John, this is not politically motivated and I only ask you because I know your were an Iraqi war vet. What did you think about us going to war in Iraq as opposed to putting all of our efforts in Afghanistan?
I have always supported it, but I wish that we took a more aggressive approach (to both wars) instead of fighting a "politically correct" war. The Iraqi's that I worked with were so greatful that we were there. I met people who had fingers chopped off because they wouldn't fight in the Iran/Iraq war. It was amazing watching them gain freedoms. I was there for the first election and I saw the "purple fingers". I saw for the first time, satellite dishes appear on rooftops and they were able to get outside news and entertainment. While I was there the two most popular TV shows became Oprah and Dr. Phil!
I feel that my service made a huge difference to these people and I know the majority of those fighting us were from Iran. The Iranians would come into villages and find people without jobs and had limited skills and they would be hired to plant bombs or fire mortors on our troops. They were "usefull idiots".
Had we been much more aggressive from day 1, we would not be in the possition we are today. I'm glad that Obama followed the order signed by GWB to withdraw in 2011 (and not sooner), but I hate the fact that it was done publically.
thanks djohn. I truly appreciate your insite on. this war. it had to be awful being there, especially when you were there. I tend to be a bit of a pacifist regarding war. I know if I w your mom I would have been frightened beyond belief every day you were there. I sincerely thank you for your service.
Thank you. It was amazing. Being a follower of Christ, it was amazing to be in the land of The Garden of Eden. Abaraham's actually house (well the foundation of it) in the city of UR was located on my base. That was an amazing place to have Easter church service! (which was attended by superstar Charlie Daniels!)
I enjoy hearing your experiences. I remember in the Viet Nam war, I lived in Alameda, California where a lot of the officers lived who were in the service. Some lived in our apartment complex. My husband had gotten off the Kitty Hawk and we had a lot of guys who were on various ships living around us, as well. They used to tell us what you did, that if they had been able to conduct the war like it was supposed to be done, the war could have been over 6 years before. This was in the late late 60's.
sstonetx writes:
I enjoy hearing your experiences. I remember in the Viet Nam war, I lived in Alameda, California where a lot of the officers lived who were in the service. Some lived in our apartment complex. My husband had gotten off the Kitty Hawk and we had a lot of guys who were on various ships living around us, as well. They used to tell us what you did, that if they had been able to conduct the war like it was supposed to be done, the war could have been over 6 years before. This was in the late late 60's.
That was the begining of politically correct warfare. Obviously it wasn't under the microscope as much as war is today, but it was the first war fought in the livingrooms of Americans.
sstonetx writes:
I enjoy hearing your experiences. I remember in the Viet Nam war, I lived in Alameda, California where a lot of the officers lived who were in the service. Some lived in our apartment complex. My husband had gotten off the Kitty Hawk and we had a lot of guys who were on various ships living around us, as well. They used to tell us what you did, that if they had been able to conduct the war like it was supposed to be done, the war could have been over 6 years before. This was in the late late 60's.
Yes, I watched it in horror every night. In the beginning the guys had rubber bullets and were told they couldn't shoot unless someone shot at them, first. I used to cry over the photos in the paper of the beautiful young men who were losing their lives for what I thought was a senseless war. I felt the same way about going into Iraq. I hated that so many guys didn't come home and so many are wounded. You guys went where you were told to go. You didn't have the choice, but, I wish you had not been put into that position. It sucked!
That was the begining of politically correct warfare. Obviously it wasn't under the microscope as much as war is today, but it was the first war fought in the livingrooms of Americans.
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