A Big Letdown (3ID Sgt says,"I have my own 'Most Wanted' List")

[underpants]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/World/iraq030716_2ndBrigade.html

"The aces in my deck are Paul Bremer, Donald Rumsfeld, George Bush and Paul Wolfowitz," he said.

"If Donald Rumsfeld were sitting here in front of us, what would you say to him?" I asked a group of soldiers who gathered around a table, eager to talk to a visiting reporter.

(One said you can't put what he would say on television)

In the back of the group, Spc. Clinton Deitz put up his hand. "If Donald Rumsfeld was here," he said, "I'd ask him for his resignation."

"I used to want to help these people," said Pfc. Eric Rattler (young guy), "but now I don't really care about them anymore. I've seen so much, you know, little kids throwing rocks at you. Once you pacify an area, it seems like the area you just came from turns bad again. I'd like this country to be all right, but I don't care anymore."


Those are strong words from troops used to following orders. They say they will continue to do their job, but they no longer seem to have their hearts in the mission.

[northernsoul]

1. Free the 3ID!

While I'm gratified that these guys are able to see throught the BS they've had flung at them, they are in a horrible situation - one that no responsible commander should allow his troops to be in. Bring the 3ID home and roll-in a multinational peacekeeping force and do it yesterday!

[protect freedom impeach bush now]

33. no multi-national peace keeepers will go to Iraq

Bush pissed off the entire world by going against
the UN, so now no country will send troops to back
the White House PNAC buffoon.

Bush pissed off the entire world, AND NOW he 'wants' the
rest of the world to bail him out ???

a little too late now.

What country would send any soldier to die in Iraq ?
ONLY the current White House PNAC cabal.


Bush told the world, and "Old Europe" to go to hell, that
he, Bush ALONE, would go to occupy Iraq WITHOUT the UN.

Now NOONE will help the USA in Iraq.

Bush IS The Biggest Threat to world peace.

[Ernesto]

2. Hmmm

Sounds a bit like my own thoughts
in an earlier QUAGMIRE know as Vietnam........ Why can't we learn from history?

[underpants]

5. Welcome to DU (though you seem to have been here a while)

Vietnam huh? I served for three years in the early 90's (Cav Scout)and I know that complaining is part and parcel of the military but this makes me sick and worried they are in more danger due to this (losing focus).

See this thread (mine) in GD
"Just shoot me so I can go home"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=49550&mesg_id=49550&page=

[JaneQPublic]

3. When do we begin the protest marches to bring the troops home?

No doubt such a march would attract not only the crowd who originally protested the Iraq War, but also a good number of military families.

[Walt Starr]

8. I've been posting all over DU calling for protests August 23

Not many people seem interested, though.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

17. Why 8/23?

what's the significance?

BTW here's the FreeRepublic moanings on this story: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/947076/posts

[Emillereid]

32. What's happening on Auguest 23?

I know that ANSWER and a large coalition of antiwar groups are calling for a massive mobilization in Oct. in Washington -- but I haven't heard of August 23

[SeattleDem]

18. wouldn't that be interesting?

before the war, these two groups stood across the street from each other and viewed each other as the "enemy". The Pro-War factions, standing their with their Clear Channel-produced "Support the Troops" signs, all up in arms that some of us dared to march against the invasion, while their loved ones fought for our "freedom" from Saddam and his tyranny.

It would be amazing to see these two groups marching together now. Those of us that protested the war would have to do our best not to be smug or say "I told you so". This is one time that being "right" sort of sucks.

[study_war_no_more]

28. maybe after a civil war

but as long as bush and company are in power I wont be giving Ann Coulter a big ole hug (maybe a snuggie)

[study_war_no_more]

27. hmmm I'm not so sure

Don't we have an obligation to rebuild Iraq after knocking it flat on its ass?
Besides the administration will never walk away from the (OIL). I mean that was the point of the war.

[UpInArms]

4. why??? because they are liars ---

"When I told her, she started crying," Gilmore said, his eyes moistening. "I mean, I almost started crying. I felt like my heart was broken. We couldn't figure out why they do it. Why they can keep us over here right after they told us we were coming home."

