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COVER STORY: IRAQ

Scions of the Surge

Five years on, the war is transforming the American officer corps.

By Babak Dehghanpisheh and Evan Thomas | NEWSWEEK
Mar 24, 2008 Issue

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  • Posted By: getzel @ 04/11/2008 11:41:40 PM

    Comment: The intelligence agencies from Russia and Iran are doing everything possible to undue the gains that have been made.

    War ends We win: when we pass a law that makes the minimum price of gasoline at the pumps: $1.75/gallon; billion dollar/million barrel per day ethanol stills will not be built without protection from OPEC monopoly pricing rusting out our new stills.

    The ethanol investors do not build ethanol distilleries because monopoly OPEC would lower the price to rust out their billion dollar million barrel a day ethanol still. Brazil is energy independent: ethanol; All their cars come built running on ethanol; Archer Daniel Midland made millions on $1.00 gallon ethanol in the 1990s; that trumps any canard/invalid objection to ethanol. Use Cellulose ethanol, not corn ethanol.

    My view is that Osama B L and Mughniyeh et al should be referred to as "mercenary marketing directors for various government owned weapons manufacturers parading as a religious persons";( my description fits better than theirs & who would believe them if we did not promote them as religious?) no English definition of "religious person" includes flying planes into buildings. true not true, who cares; follow this strategy: War Ends We Win.

    Dollars to Arabs for oil, then the weapons manufactures take most of the dollars from Arabs for weapons; KGB and intelligence services then engage in manipulating ethnic masses. The KGB is the marketing team for the Comuless Moscow Weapons Company. see KGB handbook on manipulating ethnic masses by Getzel. The old KGB: Kick up trouble, Go sell weapons , Be in a nice long war; sell lots of weapons. The Song Remains The Same.

    Intelligence analyst: Getzel

  • Posted By: getzel @ 04/11/2008 11:06:43 PM

    Comment: The intelligence agencies from Russia and Iran are doing everything possible to undue the gains that have been made.

    War ends We win: when we pass a law that makes the minimum price of gasoline at the pumps: $1.75/gallon; billion dollar/million barrel per day ethanol stills will not be built without protection from OPEC monopoly pricing rusting out our new stills.

    The ethanol investors do not build ethanol distilleries because monopoly OPEC would lower the price to rust out their billion dollar million barrel a day ethanol still. Brazil is energy independent: ethanol; All their cars come built running on ethanol; Archer Daniel Midland made millions on $1.00 gallon ethanol in the 1990s; that trumps any canard/invalid objection to ethanol. Use Cellulose ethanol, not corn ethanol.

    My view is that Osama B L and Mughniyeh et al should be referred to as "mercenary marketing directors for various government owned weapons manufacturers parading as a religious persons";( my description fits better than theirs & who would believe them if we did not promote them as religious?) no English definition of "religious person" includes flying planes into buildings. true not true, who cares; follow this strategy: War Ends We Win.

    Dollars to Arabs for oil, then the weapons manufactures take most of the dollars from Arabs for weapons; KGB and intelligence services then engage in manipulating ethnic masses. The KGB is the marketing team for the Comuless Moscow Weapons Company. see KGB handbook on manipulating ethnic masses by Getzel. The old KGB: Kick up trouble, Go sell weapons , Be in a nice long war; sell lots of weapons. The Song Remains The Same.

    Intelligence analyst: Getzel

  • Posted By: Cheesecowboy @ 04/06/2008 2:33:22 PM

    Comment: I keep reading the words "after five years of war" but I remember protesting the invasion of Iraq in the early 1990s...How long will this war continue? And who is going to take care of our wounded soldiers and our increasingly growing elderly population? timothy

  • Posted By: getzel @ 04/04/2008 6:09:11 PM

    Comment: The intelligence agencies from Russia and Iran are doing everything possible to undue the gains that have been made.

    War ends We win: when we pass a law that makes the minimum price of gasoline at the pumps: $1.75/gallon; billion dollar/million barrel per day ethanol stills will not be built without protection from OPEC monopoly pricing rusting out our new stills.

    The ethanol investors do not build ethanol distilleries because monopoly OPEC would lower the price to rust out their billion dollar million barrel a day ethanol still. Brazil is energy independent: ethanol; All their cars come built running on ethanol; Archer Daniel Midland made millions on $1.00 gallon ethanol in the 1990s; that trumps any canard/invalid objection to ethanol. Use Cellulose ethanol, not corn ethanol.

    My view is that Osama B L and Mughniyeh et al should be referred to as "mercenary marketing directors for various government owned weapons manufacturers parading as a religious persons";( my description fits better than theirs & who would believe them if we did not promote them as religious?) no English definition of "religious person" includes flying planes into buildings. true not true, who cares; follow this strategy: War Ends We Win.

    Dollars to Arabs for oil, then the weapons manufactures take most of the dollars from Arabs for weapons; KGB and intelligence services then engage in manipulating ethnic masses. The KGB is the marketing team for the Comuless Moscow Weapons Company. see KGB handbook on manipulating ethnic masses by Getzel. The old KGB: Kick up trouble, Go sell weapons , Be in a nice long war; sell lots of weapons. The Song Remains The Same.

    Intelligence analyst: Getzel

  • Posted By: Americano2008 @ 04/04/2008 1:21:27 AM

    Comment: Although I agree with the previous comment I have some frustrations. My brother is with the 1st ID and I've heard of some of these ROE. I think the war ought to be waged by looking out for the American Soldier first and foremost. I don't know if I agree with paying of some of these bad guys too. It makes me feel like it's only prolonging problems and that we're negotiating with terrorists. It just bugs me that Muqtada al Sadr was once on our hitlist and now we negotiate with him. We should fight terrorists by putting bullets through their heads.

  • Posted By: jleigh_honey @ 03/31/2008 9:00:59 AM

    Comment: Oscar Sauceda, whose death is described in the article was my escort for our senior Homecoming football game. He was choir president right before me and he played me "It's your birthday" when my birthday fell on a choir trip we were both on. Yes, it is absolutley horrible what war does, but it's war...what do you expect. I truly believe that Oscar would not have wanted us to just back out because it cost us some time, money, and loved ones.

  • Posted By: MACGREEN @ 03/23/2008 11:27:03 PM

    Comment: As if the Iragui's or Afghans would ever be able to attack America. How are they supposed to get over here. Stowaway in a cruise boat or something. Why is there a war in Iraq? Saudia Nationals bombed your tower and then it tumbled or imploded, it seemed like a set up to me. I as a Canuck I was real worried that we were going to attacked by Afghanistan,what a joke. Our PM is just a puppet for the Bush administration. Its all about oil isn't it? Or maybe its about the Opium trade. Yank is the biggest sucker in the world. The whole world. Your economy is goung in the crapper and you have race problems that are only going to get worse I would guess. Your president is amonkey face embecile.

