Why are my fellow american men and women still in Iraq?

Question

I hate war but i finally meet a solider and he was honored to fight for my freedom. But then i got to thinking what freedom? When the war started we didn't know what they were fighting for. Was it for gas, taking over security forces or just for the hell of it? Now I do not like our president because of this decision and he did not take 9/11 seriously. Please anyone answer this question so maybe I can sleep better at night when my daugter's father leaves for Iraq in May.

Answer 1

I don't have a comforting answer.

I have family in the military and they are not happy about this either. The issue that causes the discomfort is the internal question of whether we are doing the right thing in the way it's being done.

Osama is in Afghanistan so we logically attack ......... Iraq?

If you want to get really angry watch the Michael Moore movie.

Then again, don't you want to feel better. Know this - we have the best prepared military in the world. We have the best equipment and training in existence. Your daughter's father is going to be very well protected. Yes, some folks are dying. But when you compare the number of soldiers we have over there v/s the deaths and look at the same numbers for Vietnam or Korea, you know our soldiers are safer than they have ever been. This is no guarantee, but a form of assurance.

You have a relationship with this man and you care for him, look at his intelligence and ability to adapt to new things. These are skills he will draw on. Look at his strength and common sense, in these qualities you can find comfort.

I can't promise you he will come back. No one can, but we can pray and know that he is prepared as best as humanly possible for this mission. God Bless You!

Answer 2

If you want a completely unbiased opinion, you need to turn off the internet and television and sit down with all the facts and decide for yourself.
War is of course horrible, but sometimes its understood. Just because the news says something doesn't make it true. There are things going on there that the general public doesn't know and never will.
I am a Military wife. My husband has been to Iraq 2 times now. We have 3 children. So I do understand your conflict.
But until he comes back home from Iraq you will never know why he is actually there. Once he is there for a couple of months all the sudden it will hit him, and you will understand.
Nobody who isn't directly involved in the war actually knows why we are there it is all speculation. They have all decided the news is right.
But I ask you this... If we are at war, they are still there, and CONGRESS has supported the war, they are not doing anything to stop the war (which is within their power) why??
If we have enought oil in the US territories that we don't need Iraq, why go there for that? If Nancy Pelosi says we can't pull out just yet, WHY? There are a lot of unanswered questions that I can't and won't answer for you. But I do know from my own involvement, there was and is a good reason for all of this. Its not primarily selfish at all. But I do believe we should have had a better plan, now we have to work with what we have. Keep in mind the death of 3500 soldiers is very small for a nearly 5yr war. There is a reason for everything. Keep your faith, it will be fine. Also, something you may check into that is actually on TV but factual, it the History Channel. They have nightly programs about Iraq, Saddam Hussein and Al Quaida. Take a look. You may be shocked.

Answer 3

Ok, well first of all it is no where near as bad over here as what you see in the media. This war is not a simple one. I really don't see how you can say that Bush didn't take 9/11 seriously. We invaded Afghanistan almost instantly, dispersed Al Qaeda and took out the Taliban. This is a very complicated issue that most Americans are only taking one issue at a time.
Being over here I can tell you that the biggest reason we are here is so that we can fight the terrorists on their own soil and it isn't brought to the US where our civilians will get hurt. That's what the War on Terror is.
The Iraq War is being fought for number of reasons. You can't just take one thing like Oil and say that is what the war is about, it just isn't true nor does it make any sense.
Iraq was chosen for several reasons. WMDs were here, he used them on his own people before we even invaded. Just because we haven't found them doesn't mean they didn't exist. We haven't found Osama, but we know he exists. WMDs can be just as hard to detect. He kept them in mobile stations. The oil market is being destroyed by the Iraqi people; they don't understand that blackmail isn't the right way to go with it. We are trying to protect our and the world's interest in the oil. Also, Saddam was not listening to the United Nations and was threatening the US. Don't you remember that part of it? It was all over the news when Saddam told Bush that he would inflict the "Mother of all Battles" on the US. These are just a few reasons. There are more.
The thing is that if the Media weren't slanting everything the US would be able to see things much more clearly. But you guys at home don't, you can't see it because they won’t let you. I have Iraqi people tell me everyday, you can't go home, and you must stay. The majority of them are happy that we are here. The ones you see on the news are the minority, something like 3% of the Iraqi people. Not to mention all of the other terrorists that come from different countries to fight us. But that is all part of the point. That way they aren't fighting us on our own soil. Can you imagine if you had to live through something like 9/11 over and over again?

Answer 4

Well the base answer is because we CHOSE to join the military.

We are still in Iraq becasue we are needed there. We are providing security and training for the Iraqi Security Force. We must leave Iraq with a certain stability and ability to protect themselves. We are still in Iraq, becasue a stable Iraq is key to a stable Middle East.

President Bush did take 9/11 seriously - that why we were in Afganistan ASAP. That why there hasn;t been another large scale attack in the US. We went in becasue we knew Iraq had the capacity to manufacture WMDS (Saddam had used them on his own people) and becasue Iraq had violated 17 UN mandates and did not heed our warning. We went in and in a matter of weeks defeated Saddam and his army. We did not foresee the influx of foreign terrorists into Iraq and the chaos that those insurgents would bring to the country.
We will not give up, we will see the mission through. We are making progress and are working towards a safer Middle East, which will create a safer world. I am heading back for my 2nd tour this summer. I hope that we can get to a point of stability soon. No one wants to come home more than the troops, but not come home at all cost. We want to leave with a truely completed mission. A free and stable Iraq. Hopefully your daughters father realizes this - being in Iraq definitly fostered and reinforced my views.
Thank him for his service and you for your sacrifice and support.

