How do people REALLY feel about the Iraq war? Please read rest of my post before answering.?

Question

Dear NBC Nightly News,

My name is Linda and I'm a student in Martin Tn. I work weekends with the girl who sent me the email at the end of this message. The email is from her friend, a young soldier in Iraq. You know, all we ever hear is how the war is bad, how everyone is against it and how much we don't need to be involved. I, for one, don't fall for that. This young man sends us an email about once a month. It appears that the soldier's viewpoint and the democrat politician's viewpoints are a bit off. I realize this operation is taking a while, well duh, we all knew that going in.... we knew it wouldn't just be a walk in the park and then come home. Over 47,000 (!!!) American soldiers were killed in vietnam 1965-1971. That's over a span of only 6 years. In 4 years we've lost just over 3000 soldiers. Any loss is unacceptable however this IS war we are talking about and there will be losses. Can't people see how few have been lost compared to other wars and conflicts? Why can't we have some positive viewpoints from Iraqi citizens and American soldiers to tell us the REAL story about what is going on over there? Not some made up political, one-sided, agenda based opinion? I want to hear from REAL Iraqi citizens, police and leaders and from REAL soldiers.
Just a thought, ANYBODY ELSE FEEL THIS WAY??

From: "WENDI"
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:49:22 GMT

hey there- I just wanted to let everyone know what has been going on lately. First I must let you all know that we have lost a soldier. His name was SPC. Anthony Kaiser and he was killed by a snipper while engaged with insurgents on 17Mar07 at approx. 1320. He was killed the day I got back to Baghdad and he was my friend. Anthony was a New York State Trooper prior to joining the Army. He felt that he needed to be a part of what was going on over here. He has been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions that day. I was at least fortunate to be back for his memorial here and be a part of it since he was one of my guys. He will be missed.
Recently the Army has started an opperation that has been very productive. It has also been costly. If anyone asks you if what we are doing here is unimportant and we shouldn't be here, then let me tell you this. Durring this op the Army has collected plane tickets to Chicago. Some from as recent as two months ago and some for a future trip. They have collected bogus passports for multiple individualls and documentation to get them into the US. Not to mention the weapons and bomb making materials they use against us here. But this to has cost us some good people. An IP (Iraqi Police Officer) was killed yesterday by an IED and it wounded three Army personell two severely. They underwent surgery here and have been transported to Germany for further observation. No one here wants to quit. They want to go home, but only when they are done. The area and the province is busy as I have said before, but it is managable if the polititians would just allow the Army to do what they do.
I am fine and have been keeping busy. They haven't let me go out lately due to seat issues, and not having enough to let me put my butt in one. But it is going well. I have finally got my own place and I don't have to walk across the street to take a shower so that is nice.
I spent some time in Jordan on my way back here and I got to go to Petra. It was wonderful. I can only compare it to the Grand Canyon. It is truly a marvel and if you are ever in the neighborhood you have to go see it. I didn't get to go to the Dead Sea because of snow if you can believe it. But Petra was definitely cool. I will attach a picture of me there.
Everything is good and it is moving right along. I can't think of anything I or my Army guys need right now so that is good to. I just wanted to let you all know about our recent loss and our wounded. Just remember that we do need to be here, and that these kids are keeping the wolf off of your door...really. I got the proof.

Mark H.

The 47,000 number that I used was the total number of servicemen KIA (Killed in Action) during Vietnam. The Total number of Servicemen Killed during Iraq is just over 3000. Look it up... I did.

http://www.rjsmith.com/kia_tbl.html

Answer 1

I always find it refreshing to hear positive accounts of the war coming from our soldiers. I try to ignore our politicians against the war. I also ignore the news when they try to dramatize the bombing of the day over there. I have 2 cousins, and uncle, and a brother in law that are all marines. My 2 cousins and my brother in law are serving in Iraq on their second tour right now. It always makes me feel good when me and my wife get letters from them telling us what they really are doing over there, and how important it is to complete their mission. In their letters they talk about similar things this soldier is talking about in his letter. People who say Iraq doesn't pose a threat to our country are very naive and uneducated and obviously don't know anyone that has served in this war. God bless our soldiers. Hopefully they can accomplish their mission and come home soon. Until then, continue to kick some ***.

Answer 2

It depends what you realy feel about the war, i personnally wish they would come out. We are in the middle of a civil war over there so how can we win anything. My Brother went into Desert Storm and he never even got to fire his weapon because we went in with bad intentions and use our superior air power to shut down communications first and the bombed them into submission before any ground troops went in. Now this war is being fought by politicians who probably have no relatives in a war zone. My nephew recently volunteered to go over ther and he is in the Air Force. So this is a tought question because it is a question of soemone's opinion and those are hard answers to accept at times. Your friend was a hero god bless you.

Answer 3

You know people think it is all about United States and that country into the war. What about Canada, we always follow United States where ever the United States go. Canadians were in Vietnam war too you know. We are also in Afghanistan, we are in Iraq. Canadians are treated like sidkicks. All we hear is the US, US, US. Never about the GLOBAL issue and the Impact of it all. We are on this earth together, Wars don't solve problems. WARS are about Power and Control. This War just doesn't affect US and that other country, It affects us Globally.