    • Posted By: anotherdefault @ 03/24/2008 13:42:57

      Comment: Yes, its unlikely that Iraq will attack the USA. But, the logic behind the war was that Iraq had WMDs that they could sell to a nation like Iran, or a an extremist group that would attack us with them. I didn't think we should have gone, but, *** happens. But, now that where there, we kinda have to stay. Or it would be just horrible to the people of Iraq. It's the best way to mend are mistake. Unless you think we should just leave them there? Do you? Do you think USA should pull out tomorrow and just leave the Iraqis with the mess?

      I not even going to touch the other things you said, because its all just bashing the USA. It's not even logical. It's not even spelled right (I forgive that, English probably isn't your native language). But, think about this. Why would we go to Iraq for Oil? Wouldn't that just disrupt the Oil Market? And, if the USA wanted to stop international drug trade, wouldn't it make more sence to do 'peace keeping' in Colombia? The drugs there are More valuable and used more in the USA.

      I request of you, to <i> think </i> before you type.

    • Posted By: anotherdefault @ 03/24/2008 13:42:12

      Comment: Yes, its unlikely that Iraq will attack the USA. But, the logic behind the war was that Iraq had WMDs that they could sell to a nation like Iran, or a an extremist group that would attack us with them. I didn't think we should have gone, but, *** happens. But, now that where there, we kinda have to stay. Or it would be just horrible to the people of Iraq. It's the best way to mend are mistake. Unless you think we should just leave them there? Do you? Do you think USA should pull out tomorrow and just leave the Iraqis with the mess?

      I not even going to touch the other things you said, because its all just bashing the USA. It's not even logical. It's not even spelled right (I forgive that, English probably isn't your native language). But, think about this. Why would we go to Iraq for Oil? Wouldn't that just disrupt the Oil Market? And, if the USA wanted to stop international drug trade, wouldn't it make more sence to do 'peace keeping' in Colombia? The drugs there are More valuable and used more in the USA.

      I request of you, to <i> think </i> before you type.

  • Posted By: JS_MMVIII @ 03/22/2008 7:06:26 PM

    Comment: On the article Obama Barack "Is He American Enough" by Eleanor Cliff on the 24-March-2008 NewsWeek Edition ... you can see why the Discrimination is going to increase if Obama Wins.

  • Posted By: JS_MMVIII @ 03/22/2008 7:01:04 PM

    Comment: Wake up AMERICA....Read the discussion from 21-March-2008 on OBAMA " Is He American Enough, by Eleanor Cliff"....With Obama Barack on the Presidency , the DISCRIMINATION against WHITES and HISPANICS is going to INCREASE...The PRESS and the V.A is going to keep giving PREFERENCE TO BLACKS...WAKE UP!, stop the Discrimination from our attorneys who want to misrepresent Whites and Hispanics if they are a victim of a FRAUD or a HATE CRIME...stop the PREFERENCE from our JURORS when BLACKS are the victim of a fraud.

    • Posted By: Darth Cuddly @ 03/27/2008 16:24:16

      Comment: I'd say your comment is at least 5 years too late if it ever had any relevance at all. We're there now and there's several things that we're trying to do. Hearts and minds are all well and good but don't get a country very far when it doesn't have adequate infrastructure, security and stability. Those are things that the US military is trying to provide until the Iraqis can do it themselves. It's the insurgencies and AQI that are attacking any measure of stability, not the US. 4000 US servicemen have been killed, estimates are as high as 500,000 Iraqis have been killed with millions more in exile. With those numbers, who do you think the insurgencies et al are really going after? Do you suspect those numbers will get better when we leave? I don't.

      Badest meanest bully: It really doesn't make sense that a country that can park an aircraft carrier off any coastline would then risk blood and treasure by conducting a ground invasion just to prove it's tough.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 03/22/2008 11:56:35 AM

    Comment:

    A current Newsweek aricle has a headline that states Senator Obama "Isn't American enough." People should be aware that Obama recently received the endorsement of several Flag Officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard. These Admirals and Generals have served under the last nine Commanders-in-Chief. They are all are backing Obama in the belief that he will best uphold the traditions and strengths of the American military. Between them, they have over 300 years of military experience:

    Brigadier General Larry Gillespie (Army), Major General Scott Gration (Air Force), Admiral Don Guter (Navy), Brigadier General David McGinnis (National Guard), General Merrill McPeak (Air Force), Admiral John B. Nathman (Navy), Major General Hugh Robinson, (Army Corps of Engineers) Brigadier General James Smith (Air Force), Admiral Robert Williamson (Navy) and Major General Ralph Wooten (Army).

    Navy Admiral Don Guter said "Senator Obama has a profound, even scholarly knowledge of our Constitution and he has the deepest respect for the rule of law. As a career naval officer, I trust his judgment, his temperament, and his ability to analyze complex international situations and relationships and to make military decisions that are in the best long term interests of the United States. It will take the powerful leadership of Senator Obama to forge the consensus we need to right our ship of state, restore our honorable place in the world, and secure the safety of our nation."

    Air Force Brigadier General James Smith said "I spent a career involved in coalition warfare, and I am keenly aware of the importance of working with allies. Senator Obama brings a powerful approach to dealing with national security challenges by truly leveraging multinational relationships. He brings a new face of America to the rest of the world."

    If Senator Obama wasn't "American enough" do you think these military leaders would support him?

    Barack Obama is a GREAT American, and deserves your respect. Read his book The Audacity of Hope and you can only be impressed by his patriotism, his deep thinking on the issues facing our country today.

    Whether or not you vote for him is beside the point. I'm a Republican, but I have to stand up and take issue when ignorant people start unfairly smearing the reputation of someone who is so deeply committed to the values of our nation. I would stand up the same for McCain, and have stood up many times in regards to Geo. W. Bush. "W" is obviously not our greatest president, but people who call him "an idiot" (etc.) really don't get it. He's a man who has dedicated his life to our country. So has McCain. So has Obama.

    This "issue" is a total non-issue. ALL of the candidates are above reproach in regards to their American patriotism. Let's get on with the real discussion.


  • Posted By: danshockey @ 03/22/2008 11:50:21 AM

    Comment: Captain Tim Wright is an example of a true American hero. Twenty five years from now, General Tim Wright will not only be a hero, but also a legend.

  • Posted By: JamesJ @ 03/22/2008 10:35:51 AM

    Comment: Gen Casey reported to Rumsfeld and whatever it was Rumsfeld was trying to do between 2004 & 2006 . . . not a lot of room for independent thought during the Rumsfeld reign

  • Posted By: JamesJ @ 03/22/2008 10:29:07 AM

    Comment: Gen Casey was a victim of whatever it was Rumsfeld was trying to do between 2004 & 2006 - not much freedom for independent thought.

  • Posted By: Juliebuggs @ 03/22/2008 1:39:06 AM

    Comment: To start this off, I would like to comment on the comments made before my own. To comment on an article, you should read it first.

