Posted on 08/10/2004 1:27:53 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4
Bump to find later
He didn't exactly say he was voting for Nader. He more or less left it up in the air. He strikes me as basically apolitical.
He's going to vote for Nader, does that tell you anything?
You couldn't make this sh!+ up!
Adding that if Freepers read things there that don't necessarily conform to their views, I hope they'll keep an open mind. Whether you agree with him or not, this guy is out there putting his life on the line. He at least deserves your respect for that.
Sir, indeed. I'm so glad guys like that are on our side.
From the blog:
QUESTION: I check out your blog everyday...not sure how I found it, but it's great to get a perspective that you would never get unless you knew someone in Iraq. I have two questions for you:1) Personal question: You joke about your recruiter a lot and the duty you pull (as every military guy I ever have known does) - but do you feel like you're making a difference for Iraq? For America? We'll probably not knowfor years, but I'd like to know what your (and maybe the general opinion) over there is. 2) Aside from the Iraq's on your FOB, what is your view of the Iraqi citizens opinions of what is happening and their view toward you? Do they seem thankful? Do you think they feel like they have a chance to actually make their country better? Do you sense hope? I also want to add that I truly respect what you are doing.Thanks....be safe. And thanks again for sharing your thoughts. -Allen
ANSWER: 1.) I personally think we're making a difference for the better here for these people. I don't know what it was like here when Saddam was in charge, but all the Iraqi's that I've talked to tell me it sucked. Do I feel like I've made a difference for America? I don't know. 2.) Every time I leave the FOB and hit the streets here in Mosul, may cargo pockets get filled with gifts from the Iraqi people. Fruits, breads, candy's, toys, whatever. Yea, there's a lot of people who also hate us, but you don't know their story. Its hard to explain, but I'm senescing a lot of pride with the Iraqi people now that the country is theirs again that wasn't there in the past. A lot more flags up and the ICP's and ING's are doing a really good job out here now policing this country and they seem like they really do care. I have a lot of faith and respect for the ING's and ICP's, those guys have one of the hardest jobs out there, cleaning up iraq, and they are actually are doing a lot of good.
QUESTION: First, the vast majority of Americans are very thankful for the great job you and your fellow soldiers are doing in Iraq. Next, continue to keep your musings real. Your stories about your experiences in Iraq are great. You don't need to use error free grammar. Your writings about Iraq are more interesting than those of Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings combined. Lastly, if you don't mind, I have a few questions. 1.) Friends of mine who oppose GW Bush and the war don't have a moral problem with anti-war protesters who publicly protest during ongoing conflict. I find this to be very problematic. I think it is fine to protest before conflict begins, but I have a problem with protesters who take a public stance once soldiers' feet are on the ground. What is the general opinion of you and your fellow soldiers regarding public protestations against the war after battle begins? I don't think this type of behavior influences most soldiers to do their job with less professionalism. Yet, I can't imagine it doesn't have some negative impact on your psyche. Do most soldiers perceive these public protesters as less patriotic?
ANSWER: The University here in Mosul had a huge Anti-America protest a couple months ago. 100's and 100's of young students protesting us being here. I asked my Kurdish friend who lives in Mosul what he thought of all the protesters and with a look of disgust he told me that the protesters are just ignorant and uneducated on what's really going on with Iraq. Sometimes I feel that way about our protesters back home. On a raid once I found some old Iraqi newspapers from back in the Saddam era, and he would always print photographs of all the anti-war protests in his papers, I guess to make it look like EVERYBODY in America was against Bush and the war. Me personally, we have the right to assemble and protest whatever we want to protest. If they want to protest before the war, go ahead, if they want to protest during the war, go ahead. It doesn't bother me and I don't think about them. I know this sounds like a total brainwashed answer, but my job is not to think about them and have them effect my job, my job is to my job. If people want to protest the war because they think it's an unjust war, that's fine, that's what makes America, America, we have that freedom to do that. A lot of the soldiers here are totally gung ho 100% for this war, which is fine, but whenever we sit around smoking and talking about the war, if I even bring up a argument that even remotely questions us being here and the legitimacy of this war, I'm usually called a liberal communist pinko from California. Which I'm not.
Someday we'll find out it was all fabricated by a bored housewife in Onaga, Kansas. </joke!>
Haven't read this guy but it occurs to me he shouldn't have had the time for this endeavor. I met many like him when I served and those in the rear complained more and had more than anyone I knew in the field. That his BC was his biggest threat reveals alot...
Remember all, those in the rear are the ones who horded the body armour, armored Hmvee's, etc, from the ones doing patrols.
I'm about 98% sure he's the real deal. Too many names, dates, and places check out.
Bump
Wait... I thought you had to be a high-school graduate to join the Army?
Pucker factor ping!
You can say that again! I just finished it.
Hey Xena go check out this guy's work. The whole unedited thing is here.
I knew him as 1LT William T. James when he was my PL in Korea, circa 1989.
Good guy.
ping
I just bookmarked him.
hmmm...rather odd story..."bump" to review later!
Amen.
Show me a man who lives alone and has a perpetually clean kitchen, and 8 times out of 9 I'll show you a man with detestable spiritual qualities.
--Charles Bukowski
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