Comments on: Nobody Cares About Soldiers

By: tom

tom — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:59:27 +0000

thank you for the people commenting on this soldiers sadnessand the upport you share, ive spent almost 3 yrs in total in iraq, the ones who cause the misery are all the officers who fight from the back, the enlisted warfighter fights only to enlighten his LT or CPT or higher given orders in the rear vehicle or the back of the patrol.. ask any NCO

By: Spin Boldak

Spin Boldak — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 17:17:32 +0000

I read these comments and all I see is HATE and KILL. That is what the America of 2007 is HATE and KILL. This war is nothing but an opportunity for CHENEY-ROVE, INC. to pick the pockets of the American people, I know, I saw a piece of it myself in the little part I was sent to.

God Bless our troops/kids, even the ‘true believers’, God forgive them they know not what they do. We can see how much America ‘truly cares’ for the troops in the treatment of the now 30K+ wounded and disabled. Especially the TBI and PTSD casualties. Cheney-Rove’s answer is to discharge them for ‘pre-existing personality disorders’ thus preventing them from getting any help whasoever. Yeah, America supports the troops, almost as bad as Vietnam.

We need to do a phased withdrawl from Iraq, as we ultimately will whether it be 2008 or 2011, declare victory and let nature take its course with the different tribes/sects of the Muslim Arabs in Iraq. If Rumsfeld had not been so arrogant in 2003 and had bothered to do his homework on the social dynamics of the Arab tribes and extended families and had worked within those structures 2003-2004, we might not have had a Walter Reed scandal in 2007.

By: Tracy Johnson

Tracy Johnson — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:35:47 +0000

I am in the 4/2 Stryker Brigade. If possible, I wish to remain anonomous for fear of repercussions from those in my unit. However, this information is public knowledge.
All that are killled are not Celebrities like Pat Tillman, but public attention should be brought to others just the same. Some are dying before we even get to Iraq, but I wonder who cares.
While Lieutenant Watada awaits trial, thousand of others in Washington State feel the same way. Not only are the ethics of this war questionable, we are sending soldiers to combat that are far from trained!!! Now they want to push more units in earlier than planned. We are not ready!!!
Is anyone paying attention to the soldiers that are so untrained that they are shooting each other, before we even get to Iraq ? One soldier fired his weapon 9 times, hitting one vehicle, hitting another soldier in the face and KILLING another soldier named Private Compean.
The meddic on site was reduced in rank for drinking problems. Maybe he was somewhat competent for an alcoholic; IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m not sure.
Bigger problems are lack of training and the right equipment. Although this unit has been in existence for 2 years, it was only a few months ago when everyone finally got weapons. Before that, we were sharing weapons to train with. This may sound minor, but rifles are supposed to be sighted-in different for each person and remain at those sight-settings. Someone was always borrowing my rifle, and then I would have to start all over adjusting it.
We have little-or-no equipment. The barracks we live in was supposed have been condemned more than a year ago. Heck, we even used our ponchos as curtains for more than a year, until they finally got us curtains. We fight over a roll of toilet paper, yet they say we are ready for war.
Our mortar platoon failed the last training exercise. They excused this saying that the Mortars were never in a Styker vehicle until this November and it will take some time to adjust. Maybe it is not their fault that they train by riding around in an old supply truck, pretending it is a Stryker vehicle, and pretending it has big guns on top, while saying Ã¢â‚¬Å“bang-bangÃ¢â‚¬Â.
They can say that this unit has been training for 2 years, but that is far from the truth. The first year was hundreds of E1s getting baby-sat by only 1 or 2 Sergeants and an officer. The first year was mostly physical fitness and taking care of the lawn. They multiple law violations and discipline problems are documented including robbery, assault, rape and countless drug offenses. Just now are the right number of leaders and the right equipment in place to begin proper training.
The senior leaders all want to deploy immediately for 2 reasons. 1. They would be blamed if they ever admitted that we were not ready. 2. Getting to Iraq is the only way to ensure that they get promoted. It makes their reports look great, no matter how many die. They are trained to always volunteer for anything to please the big boss.
Should Compean’s death should be blamed on lack of realistic training??? His First Sergeant cheated during an evaluation by walking through the test area and noting where every assault might come from. He then went back and told his soldiers. Sure this makes him look good on an evaluation, but does it help to train soldiers? They might not be surprised during training, but how can they deal with a real surprise attack in Iraq ?
We are always drilled and scolded about what to say to the media. We are directed to say nothing. Ã¢â‚¬Å“That is only the job of Public AffairsÃ¢â‚¬Â. That might keep us out of the headlines, but that is not going to keep us safe. This unit is 2 years from being ready for deployment.