    I would like to say the article was well written and showed a new perspective on a great soldier doing a great thing in Iraq. I myself am a two time Iraq Vet and for the first time I read something that made me feel really good about the people there now.

    The Cpt. working with the locals is doing the right thing. I left Iraq the last time in 2005. While living in the Green Zone, which we called the Red Zone, due to the number of mortar attacks, I became friends with a little boy, ehab, he was 8. He also had a sister, zelda, (Fake names of course.) Every morning Ehab would greet me while I worked at my bridge checkpoint and tell me, via the interpreter, of nightly activity in the area. Esentially, he was my little spy. Dozens of arrests were made, several raids, and by his action, violence in the area slowed down. His family saw the relationship we had and on several occasions had me over for tea. ( not allowed but I went anyway ) That family spread the word that the soldiers working on the shift I worked were very good people, worth trusting, and not to be harmed. The reputation spread like wildfire.

    Winning the people is the key to not winning the war, we're beyond that, but easing some of the tensions that we have created. If it takes paying former terrorists for information, or offering them a position of power in their area, then that's what it takes. Most of them are just trying to survive.

    Tell me if you were in a country like Iraq, starving, cold, alone, and scared, and someone offered you enough money to eat for a month to put a box on the side of the road, would you not do it? No? What would you tell the four starving mouths at home when they ask why they have no food to eat?

    Death tolls are sad, yes, the voilence is sad, yes. If I could change it I would, but for a while, we did.

  • Posted By: Ibrahim Musa K @ 03/22/2008 1:19:59 AM

    Comment: Yes, five years on, now what?
    I have once said that the US has plunged into a huge bottomless sandpit, it has yet to pull itself out of the treacherous pit. But could it? Or would it?
    Do not lament over the spilt milk, a mistake that costs hundred thousand valuable lives (not forgetting the 4000 American troops) is a real big mistake, there is no necessity for any endless lame justification or rationalization.
    Maybe the next president will attempt to clean the nightmarish mess. But again could he/she? Pity the incoming occupant of the White House. Munti Dann

  • Posted By: lem1 @ 03/21/2008 10:55:43 PM

    Comment: This is so ridiculus! Do we have any reason at all to think we can do a better job of occupation than the Brits or the Jews? Do we plan a 50 year occupation with no purpose at all...at least the Jews believe that they have some vague divine right to the land they occupy. What's our excuse? Is there so great strategic gola to demonstarte that you are the "badest" and "meanest" bully on the planet? Is there a merit badge for being stupid, immoral, inhumane, and ignorant? Does following the glorious decider give one a pass for being depraved? Being a good killer is not a great life goal!

    • Posted By: Darth Cuddly @ 03/27/2008 16:23:46

      Comment: I'd say your comment is at least 5 years too late if it ever had any relevance at all. We're there now and there's several things that we're trying to do. Hearts and minds are all well and good but don't get a country very far when it doesn't have adequate infrastructure, security and stability. Those are things that the US military is trying to provide until the Iraqis can do it themselves. It's the insurgencies and AQI that are attacking any measure of stability, not the US. 4000 US servicemen have been killed, estimates are as high as 500,000 Iraqis have been killed with millions more in exile. With those numbers, who do you think the insurgencies et al are really going after? Do you suspect those numbers will get better when we leave? I don't.

      Badest meanest bully: It really doesn't make sense that a country that can park an aircraft carrier off any coastline would then risk blood and treasure by conducting a ground invasion just to prove it's tough.

  • Posted By: Nins @ 03/21/2008 9:11:14 PM

    Comment:

    A current Newsweek article has a headline stating that Senator Obama "Isn't American Enough." In response to that, I think that people should be aware that Obama recently received the endorsement of several Flag Officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard. These Admirals and Generals have served under the last nine Commanders-in-Chief. They are all are backing Obama in the belief that he will best uphold the traditions and strengths of the American military. Between them, they have over 300 years of military experience:

    Brigadier General Larry Gillespie (Army), Major General Scott Gration (Air Force), Admiral Don Guter (Navy), Brigadier General David McGinnis (National Guard), General Merrill McPeak (Air Force), Admiral John B. Nathman (Navy), Major General Hugh Robinson, (Army Corps of Engineers) Brigadier General James Smith (Air Force), Admiral Robert Williamson (Navy) and Major General Ralph Wooten (Army).

    Navy Admiral Don Guter said "Senator Obama has a profound, even scholarly knowledge of our Constitution and he has the deepest respect for the rule of law. As a career naval officer, I trust his judgment, his temperament, and his ability to analyze complex international situations and relationships and to make military decisions that are in the best long term interests of the United States. It will take the powerful leadership of Senator Obama to forge the consensus we need to right our ship of state, restore our honorable place in the world, and secure the safety of our nation."

    Air Force Brigadier General James Smith said "I spent a career involved in coalition warfare, and I am keenly aware of the importance of working with allies. Senator Obama brings a powerful approach to dealing with national security challenges by truly leveraging multinational relationships. He brings a new face of America to the rest of the world."

    If Senator Obama wasn't "American enough" do you think these military leaders would support him?

    Barack Obama is a GREAT American, and deserves your respect. Read his book The Audacity of Hope and you can only be impressed by his patriotism, his deep thinking on the issues facing our country today.

    Whether or not you vote for him is beside the point. I'm a Republican, but I have to stand up and take issue when ignorant people start unfairly smearing the reputation of someone who is so deeply committed to the values of our nation. I would stand up the same for McCain, and have stood up many times in regards to Geo. W. Bush. "W" is obviously not our greatest president, but people who call him "an idiot" (etc.) really don't get it. He's a man who has dedicated his life to our country. So has McCain. So has Obama.

    This "issue" is a total non-issue. ALL of the candidates are above reproach in regards to their American patriotism. Let's get on with the real discussion.


  • Posted By: Rolo1 @ 03/21/2008 11:34:37 AM

    Comment: We are told howmany US military we have on the ground in Iraq. What is the number of Blackwarer and other hired guns?

  • Posted By: Rolo1 @ 03/21/2008 11:16:02 AM

    Comment: I thought we were told that OIL from Iraq would cover the cost of the war ?

  • Posted By: getzel @ 03/20/2008 10:29:24 PM

    Comment: The intelligence agencies from Russia and Iran are doing everything possible to undue the gains that have been made.

    War ends We win: when we pass a law that makes the minimum price of gasoline at the pumps: $1.75/gallon; billion dollar/million barrel per day ethanol stills will not be built without protection from OPEC monopoly pricing rusting out our new stills.

    The ethanol investors do not build ethanol distilleries because monopoly OPEC would lower the price to rust out their billion dollar million barrel a day ethanol still. Brazil is energy independent: ethanol; All their cars come built running on ethanol; Archer Daniel Midland made millions on $1.00 gallon ethanol in the 1990s; that trumps any canard/invalid objection to ethanol. Use Cellulose ethanol, not corn ethanol.

