Frontline soldiers say NO amount of "surge" will fix things!

[RiverStone]

With all the political pontificating and speculating about our Commander in Thief's plan to justify his lie's by sending more American men and women into harm's way; I think no voices are more compelling then those of our soldiers in the field.

For the case in point, read recent voices from the Army's 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment as they patrolled the streets of eastern Baghdad.

* * * * *
From AP
12/28/06

Spc. Don Roberts, who was stationed in Baghdad in 2004, said the situation had gotten worse because of increasing violence between Shiites and Sunnis.

"I don't know what could help at this point," said Roberts, 22, of Paonia, Colo. "What would more guys do? We can't pick sides. It's almost like we have to watch them kill each other, then ask questions."

Based in Fort Lewis, Wash., the battalion is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division. Deployed in June, its men were moved to Baghdad from Mosul in late November to relieve another Stryker battalion that had reached the end of its tour.

"Nothing's going to help. It's a religious war, and we're caught in the middle of it," said Sgt. Josh Keim, a native of Canton, Ohio, who is on his second tour in Iraq. "It's hard to be somewhere where there's no mission and we just drive around."

Capt. Matt James, commander of the battalion's Company B, was careful in how he described the unit's impact since arriving in Baghdad.

"The idea in calling us in was to make things better here, but it's very complicated and complex," he said.

But James said more troops in combat would likely not have the desired effect.

"The more guys we have training the Iraqi army the better," he said. "I would like to see a surge there."

During a recent interview, Lt. Gen. Nasier Abadi, deputy chief of staff for the Iraqi army, said that instead of sending more U.S. soldiers, Washington should focus on furnishing his men with better equipment.

"We are hoping 2007 will be the year of supplies," he said.

more:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061228/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_more_troops

* * * * *
Not since the Vietnam era, have we seen what follows from our soldiers:

Over 1000 active duty, reserve, and guard soldiers have signed a petition which will be delivered to Congress on Martin Luther King day this month! This is an organized and active opposition. They have entitled it: An Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq. The Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to their Congressional Representative and US Senators to urge an end to the U.S. military occupation.

The wording of the Appeal for Redress is short and simple. It is patriotic and respectful in tone.

As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq . Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.

see full petition and related press releases here:

http://www.appealforredress.org/index.php

:patriot: They are Patriot's - All!



edit: spelling

[xultar]

1. CNN did a special on the war and right in their report military folks were saying

that no amount of extra troops would fix this fucking mess.

[durrrty libby]

2. There are no winners in religious wars, and our idiot in chief

can't comprehend this, or any other simple truth.



:hangover: :dunce: :hurts:

[northofdenali]

3. Yes, they are patriots, and it is a civil (religous) war!

"the battalion is part of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division. Deployed in June, its men were moved to Baghdad from Mosul in late November to relieve another Stryker battalion that had reached the end of its tour."

The battalion they replaced was, I believe, the 172nd Stryker Brigade, posted here in Fairbanks, most of whom returned home in November/December (all but the dead troops, of which there were way too many). The 172nd has a lot of guys/gals in my neighborhood, and, to a man, evey one I've spoken with is anti-surge, anti-Iraq war and anti-Bush, even the ones who were strong Bush supporters when they were deployed.

[RiverStone]

4. It would be great...

...to actually here from someone from the 172nd here on DU. I'd really value their real life perspective. Always appreciate going straight to the source. So maybe if ya run into a friend in the neighborhood? Invite them here.

Thanks!

[northofdenali]

5. I've invited - most are still active duty and a little leery

of becoming activist, but I'm working on 'em!!

[AndreaCG]

6. I feel terrible for the troops

How awful it must be to know every day you risk your life for an absolutely futile cause.