Submitted by John T. (US Army, retired), Jan 4, 2008 11:33

Have you ever been in a war? Known the sheer terror of life and death from an unknown and often unseen assailant?
Were you in Vietnam and saw the Tet offensive? The carnage, the injury, the sheer mass production of death. Even at the time we didn't know who won, who lost or if we had actually achieved anything.
Ever sat up at three in the morning with your loved one, crying her eyes out because her son is no longer? You don't why, she doesn't know why; everyone says he's a hero, fought for his country and gave the ultimate sacrifice. But he was only 21. A future denied in a brutal roadside bomb. Trust me, you don't know why.
Or been a Mother looking for her little children? Killed by missile from the 'good guys"?
Have you any children who cannot cope with their life now that they are returned? No amount of counseling can assuage the feelings of what was experienced. No amount of counseling can allay the damage of lost legs or arms. No amount of counseling can help with putting back together a mind shattered by the terror of experience.
Ideals are one thing. Tell that to the Mother who's son didn't even warrant a correctly spelled notification of his death. All that that Mother knows is that her son is now dead.
All the other Iraqi Mother knows is that her children, so little and innocent are dead. She doesn't know why, she didn't think about politics. Was only concerned to get her children to be decent proper citizens in a dangerous world.
Food not war? War is not the answer? Leftist?
No. They are not leftist or infantile. The casualties of war, any war, are real people. Like you or I. They are real children and no amount of saying "heroes - one and all" will offer any consolation. No amount of saying this organization offers this service or that service.
Nothing takes away the nightmares. Nothing takes away the fact that you killed. Nothing takes away the guilt that you survived, but your friend didn't. Nothing takes away the horror of a Mother who's children are killed. Nothing takes away the greater horror of a battle's aftermath.
War is an evil that mankind lives and dies with. But, please, do not be glib in dismissing the arguments of those who oppose war. Do not be glib in describing the inadequate provisions for those who have lost loved ones as being considerable of of use. Do not be so dismissive of those who have given their all in the name of 'for their country'. They and their loved ones have lost more than most can even think of, not even imagine.
All I know is that the nightmares destroy a mind, even after thirty years. That a precious son is dead. That a Mother has lost her little children due to 'collateral' damage. Tell me, would you really want any of this visited upon yourself or those you love?

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