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Reader comment on:
Defense Secretary Is Wary of Adding More Iraq Troops
in response to reader comment: ARE YOU ALL BLIND!

Submitted by Eyeball Kid, Dec 29, 2006 16:13

You are in a combat zone up close, and you do not have the luxury of perspective. You are there, oddly, to make certain that you survive your tour of duty, that you take orders to that immediate end, and that you protect the soldiers in your unit. To make such global statements while possibly experiencing traumatic stress is both unwise and unfair. Wars are about killing and being killed, but beginning and ending wars are largely political events. In our country, we are clamoring to end the war, to make a political settlement. While that may be frustrating to you, you must acknowledge that a military role in fighting a war is always limited by what is politically possible. Complete military victory, which appears to be what you are promoting, would mean an annihilation of the entire country, since it's now the citizens of Iraq who are engaging in fighting and logistical support. You may be engaged in urban guerilla warfare, with the "enemy" using standard guerilla tactics, but you generally are not engaged in combating the "terrorists" who are supposed to be the ultimate target of your commander in chief. You know the numbers, and if you don't, then you should find out what they are. You are engaged in fighting an indigenous population who has issues of its own to settle, and who view the US' presence as being an affront to their sovereignty. You should know this. My wishes for you are that you survive your tour and make it back without injury, that you have an opportunity to think long and hard about your experience in Iraq, and that you are given every opportunity to re-enter civilian society and succeed in your own way.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment By Date

I just have something to say to all of you who don't think we can win this war . It... [MORE]

SSG B.C. US ARMY 

Dec 29, 2006 09:53

Sgt. give us a break, i understand your warrior mentality and thats fine but dont blame your fellow american citizens... [MORE]

Lee 

Dec 29, 2006 12:27

I believe you took an oath to uphold the constitution, which grants ultimate authority to the American people, not the... [MORE]

Ron Kossik 

Dec 29, 2006 13:03

You are in a combat zone up close, and you do not have the luxury of perspective. You are there,...

Eyeball Kid 

Dec 29, 2006 16:13

Boo Yah! to SSG B.B. US Army. We're with you brother, and if we can only get these newspapers to... [MORE]

Bill Antonowicz 

Jan 12, 2007 18:46

I'm sick and tired of military leaders being jerked around by poiticians that don't have a clue , when it... [MORE]

Alex Panos 

Dec 29, 2006 08:14

I truly believe Bush fancies himself as Alexander The Great, riding gloriously and victoriously, leading the Greeks into Egypt. [MORE]

Paul Bookidis 

Dec 29, 2006 11:09

Just as prior to the start of the Iraq war Bush had a tremendous buildup of troops in Kuwait. He... [MORE]

BILL M 

Dec 28, 2006 15:33

Clearly Bush is almost alone in his view that sending additional troops to Iraq will help. But knowing him as... [MORE]

Robert H. 

Dec 28, 2006 15:10

I am amazed how this campaign has been waged. To put it bluntly...whoever is orchestrating this campaign is inept, whether... [MORE]

steve burns 

Dec 28, 2006 14:33

Many, civilians and military alike, have been saying from the begiining that more troops were needed for the mission in... [MORE]

Robert 

Dec 28, 2006 13:30

It is more and more obvious that it is time to be completely forthcoming and honest about our objectives in... [MORE]

Joseph Miranda 

Dec 28, 2006 18:04

Define what winning is for Iraq?Bush's political goals for Iraq are dead.So what is left to win? [MORE]

fcsanders 

Dec 27, 2006 08:53

I think the issue among the adults is how to leave while doing the least damage and not having the... [MORE]

Marcos 

Dec 28, 2006 12:56

A winning strategy, ther is no such thing! The problem for this President and Administration Leaders is that if they... [MORE]

June 

Dec 28, 2006 23:06

You brought up an important point, June. The looting. At the time of the looting, Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld... [MORE]

Marcos 

Jan 2, 2007 16:31

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