By: Spin Boldak

Spin Boldak — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 03:48:41 +0000

As I remember it, it was the WWII vets and the right that
told me and my fellow vets that we were losers, cowards,
and traitors.

By: Bear Creek Ledger

Bear Creek Ledger — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:56:38 +0000

Soldiers think nobody cares…

Beth at Blue Star Chronicles had a telephone conversation with a Soldier and this Soldier thinks the American people don’t care about them. Political correctness is tearing them down. Thanks to the dominent media convicting Troops of wrong doing …

By: Frank Bass

Frank Bass — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 02:40:12 +0000

I served in Vietnam and saw the Media completely distort the truth about many of the battles we fought. We won most of the battles but still lost the war because the country didnt support the troops. The Media, Democratic Congress and college students were the reason we pulled out of Nam without a clear cut victory. Leave it to these same individuals and we will pull out of Iraq the same way. The liberals in this country support the enemy more than they support the troops fighting to give their sorry asses the freedoms they have. The Democrats and Liberals seem to have a cut and run strategy on everything we get involved in. Today all the terroists are going to Iraq to fight against Iraq becoming a democratic nation. I had rather the terroist fight and die in Iraq than be in this country killing and maiming. We lost more people to terroist on 9/11 than we have lost in all the time we have spent in Afganistan and Iraq. Think about it!!!!!!

By: Jo White

Jo White — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:12:42 +0000

When Busch Senior took us to war I cried for days. I watched the propaganda on the news, and I never missed Nightline. I prayed. I didn’t cry this time. I refused to listen to the hype. I just got mad and knew the truth was being shattered by “spin politics”. They even use “Support the Troops” to keep America from questioning the actions of our leaders. Yes, I love and respect our military men but no one could speak out in time to stop the war from starting in the first place for fear of not “supporting the troops”. They used our love of our fighting men to start a war based on lies. Now we are in a war we will never win as long as our enemy believes they are fighting a holy war. Lives will be lost BUT maybe we can continue the profits for THE RICH OIL MEN. But are we really saving our freedom over there? Bring our men home. They should be home with their loved ones. There is enough danger at home.

By: MilBlogs

MilBlogs — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:18:07 +0000

Nobody cares about Soldiers?…

(Released)”> Pfc. Matthew J. Mongiove assigned to the 10th Mountain 4th Brigade, supporting the 561st Military Police Company, provides security for the Canadian Mobile Training Team (MTT) on May 16, 2006 in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. The Canadian Mil…

By: M.Murray

M.Murray — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 15:26:28 +0000

TO VIETNAM ERA VETS:

You DIDN’T fail your country! You did everything that was asked of you and so much more! You were betrayed…

You know, it’s still a popular idea to think that everyone in this country is a Red-White-&-Blue “American”; but it just isn’t true. Not all “believe” in the principles the USA was founded upon. A vast number of folks who were born, bred, and raised here DON’T believe in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. Their numbers have been growing every year for the PAST CENTURY, and since the 1960’s they’ve been coming out of the woodwork like gangbusters. They believe in the Gospel of Marx; the anthem of Lennon (”Imagine”), and the utter beauty of one world government for all (be it under Kofi Annan or some other idiot).

Recently they’ve been referred to as “an influential elite”. Three truer words were never spoken; and what an understatement too. The “influential elite” control the MSM and Journalism Schools in this country. They control the faculties at every major University and nearly every Divinity School as well. They control Hollywood (and Madison Ave.) and all the little moron “wanna-be’s” who’ll say and do anything to get a “part” and be a Star, or writer, or cameraman.