[underpants]

6. He was the one who said ~'You can't put that on TV'

Mid to late 20's seemed to be a calm even tempered guy. I'm just adding that so you don't think these were angst filled teens or slackers, anything but.

[northzax]

19. right

you expect draftees to complain (if they'd wanted to be there, they would have volunteered, after all) but our new all-volunteer army shouldn't have this problem, right?

[peacetalksforall]

7. Regreattably, these soldiers are oil soldiers

They were used. We were used.

In the honorable days of this country, if any representatives felt we had to take over the oil, we would have negotiated and purchased it and contractors would be hired to do the job and if they broke their contract, so be it. In our even more honorable days, we wouldn't meddle in another country's soverign rights.

Look and learn. This is a turn of the century hype and hack job - a culmination of an act that has been brewing for decades by wealthy, full of fear, controllers of policy.

The REAL WAR is between THOSE WHO MANIPULAE and THOSE WHO ARE MANIPULATED. Those who are manipulated are not to be faulted, because they had decades of grooming to hold their heartfelt beliefs and patriotism close to their hearts. Our country is crumbling because of the manipulators and can only be righted by the manipulated.

Let everyone know - we were taken and some of us knew we were being taken and didn't buy into it.

The key is in knowing who is who when someone is speaking and what their affiliations and loyalties are. It would help if we knew how the real money is utilized and where it comes from. We only have hints.

This is patriotic. Being non-patriotic is not caring and burying the head in the sand.

[saigon68]

9. THEY AREN'T GOING TO RE-ENLIST

I have seen this before, only it took a number of years to get troop morale to this point.

THANKS Wolfie,Rumdumb, Cheney and the CHIMP.

It was really hard to do this,
but we all had faith you'd succeed </Sarcasm>

WELCOME TO IRAQ-NAM

[newyorican]

11. How soon before we hear that the DRAFT is coming back?

After these bozos drive ever soldier/sailor out of the service there will be a genuine crisis in manpower levels. What a forking mess.

[tomp]

23. haven't you heard? dems are pushing for the dratft

rangel and conyers. trojan horse draft, a little gift from the "opposition".

[tomp]

24. haven't you heard? dems are pushing for the dratft

rangel and conyers (?). trojan horse draft, a little gift from the "opposition".

[AndyTiedye]

13. "For the Duration"

Haven't some enlistments been frozen already (so it doesn't matter whether they would choose to reenlist or not)?

They'll probably keep that up until right after the elections (or whatever "incident" they stage as a pretext for their cancellation). Then comes the draft.

[hussar]

10. Welcome to urban warfare dudes

"I used to want to help these people," said Pfc. Eric Rattler (young guy), "but now I don't really care about them anymore. I've seen so much, you know, little kids throwing rocks at you. Once you pacify an area, it seems like the area you just came from turns bad again. I'd like this country to be all right, but I don't care anymore."

Been there, done that, hey at least it won't be long, now that the US has set up some Iraqi puppets to run the country

<hint of sarcasm>

[xchrom]

12. this attitude will grow

i just think it will be hard to get the media exposure it deserves.

[underpants]

14. NBC Nightly News had something on it too (saw the teaser)

I didn't catch the actual report. So what that is 4 outlets in teh last two days. That would tell me things are worse than even they are letting on.

[ElementaryPenguin]

15. Holy shit!!! ChimpCo soon to be facing mutinies??

Tell us again about those great approval ratings for the "unbeatable" "President!" :puke:

[BeHereNow]

34. Oh YEAH-

there was another post today about the fact that our
best and brightest were figuring out that their primary
purpose in Iraq was protecting Brown and Root-
NOT freedom, and NOT democracy....
Heh-heh...
Guess the neocons didn't count on the fact that
their "cannon fodder" actually had brains and a sense of
decency.
Can't wait to see how many draft card burners we see in
the future- like ALL of them!
Our military still has enough decent people in it to
resist UNconstitutional use of their service to our country.
LACK of enlistments and resisters will be the UNdoing of this
situation-
No soldiers=No neocon wars.
Hee-hee!
I LOVE it!

