Soldier: We're just 'putting a Band-Aid' on Iraq until we leave

[cal04]

Many American soldiers who were once firm believers of the US mission in Iraq are starting to question why they are still in the country, reports the International Herald Tribune.

"In Mosul, in 2003, it felt like we were making the city a better place," describes Staff Sergeant David Safstrom. "There was no sectarian violence, Saddam was gone, we were tracking down the bad guys. It felt awesome."

But now on his third tour of duty, he has begun to question his mission. After killing a member of the Iraqi Army in the act of setting up a road side bomb, Safstrom began to wonder what he and his comrades were still doing in Iraq.

(snip)
Safstrom rejects the contention made by made war supporters that if Americans leave to early, the country will descend into chaos. "If we stayed here for 5, even 10 more years, the day we leave here these guys will go crazy," he told the IHT. "It would go straight into a civil war. That's how it feels, like we're putting a Band-Aid on this country until we leave here."

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Soldier_Were_just_putting_BandAid_on_0527.html

With allies in enemy ranks, GIs in Iraq are no longer true believers
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/27/news/delta.php

[whistle]

1. So the troops know they are leaving and Shrub* knew he was

...taking the troops out in 2008 right before the election, but he still got $100 billion blank check from congress for his crony war profiteers!

[LynnTheDem]

2. Until this year, most US troops still believed the incredible bullshit

that Iraq did 911.

Now the majority of troops know this was an utter LIE told only by the bUsh regime only to Americans and bought into only by Americans.

Now the majority of troops disapporve of bUsh's invasion of Iraq and bUsh's escalation.

Since most US troops are only allowed to watch Fox "News", gotta give US troops huge credit for managing to see the FACTS despite the rightwingnut bullshit as spewed daily by Fox "News".

Majority of troops dissatisfied with handling of war; believe war was wrong
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=3024215

[Rex]

3. I don't think troop moral can get any lower, Bush has seen to that.

George Bush Jr. has done more to 'help' the 'terrorists' than any other American since his fabricated 'War on Terror'(TM).

[StarryNite]

4. The military does a lot of brainwashing

on it's troops to make them believe that this 'war' is a just cause.

[kenny blankenship]

5. The same thing that will happen if we leave 2 years from now, 4 yrs or 8

S.S. Safstrom is correct. We destabilized the country when we invaded and inverted the relationship between the dominant group and the subjugated group(s). Our being there destabilizes and paradoxically stabilizes the country at the same time. As long as we're there, Iraq will be ungovernable. And as long as Iraq is ungovernable, Bush and all the loud dumb assholes who think this is a football game and we have to cheer on our side to victory no matter what, will say that we have to stay there.
Iraq is a slaughterhouse under our occupation. It will be an exploding slaughterhouse after we leave.
But it's going to be the same explosion whether we leave now, tomorrow, two years from now or twenty. Meanwhile we're bleeding our own Army to death and hemorrhaging our country's future creditworthiness. Just to save Bush's chimpanzee face.

We have to get out.

Sadly, I'm afraid we will learn too late that there's no way to "compromise" your way out of a Fascist takeover of the government, nor out of an illegal occupation. The end comes suddenly --despite the months and years of agonized debate, pleading and wrangling--or not at all.

[thunder rising]

6. 911 was a big recruiting bonanza for the military

They were kids and they were mad as hell. All it took was for Bush to point at Saddam and they were ready to eat sand. It takes a lot to finally realize you've been had. They volunteered to go and all that is left for those that wish to believe in the justice they were to administer is denial. All that debt, misery and death, and in the end the denial is shattered with reality. The mission, as in Vietnam is to stay alive to go home. There will be nothing "won" here.

[dave_p]

7. Some Band-Aid

"the day we leave here these guys will go crazy"

Celebrating, probably.