They’re christians but not Christian, they’re jews but not Jewish, they’re muslims but not Muslim. They’re in control of most unions and give the impression they’re doing the best they can against a “corrupt” system, instead of truly doing everything that can be done to benefit today’s union members and strengthen the country’s industries for tomorrow’s union members. They’re in control of the majority of today’s teachers and each year most of America’s children suffer more and more damage because of their control (never has so much money been given to so many teachers for so little “teaching”).

While most unions are dying in the private sector, they’re growing among government employees, and government services are getting more expensive and less efficient by the year.

The “influential elite” have a number of other very “influential” organizations under their thumbs; three “Jumbo’s” are: the NAACP, the Democratic National Committee, and the (surprise) ACLU.

What is it about what I’ve just said that most people don’t believe? Most people don’t believe that something this underhanded and diabolical could ever have been perpetrated on the “American” people by other “Americans”. And in a way that’s true. But what we’re dealing with are “americans” and NOT “Americans”. There’s an awful BIG difference!!!

It’s high time we stop dreaming and believing in fairy tales. It’s time to wake up and see that we’re in the eye of a hurricane and the best years of our life, and those of our children as well, may be behind us. All of us!!

By: Wizbang Bomb Squad

Wizbang Bomb Squad — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 12:39:47 +0000

“We Are Pawns In A Political Game”…

Steven Green, one of the soldiers that allegedly raped an Iraqi girl, and murdered her family, was discharged a few months ago, for anti-social personality disorder. The WashingtonPost discusses the disorder in an intelligent way this morning: A psychi…

By: kevin

kevin — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 05:05:05 +0000

Americans judge the troops the most respected institution.
http://amboytimes.blogspot.com/2006/07/americans-respect-troops.html

By: Lisa Gilliam

Lisa Gilliam — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 22:31:14 +0000

To the Nam vet,you didn’t lose Vietnam,the left lost us the war,my father like you saw action in the same conflict.I’ve always considered Vietnam Vets true heroes like their predeccesors,and I have nothing but utter contempt for the left,they don’t support the even what we are doing in Afganistan,they tried to undermine that three weeks into the fighting by labling it another Vietnam,and Fat Teddy did his usual stupid rant even on that.How come we don’t here anything from our drive-by media on what is going on there?!Only if a Scandal or phony Koran story breaking which cost people’s lives needlessly,this is the irresponsible reporting is all the American People get,also,notice how the left goes out of its way to downplay the last administrations follies that led to us losig 3000 people on 9-11.But like i heard a WW2 vet say,we are there now,so constant protest is a waste of time!

By: Rue-Mur

Rue-Mur — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 12:02:06 +0000

“Americans” who are opposed to the War on Terror, or parts of it, like the campaign in Iraq that is currently ongoing, direct their opposition at the civilian leadership, the politicians. And “americans” who are opposed to the War on Terror, or parts of it, like the campaign in Iraq that is currently ongoing, direct their opposition at the soldiers, the politicians, and everyone else that’s not standing beside them doing the exact same thing. The essential difference between “Americans” and “americans” is that one group believes in the country, the Constitution, the “Declaration of Independence”, etc., etc.; and the other does NOT. One group is committed to upholding the principles upon which this country was founded, and the other group is committed to undermining those principles. One group swears allegiance to the flag of the United States, and the Republic for which it stands; and the other group swears allegiance to “the world”, “mankind”, “humanity”, “the proletariat of the people”, etc., etc.. When you find yourself reading newspaper articles or watching TV reports about demonstrations, or conferences, or speeches, first determine if you’re reading about or watching “Americans” or “americans”. Once you determine this, you’ll be able to quickly determine what and how you’ll say and/or do next. God bless America! Let’s Roll…

By: iraq participant

iraq participant — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 19:13:08 +0000

Untie their hands, like how?

Allow massacres, gang rapes?

One thing for sure, Bush doesn’t care about the soldiers, otherwise why cut the VA?

Rumsfeld doesn’t care about the soldiers, otherwise why did he fight expanding the size of the Army to take some of the load off of those who have to rotate back again and again to Iraq and Afghanistan?