BHN

[BeHereNow]

35. Oh YEAH-

there was another post today about the fact that our
best and brightest were figuring out that their primary
purpose in Iraq was protecting Brown and Root-
NOT freedom, and NOT democracy....
Heh-heh...
Guess the neocons didn't count on the fact that
their "cannon fodder" actually had brains and a sense of
decency.
Can't wait to see how many draft card burners we see in
the future- like ALL of them!
Our military still has enough decent people in it to
resist UNconstitutional use of their service to our country.
LACK of enlistments and resisters will be the UNdoing of this
situation-
No soldiers=No neocon wars.
Hee-hee!
I LOVE it!

BHN

[bushisanidiot]

16. I wonder if those troops speaking out will fall to 'accidents'

or lose their jobs.

Also, my prediction is that there will be another attack on american soil and AWOL will use that to whip up some more patriotism and insist that we nuke bagdhad. Repukes don't know how to fix anything without destroying it..

[underpants]

22. I certainly hope not and it would not help W at this point

It could literally destroy him. He is taking it from all sides now politically, if anything did happen (pray no) he couldn't blame anyone else for it, it would look very set-up (even to his supporters), and it would obviously be the result of his policies (or lack there of).

They can raise the terror threat to orange, but they've played those cards alot too.

[Best_man23]

20. The stress of living in a combat zone

Look at this soldier.



He's just heard the 3ID is staying in Iraq indefinitly.

Now that they have said that anyone going to Iraq will be there for at least a year, its starting to sound more and more like Vietnam with each passing day.

Somehow, I don't think this soldier will be voting for Bush next year, that is, if he survives to vote in next year's election.

[arcane1]

21. would be interesting to see the Chimp try to give a speech now

with a crowd of "cheering" troops in the audience

*prays for boos* :evilgrin:

[Proud_American]

25. It's time for us to have our own deck of most wanted cards!

The misAdministration has their deck of cards, the cons have theirs and now it's time for us to have ours! I'd certainly pay for something like that. Anybody connected enough to get it done?

[underpants]

26. The Chickenhawk cards (W & WMD are the JOKERS)

http://www.chickenhawkcards.com/



Welcome to DU :hi:

[Proud_American]

29. Thanks undies (if I may call you that)!

As usual, I'm just clueless. How come my in basket is bombarded with emails about the others, yet I have never even heard of the chickenhawk cards until now? Obviously many have, considering the notice about delays due to high demand! Getting ready to order my deck!

[underpants]

30. Just don't call me later for dinner

Thank thank you've been great enjoy the buffet and give a big round of applause for Rick Ashley

[henslee]

31. Cuttin our boyz in on oil profits seems to be the decent thing to do. n/t

n/t

[0007]

36. I believe the troops are wise to junior!

*

[dArKeR]

37. Morale of U.S. troops plunges - TGM

"You've got soldiers who are already at their mental, physical and emotional limits, and you're going to keep them here another three months?" said Spc. Zachary Watkins, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. "It's not a smart thing to do. You're going to have lots of incidents going on."

"I used to love going to the movies," he said at the dusty airbase that houses his company.

Now, Sgt. Wright and other members of the U.S. army's 3rd Infantry Division are upset about more than missing movies — their departure has been delayed yet again.

Already deployed for nearly eight months, the Pentagon announced this week it was extending their stay, with a vague promise to get them home by September if the security situation allows.

The decision was met with anger, sadness and longing for home by the division's 9,000 soldiers, who were at the vanguard of the force that overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime and moved into Baghdad.

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030716.wmora716/BNStory/International/


http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

[saigon68]

38. THE TOUR WILL BE A YEAR.

When they get back in October, they will be put in a pool to be shipped back for a year.

There is another discussion going on this topic here.

It sucks, but hey---- someone has to safeguard the OIL profits !!!!!!