Stars and Stripes: War based on a lie

[kurth]

Stars and Stripes / November 28, 2005
European and Mideast editions

War based on a lie

Weapons of mass destruction? I’m still looking for them, and if you find any give me a call so we can justify our presence in Iraq. We started the war based on a lie, and we’ll finish it based on a lie. I say this because I am currently serving with a logistics headquarters in the Anbar province, between the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi. I am not fooled by the constant fabrication of “democracy” and “freedom” touted by our leadership at home and overseas.

This deception is furthered by our armed forces’ belief that we can just enter ancient Mesopotamia and tell the locals about the benefits of a legislative assembly. While our European ancestors were hanging from trees, these ancient people were writing algebra and solving quadratic equations. Now we feel compelled to strong-arm them into accepting the spoils of capitalism and “laissez-faire” society. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching Britney Spears on MTV and driving to McDonald’s, but do you honestly believe that Sunnis, Shias and Kurds want our Western ideas of entertainment and freedom imposed on them? Think again.

I’m not being negative, I’m being realistic. The reality in Iraq is that the United States created a nightmare situation where one didn’t exist. Yes, Saddam Hussein was an evil man who lied, cheated and pillaged his own nation. But how was he different from dictators in Africa who commit massive crimes again humanity with little repercussion and sometimes support from the West? The bottom line up front (BLUF to use a military acronym) is that Saddam was different because we used him as an excuse to go to war to make Americans “feel good” about the “War on Terrorism.” The BLUF is that our ultimate goal in 2003 was the security of Israel and the lucrative oil fields in northern and southern Iraq.

Weapons of mass destruction? Call me when you find them. In the meantime, “bring ’em on” so we can get our “mission accomplished” and get out of this mess.

Capt. Jeff Pirozzi
Camp Taqaddum, Iraq

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=33305

[hadrons]

1. Capt. Jeff Pirozzi ... patriot

unlike the Bushbots on the Chief of Staff

[Poet Lariat]

2. Surprised that S&S would allow this into their propaganda rag

I was in the military back in the 70's and don't remember it being this "open" to criticism. Refreshing.

[ET Awful]

3. They've been very even-handed in the publishing of letters for

quite a while now.

I've seen quite a few threads over the past couple of years with very enlightened letters in Stars and Stripes.

[Poet Lariat]

9. Was not aware

This is encouraging for the troops. Thanks ET Awful

Edit to recommend...this is a great letter.

[ixion]

4. "I’m not being negative, I’m being realistic."

well spoken, Captain. :applause:

[bostonbabs]

5. kick....n/t

[Wickerman]

6. well, there is a Capt that will never see Major

very courageous and most accurate. Hat's off to a true patriot.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. The Europeans were scarcely hanging from trees

At that time.

That sort of hyperbolic insult undermines his message a bit.

But that's my only complaint.

[thecodewarrior]

8. Well he's fired

Dumbsfeld will have him fired for speaking the truth.

[sofa king]

11. Eh, you never know.

Regardless of gender, our military has great admiration for balls. They also have a keen eye for bullshit, and I'm sure by now they've had their fill of that from these doofuses in charge.

The war mongers' concerns for troop morale and their questioning of the Democrats' patriotism are largely fabricated issues almost entirely designed for the consumption of the people here at home.

The troops in the field depend most upon each other for support, and part of that support network is bitching about most anything they want to gripe about.

[classysassy]

17. Sec of Def

will Rummy fire him or have him fired on (shot).?

[CJCRANE]

16. Maybe not

but, back in 3000 BC when the Babylonians were building the first great cities and inventing writing, the Europeans weren't exactly up to much in terms of civilization.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. To all DU Vets: Can this captain get into trouble for writing this?

[Dan]

15. guranteed!

[4bucksagallon]

12. "But how was he different from dictators in Africa who commit massive"...

This has been my point from the day Twig decided to invade Iraq, when are we going to invade all the other countries that may or may not harbor terrorists. We should have finished the job in Afghanistan and gotten OBL. Nuff said.

[FogerRox]

13. K&R thanks captain.-- eom

[Doctor_J]

14. I think Smirky's lost all but a handful of people

It's a shame that he had to kill so many people before the country woke up, but at least he's going to end his term in humiliation, which might prevent another messianic dictator from launching a war just so he can put on a flight suit.

[Porcupine]

18. The rank and file have had it. It's a lost cause.

I've heard worse than this from a career warrant officer in uniform. he said he was going back just to keep as many kids alive as long as possible. He had a hell of a lot of respect for the motivations of the resistance too.