Injured Valley Soldier Critical of War in Iraq ("just put Saddam back")

[Barrett808]

Injured Valley Soldier Critical of War in Iraq
Reported by Andrea Conklin

...

"I can't sleep. I still got dreams of Iraq."

Eric says he believes the situation overseas is a hopeless one.

"I say just put Saddam back in power, and just leave the whole Iraq, the country, it'd be better off like that."

That despair is a sentiment he tells us many soldiers share.

"There's a lot of people that don't think we should be there ... like my unit," Herrera says. "We're not doing good out there. We're just soldiers dying left and right."

(more)

http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=2735469&nav=0w0vUZ5H

[Kikosexy2]

1. And I read ...

on a yahoo link today that said Most soldiers were in support of the war. Go figure?

[beachgrl60]

2. Military Times!!!

Anyone else read the polls in the Military Times??? I was shocked!
60% of soldiers said they believe in the war ansd how Bush is running it. 58% say it's worth it and want to stay . 87% are happy with the jobs they have! You couldn't find 87% of employees happy anywhere in the US!!!! And most(over 50% but can't remember percentage)don't blame Donald Rumsfeld or George Bush for lack of armor or supplies they blame CONGRESS!~!!! Unbelievable hh?

[Florida_Geek]

3. Paid subscription members only in that poll

and a lot of them are retired military.

[sandnsea]

18. Exactly, not likely the NG

I wish people would think just a teensy bit when quoting these polls.

[grumpy old fart]

7. Kissinger called military, "dumb stupid animals"...

but even cattle deserve better.

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/06/266114.shtml

[daleo]

9. 58% say its worth it, which means 42% say it is not worth it

Given that this poll was biased towards the officer class, I would say it bodes very badly for support for the occupation.

Imagine if 42% of officers in 1944 would have said that the liberation of France was not worth it. Yet, pro-war pundits claim that the invasion of Iraq is morally equivalent to the liberation of France.

[ElectroPrincess]

10. This survey, to be valid should be of troops IN Iraq ATT ...

Even so, the fact that 60% "believe" in the Iraqi occupation reveals that 40% "do NOT believe" in continuing this occupation ... that telling. Why? Because It is known among those of us who have conducted Survey Research for the Military (I have for the Navy) realize that a significant percentage of the Military members will report what "they think" the sponsors of the survey WANT to have reported.

IMHO There's trouble (significant amount of discontent) here.

[Bouncy Ball]

12. You are an interesting poster, beachgirl

you forward dubious "facts" (like the old Teresa story about water during the hurricanes) then say things like "interesting huh?"

As for your post, the survey asked 1400 soldiers, most of them officers in the rear what they thought. A tiny, skewed sample of men who mostly self-idenfity as repukes in the first place, so are the results surprising?

MOST enlisted men and NCOs do NOT subscribe to the Army Times. Plus it was an online poll of subscribers. Somehow I get the feeling Joe the Grunt on the front lines just doesn't have the time or luxury of answering online polls. In other words, the guys really fighting this war WEREN'T ASKED.

[maxsolomon]

4. why does he hate america?

he's not supporting the troops with this "despair".

shut up & heal, cannon fodder.

[radar]

8. Who let that soldier...

...Talk to the media without supervision?

Someone is going to have to be re-educated on the glories this country's leaders do for(to) us.

...And everyone reading this thread - take 2 glasses of Kool-Aid & leave Fox news on overnight; even while sleeping.

[Chipper Chat]

5. Can Saddam run?

Would he be elected if his name was on the ballot?

[NYC Liberal]

11. He's planning on it.

And, from what I've heard, something like 45% of Iraqis would vote for him too.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

13. oh, man... wouldn't that be something

what if somehow saddam was elected?
that would be quite the situation.

i am sure the U.S. will do whatever it takes to try and keep that from becoming a possible outcome.

[NorthernSpy]

6. wow

I'm a little surprised that made it into print.

[Just Me]

14. I'm proud to hear this soldier exercise the freedoms our troops protect.

FREEDOM TO SPEAK. FREEDOM TO ASSOCIATE. FREEDOM TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATES ABOUT AND OPPOSE THIS ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES!!!

THOSE FREEDOMS ARE NECESSARY FOR A DEMOCRACY THAT IS ALIVE & VIBRANT!!

THOSE STUPID MCCARTHY-TYPES SHOW DISRESPECT FOR OUR TROOPS EVERYTIME THEY ATTEMPT TO SUPPRESS THE VERY FREEDOMS OUR TROOPS PROTECT!!!

[Vidar]

16. I agree with everything you say here, but please release the cap lock.

Painful on the eyes.

[Sara Beverley]

15. Put Saddam back after we destroyed most of the country?

I don't think so. We should have to rebuild what we destroyed under a false premise.

[roguevalley]

17. I remember myself at twenty, about 32 years ago and even though

I was tough and into the world and what happened, I wasn't in tune with the lies and SHIT that pass for politics. I had a visceral hatred of Nixon and Viet Nam, but the sheer scope of all of it wasn't clear in my head at 20. Here are these young kids, doing SHIT because they are ordered too and they're trying to find a way to deal with it. I have no beef with the kids. Crap, I have no beef with ANY of the kids. I have a shit load of problems with the officers who won't tell JUNIOR to shove it, the pentagon, CIA and others who have an obligation to the truth but won't tell it, the chickenshit politicians -ALL OF THEM WHO VOTED FOR THE WAR WITHOUT EXCEPTION!- and the rest.

Some hurt 20 something aching and carrying crap none of us know about or ever will, having to face crap no one should be asked to do is telling truth here. I applaud him. Support the war? Hardly. I don't know ANYONE in the military over there or their families who do.

Officers sitting their stinking butts away from the fighting will ALWAYS support the status quo. What the HELL do they have to lose? Its the kids I am sorry for, that I support, that I forgive over and over. They're 19 and 20. How many of us would be braver, smarter, more nuanced, aware or informed at their age??

[dbt]

19. Hear! Hear!

roguevalley nails it SHUT!

:toast:
dbt