    My view is that Osama B L and Mughniyeh et al should be referred to as "mercenary marketing directors for various government owned weapons manufacturers parading as a religious persons";( my description fits better than theirs & who would believe them if we did not promote them as religious?) no English definition of "religious person" includes flying planes into buildings. true not true, who cares; follow this strategy: War Ends We Win.

    Dollars to Arabs for oil, then the weapons manufactures take most of the dollars from Arabs for weapons; KGB and intelligence services then engage in manipulating ethnic masses. The KGB is the marketing team for the Comuless Moscow Weapons Company. see KGB handbook on manipulating ethnic masses by Getzel. The old KGB: Kick up trouble, Go sell weapons , Be in a nice long war; sell lots of weapons. The Song Remains The Same.

    Intelligence analyst: Getzel

  • Posted By: leareiter @ 03/19/2008 9:43:45 PM

    Comment: I was a child during the Vietnam "conflict" and like most people my age, grew up with the war in my livingroom. Every night. Now how is it that our media doesn't have the decency to at least hold a moment of silence when any of our troops are killed? Nancy Grace shows pictures of young men and women who we've lost in Iraq and Keith Olberman has a nightly countdown for the number of days since Bush declared "mission accomplished". I applaude them for that, but much, much more needs to be done to acknowledge all the precious lives lost. I'm not even addressing the loss of non-American lives, but we barely honor the loss of our own. How sad. How terribly, terribly sad.

  • Posted By: dannyg @ 03/19/2008 7:26:04 PM

    Comment: This war has cost hundredes of billions, the Billions that American has to print more paper money. Problem is other countries are not buying dollars anymore and that has put a squeeze on our cost of living. Thought we could get cheaper gas out of this, that has not materialized. My fear in the end, we may drown away trillions of dollar, pay $4-6 per gallon of gas, unemploy Americans because US companies go overseas in search of cheap labor(Cheap labor does help war cause, if you can't find a good job, Walmart is a good place) and who knows what is next. We are too far away from Middle-East, our culture to foreign and they sure have large population who love their muslim culture to make a mark. In the end we extend ourselves to far militarily, economically and culturally like the British.

    • Posted By: odel4202 @ 03/19/2008 21:10:18

      Comment: this war will end up costing us trillions of dollars.
      on that note, funny thing that the military struck a deal with airbus (a european company) and not boeing (an american company) and drew up a contract of $40 billion dollars over 10 years. this economy sure can use that money and the jobs that go along with that. WHAT IS OUR COUNTRY THINKING?

  • Posted By: Bupkiss @ 03/19/2008 3:21:55 PM

    Comment: Once you get through reading of the noble self-sacrafice regarding our troops in Iraq, the real nugget of truth regarding the drop in violence emerges. "Bayaa, a neighborhood of something more than 15,000 people, was once 30 percent Sunni. Now it is maybe 5 percent." To steal the good General Petraeus' own analogy of the Sapranos, when the New York family winds up all in New York, and the New Jersey family winds up all in New Jersey, then the violence probably come as close to over as it ever will. Did we really need 5 years of war in Iraq to figure that one out?

  • Posted By: BetsyCrites14 @ 03/19/2008 2:20:04 PM

    Comment: The Patraeus manual and the "new way of war" sound like the US Army has taken a page out of Gandhian nonviolence. Gen Patraeus said "YOU CAN'T KILL YOUR WAY OUT OF AN INSURGENCY". Gandhi would applaud his insight. The article also said the Army is having to "acknowledge the legitimate aspirations of their enemies". Gandhi said we must overcome ill-will toward the adversary.
    The ambiguity about these methods, however, as evidenced in the loaded terms "co-opt" and "shadiness" point to the weakness of using such techniques in a war of choice. When the attempt to "win the hearts and minds" is motivated by the intent to dominate, control, and pacify, the successes will be limited and short-lived.

  • Posted By: Cates @ 03/19/2008 9:55:44 AM

    Comment: I thought our military was sworn to protect us from all threats ???. foreign AND domestic. The Bush regime is illegitimate and a greater threat to Americans than any posed by Iraq. Our soldiers should have pulled GW Bush out of a spider hole - not Saddam. A REAL American would refuse to serve under Mr. Bush as he is not a legitimate president and should not be considered an American.

  • Posted By: richr12 @ 03/18/2008 9:42:44 PM

    Comment: well, forget about moral standards and talk rationally about policy. Okay everyone?

  • Posted By: jaguerrero96 @ 03/18/2008 7:16:25 PM

    Comment: odel4202, thanks for making a great point. I, too, wish our troops would help in Sudan. I am convinced that it would help us, too, in that it may encourage bystanders throughout the world whistleblow on terrorist attack plans instead of looking the other way when their friends and family members advertise their upcoming "martyrdom". PR matters, and lives can be saved if we can mend our reputation with average world citizens.

    • Posted By: odel4202 @ 03/19/2008 14:25:17

      Comment: that is true.
      as someone who travels overseas at least once a year, the world views americans differently and resentment has grown, and its just too bad that average americans cant see that sometimes. i want this country to have respect out of noble actions, rather than respect from fear

  • Posted By: Spacer @ 03/18/2008 2:43:38 PM

    Comment:

    In 5 years, most Americans have learned all too well that the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam hate each other and have been engage in a bloody civil war in Iraq. Yet John McCain, whom the pundits all fawn over as a foreign policy expert, STILL doesn't know the difference between the Sunni and Shia. "Expert" McCain thinks that the Shiite Iranians are training the Sunni Al Qaeda, as this Washington Post article reports:

    http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/18/a_mccain_gaffe_in_jordan_1.html

    Unlike the media-created hysteria over Obama's minister, the fact that the punditocracy has built up this phony aura of expertise for McCain is a real scandal.

    • Posted By: odel4202 @ 03/19/2008 14:33:35

      Comment: good point. last thing we need is a president who doesn't understand the differences between the two.
      C'mon people, let's elect a well spoken, intelligent president this time
      can't wait to tell bush to have a nice retirement in texas T.G.I. 2008

  • Posted By: odel4202 @ 03/18/2008 1:49:32 PM

    Comment: can any one of the servicemen just please answer why are we in iraq?
    because if it was to spread freedom to the iraqis, then how come we are letting hundreds of thousands of people die in genocide in darfur?
    and remember bush himself said there is no connections between iraq and al queda

    • Posted By: jaguerrero96 @ 03/18/2008 19:19:07

      Comment: Thanks for raising the Darfur issue. It may too easily be overlooked that our servicemen and women Want to intervene in Darfur because of their own moral standards.

  • Posted By: USAF_wack_Watson @ 03/18/2008 1:14:20 PM

    Comment: Yes Dr. Logic, it is a world problem. You are ASSUMING that we are the only nation fighting it. We are not. You've been misinformed.