By: BillT

BillT — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:10:29 +0000

“I thought we learned that lesson in Vietnam.”

The Army learned the lesson and promptly drew the wrong conclusions in the self-flagellation following the fall of Saigon. The Rules of Engagement I adhered to in 1969 were even more restrictive than those imposed on the soldiers deployed in the GWOT, but I adhered to them because they were part of the ground rules of that particular fight.

Did adhering to the RoE make us feel that we were fighting with one hand tied behind our backs? Yup. Did it affect our morale? Not much. Most of us saw the reason for the restrictions in context, we were be very effective in combat and we got called “baby-burners” when we came back. Life isn’t fair and a soldiers life can be *very* unfair. But adhering to the RoE is not about “not pulling the trigger” on a terr–it’s about *being sure* whoever you’re pulling the trigger on is a terr…

By: megan

megan — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 01:40:35 +0000

I think this is exactly what is coming thru in the polls on Iraq. Most of us want it done right. Not at the expense of our military because if “we” are going to “tie their hands” just forget it. I do not want to stand by and let “Vietnam” happen to our military. And I am not talking about the war… I am talking about halfway doing it at the cost of these men and women who serve us. There will be no “baby killer” crap for these men and women. We get it. We do not buy that crap anymore… may have worked in the sixties won’t work now. I will be the first in line to thank each of them for the sacrifices they make for me. So if we can’t do it all the way. BRING THEM HOME and Then we can fight them here. Then we’ll Redneck it up!

By: Echo9er

Echo9er — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 21:38:39 +0000

Do I make you Proud?…

A really good post by Balding Eagle, Grey Eagle’s (A Female Soldier 2) husband, and a even more moving video.
Check out Do I Make You Proud -Taylor Hicks

Also posted at A Rose by Any Other Name. Thanks Laurie.

……

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:29:07 +0000

Solders are heroes, but the people that put then in harms way donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t deserve the same respect. Just because youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re the commander in chief doesnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t mean you deserve the respect of the American people for what solders are doing for our country. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m tired of being made to feel unpatriotic because I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t agree with the war. My friends are dieing over there just like others friends and family are. Their sacrifice is honorable because they choose (or are asked without the option of saying no) to do the work that most Americans will not stomach. We are a nation of hypocritical leadership backed by the strongest and most honored fighting men and women in the world. You canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t expect people to blindly support this war based solely on patriotism. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m and American that not only supports our troops but wishes for a day when their not asked to be pawns in a political media game. Politics can govern taxes, commerce and civil liberties. American politics seems to want to also govern morality as only we see it. The morality of a childless mother over a misunderstood conflict seems no less important (in fact more important) than a politicians re-elections chances.

By: JoefromMike3-3

JoefromMike3-3 — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 18:28:33 +0000

I’m an old vet, here’s a comment from a young vet.

