A U.S. soldier in Iraq wonders: 'How many more must die?'

Peoria Journal Star ^ | 08/26/03 | TIM and a professional writer maybe?

[m1-lightning]

A U.S. soldier in Iraq wonders: 'How many more must die?'

August 24, 2003

By TIM PREDMORE

"Shock and Awe" were the words used to describe the awesome display of power the world was to view upon the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was to be an up-close, dramatic display of military strength and advanced technology within the arsenal of the United States and the United Kingdom's military.

But as a soldier preparing for the invasion of Iraq, the words "shock and awe" rang deeper within my psyche. These two great superpowers were about to break the very rules they demand of others. Without the consent of the United Nations, and ignoring the pleas of their own citizens, the United States and Britain invaded Iraq.

"Shock and Awe"? Yes, the words correctly described the emotional impact I felt as we prepared to participate in what I believed not to be an act of justice but of hypocrisy. L

From the moment the first shot was fired in this so-called war of liberation and freedom, hypocrisy reigned. Following the broadcasting of recorded images of captured and dead U.S. soldiers over Arab television, American and British leaders vowed revenge while verbally assaulting the networks for displaying such vivid images. Yet within hours of the deaths of Saddam's two sons, the American government released horrific photos of the two dead brothers for the entire world to view. Again, a "do as we say and not as we do" scenario.

As soldiers serving in Iraq, we have been told that our purpose here is to help the people of Iraq by providing them the necessary assistance militarily as well as in humanitarian efforts. Then tell me where the humanity was in the recent Stars and Stripes account of two young children brought to a U.S. military camp by their mother, in search of medical care? The two children had been, unbeknown to them, playing with explosive ordinance they had found and as a result were severely burned. The account tells how the two children, following an hour-long wait, were denied care by two U.S. military doctors. The soldier described the incident as one of many "atrocities" he has witnessed on the part of the U.S. military.

So then, what is our purpose here? Was this invasion due to weapons of mass destruction as we so often heard? If so, where are they? Did we invade to dispose of a leader and his regime on the account of close association with Osama bin Laden? If so, where is the proof? Or is it that our incursion is a result of our own economic advantage? Iraq's oil can be refined at the lowest cost of any in the world. Coincidence?

This looks like a modern-day crusade not to free an oppressed people or to rid the world of a demonic dictator relentless in his pursuit of conquest and domination but a crusade to control another nation's natural resource. At least for us here, oil seems to be the reason for our presence.

There is only one truth, and it is that Americans are dying. There are an estimated 10- to 14-attacks on our servicemen and women daily in Iraq. As the body count continues to grow, it would appear that there is no immediate end in sight.

I once believed that I served for a cause: "to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Now, I no longer believe; I have lost my conviction, my determination. I can no longer justify my service for what I believe to be half-truths and bold lies. My time is done as well as that of many others with whom I serve. We have all faced death here without reason or justification.

How many more must die? How many more tears must be shed before America awakens and demands the return of the men and women whose job it is to protect them rather than their leader's interest?

Tim Predmore is on active duty with the 101st Airborne Division near Mosul, Iraq. A 1985 Richwoods High School graduate and native Peorian, he has been in Iraq since March and in the military for about five years.

[m1-lightning]

This was an op-ed in Sunday's paper and it was brought up on our local conservative radio station. Punitive Articles of the UCMJ

Article 88—Contempt toward officials

Uniformed Code of Military Justice

Text.

“Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

Elements.

(1) That the accused was a commissioned officer of the United States armed forces;

(2) That the accused used certain words against an official or legislature named in the article;

(3) That by an act of the accused these words came to the knowledge of a person other than the accused; and

(4) That the words used were contemptuous, either in themselves or by virtue of the circumstances under which they were used. Note: If the words were against a Governor or legislature, add the following element

(5) That the accused was then present in the State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession of the Governor or legislature concerned.

Explanation. The official or legislature against whom the words are used must be occupying one of the offices or be one of the legislatures named in Article 88 at the time of the offense. Neither “Congress” nor “legislature” includes its members individually. “Governor” does not include “lieutenant governor.” It is immaterial whether the words are used against the official in an official or private capacity. If not personally contemptuous, ad-verse criticism of one of the officials or legislatures named in the article in the course of a political discussion, even though emphatically expressed, may not be charged as a violation of the article.

Similarly, expressions of opinion made in a purely private conversation should not rdinarily be charged. Giving broad circulation to a written publication containing contemptuous words of the kind made punishable by this article, or the utterance of contemptuous words of this kind in the presence of military subordinates, aggravates the offense. The truth or falsity of the statements is immaterial.

Lesser included offense. Article 80—attempts

Maximum punishment. Dismissal, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 1 year.