Answer 5

What freedom? The freedoms that surround you, the freedom to own your property and not the government, the freedom for you to protest, to show dessent on a public forum such as this. Many other freedoms, the same we have enjoyed for years. Bush did take 9-11 seriousely, we went in and comlpetely owned Afghanistan and that was a success. Then he said this terror thing is a real issue so now hes going down the line and fighting the war on terror, at the time Sadam Hussein was at the top of the list because of how many people he had murdered and his current threat to the USA.
And almost ALL of the soldiers are honored to fight for your freedom, please show them some respect, they have earned it.

Answer 6

Everyone hates war. Unfortunately man is, by nature, a violent being. Read any history book. Read any science book....by nature, it is survival of the fittest. We can choose fight or flight. Running away from danger doesn't reduce the threat, it postpones it.

Check out www.theotheriraq.com. Ask some of our soldiers who have been there if we make a difference. Ask yourself if "service before self" is a good and noble concept and do you want your daughter to understand it?

History has proven to us that a free society provide us the greatest level of saftey. There is no guarantee, as in anything, though.

The decision to go to war is not and was not the Presidents alone. Congress voted overwhelmingly to go to war. (The Democrats "Inconvienient Truth") The people you and I elected, looked at the intelligence data (Intelligence Committees are made up of half each from both Parties) and they recommended we go to war.

When your daughter's dad goes over to Iraq, know these truths.....
The cause is honorable.
Everyone will die. Not everyone dies doing something honorable.
Not everyone is honorable; he is.
Serving others for the greater good is noble.
War is terrible, but is necessary, sometimes as history has demonstrated time and again.
Actions speak louder than words. That he has put his butt on the line, proves it.
Your daughter can proudly look at her father as hero; he is.
His example may teach her to acheive her best and help others.

This man is my hero. I am a civilian who works at a Marine base on occassion. These men and women are amazing. They are intelligent, smart, loyal, hard working, dedicated, focused, driven, and more. They have put their lives on the line to make the world, our world, a better, safer place. Isn't this what you'd want your daughter to learn? Wouldn't her dad be the hero for teaching her by his actions?

The family members left behind have sacrificed alot, also. Your sacrifices make this possible for the rest of us. THANK YOU, YOUR DAUGHTER, and your SOLDIER for what they do for us.

Answer 7

When the war started we didn't know what they were fighting for. Was it for gas, taking over security forces or just for the hell of it?

the iraq war started because hussein would not let un weapon inspectors inspect on time , not because of wmd , bush clearly stated in a press conference before the war started that all hussein had to do was let a couple of guys in from the un to check on thngs , he refused which of course made everyone think he had something to hide . We are still there in an attempt to make iraq a safe place that will not be a breeding ground for terrorist , this will never work but that is why we are there .

also , you saying bush did not take 9/11 seriously shows your lack of knowledge on the subject

Answer 8

The war has been all over Answers. You have pro-war and anti-war. Everybody gives pro or anti Bush answers. Here is my answer: I was in Iraq for the first year of the war. Everybody seems to forget about the Iraqi people. I was in close contact with them. I truly like most of the Iraqis I met. They are the most hospitable people I have ever met. I would invite many of them to dinner in my home if it was possible. Everybody posts their own selfish answers, but I wish everybody could actually see the plight of the Iraqis. I would rather serve in Iraq to help Iraqis than serve to help any American. Iraqis are good people and deserve the help of the United States.

Answer 9

Haha, thank you for quoting me. I in no way concept-approximately this question in the previous, very exciting question. we are in a position to be pleased approximately the timetable. 2 years in the past, we observed something as "countless". yet another Korea, yet another Vietnam. yet now, we've progression. we've something that, for what we are in a position to work out now, is everlasting. This progression is shone in the process the %. signed and agreed upon approximately coming residing house. The Iraqi human beings no longer in basic terms owe their lives to us, yet their rights, freedoms, liberties, happiness, each little thing. Why? because of fact 1000's of 1000's of individuals have been prepared to do no longer in basic terms us of a an honorable accountability, however the Iraqi human beings. This war might have been surrounded with the help of lies, yet what seems to be evil, might properly be, interior the top, good. i'm grateful for the timetable. i like my us of a Edit: thatartistwin, are you severe? Obama can "say" he will carry our troops decrease back residing house, yet we would desire to constantly no longer be "assured" that it will take place. Obama would not say "enable there be not extra war, and there grew to become into not extra war." Takes time. we are in a position to withdraw immediately, besides the fact that it would value lives, as stated, that's a fact- a chickening out military is attacked extra because of fact they're extra susceptible AND the enemy is inspired. the value it took to make each little thing, to deliver it, and then- to burn it, expenses better than leaving slowly. achieving 0? have you ever examine? Iraq is taking administration of their us of a via this %.. Iraq has a unfastened democracy. how are you able to declare for no longer something? it extremely is progression, progression is named better than 0, its something. Edit: Getaclue, I agree precise away!

Answer 10

It's called liberty. The freedom to pursue your happiness with out getting bombed while you arrive at work. There's bad people over there who want to come and blow you and your family to smithereens. I was present when we detroyed 8 of those terrorist camps in IRAQ. The fact that there's an Iraq branch of Al-Qaeda proves that they are there as well as Afganistan. We already had terrorists coming over here BEFORE Iraq. I say let's keep going after them and take out as many as we can find. That's what soldiers do. That's why we're there.