    • Posted By: JusaSoldier78 @ 03/18/2008 17:39:41

      Comment: Well you know what Mr USAF when you can get deployed for longer then 3 months and not cry about it then you ca talk about what we are here for. Since you guys come and go right back home without breaking a sweat while on you three to maybe six month tour whereever you get deployed to. W e have lost countless soldiers for reasons that could have been avoided if we just stop tryin to police up the whole world. This country is great believe me but, we have problems in this country just like other countries we go to try and help. So why not take care of home first and then worry about everyone else.

  • Posted By: GregHere @ 03/18/2008 11:57:38 AM

    Comment: CCC

  • Posted By: MichaelDSellers @ 03/18/2008 10:16:34 AM

    Comment: How can it be that going out on the streets of Iraq and conducting "Counterinsurgency 101" operations is somehow a great breakthrough? As far back as the 1950's the "book" on this had already been written -- first by Ed Lansdale, a CIA officer who employed the same techniques against the Communist Huk insurgents in the Philippines after World War II. Vietnam was another object lesson and the idea that in order to defeat a guerrilla insurgency you must compete effectively for the local population's loyalties is certainly not new.

    So why, now, is this suddenly a "new" approach? It's not new at all, so why did it take four years of stumbling and bumbling to figure out that this this was what is needed? And ... perhaps the real question ... how do we transition from what is now looking like a fairly effective American peacekeeping operation that could go on forever, to an Iraqi led resolution that actually solves enough problems so that the US can leave without chaos ensuing?

    One footnote about the article: A strange aspect of this story is that the cover picture on the front of the magazine and the story inside really don't match. Meaning -- the cover story shows the ultra high-tech, very imposing -- almost non-human -- cyberwarriors, and gives the impression that the article is going to be all about the leveraging of technology in support of soldiering......but then the article is all about soft measures and "grey" measures that the new generation of officers are employing in Iraq?

  • Posted By: Ranger69 @ 03/18/2008 4:58:20 AM

    Comment: Support our Troops!
    http://neilsnotes.com/index.php?catid=18
    Great Bush-Bashing here. I guess you can even email a FREE eCard (why not send one TO the President himself?!)
    www.NeilsNotes.com

  • Posted By: DrLogic @ 03/18/2008 4:41:14 AM

    Comment: Yes, USAF_Wack, but let the rest of the world help out. Why is it the US always bears the brunt. Tyranny and terrorism is a world problem. Lets kick the UN in the butt and get other nations to do their share of the sacrificing.

  • Posted By: USAF_wack_Watson @ 03/18/2008 3:42:20 AM

    Comment: We cannot and will not give up on our efforts. It's not about WHOSE war this is, WHAT country it's in, or HOW we will benefit from it. The important thing we must consider is what will happen if we lose, or give up. What does losing mean anyway? Have you thought about that? If we pull out of Iraq, what will happen to the people there? They will be reacquainted with the daily terrorism they have been endlessly subjected to. And then who's next? What about Spain? and France? How many countries must we sit back and watch fall under attack before we decide to put our foot in? And even then, will it be too late? It is our responsibility, as strong able-bodied, able-minded human beings to defend those who are struggling to defend themselves. It's really not as complicated as people are making it out to be. The only way to solve anything is to unite. Let's stop tearing apart our nation, and start standing together in the fight for justice. Blood will be shed, yes, but some of us would rather do so while defending what they believe in than while sitting back and expecting the world to change and evil to overcome itself.

    • Posted By: odel4202 @ 03/18/2008 14:18:50

      Comment: what about darfur, those people are completely innocent and getting slaughtered everyday.
      an immediate withdrawl is not the answer, but we can't stay in there forever.
      we can step up in darfur, but choose not to and does anyone care? NOPE.

  • Posted By: rivertosea @ 03/18/2008 3:37:38 AM

    Comment: US Administration is the cause and source of most evils, suffering, slavery, death, destruction, wars and disasters in Iraq in paertcular and in the world in general. Most of US people are innocent of the Administration's deeds. The Black Water Security groups, the civil war US Administration tried to ignite in Iraq, the unpreceded numbers of victims, the barbarian behaviour of US Army in Iraq, torturing and humiliating the Iraqis in their own country, the increasing number of death of US troups, the diseases the troups are suffering from as a result of what they do and see in Iraq and the thousands of billions of dollars the US Administration has wasted and is still wasting for its evil and illegal purpose ..all these and many athers are a substantial and concrete witness to waht US UGLY FACE in Iraq.
    Does the US people know this? I don't think so. I appeal to the US people to know and follow up the actions of their leaders, and then to be just and help give justice to the other peoples such as the palestinians, the Iraqis and the Afghans, who are victims of US Administration.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 03/18/2008 3:15:33 AM

    Comment: The US is fighting the wrong war, in the wrong countries ,for wrong reasons, with wrong planning and for the wrong objectives but with definitely true results - death and failures. Bring back the soildiers, they are dying in VAIN!

  • Posted By: DrLogic @ 03/18/2008 3:09:53 AM

    Comment: This war is bleeding us dry. Our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines and their families have sacrificed enough. Let the rest of the world share the burden for a while. What will be left of our military, not to mention our economy, when, if ever, it's over. Well, maybe China will finance us to another trillion dollars..

  • Posted By: USAF_wack_Watson @ 03/18/2008 3:09:41 AM

    Comment: Could you please inform other readers exactly where you obtained this information before you go making these claims? And how dare you criticize the efforts of the people who are preserving your Constitution, your natural rights, and the natural rights of the rest of the world? Don't ever call yourself an American. Do you have a better plan to fight terrorism? If so, enlist in the Armed Forces and prove yourself worthy of holding your claims. Educate yourself, for Christ's sake. We soldiers are in this because we believe in the cause. We want to protect our families and put an end to terrorism across the globe. Will it ever end? Probably not. However, just as our policemen here at home risk their lives for justice everyday, our men and women of the Armed Forces do so overseas. Be a little more respectful of them. If we do not unite as a nation, how can we unite as a planet? WINNING this battle does not mean conquering in man to man combat, boosting our economy, or any other such reason you selfish liberals have come up with. It means defending our lives, our rights, and our government that took us so long to establish, and helping the powerless to rebuild their own. You should be grateful you are alive and have the luxuries you have (like the Internet) because if we were just sitting on our hands, you would have NOTHING.

  • Posted By: USAF_wack_Watson @ 03/18/2008 3:08:37 AM

    Comment: Could you please inform other readers exactly where you obtained this information before you go making these claims? And how dare you criticize the efforts of the people who are preserving your Constitution, your natural rights, and the natural rights of the rest of the world? Don't ever call yourself an American. Do you have a better plan to fight terrorism? If so, enlist in the Armed Forces and prove yourself worthy of holding your claims. Educate yourself, for Christ's sake. We soldiers are in this because we believe in the cause. We want to protect our families and put an end to terrorism across the globe. Will it ever end? Probably not. However, just as our policemen here at home risk their lives for justice everyday, our men and women of the Armed Forces do so overseas. Be a little more respectful of them. If we do not unite as a nation, how can we unite as a planet? WINNING this battle does not mean conquering in man to man combat, boosting our economy, or any other such reason you selfish liberals have come up with. It means defending our lives, our rights, and our government that took us so long to establish, and helping the powerless to rebuild their own. You should be grateful you are alive and have the luxuries you have (like the Internet) because if we were just sitting on our hands, you would have NOTHING.