Note: While only commissioned officers can be charged under this article, DOD Directive 1344.10 - POLITICAL ACTIVITIES BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON ACTIVE DUTY, extend these same requirements to all individuals on active duty. Enlisted members and warrant officers who violate these provisions can be charged under Article 92 of the UCMJ, Failure to Obey an Order or Regulation.

[TomServo]

Don't worry, Timmy. You'll be home soon, now. You might wanna check your DD-214 on your way out the door, though.

[ilgipper]

Notice there is no mention of other soldiers feeling this way. This is a lone nut with an agenda. Tim needs to get out, or be asked kindly to leave the service.

[CholeraJoe]

Looks like Timmy might be in line for a Big Chicken Dinner.

[TastyManatees]

This guy is 36 years old? You would think someone would have better judgment after serving 5 years.

Tasty Manatees

[AppyPappy]

Dear Timmy,

You're fired.

Have a Special Day,
Uncle Sam

[Flint]

This is pure propaganda to undermine our military. Yes, some of our military is getting shot at and killed. That is the reason we have military. I hate to see it happen, but one of the goals in this operation is to keep the killing over there. If we were not over there those Muslim nut cases would have a lot of idle time to be figuring out how to kill bunches of us over here. As it is, the hated Americans are right in their living room and too tempting a target to seek ones elsewhere. Every time they attack our military we learn one more little detail about where they are and who they are and it gives us one more tool to destroy them.

Destroy them we will.

[wimpycat]

Tim Predmore is on active duty with the 101st Airborne Division near Mosul, Iraq. A 1985 Richwoods High School graduate and native Peorian, he has been in Iraq since March and in the military for about five years.

Correction: Tim Predmore WAS on active duty with the 101st Airborne Division....

Assuming this is true to begin with...assuming he's a real person. A 1985 graduate has to be at least 35 years old and this says he's been in the military "about 5 years". I don't think the 101st takes 30 year old recruits.

[Blood of Tyrants]

There are malcontents in every unit. The CO's job is to make sure that their constant bitching doesn't affect overally unit moral.

BTW, when I was in the Navy, I fully supported the military and any mission my CIC (the Gipper) sent me on. It was just he Navy in general that I hated ;^)

[Coop]

he has been in Iraq since March and in the military for about five years.

So Timmy was around for Billy Clinton's wag-the-dog Bosnian attack - which suddenly after three years became a critical issue right after his 45 Dem Senator friends refused to find him guilty. I'd love to see Timmy's article on hypocrisy back then.

[Flint]

I sure am glad that Tommy is not in my Marine Corps, effing it up!

[COBOL2Java]

I thought complaints were supposed to go up the chain of command. Last time I looked, the press were not part of the chain of command. This boy is an idiot.

[dirtboy]

Good catch. Methinks this was just made up by someone who wasn't very good at math.

[wimpycat]

The more I look at this, the more I think this whole thing is a FAKE!

[dirtboy]

The account tells how the two children, following an hour-long wait, were denied care by two U.S. military doctors.

If there was any substance to this story, the media would have been all over it.

[mbynack]

I believe you may be correct. I thought that the maximum age for enlistment was 27.

[A Simple Soldier]

He is a real soldier also. I just checked to make sure he was not some pseudonym.

A SPC (E4) with an MOS of 67T (UH60 Helicopter Repairer) assigned to the Command Aviation Battalion.

Somehow, I doubt he is patrolling the badlands. He is assigned to the Division Support Area.

[OldFriend]

Here's my take on the prosecution of the Iraq victory.

FWIW

By storming directly to Baghdad without stopping to anililate every Iraqi soldier on the way, we saved thousands of lives, INCLUDING THE LIVES OF MANY OF OUR SOLDIERS.

This was a brilliant strategy.

[TomServo]

Here's a website just for you. A personal favorite of mine. :-)

[AmericanInTokyo]

My, I believe that man just committed a military crime.

[wimpycat]

Somebody ought to write to the Peoria Journal Star and tell them that they've been had. This thing stinks to high heaven. I really think it's a fake.

[wimpycat]

Isn't the maximum age for enlistment 27? How can he be 35+ and have only 5 years in?

[mtbopfuyn]

Let's hope little Timmy-Wimmy had the foresight to bilk the military out of a college education cause he's gonna need it.

[m1-lightning]

Tim's uncle was on the radio yesterday defending this article after the host criticized him over it. The show host thinks he got help writing the article from a professional writer or juournalist. And you can sign up for the military until you are 35 years old. I saw a 30 year old go through bootcamp before.

[dirtboy]

Somebody ought to write to the Peoria Journal Star and tell them that they've been had. This thing stinks to high heaven. I really think it's a fake.

I just did that, and I encourage others to do the same. This has peacenik fraud written all over it.

[wimpycat]

????

[m1-lightning]

Somehow, I doubt he is patrolling the badlands.

Too much time on his hands.

[BluH2o]

My take on this ... pure bunk perpetrated by some whining liberal who claims to be in the military. If this 35 year old soldier is indeed in the military ... he won't be for much longer.