Answer 4

I think it's a waste of our money, we are fighting a war that cannot be winnable. I believe that our troops need to come home they have done a lot by removing saddam, that was the objective to rid Saddam not stay there until the new government can become stable, because in fact Iraq will never be stable, The shites and sunni's don't want a government they like to roam freely and do what they do best. To make Iraq a democracy is not going to work, Iraq is not a U.S State. The people there our used to a controlled government in Iraq. Saddam kept the country stable, now that he is gone Iraq will never become stable as it once was. Terrorism will always be with us here and abroad, there is no way to totally wipe it out. Bush is not thinking smart, there is no stragety to win in Iraq. Iran now sees this as a good opportunity to help the terrorists by removing the current government in Iraq. I believe at somepoint this year we will be going to war with Iran. So no matter which way we turn we are screwed big time. But I think we should bring our troops home there is no use for them staying there, nothing can be done.

Answer 5

Thank you for posting this maybe people will realize that there are some good things going on there I rarely watch the news because they only tell you what they want you to here, Form your own options about the world around you, again thank you for posting.

Answer 6

you had me fooled until you used the phrase 'democrat politician.'

use of the word democrat instead of democratic (the actual party name) in situations like that is a mark of either a brainwashed person or a republican shill.

also you 'facts' about vietnam are way off the mark - our losses of 58,000 (not 47,000 as you say) did not take place over six years but over more than a decade.

if taken on the vietnam timeline - we have more casualties in iraq now than we had in vietnam at this point in the timeline in that conflict.

but i also can't help but marvel at your justification for this war as being that basically not all that many have died.

the war in iraq has nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.

the war in iraq has nothing to do with american security.

the war in iraq has nothing to do with the broader war on terror.

one life lost in that wasteland is one too many.

when will you cons get that through your heads...

Answer 7

Many americans do not know the real reason we are there. That is why we don't like the war Bush said it was because they had weapons of mass destruction which was not the case. I support the troops 100% I think they are doing a good job. Also since we got Saddam people think we should leave if the Government was more honest with us maybe more people will be more understanding with the war.

Answer 8

I'm not sure I understand your point. In answer to your question, yes I REALLY do think the war is wrong and think we should bring the troops back home.

Answers to your specific arguments:
(1) You say we knew it would be a long haul when we started it. Yes, we did know that. And we were wrong to start the war. Bush was wrong then, and he is wrong now. The war isn't justified simply because it's not going worse than predicted.

(2) You point out that fewer people are dying than died in other wars. I don't find this argument persuasive. Certainly it would be worse if more people were dying, but even a few American soldiers dying is a big deal. Certainly 3000 soldiers dying is cause for concern. Ask the wives, children, and parents of one of those 3000 and you will see that they all mattered and were all important.

(3) You say we ought to hear from REAL Iraqis. I agree that this would be useful information that we should consider. But the information is out there. Recent polls make it clear that the majority of Iraqis think they are better off now than they were under Saddam. I'm sure this is true. But is it worth the price we have paid? These are not Americans we are talking about, they are people from the other side of the world. And there are lots of countries where the people are suffering a lot worse than they were in Iraq under Saddam.

Answer 9

Okay, there were some key statements in the e-mail --"During this op the Army has collected plane tickets to Chicago, some as recent as two months ago and some for a future trip"."They have collected bogus passports for multiple individuals and documentation to get them into the US." And then he goes on to talk about bomb making materials. My point in bringing this up is that on 9/11/01, 19 illegal immigrants attacked the United States. Despite the fact that these people were illegal immigrants, only US citizens were punished by having our baggage checked by illegal immigrants working in airports and illegal immigrants having access to our papers and possessions at hotels, on military bases, at our ports etc. We have 11-20 million illegal immigrants running free in the USA today and we have no idea how many of these illegal immigrants are terrorists. As far as I'm concerned they are all potential terrorists. What good will it do us to finish in Iraq when our people are so vulnerable to attack here in the USA? If 19 illegal immigrants could kill 3000 American Citizens with a few concerted attacks, what chance do we citizens have against 11-20 million illegal immmigrants of questionable loyalty? We need to get our country in order before we worry about Iraq. We shouldn't have gone there in the first place and if the government had been doing its job -- the one that it is primarily -- first and foremost -- charged with doing -- protecting our borders from all enemies, foreign and domestic, then 9/11/01 could not have happened. Our government is guilty of complicitiy in the attacks of 9/11/01 and of aiding and abetting illegal actions.

Mark talks about keeping the wolf off our door -- he's not doing that at all. The wolf is here and is devouring our country and changing it from a nation of laws to a nation of lawless corruption. By failing to enforce our immigration laws, our government is keeping the doors wide open for terrorists and invaders and is contributing to the corruption and potential demise of the USA. The salmonella outbreaks, the poisoned pet foods, the e-coli, the increase in murders and drugs are all evidence of the problems associated with illegal immigrants having access to the USA. What's next? Last year they marched in our streets as a show of strength and as a slap in the face to our government, only our government was too stupid to understand it. If millions of illegal immigrant armies can march in our streets as a preliminary or practice, how easy will it be for them to march armed with guns, knives, home-made bombs etc? Can you tell a hispanic from an iranian or middle easterner? Do you know that Hugo Chavez has been steadily building his army in the USA along with Cuba and other countries so that when they are ready to make their move, we citizens will be disarmed and totally vulnerable.

We citizens can no longer stick our heads in the sand and ignore the threats that are present and being acted upon on our own soil -- at times with the blessing and sanction of our government. Unless we get our borders under control and get the illegal immigrant population under control -- remember they are all lawbreakers with questionable loyalties -- we are still vulnerable to attack on the homefront.

Answer 10

When i served in lebanon in the 80's it was the same thing.
All of the newspapers said that all of the people there hated us and how they wanted us to leave.It just wasnt true.The day we left there was a crowd begging us to stay.I felt so sorry for those people but we cut and ran again.