  • Posted By: remelv @ 03/18/2008 2:55:34 AM

    Comment: Thumbs up US Govt. Kill our soldiers, make the rest of world a war field for us, smoke up our taxes in your own Oil business. What have we done?.. Im an ENT Doctor and i've been treating my veteran friends. I feel that the best of whole new generation has been harshly damaged. I planned a vacation tour around the world recently.. I've been thru the most painful tours of my life... SECURITY-SECURITY-SECURITY. Bcoz the whole world hates us!!

  • Posted By: Bongo @ 03/18/2008 2:38:09 AM

    Comment: Milionons of innocent people, has been killed, for what????????????
    It is a very shamefull, in this new era in the American history!
    Al Qaeda? Has been categorically proved that there was no any Qaeda in Iraq, before American invasion.
    Now Iraqis are suffering of famine, alck of potable water, lack of medicine, lack of everything the most simple
    human needs are not available for this people.Is this the progress coming from Americans???????????????????????????????????????????????

  • Posted By: kdpinkston @ 03/18/2008 2:08:46 AM

    Comment: I am a military wife and have been for fourteen years. I am proud of my military. I am grateful to have them. Anyone who wishes to knock around our military should be put on a seperate island. Then when a war breaks out they should not be protected because they do not deserve our military's protection. I thank the military and their spouses for the sacrifices they go through for our freedom and everyone's freedom across the world. I am glad to live in a country who believes everyone should be free. Those who do not like our country should move to another one and see how they like it there.

  • Posted By: kdpinkston @ 03/18/2008 2:04:15 AM

    Comment: i am a military wife and have been for fourteen years. I think anyone who downs our military should be put on a seperate island. Then when a major war breaks out against america, those people should not be protected because they are the ones who does not deserve our military's protection. We have a great country and an awsome military. I give praise to all military and their spouses who sacrafice for our freedom everyday.

  • Posted By: jpaol @ 03/18/2008 2:02:55 AM

    Comment: Come alive, America, and Join the Petraeus Generation!

    By the way, Newsweek, what is the goal of the US Military and its leader, 4 Star General David Petraeus, in spending America's blood and treasure in Iraq? If you don't mind my asking?

  • Posted By: mommaL @ 03/18/2008 1:45:40 AM

    Comment: It does sound like a very fine balancing act there, I think we need to keep this in mind. A different kind of war is being fought than has ever been in the past, and it will take a long time to extract ourselves from such a complicated situation. If anyone can have an effect, we can. America has the right stuff. Where else would a country's military leadership show such sensitivity? Many other countries would just blow the place to smithyreens without a thought to the consequences. American troops have shown extreme self control in this situation and it make s me very proud of them!!

    • Posted By: jdcbomb @ 03/20/2008 00:19:30

      Comment: This analysis is so obvious yet the America/Bush/Army/Military haters deny that the entire Armed Forces of the USA are probably the most humane, caring, compassionate military power in the history of mankind. It is sad that nobody acknowledges this.

  • Posted By: pjmatrix @ 03/18/2008 1:40:28 AM

    Comment: postin it 2 times wont make america the greates nation...its blood of iraqis,afghans and lot more on ur hands...

  • Posted By: luvmysoldier @ 03/18/2008 1:34:52 AM

    Comment: We are so proud of the greatest nation in the world, the USA!!! We all love and respect our service men and women. Who cares what ignorant, unintelligent mouths have to say about us. Let them stay in there hole and stay out of our great country. We know what we are fighting for and how important it is to protect ourselves from people as stupid as some who have posted comments here already.

  • Posted By: luvmysoldier @ 03/18/2008 1:32:06 AM

    Comment: We are so proud of the greatest nation in the world, the USA!!! We all love and respect our service men and women. Who cares what ignorant, unintelligent mouths have to say about us. Let them stay in there hole and stay out of our great country. We know what we are fighting for and how important it is to protect ourselves from people as stupid as some who have posted comments here already.

  • Posted By: MEHistoryBuff @ 03/18/2008 1:22:52 AM

    Comment: This guy is the same "Captain America" described in the book "Generation Kill" as a buffoon.

  • Posted By: ArmystrongMom @ 03/18/2008 1:20:21 AM

    Comment: No the world does NOT hate the US Military. My husband is over there now and I could not be MORE proud of him and the work his fellow soldiers are doing. Until you have the backbone to put on the uniform and risk your life for something bigger than your ego you have NO ground to stand on. Our sacrafice is what allows you to post ignorant and hate filled comments. Shame on you.

  • Posted By: atntony @ 03/18/2008 12:54:04 AM

    Comment: Nothing to be proud of those Marines. Nothing. The world Hates the US Military.

    • Posted By: arcsc @ 04/18/2008 15:37:17

      Comment: Screw you. My brother is a Marine and has been to Iraq three times. My husband, an Army reservist, is there right now. He volunteered to go. Go ahead and hate the military. That is your right as an American (assuming you are one). Take comfort in knowing that the military will be there to protect your sorry behind when the rubber hits the road. By the way, have you told your grandfather of your feelings? I bet he would be proud.

    • Posted By: arcsc @ 04/18/2008 15:35:03

      Comment: Screw you. My brother is Marine. My husband is in Iraq RIGHT NOW with the Army Reserves. He and some of the guys from his reserve unit volunteered to go to Iraq. It sounds like you are the one that hates the military of the United States. Which is fine-that is your right as an American (assuming you are one). Take comfort that the military will be there to protect your sorry *ss and your freedom of speech and hate when the sh*t hits the fan.

    • Posted By: hawk616 @ 03/18/2008 02:53:06

      Comment: Why don't join them and move out of this country in which you hate. I promise we won't miss you.

  • Posted By: pjmatrix @ 03/18/2008 12:33:16 AM

    Comment: More than it has changed the american soldiers,it has reduced the number of iraqi children,men and women by billions and made others life horrible.Thanks to usa...Hope u people r havin enuf petroleum there...

    • Posted By: mommaL @ 03/18/2008 01:50:21

      Comment: I love the extreme commentary that comes from people telling lies to support their views. Where are the "billions" of people who have been killed by American soldiers? That is an outrageous comment! Billions,, come on, get real!! And to be so simple minded to think this is all about "oil" is just plain airheaded!! You should be ashamed of such simplistic thinking! You have YOUR head in the sand, and it is pretty pathetic. That is all you can come up with, something that LAME???