http://www.ivaw.net/index.php?id=209

An Open Letter to Bubba
2. By Charlie Anderson, Iraq Veterans Against the War
IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve seen you around. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve seen you driving your gas guzzling SUV with the Ã¢â‚¬Å“Support Our TroopsÃ¢â‚¬Â ribbon on the back. IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve seen you wearing your pro-war/pro-bush t-shirts as you walk right past me in my Iraq Veterans Against the War t-shirt as if I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t exist. And IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve seen you at anti-war rallies and meetings where I often speak, as you wave your American flag and call me a traitor. In this country we have freedom of speech. But you owe me and every other veteran of this war the respect of listening to our experience.
Your magnet says Ã¢â‚¬Å“support our troops,Ã¢â‚¬Â but what have you done for us? Not a penny of the proceeds go to us, instead they go to sweatshops outside the US. You say that I am not supporting the troops when I say that they should come home. But I am, because I know that there was no threat to our nation from Saddam Hussein, I know that had no weapons of mass destruction, and I know that we were not welcomed in as liberators. I know that the war was not worth fighting. I know, because I fought there. You say IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m confused. But what do you know about ? YouÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve never been there.
You have the audacity to claim that by not supporting the president, I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t support the troops. Yet, the president chose to send over 160,000 of us to unprepared and without a defined mission. We had no body armor, no vehicle armor, and poor supplies of ammunition. Our families spent thousands of dollars that they did not have to supply us, while President Bush did nothing. In fact he didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t even scold his Offensive Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, when he told our forward deployed troops, Ã¢â‚¬Å“you go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had.Ã¢â‚¬Â Moreover, the mission was originally about weapons of mass destruction, but there were none. Then it was making a democracy, but yet the Ã¢â‚¬Å“insurgencyÃ¢â‚¬Â worsens. Now the president has decided that in order to honor those who died for nothing, more must die for nothing.
At present, 2,241 of my brothers and sisters in arms have died. In some way, they may be the lucky ones. Over sixteen thousand others have been wounded in this war, thousands more than planned. The term wounded sounds sterile, bland, and inoffensive. But, in reality, many of them have been so horribly damaged that medical science had to create a new word to describe their wounds: polytrauma. These people would have died in earlier wars, but because of the gallant efforts of brave doctors and medics, they get to live. They get to live with teams of ten or more doctors just trying to get their broken, mangled bodies through another day, as their families look on in horror. They get to live in a physical and emotional hell, not able to recover and not able to voice the pain they feel or the psychological demons they face. All the while suffering with a Veterans Administration under funded by nearly three billion dollars and unable to care for them in the manner they deserve.
So which one of us supports the troops? You, who has never set foot in Iraq and wants to leave my brothers and sisters there until they complete whatever the undefined mission of the week is, or me, the veteran of this war who has seen the carnage of battle, the rampant indifference of my countrymen, and just wants to bring my brothers and sisters home alive and care for them when they get here?
Keep coming to the rallies. Maybe IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll get through your thick skull eventually. But remember I waved my flag in Baghdad , so you can sit down, shut up, and listen to me.

P.s.Cost of the War in Iraq — so far
$293,136,198,432

By: JoefromMike3-3

JoefromMike3-3 — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 18:04:59 +0000

I can’t believe the comments I’m reading. I’m a Vietvet. I served in the infantry and have a purple heart. I’m partially disabled as a result of my service. The Vietnam war was a huge mistake and the Iraq war is a huge mistake. Bush, who never saw combat, is wasting one of America’s greatest resources. There is no one on earth better at what he does than the US fighting man. There is no one who is respected more by us “libtards” as one of these sloganeers refers to us. The problem is, we don’t belong in Iraq. We are making things worse by being there. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11 and nothing to do with WMD. Bush is an idiot manipulated by Rumsfeld and Cheney and Wolfowitz. By the way, would anyone care to see photos of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Hussein in 1984 when Reagan was supplying Hussein with weapons? Bush had only one man working in his cabinet who knew anything about how to fight a war. That was Colin Powell. He only had one man in his cabinet who had ever been in combat. Colin Powell. But he wouldn’t listen to Powell who said we shouldn’t invade Iraq. Powell was the classic fighting man. He gave his boss his best advice and then kept his mouth shut and did as he was told. That’s what I did 40 years ago and that’s what these brave men and women are doing today. If only we had leaders who were as great as the troops. As for those of you who complain about the press. The press isn’t setting out the roadside bombs. The press isn’t murdering our troops. Our troops haven’t been found guilty until proven innocent. Most have done nothing wrong and are not being punished. A few have done wrong and if we had decent leadership, there would have been almost none of that. Abu Graib was a foregone conclusion because of the way the leadership handled it. There have been psych studies for 50 years that show 2 out of every 3 decent men, without proper training, will slide into prisoner abuse if the circumstances are right and if their leaders don’t take responsibility. Why don’t some of you rent “Fog of War” and listen to Robert McNamara explain how he and the rest of the leaders screwed up and wasted 58,000 lives in Vietnam? Idiot Bush and criminal Cheney are doing the same in Iraq. Afghanistan was a war we had to fight. Iraq is not. And unless you have been in combat, like I have, don’t tell me that you support the troops by putting some ribbon on your car bumper. Support the troops by bringing them home.