>Rex,
>
>Not going to get into a long and drawn out E mail debate on
>the war.
>
>I am in Afghanistan. I am working here as a civilian
>contrator for the State Department doing Opium Eradcation.
>It can be a dangerous job.
>
>That being said, I am still in the Guard. I did 8 or so
>years active duty, and 10 or so Guard.
>
>What we are doing here in Afghanistan, and working on in
>Iraq will hopefully create stability in this region for
>starters. And this region could sure use some. One of my old
>units is currently deployed to Iraq. I am in daily contact
>with those people, and a lot of other people I know over
>there, So I feel I am gett the straight dope on that
>situation.
>
>Now I know all of you that hate President Bush think that
>there were lies and all kinds of things to get us into this
>war. I disagree. I do not think it is about oil. I am not
>writing this to debate the current administration. I am
>explaining WHY those of us over here are here.
>
I don't hate Bush, I just think he and his advisors are inept in going after the 9/11 terrorists.
>
>First, you have to understand that the people we are
>fighting here in Afghanistan, and in Iraq, are NOT from
>those countries for the most part. 99% of them are foreign
>fighters that are looking to get into the "Jihad". They
>would like to kill Americans. We on the ground here
>understand, that if we come here, and make it easier for
>them to get to US, they will for the most part leave YOU in
>the States alone. We are giving them the chance they are
>looking for to kill Americans. Not Americans who are not
>trained, or expecting attacks, but people with the equipment
>and training to give em a run for their money.
>
I would like to opine that there were few, if any, foreign Jihadi in Iraq when Saddam was running things. That Iraq is crawling with them now is the result of the Bush gang taking Saddam out of the picture rather than focusing on the REAL bad guy, Osama.
>
>The same holds true for the guys in Iraq. They know the
>deal as well. When my unit got the Warning order, they had
>more volunteers to go than they could handle. A lot of the
>people in the Guard wanted to get over there and help, and a
>lot more wanted to go BACK over there and help. I am talking
>about guys who have already done one tour or more. they
>understand. They see the appreciation of the average Iraqi.
>The average Afghani here is VERY appreciative of the US
>removing the Taliban from power here. That was a very
>opressive regeme.
>
>The BIG problem is that you never see any of the good things
>that happen over here on the news. The things those of us
>that are here see every day. The new roads and briges built,
>the schools opened. You also do not hear about when the
>locals catch the insurgents setting up rockets, run them
>off, and call the US bases to warn us. That happens a lot
>here.
>
>The people here, and in Iraq (from what my good friends tell
>me) are excited about their futures. What we are doing is a
>good thing.
>
>I bet if you were to ask the folks from this site that have
>people they know deployed, or that have been deployed, they
>would say the person was glad they went. Thats not saying
>they do not complain, or gripe, or that they are not glad to
>be home. But the overwelming majority of the troops were
>glad to have been a part of it, and will go back if asked
>to.
>
>The military now days is not full of people who could not
>make it on the outside. Even your average grunt needs to be
>so educated to work with the equipment they do it would make
>your head spin. They are not "indoctrinated". WE over here
>have as much access to information as you in the states do
>to make informed decisions. The big problem once again is
>that what we are seeing on the ground here, does not very
>often match up with what we are seeing or reading in the
>media.
>
>Take the Marines that have been accused of killing the
>civilian in Iraq. This is a very big hot button topic for
>the troops. I live eat and work with them every day. They
>are fuming about all the negitive media over that. There
>have not even been any charges filed, and the guys involved
>have been raked over the coals in the news and by some of
>our polititians such as Murtha. Knowing the system the way I
>do, there will be a very thourough investigation, and if
>found guilty those people will be heavily punished. Prison
>for a long time. But lets wait and let the INVESTIGATION
>happen before we convict them.
>
I agree completely, there has been some very outrageous stuff said regarding this alleged crime. All of the evidence must be looked at before anyone is indicted. I think that IF indictments are handed down, there would be a real opportunity for Washington to show just how far the Iraqi government has progressed by letting the Iraqis handle any trial. This would, I think, serve two ends: First, doing so would show that the administration has confidence in the Iraqi government. Second, it would have a major impact on the thinking of the average Arab/Muslim, and how they view the USA.
>
>The troops are also angry about talks of pulling out. For
>the reasons mentioned above, they WANT to finish this over
>here, and will be extremely angry about it if public
>pressure to end it now wins out. They see how things are
>really going, and understand what is at stake. If the US
>public pulls them out after the losses we have incurred, and
>not letting them finishing the job they will feel very
>screwed. The people I know that were in Somolia were furious
>about that. we would be setting up a very bad precident
>also. Kill a few Americans and they will go home. Leaves us
>very open for further attacks because people will not think
>there are any real consequences.
>
Again, I agree. While I would personally like to see ALL of the troops come home ASAP, it's not a realistic scenario at this time.
>
>Aviator
Good Luck with your work,
Rex