      • Posted By: pjmatrix @ 03/18/2008 06:45:08

        Comment: If it was not for petroleum,then wht was it for?wmd?hope bush found some.if he wants to search for wmd,bush should look out in usa and israel.Do u ve any idea how many people r killed in afghan and iraq?May be a million directly by soldiers and the res by the violence and unrest caused by the war.

  • Posted By: leahmarieann @ 03/17/2008 11:58:46 PM

    Comment: My boyfriend SPC. Zarzecki, was with this party. Spc Oscar Sauceda, and Spc. Danny Fuentez. They were very brave soldiers, as well as Matt Lammers surviving the damage that was struck to that humvee. We all have Family and Friends fighting this war as it has started, and seeing the soldiers today is a HUGE CHANGE. We will never know the full damage this war burdens us. But, we are definitiely fighting a war bigger than we had known. Leet's just pray everyone makes it home safely. My boyfriends group has just flown into Kuwait having finished their tour. God bless them all.

  • Posted By: makala @ 03/17/2008 11:43:29 PM

    Comment: The problem with all of this is that we had no reason whatsoever to invade Iraq and the whole world knows that. It is well known that there were no WMD's and there was no connection to 9/11. Now almost 5 years after the famous "mission accomplished" sign Osama is supposedley at large. That's one hell of a cave system.

    We were told that we were attacked because of our freedom yet it is both parties in our own government who have passed the most freedom robbing unconstitutional bills ever. People on the other side of the planet did not do that, so there again more lies.

    My respect goes out to those in the miliatry and governemnt agencies who havedone the right thing and taken a stand against what is happening. They are the heros, they are the patriots!

  • Posted By: makala @ 03/17/2008 11:29:59 PM

    Comment: The problem with all of this is that there was no reason whatsoever for us to invade Iraq in the first place and the power structure here in America knew that before it happened. No WMD's, no connection to 9/11 and the Iraqi people did nothing to us.

    It is well known around the world that this entire invasion was wrong. Our governement has caused all these problems and almost 5 years after the famous "mission accomplished" sign Osama is supposedley still at large. It is also well known that both parties in Congress have passed many new bills that are less than patriotic and certainly not Constitutional.

    We were told by the government and media that we were attacked because of our freedom and to protect our freedom we need to invade countries based on lies. But now we are loosing our freedoms through the bills I mentioned above. That was not done by terrorists on the other side of the world, it was done right here in our country.

    My respect goes out to those troops who have taken a stand against what is happening. They are the heros, they are the patriots.

  • Posted By: gerard @ 03/17/2008 11:29:57 PM

    Comment: That's right Hillary ! GO BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA !

  • Posted By: bruce52 @ 03/17/2008 11:21:03 PM

    Comment: Wow, arnejat, my freind. You've made my point! I bet your a ball of fun at work!

  • Posted By: jumpj52 @ 03/17/2008 10:59:01 PM

    Comment: The problem I have with the situation in Iraq is that America should not be paying people not to attack us. They also shouldn't be building bridges, buildings, schools, hospitals or anything else in Iraq with Amercian taxpayer dollars. The Iraq government should be paying for this stuff. You know what is total bullshit?
    That Iraq still can't field their own army because half of them have more alligence to the local war lord than the national government.

  • Posted By: mikekingadams @ 03/17/2008 10:58:57 PM

    Comment: the media is our weakness.

    • Posted By: ArmystrongMom @ 03/18/2008 01:22:27

      Comment: TOTALLY agree with you. Talk about being skewed and people who lack independent thought follow the masses!

  • Posted By: mikekingadams @ 03/17/2008 10:56:17 PM

    Comment: Let me tell everyone somthing. I'm a former soldier from Tim Wright's delta company and i beleive captain Wright has some things twisted. All he wants to do is get that next promotion. Most officers are like that. I was friends with all those wounded and killed in delta 1 28. our media is our weakness!

    • Posted By: BurntBridge6 @ 03/17/2008 23:34:01

      Comment: CPT Wright was a soldier of mine. I agree with you. Unfortunately he is in it for himself. Trust me. Not all officers are like him. Many despise him.

  • Posted By: JusaSoldier78 @ 03/17/2008 10:55:51 PM

    Comment: I' glad that we are so worried about getting along with terrorist than trying to get our soliders out of harms way. We have been at war for 5years now and have lost many men and women and we are worried about if we can buy off the bad guy the same one who will turn around and set us up for the kill just to take care of their families. I feel if you want to really find out how the soliders are faring in this war on terrorism why not ask them not the officers they will sy that everyone is fine and that we are doing a great service for our country. I say look at the morale of the soldier who has been to either Afghanistan or Iraq or in some cases both more than once, they are the ones who can tell you the turth about what effect it is having on them after all these years. Don't get me wrong I love the counry I live in but do we alway have to post everything in the news or in the paper because really with internet now a days the terrorist know what we are doing and counter act everything we can throw at them. So if you want to really keep our soldiers safe keep everything off the news and out of the papers, because just reading this article we can put alot of soldiers in danger.

  • Posted By: BurntBridge6 @ 03/17/2008 10:49:42 PM

    Comment: Captain Wright is a good hearted solider and proudly serves his country. No one can take that away from him. His stories of patrolling a province in Afghanistan the size of Vermont seem do seem a little embellished. I remember Captain Wright as an over zealous junior Captain that spent a fair about of time in the tactical operations center (TOC) and in the gym as a battle captain on the fire base. Attention in the TOC, the coffee is getting old. Tim, just remember, every word that comes out of your mouth will be used. In this case the media has used it to finish page one of a six page article. Unfortunately this is as far as most will read. Best endeavors in all you do. ??? Burnt Bridge 6 Out

  • Posted By: BurntBridge6 @ 03/17/2008 10:49:17 PM

    Comment: Captain Wright is a good hearted solider and proudly serves his country. No one can take that away from him. His stories of patrolling a province in Afghanistan the size of Vermont seem do seem a little embellished. I remember Captain Wright as an over zealous junior Captain that spent a fair about of time in the tactical operations center (TOC) and in the gym as a battle captain on the fire base. Attention in the TOC, the coffee is getting old. Tim, just remember, every word that comes out of your mouth will be used. In this case the media has used it to finish page one of a six page article. Unfortunately this is as far as most will read. Best endeavors in all you do. ??? Burnt Bridge 6 Out

  • Posted By: mbearu2002 @ 03/17/2008 10:16:13 PM

    Comment: Why are we printing stuff like this? This doesn't help the war effort. This kind of talk should be left for when we get out of Iraq. Don't you think that the enemy in Iraq has people outside of the country scouring our media for helpful information? I don't think that anyone who lives in these areas in Iraq would have trouble figuring out who these "Mr. X's" are. Basically we are printing information on how our troops are using trickery to make progress. That can only work against our troops who are still in Iraq trying to use these very kinds of tactics. That is the problem in our country. No common sense! In the old days. the media would be much more selective in the stuff they print. America is becoming as dumb as box of rocks.

