The Real Iraq We Knew (12 Former Army Captains Dump on OIF in WaPo Op-Ed)

The Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, October 16, 2007 | 12 former Army Captains

[kristinn]

Today marks five years since the authorization of military force in Iraq, setting Operation Iraqi Freedom in motion. Five years on, the Iraq war is as undermanned and under-resourced as it was from the start. And, five years on, Iraq is in shambles.

As Army captains who served in Baghdad and beyond, we've seen the corruption and the sectarian division. We understand what it's like to be stretched too thin. And we know when it's time to get out.

SNIP

There is one way we might be able to succeed in Iraq. To continue an operation of this intensity and duration, we would have to abandon our volunteer military for compulsory service. Short of that, our best option is to leave Iraq immediately. A scaled withdrawal will not prevent a civil war, and it will spend more blood and treasure on a losing proposition.

America, it has been five years. It's time to make a choice.

This column was written by 12 former Army captains: Jason Blindauer served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Elizabeth Bostwick served in Salah Ad Din and An Najaf in 2004. Jeffrey Bouldin served in Al Anbar, Baghdad and Ninevah in 2006. Jason Bugajski served in Diyala in 2004. Anton Kemps served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Kristy (Luken) McCormick served in Ninevah in 2003. Luis Carlos Montalván served in Anbar, Baghdad and Nineveh in 2003 and 2005. William Murphy served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Josh Rizzo served in Baghdad in 2006. William "Jamie" Ruehl served in Nineveh in 2004. Gregg Tharp served in Babil and Baghdad in 2003 and 2005. Gary Williams served in Baghdad in 2003.

[kristinn]

It's amazing how junior officers are able to get together and have demoralizing op-eds placed in the two most influential liberal newspapers in the country: The New York Times in August and The Washington Post in October.

They know we're not going to reinstate the draft, so they are basically calling for us to immediately withdraw (quit, accept defeat, surrender, turn our backs on our allies.)

So, thanks for your past service guys and gals. But no thanks for giving our enemies aid and comfort with this piece.

[Just mythoughts]

So is there some contest to see which of these military guys will be selected to serve Hillry?

[in hoc signo vinces]

funny how they (WAPO, LAT, NYT) can give a voice to dissenters and those supporting their own agenda...but not to those that support efforts in Iraq...granted there’s been a couple of times the WAPO has published pro Iraq policy pieces, but those are numbers are a joke compared to the sheer number of hit pieces these papers run on a regular basis...

[Alberta's Child]

The only thing that really matters is whether their assessment is correct or incorrect.

Politics cuts both ways . . . I've said for a long time that if this war in Iraq had been handled in this manner by a Democratic administration, there would be plenty of well-grounded calls for the president's impeachment right here on FreeRepublic.

[Norman Bates]

I notice not one of these officers have spent time in Iraq in 2007.

[ladtx]

First of all, in what capacity did they serve? Knowing their branch (JAG vs Infantry) would make a huge difference in knowing how to take their judgement. Second of all, none have been there this year and some as long ago as 3-4 years ago. Things appear to be changing rapidly over there. Their judgement needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

[Eagles Talon IV]

Opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one. Taker note that not a one of these clowns has been in Iraq since 2006 (and only one of them as late as that).

have to wonder how long it actually took the libs to find a total of 19 men out of 160,000 who think the war effort is screwed up.

BTW, ever wonder how many soldiers in WW2 had less then praise for their commanders and CIC? There were plenty of them. folks but the difference is we had a media who understood the importance of preserving the will of the people to sustain the war effort. The problem today is the liberal anti American rabid Bush haters don’t even care that the threat we face today is magnitudes bigger then what we faced from the Axis.

[Rodm]

I noticed it’s been two or more years since these service people have been in Iraq and haven’t seen what has happen during the surge. It’s also strange they are picking up liberal Democrat talking points on how we need the draft. It doesn’t pass the smell test.

[2banana]

I bet they are all REMFs - and never left the bases on a combat mission...

FYI - I am a CPT in a combat arm...

[whershey]

I noticed the same thing. Not sure how they can judge the present situation based on data from before the surge.

[Just another Joe]

Just a thought, but when the boots on the ground are not told any part of the strategy they get discouraged. And I'm not talking about hearing about the surge on CNN or the lamestream media.
Sometimes the "big guys" forget that the "little guys" need something to hang their hats on.

If you don't tell them enough, it's a quagmire. If you tell them too much, it's possible info for the enemy.
It's a fine line on how much to tell the troops on the ground but they need to know something that makes sense to a boot on the ground.

[jveritas]

Notice that none of these guys is serving during this time where Al Qaeda in Iraq has been utterly defeated and crushed because the Surge has been successful beyond anyone expectations.

[tobyhill]

If Hillary is elected President are these same officers going to be saying the same things or are they going to have the “magic” formula for success in exchange for a sham position? I’m pretty sure of the answer.

[Thrownatbirth]

we would have to abandon our volunteer military for compulsory service

These JO's are showing their (lack) of age. As enlisted men know, they don't call them JO's for nothing. :-)

Don't forget that DU/MoveOn/Kos openly recruit malcontents among Iraqi vets precisely for these "group conscience" letters.

[PeterPrinciple]

This column was written by 12 former Army captains:

---

I wonder what the common linkage is..................

[in hoc signo vinces]

Your point reminds me of the Captain in Band of Brothers that was made a supply officer...because the sergeants hated him.

[oyez]

The son-in-law and I were talking about how they used the same kind of propaganda back in the Viet Nam conflict. At the critical time we gained the upper hand the press found enough turn coats to make a sham case and statred pressing to withdraw our forces.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

Note about the author: Jason Blindauer is an Xavier University graduate, class of 2001. He was an infantry officer in the U.S. Army until May 2006. He served in Iraq in 2003 (OIF I) and 2005 (OIF III). He currently works in Dallas, TX.

Found Here.

[jveritas]

We are winning this war and victory is very close. Al Qaeda has been crushed and defeated. Some generals on the ground are pushing to declare complete victory over Al Qaeda in Iraq.

[Jim Noble]

What does SNAFU stand for again?

I'm sure the expression was coined by junior officers in another time - but their collective opinion of the brass never changes.

Only now, they get column inches in the paper.