[m1-lightning]

Somebody ought to write to the Peoria Journal Star and tell them that they've been had. This thing stinks to high heaven. I really think it's a fake.

Or the Peoria Journal Star wrote this in his name... they are a liberal rag by the way.

[general_re]

I believe the general maximum for the US Army is 34, although the maximum enlistment age can be much lower for certain specialties.

[Coop]

I'm sure it's a legitimate letter from a whiner.

I did take the opportunity, however, to write a letter to the editor:

Response to Tim Predmore

Editor, I finished reading, with some effort, Mr. Predmore's article on the presumed hypocrisy in the war in Iraq. (I use the term "Mr. Predmore" only because this active duty soldier's rank was never identified.) The article ended with the phrase "[Predmore] has been in Iraq since March and in the military for about five years."

Five years - back to 1998. So this means Mr. Predmore was in the military for America's military intervention - without U.N. approval - in Bosnia. You know, the conflict which had been simmering for years but suddenly became absolutely critical right after a beleaguered President's 45 Democrat Senatorial colleagues refused to find him guilty. Please print a copy of Mr. Predmore's article on hypocrisy relating to that conflict as well. Because I know someone so insulted by hypocrisy would never allow himself to be a hypocrite. Right?

[sergeantdave]

Timmy is sad that he got passed over again for promotion - from Pvt. to PFC. Well, Timmy, just stay where you are. The 101st needs someone to clean out the shitcans in the rear.

[CheneyChick]

Isn't the maximum age for enlistment 27?

To join the Army, you must be between the ages of 17 and 34 (both Active Duty and Reserve).

[chachacha]

Tim Predmore

Dear Timmy

We sure do hope the folks in Peoria are as proud of you as I am. It takes a special kind of human being to stand up and tell of the evil that surrounds us. The enemies of peace must be exposed. Those that kill shall be killed. Thank you for your bravery and honesty. Your fellow comrades in arms must be very proud of you. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely Saddom Hussien

[wimpycat]

Thanks! I spoke to a Marine recruiter at a Job Fair a few years ago, and they told me they didn't take anybody over...now I can't remember, but it was under 30. It was either 27, 28 or 29, IIRC.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

This joker is toast.

He will be court marshalled.

No Question!!!

[Spruce]

This jerk-off is a disgrace to the Screaming Eagles.

[general_re]

The max for the Marine Corps is, IIRC, 28. You might remember when Riddick Bowe, the former boxer, enlisted in the Marines for a grand total of three days a few years ago - he was 29 at the time and had to get a special waiver to enlist. And then he bailed anyway ;)

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

This is a lone nut with an agenda.

Or the figment of a lone nut's imagination, who happens to write for the Peoria Journal Star. This reads like the liberal version of the well-known 'E-Mail From a U.S. Soldier in Iraq', which may be far more accurate, but are probably also fictitious.
The point of the media's negative blitz, I suppose, is to obscure reality with a dust screen of BS, so that those who are against our effort can feel vindicated, and those who support it are at a loss for verification. (Unless they read FreeRepublic, of course.)

[boxerblues]

BTTT FOR LATER HURLING

[m1-lightning]

Ping

[JustPiper]

All the lib media is concentrating on today is the nuber of soldiers dying in postwar Iraq has now exceeded the total of the conflict.

[m1-lightning]

All the lib media is concentrating on today is the nuber of soldiers dying in postwar Iraq has now exceeded the total of the conflict.

I noticed that. Who cares about the debates that have occured in Iraq or the elections coming up for their people or any other progress being made over there. All they care about is making this war out to be another vietnam.

[CAbornAmerasianinDC]

Good letter...

Now if someone would just write HQ 101st Airborne, preferably with the link...

Let's see what happens. As listed earlier, complaints are supposed to go through the chain of command.

If indeed these are his statements, I forsee a Field Grade Article 15 in Timmy's future.

[JustPiper]

They do not have a clue to the elections, these are the only tactics they know.

[berserker]

Any commissioned officer ... [post 1]

What part of the UCMJ did you not understand, or are you deliberately suggesting that the section you quoted also applies to enlisted personnel?

[berserker]

Yes, some of our military is getting shot at and killed. That is the reason we have military. [post 7]

I hope those in the military don't take offense to this off-hand remark by someone who obviously never served in his nation's armed forces.

[TradicalRC]

Just a response to your tagline: the Nazis FORCED mothers to kill their children, the Democrats defend thr RIGHT of mothers to kill their children. And that's what makes our country superior to Nazi Germany.

[Poohbah]

30 years old for enlistment without a waiver, 35 with a waiver.

After 9/11, I was told that I was "too old" to return to my beloved Marine Corps.

I told that young whippersnapper of a recruiter to be more respectful of his elders.

[TomServo]

the section you quoted

Are you asking me or are you asking the poster in [1]?