When will the first wave of American troops come home?

[JailForBush]

Or have they already arrived? Obviously, there are many wounded who have returned, but I would expect to HEAR SOMETHING if 10,000 or more U.S. troops returned. If the media don't report anything, then I would expect some of them to speak out through other channels, perhaps even posting on Democratic Underground.

Yet all I hear is a combination of media propaganda and vague rumors. Have U.S. troops been ordered to keep their mouths shut even after they return to the U.S. under threats of severe punishment? Of course, returning to the U.S. doesn't necessarily equate with being discharged from the military. As long as they remain in uniform, they would still be subject to censorship.

So when will substantial numbers of Iraq veterans be discharged from the military and thus able (and hopefully willing) to talk?

[scubadude]

1. A fellow at work did about 8 months over there.

Most of the time he was in Sicily I believe. Did a few months in Iraq and then home.

I guess it depends on your assignment or specialty.

Ron

[Rainbowreflect]

2. My friends husband is home for the holidays,

but he has to go back January 4th. It is going to be so hard for them to say good-bye again. He will be over there until April.
He has been talking about how all the troops he knows know bush is a liar and a coward. They just don't understand why more people here are not doing something about it. Why the dem candidates are not fighting for them. It breaks my heart.

[Columbia]

3. They are back now

There are actually many (tens of thousands) of military personnel who served in Iraq who are back. I spent two months in Iraq during the initial invasion and have been back for about 3 months now. What do you want to know?

You may not hear a lot about troops' opinions simply because they are not asked and also because many do not like to talk about the time spent over there. BTW, in case you have the chance to talk to someone who just came back, here's one question to NEVER ask: "so, did you kill anybody?"

[Kanary]

4. Hi Columbia!

Welcome to D.U.!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

:toast:

Kanary

[Columbia]

5. Hello!

Glad to be here! :)

[Rainbowreflect]

6. So glad you made it home safely.

How are you doing?
Welcome to DU.

[Columbia]

7. Thanks.

I'm doing just fine. :) I made it out relatively unscathed. A lot of my friends went through much worse than I did and one came back with a purple heart.

[newyawker99]

10. Hi Columbia!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ozymandius]

11. Hi Columbia!

It has been a curiosity why veterans of Bush's war have not organized in a way like many candidates' MeetUps have. If the media are to pay attention to the voices of Iraq War veterans, they will more readily do so if there is a popular front, a chorus of voices, talking.

I wonder if large-scale military dissent has been planned.

[Columbia]

12. Hi Ozy

Well, the biggest reason that has been mentioned earlier is that most of the vets coming home now are still on either active or reserve duty in the military and are thus obligated to not speak out against the military publicly for fear of reprisal.

Another reason is that many vets just do not want to deal with the politics of it all. After going through war, other things take far great priority about like spending time with your family and other loved ones who you have not seen for so long.

Yet another reason is that although things do get bad over there (war is war after all), vets do not want to be doing something that is not worthwhile. My own misgivings about the war have caused quite an internal conflict when I've come into contact with so many Iraqi's who were so grateful for us to be there and who personally told me stories and shown me pictures of their friends and family who were killed by Saddam's regime for oppossing them. How do you look into the eyes of a person who has suffered so much and tell them you don't care about their plight?

[baldguy]

8. At least 463 have come home.

Permanently.

[Columbia]

9. Yes...

and what a very sad thought that is. :-(