO

Answer 8

As an army wife. yes i do believe we should have gone there or they would think hey the Americans did not do anything lets do something else.Should we be there now absolutely not, we went there i believe we accomplished what was needed, now it is time to bring our soldiers home, and i do not think we should have rebuilt what we destroyed.Y destroy it if we r just going to fix it? makes no sense to me. Ans bush talking about how we failed , i really believe we will fail if any more of our troops die in compact. It is time to end this war.

Answer 9

Actually I had a long conversation with my girlfriend's nephew who is a Marine in Iraq and is beginning his 2nd hitch there(extended without his consent). He is firmly behind the mission and tells me about all the good things that are being accomplished over there that I have never found in any news report. He tells me he may have volunteered to stay if they gave him the option even though it means delaying his education, which is why he joined in the first place.

Answer 10

VN vet 68-69 US Army

Saddam refused to abide by UN rulings. He had plenty of time to move any WMD to Iran. When they finally did get in to inspect of course they couldn't find any WMD's.
I think now that there are new Generals in the fields we should give them a chance.
I do think we messed up by not having enough troops to begin with. We left untold caches of weapons to be plundered by the enemy.
I have many more thoughts on the subject but I am sure I would get reported if I voiced my true opinions.