More Stars & Stripes letters: Defeat v. failure

[lebkuchen]

Seems like the closer we get to attacking Iran, the more numerous the anti-Bush letters (excerpted) become.

Defeat versus failure

...The chicken hawks want us to fear for our lives. They want us to believe we are the British of 1939, so we keep pouring money and blood down this bottomless hole, while KBR, Blackwater and Northrup Grumman get fat.

I hate to break it to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and the like, but the U.S. is not on the edge of a cliff. I am not denying there is a threat of terror; what I am denying is that Americans are safer after what we have done to Iraq. When this is over, Americans without skin in the game would easily forget this nightmare ever happened, if not for the money we have spent and continue to spend paying for this defense contractor’s dream-come-true.

A lot of column inches in Stars and Stripes have been spent debating whether it was legal to invade and occupy Iraq. So much effort was spent telling the public we could, nobody stopped to wonder if we should.


Concentrate on today’s war

...As a liberal, though, I am offended that the letter writer and others like him believe that only conservatives are willing to defend and die for our country. He rants about Fonda’s indiscretions, but conveniently overlooks that Vice President Dick Cheney also received a draft deferment — whoa, Mr. “Tough Guy” himself, but when his nation needed him, he found an out.

And let’s not forget the “decider in chief.” Yeah he served in the National Guard, but during that time people joined the National Guard to get out of going to Vietnam.


Fighting for what he believes

I would like to congratulate 1st Lt. Ehren Watada on his minor victory during his court-martial proceedings (“Judge declares mistrial in GI’s court-martial,” article, Feb. 9).

Those of us in the military are constantly trained and conditioned to be able to fight for what others may believe. It’s refreshing to see someone in uniform fight for what he believes despite the consequences he would face. That’s what it means to be an American!

Sgt. Ronn Cantu
Forward Operating Base Prosperity, Iraq

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=43486

[CJCRANE]

1. Cheney received 5 deferments.

Some very eloquent letters.

[lebkuchen]

3. I feel certain more letters are on the way.

We are in a race w/planetary survival.

Cheney's 5 deferments were 4 student, 1 paternity, as I recall.

[walldude]

2. McCaine and Lieberman claim the troops want the escalation

And of all people Oliver North called them liars:
http://www.newshounds.us/2007/02/12/oliver_north_contradicts_lieberman_and_mccain_on_commanders_desire_for_troop_escalation.php#more

Man, when Ollie North is calling you a liar you have some serious problems.

[frogcycle]

5. what one of the troops said...

from an IM conversation with his dad a few days before he was killed:


"Kevin had served as an infantry platoon leader since he was sent to Iraq six months ago.

During the online conversation, Rich asked Kevin for a front-lines perspective on the effectiveness of President Bush's highly debated and controversial 21,500 troop surge.

Kevin replied that sending more troops to Iraq is useless since the operation's success is dependant on the help of the Iraqis.

"He went off on me like a rocket ... he had to vent," Rich recalled. "He said their hands are tied. He said it doesn't matter how many troops they send here, they're still going to get cut to pieces unless the Iraqis start cooperating."

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/wheatonsun/news/249114,6_1_NA09_SOLDIER_S1.article

Kevin was a an infantry Lt in the 10th Mountain Division with a degree in criminal justice from Purdue.

[walldude]

6. Unreal, this surge has nothing to do with military stratagey

and it has nothing to do with politics, it's all about Jr's ego, and the bank accounts of his friends. It's madness.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. quagmire : a difficult, precarious, or entrapping position

Iraqmire : Bush's politically motivated mismanaged invasion and occupation of Iraq. = A world Of Shit!

It looks like from here, that the troops are not happy with the AWOL's mis-leadership.