Going to Baghdad in May.

[CarbonDate]

Anybody been there recently?

[Skittles]

1. are you series?111

:(

[democrank]

2. Wish I knew what to say.

I`ll keep you in my thoughts and keep working to end this war.

~PEACE~

[unhappycamper]

3. Good Luck, Brother.

We'll be here fighting to stop this immoral occupation, and will be waiting to welcome you home. Stay sane and safe.

[Olney Blue]

4. Please be careful.

[Sperk]

5. dont go

n/t

[soothsayer]

6. jeez, be careful. and safe.

[Bunny]

7. My cousin is going there in April.

Her husband was deployed two weeks ago, she goes in April. Good luck to you.

[DIKB]

8. Is there any way

that your membership on DU, action in politics, etc. can qualify as having a history of being a conscientious objector ?

[james101]

11. DIKB probably not, the military is corrupt.

You're probably better off saying you're gay. Back it up with some type of proof. It's the military's rules. At least you woulden't have to go to prison and be dishonorably discharged. I don't advocate the homosexual lifestyle. You are in the situation where you got to play by their rules. Watch your own back!

[CarbonDate]

13. No, nor would I if I could.

I have a duty and a responsibility I have to carry out.

It's not for me to decide which wars I wish to participate in and which I do not. That's up to the Congress, and ultimately, it's up to the American people. The military does not set policy or decide which policies it wishes to carry out. That is BY DESIGN.

[DIKB]

14. Though I haven't gone

(medically barred from serving) I've lost one high school friend, seen two friends come back maimed/wounded, one with nerve damage, and a number of friends have come back Physically whole. I stress the "physically" because I don't ever want to ask what's happened there, in fear of making them relive it.

My view differs simply because I believe we are in Iraq, not because of Congress, as you stated, but because of a gross abuse of power. The conditional circumstances (Complying with the UN weapons inspectors) were being met, yet the dunderhead-in-chief took us in anyways, kicking out Blix and company.

Not knowing all the reasons you use to make your decision, I know that things must be infinitely more complex than we see them to be. All I can say is that I wish you well, and hope you come back safe and sound, in both mind and body.

[CarbonDate]

17. Thank you.

I'll do my best to do that, as well as get my people back home intact as well. That's one of the big reasons: my responsibility as an NCO to my troops. By letting them go but insisting that I shouldn't have to I would be a coward and a hypocrite. As you say, it's always more complicated than it seems.

Besides, how else am I going to set eyes on what's going on over there than by actually going?

[northzax]

9. aw man, bad luck

be well, safe and don't do anything that you wouldn't want to tell your grandmother about.

know any Arabic? seems like a good time to learn some, just in case.

[Straight Shooter]

10. I'm very sorry to hear that. I don't know what else to say ...

:hug:

[CarbonDate]

12. Wasn't shooting for sympathy.

It goes with the territory and I've had almost four years to emotionally prepare myself for this eventuality.

I'm going to be restricted to the base the whole time, so it's not like I'll be escorting convoys or anything. Lots of people over there have it a lot worse.

I was hoping somebody here may have been there recently and could talk about their experiences. That doesn't appear to be the case, which is fine. I figure that this will be a good opportunity to find out for myself and subsequently share with people back here about my own experiences.

Would it make you feel any better to know that I'll be able to provide you all with first-hand accounts of how things are going over there? I'll be providing some of the rawest journalism out there today. No classified information obviously, but I'm going to take this opportunity to see for myself.

[Morgana LaFey]

16. We love it raw

:evilgrin:

Stay safe.

[CarbonDate]

18. Oh, I'll give it to you RAW, all right....

;)

As a side note, I find it interesting that I've been a member four years longer than you, but you already have more posts than me. What's up with that? :P

[Morgana LaFey]

20. Are YOU tellin' me I talk too much?

Huh? HUH???


Okay, so maybe I do. :blush:

[sarge43]

21. Clear skies, CarbonDate

Now, you stay down and stay frosty.

Please write as often as you can; we will worry and please let us know if there's anything we can do.

Vaya con Dios, amgio :patriot:

[Dinger]

15. Peace And Safety To You My Friend

If you would like my students to write to you, just pm me & I'll give you the info:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[barbtries]

19. don't go!

i've never been but it's well documented that it's a very dangerous place. you belong here at home...

[malmapus]

22. Good luck and God speed

Here's to your deployment being over before you know it and getting back home again along with your buddies.

Stay safe.

[Cuauhtla]

23. Just in the agua

I was in the Persian Gulf in '04, but not in Iraq. My cousin has been part of Khalilzad's Blackwater bodyguard, but that's a whole 'nuther lifestyle.

[jody]

24. Not recently. Have a safe assignment and watch out for incoming.