  • Posted By: sappo14 @ 03/17/2008 9:37:37 PM

    Comment: The intellectual level of this article is at the level of an SS officer, just fawning over the brave US warriors taming another third world country. What a complete joke. For some reason the authors passed over the significance of American officers cementing "shady" deals in order to pacify Baghdad and Afghanistan, or of the inabliity to learn the "lesson of Vietnam." (apparantly the lesson was a military tactical lesson, not a moral lesson). Of course I'm not surprised, this is perfectly normal behavior for a Mouthpice of the Empire.

  • Posted By: LA_educ8tr @ 03/17/2008 9:31:56 PM

    Comment: genesis0792 - "the war was non-sense in the first place." This and your other arguments show a basic ignorance of world affairs and history. Under theses argument, I am sure you also consider the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were also "pointless". While these acts were horrendous on any level, the entire war was a monsterous affair on all sides! The JApanese were already set to surrender to the Russians in China, yet we still used the atomic bomb. Why? Because President Truman had the forsight and intelligence to know his adversary - Russia. The communist government had a very narrow view of power - you either exhibit strength or weakness (very similar to the radical Islamic cultures of today). They would eventually develop atomic wepoens and would have NO QUALMS about pushing the button - especially if they viewed us as weak. Those bombings showed our greater adversary that we - if pushed - had the fortitude to act. It is not pretty - but IT WAS REALITY. These bombings prevented even greater repercussions that most certainly would have occured if we had not "sent the message" - Thus a COLD war ensued.

    NO - Al Queda was not in IRAQ, but Iraq was the biggest and most war trained military force in the region. Saddam WAS definitely engaged in direct activities with our terroist enemies an dthumbing his nose at the civilized world. Bringing down this force in the blink of an eye sent a message to the Iranian leader and other despots in the region that we will act if pushed and we will overwhelm with immense force. Seen any terroist acts on our soil since the invasion? Guess there are to busy over there since we brought the battle to them.

    Has it been mismanaged? Sure. Did Bush profit off of this deal? NO. In fact the only people really making money on this war are the anti-bush mongers like Brian DePalma. His movie Redacted is a blatant attempt to profit on an overseas anti-American sentiment. That, ladies and gentlemen is called war profittering!

  • Posted By: odel4202 @ 03/17/2008 9:28:14 PM

    Comment: hey proud ssgt., do you have any other comments from democrats all in favor of this war?
    politicians are all the same, just in different colors and flavors. they get paid to b.s. over situations that put people's lives at risk and it's wrong.
    and i want everyone to know that i'm not right wing, or left wing, I'M IN THE MIDDLE, where the majority of america lies on this subject

    • Posted By: odel4202 @ 03/17/2008 22:44:36

      Comment: its funny you should mention who profits off war. i could list a whole lot of companies and individuals who profit off war (besides mark cuban and brian depalma who only made $60,456 total at the b.o.) , but id rather mention the most recent contract the air force has with airbus, $40 billion over the next 10 years. thats a lot of money and jobs americans can use especially at a time like this in a struggling economy

  • Posted By: genesis0792 @ 03/17/2008 9:21:54 PM

    Comment: Where there really weapons of mass destruction?Or was that just a lie to get into Iraq and get the petroleum and other reasons such as money?

    . It's true, I don't disagree that Hussein is a tyrant and threat, but were all of those other people in Iraq a threat too? How about just getting him..if the U.S. is soooo strong and amazing, why not use all of the intelligence to find him quick and peacefully?

    I do admire the soldiers, they are strong and wow!

  • Posted By: Proud SSgt @ 03/17/2008 9:20:22 PM

    Comment: Seargentmoore don't get caught up in the political bs.... If you decide to serve your country, do it because you want to, and because you believe in keeping our great nation free from terror. If you have any doubts, ask a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine. Be proud of the country you live in and the freedoms this country has. Freedoms of religion, speech and the press, even though those freedoms are abused by many knuckle-heads

  • Posted By: genesis0792 @ 03/17/2008 9:15:25 PM

    Comment: War shouldn't have happened in the first place. President Bush used American's hurt and grief from 9/11 into brainwashing people to vote "yes" for the war. There was no proof of anything. Yes, terrorism exists but it's something that needs to be dealt with through a differnent way- not through killing innocent little kids.War shouldn't have been the answer.

    In my opinion, if you are something, you don't need to show it off. Americans should do the right thing and get out of Iraq; should've never entered on the first place. If American is strong, it does not have to show it, if it truly is strong then others will see that. Seargentmoore you are teenager yourself, if you are good at math- you do not need to tell everyone that you are good at it for them to believe you if you have an A in the class. Being strong does not mean killing innocent people who have had nothing to do. I admire the soldiers and their courage but I don't support the war nor the killing- as I said.

    Wether the war was worth it or not, I don't agree. This was has benefitted only the politians. Everyone in American is suffering the consequences of this nonsense. Gas prices have gone up- we need to get around, what seemed to be a lot of money now is nothing- dollar value has dropped; in other words- the economy has dropped thanks to the war.

    So think about it, is living in a crappy state worth it? Is mourning the loss of our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, sons, or daughters worth it? What is it that we are really fighting that couldn't have been fixed differently?

  • Posted By: Proud SSgt @ 03/17/2008 9:10:40 PM

    Comment: "Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
    - Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998 | Source
    "We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and th! e means of delivering them."
    - Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002 | Source

  • Posted By: Proud SSgt @ 03/17/2008 9:09:51 PM

    Comment: "We must stop Saddam from ever again jeopardizing the stability and security of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction."
    - Madeline Albright, Feb 1, 1998 | Source
    "He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
    - Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998 | Source

  • Posted By: Proud SSgt @ 03/17/2008 9:09:23 PM

    Comment: "One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
    - President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998 | Source
    "If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
    - President Bill Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998 | Source

  • Posted By: Seargentmoore @ 03/17/2008 9:09:06 PM

    Comment: thanks guys for all u said except for genesis0792 get your act together and stop complaning

  • Posted By: Proud SSgt @ 03/17/2008 9:09:02 PM

    Comment: genesis0792 spin left out these quotes.
    "I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force -- if necessary -- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
    - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002 | Source

  • Posted By: rochapw @ 03/17/2008 9:04:54 PM

    Comment: Do your job as a soldier as well as you can. If you don't like the Job, get out. There are plenty of other ways of supporting yourself and family. Be proud or what you are doing in Iraq or Afghanistan. It is only worth it if YOU think that it is. It does not matter what anybody else thinks. I salute everyone who has served in all wars. G Rocha USA CPT.ABN

  • Posted By: Proud SSgt @ 03/17/2008 9:03:44 PM

    Comment: Yes, I believe it's worth it Seargentmoore... It takes hard work, and sacrificing time away from family, but if you believe in what you're fighting for it's worth it to protect our freedoms. At the same time, Sergeant Major is correct.... History will tell us....