Listen to what the armed forces have to say about Iraq.?

Question

Soldiers’ Voices
Listen to what the armed forces have to say about Iraq.


Operation Arrowhead Ripper, as the latest American offensive is called, has successfully swept into al Qaeda-infested Baquba, the capital of Diyala Province northeast of Baghdad, killing and capturing hundreds of terrorists. The battles in Iraq and Afghanistan time and time again have resulted in significant, but often untold military successes. Realities on the ground often go unnoticed or under-appreciated.

The American soldier has often lacked a voice to articulate his mission and his successes amidst the cacophony of defeat in Congress and public opinion polls.

I invited warriors to weigh in with their perspectives, interviewing hundreds of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, many on the battlefields of Iraq. Together, their interviews constitute much of War Crimes: The Left’s Campaign to Destroy the Military and Lose the War on Terror. And the picture they paint of their fellow citizens at home is anything but rosy.

“Every day, the enemy changes…only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society…and they are becoming our enemy. Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the Internet…and there is no outrage but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed…for doing their job…It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this.” —Sergeant Eddie Jeffers, U.S. Army

“Some of the American public have no idea how much freedom costs and who the people are that pay that awful price. I think sometimes people just see us as nameless and faceless and not really as humans…A good portion of us are actually scared that when we come home, for those of us who make it back, that there will be protesters waiting for us and that is scary.”—-Specialist Jason Gilson, U.S. Army

“What angers and hurts me as a soldier is that they parade their anti-war views in the face of my brothers and sisters who are recovering from the same battlefield that I fought on and am still fighting on as I type this e-mail. Is there no honor or dignity left in the antiwar movement? Do they have no shame? Do they have no integrity? Do they have no heart? Do they have no soul? I can answer that with a simple no! How can they say they support the troops but protest where they try to recover from war? You interviewed one gentleman, and I use that term loosely, who stated ‘If I was injured I would want someone to speak for me like this.’ Well let me tell him something, we do not want you to speak for us and we do not need you to speak for us!” —Sergeant Mark Leach, U.S. Army

“Compared to the shock of the instant, violent death of a squad-mate standing right next to me or the excitement of a child looking at my uniform, the constant barrage of partisan politics, runaway brides and the activities of Paris Hilton seem utterly devoid of importance. I have marines slowly recuperating at hospitals in San Francisco, Washington, Bethesda and San Diego. Who is telling their stories?” —Captain Rory Quinn, U.S. Marines

“We daily see the gross distortions. We can’t recognize the caricatures they [the media] scratch out, neither in our fellow soldiers, nor on the battleground. I know they claim to be objective but really they’re nothing more than accomplices in the face of this evil.” —First Sergeant Jeff Nuding, U.S. Army

“The troops’ number-one frustration has consistently been the media reporting. The way the press mishandled Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo had a tremendous negative effect on us. It inflamed the Iraqis at a time when we were making great progress in their support and willingness to help.”——Major Eric Egland, U.S. Air Force

“We are at war, Representative Murtha, and your actions and conduct give aid and comfort to our enemies…You have dishonored all of those who have fought and died up to the day you stood on the floor of the House of Representatives and demanded that we withdraw immediately. Representative Murtha, you have given aid and comfort to our enemies in a time of war. You have given them hope, which they have fast been losing, due to all of the victories and sacrifice by our sons and daughters on the field of battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. You have been honored by our enemies on the front page of Al Jazeera. . . ” —Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Stark, U.S. Army

Listen to these voices. Listen to their clarity and purpose. Have you heard anything lately from Washington, D.C., or in the mainstream media nearly as cogent?

As with all wars, America’s fate resides in the hands of the vocal elite manning the editorial desks, congressional offices, and studio back lots. As we approach the birthday of our independence, let us add another voice to the dialogue: the uniformed men and women who, then as now, granted and preserved our freedom. Our way of life is at stake, as is the plight of 25 million Iraqis. Shouldn’t we listen?

Answer 1

america should withdraw

Answer 2

I too am a soldier. I have spent the past 4 years of my life fighting this war and defending my country. When I see the crap that these antiwar people say and do it makes me ill. I sometimes find myself wondering if it is really worth it to put my life on the line to defend a nation that is capable of such things. Then I think of all of the good people, all of the accomplishments we have made and all of the progress I see everyday and remind myself that I am not just fighting for individuals, I am fighting for the idea that a every person is born with certain unalienable rights, and among them are the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I volunteered to join the military, no one forced me and I am still proud to this day to call myself a soldier. But what I don't comprehend is how people who have never picked up an M16 and taken aim at the very people who want to destroy all that we hold dear can actually think that we can simply withdraw. The very thought of it is stupefying. If we leave they will come after us, if we lose they will kill more Americans. Terrorism is such a huge problem in today’s world because terrorists do not hold allegiance to one country. This is not an Allies vs. the Axis type fight anymore. We can not wage war in the manner that we have all learned about in history class. There is no front line because there is no territory to gain or lose. There is no "Eagle's Nest". Terrorists are protected by the fact that they often blend into a population. Driving down the street of Baghdad you can not tell Iraqi from Insurgent. Yet, here in Iraq, we have an opportunity we could only pray for in the past. Terrorists have chosen that front line and come to fight on it daily. Do we back off now and give them comfort and victory. Do we give up the fight? I believe that this will only put us back. If we withdraw now we give up that front line. We give up this advantage. Then we go back to wondering where they are and what they are plotting. Then we go back to waking up in the morning and hearing those awful words resonating from our television "An airliner crashed into the World Trade Center today....."

The bottom line is that we chose to defend our country, and we take that choice seriously. None of want to die for our country, but we are willing to do so because we understand the cost of freedom. It's our job to fight for you. So let us.

Answer 3

I spent a tour in Vietnam as a river rat, and then was spat upon by the people I was defending. If Pelosi, Reid and the rest of the liberal democrats have their way, the same thing will happen to those fighting in Iraq. When we join the military, we don't do it for glory, or for money. We do it because we believe in what American stands for, even if it's not what America really is. I never expected a "hero's" welcome, since I was not a hero. I did expect better than name calling and being spat upon, though. Our troops in Iraq are doing an important job. I just wish Pelosi, Reid and the rest of the real traitors to the US would leave them alone to do it

Answer 4

I totally agree with the soldiers. Democrats and the MSM are endangering America. They don't believe the war on terrorism is real. They've even taken to banning the phrase...

As if they could ban the reality.

Answer 5

I can only hope today's soldier will come back from this war secure in themselves and proud knowing the history of the anti-war Americans from Viet Nam, instead of beaten down, insecure and confused like the Viet Nam soldiers were because they could never believe their own fellow countrymen would treat them that way.

Answer 6

I think that's total BS for several reasons. The U.S. military is controlled by civilians, don't ever forget that. It's not the other way around.

p.s. I served 8 years in the U.S. Army - unlike a lot of the wannabe military types that post on here.

Answer 7

I have been trying to tell people this for a very long time.My son is there and he has told me basically the same.Thank you so much for asking this question and putting the material on so all could read it.

Answer 8

I'm listening, but the cut and runners are not. Thank you for bringing it to light!

Answer 9

Pelosi was talking pull out again today.

God she makes me sick.

Answer 10

You asked us to listen to the soldiers voices, now where is the link to listen to the voices? I see the text that you typed, but I need the link to listen to the voices.

Answer 11

ABSOLUTELY........may God continue to bless our troops.