I am interveiwing an Iraq Conflict Veteran, what should I ask?

[toymachines]

I am writing an article for veteran's day for my college newspaper, and I am wondering what you guys think I should ask. I am not looking to write a biased or pointed article, but to give them a voice on veteran's day. I was thinking of: how they think they will be treated, or are treated compared to previous veterans? What is their opinion on what should the US do at this point in the conflict? anyways, thanks for any help you can give me.

[Danger Duck]

1. Did you feel a sense of purpose over there?

What was it?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Those are good questions

I'd ask also-what does the veteran think the American people should know about veterans that most don't know? What is the best way Americans can honor veterans?

[Danger Duck]

3. What were your expectations before entering Iraq?

[cdb]

5. Ask

Do you feel like you made a difference in the lives of the Ieaqi people?

Do feel like we are "winning"?

[Danger Duck]

4. What can you tell me about the war that the average person doesn't know?

[porphyrian]

6. 2 Questions

1) What do they think about people protesting the Iraq war?

2) What would they think if it turns out we went to war with Iraq based on lies?

[Charlie Brown]

7. I'd probably ask what he was told the mission was

and whether he felt the Iraqis had benefitted in the long run from the invasion.

[HillDem]

8. Do we have enough troops?

[Jackpine Radical]

9. What is the general political sentiment among the troops?

Do they talk about politics? What is the range of commonly heard opinions?

What are they told, and what do they believe, about protestors at home?

[Zhade]

10. People often forget the war is illegal.

How do soldiers feel about being ordered to break international law, and do they feel unable to admit they have been forced to do so for fear of loss of morale or other reasons?

(This is a serious question.)

[Danger Duck]

11. I hardly think any war is legal.

Questions like that just seem to exsist for shock value. I

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Huh?

The United Nations charter, of which we are a signatory, clearly outlines legitimate causes for warfare. So, all wars are not prima facie illegal.

The question is a valid one. It's not a shock value question, if one understands the geopolitical implications of conducting a war beyond the agreements within the charter.
The Professor

[Danger Duck]

17. The UN charter

says a lot of thing, and so do their resolutions. And today, the UN gave an award to Mikis Theodorakis, the man who said "jews are the root of all evil."

War is an immoral act, that is never consensual between both parties, and is to a degree, always illegal. The UN, which is a joke, doesn't make a war legal any more then congress declaring one does. War is the result of a futility of laws; you're simply killing people until you subjugate an entity. It is the absence of law. You can put a label on it as legal or illegal, but it's all semantics. Either you support war or you don't. I'd prefer well selected murder over mass murder by government, and I think we could fight most "wars" without an Army. if the pRez stopped outing our CIA guys, that is.

[Zhade]

25. "I" - your last cut-off is intriguing.

"I" - what? "I" don't understand that the Iraq War broke international law and is equivalent to Germany invading Poland?

"Shock value" - here's a clue: try looking up international law, then come back here and express the "shock" you'd certainly feel over how this country violated it and all human decency - assuming, of course, you don't actually support this heinous war crime.

You're so transparent, I'm "shocked" birds don't fly into you daily.

[toymachines]

13. I believe it is serious.

Trust me, I would love to ask this. But I decided I wouldnt point the story with such questions. Not to say I won't mention such things in the story. But out of respect to the Veterans I won't get too sensitive. I had to promise this to the Veterans Affairs office at my school, which sucks, but oh well. thanks for the response.

[Danger Duck]

18. That's what I meant

That would be a good question to ask a general or an architect of the war. If you want to go down that road, don't frame the argument that way, it's to aggressive for your subject. Ask them why they think we went to war, if they thought it was right, and how they think the world views what we did. Then work in a question, maybe referring to someone specifically who called the war illegal, and ask them to respond.

Just a suggestion. Good luck with the interview! If I believed in that sort of thing, I'd throw an emoticon here.

[toymachines]

19. Thanks a lot man.

Good call. I hate those faces.

[Zhade]

26. Fair enough. I'm glad you at least understand the gravity of the question.

Best of luck on your project!

[WritingIsMyReligion]

24. Is war EVER legal??

Maybe in terms of a charter, but it terms of morality?? Is killing ever right? Is the inherent horror of war ever justifiable??

(The $64k question)

[Zhade]

27. I think it is right to defend yourself.

I'm not a pacifist, as I believe it's a wonderful but unworkable philosophy, what with us being animals and all.

Moral? Doubtful. Justifiable? Rarely. Necessary? Regrettably so, at times.

Not happy to give those answers, but there it is. I hope your generation can work past our folly. Young people like yourself give me much hope.

[Xenotime]

Questions to ask..

1.) Although this war was a lie, how can any good come from what we are doing over there?

2.) There is talk about Weapons of Mass Distruction being covered and not being reported. What is the military waiting for?

3.) Prisoners from this war are being tortured in prisons all around the world. What exactly is being done and how can we stop it?

4.) How do you deal with the fear everytime you go out on a mission know that some roadside bomb or IED could end your life?

[s-cubed]

14. If he was part of the invasion force, the first forces,

where the troops given any protection against WMDs? For example, were they issued gas masks? What about iodine for radiation exposure? In other words, did the military expect to encounter WMDs, or not? If no preparation for WMDs, doesn't that say something about the (lie) reason for the Iraq Debacle?

[GumboYaYa]

15. You see lots of yellow ribbons that say support the troops.

How do those make you feel?

[toymachines]

16. I like it.

I may just ask that one.

[B Calm]

20. Do you think bad because none of our politicans including the

one in the White House have no son or daughter fighting in Iraq, but are eager to send you into harms way?

[HereSince1628]

21. Has your pay been straightened out yet?????????????

[The Wielding Truth]

22. Please ask . Did your have to purchase your own body armour?

Did you have to stay for longer than you signed up?
Do you work with better paid non military americans?
Are you happy with the progress the US has made in pursuing Osoma Bin Laden?
Are the transportation vehicles you use as safe as you would like?
Did you vote for *?
Do you feel well trained for the responsibilities ask of you?
Are your loved ones well provided for by our government?
Do you speak the Iraqi language?
Have you been trained in their culture?

Thank you, toymach.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

23. Do you think it was worth it?? nt