"I Am Nothing More Than A Pawn" An American Soldier In Rome

[Itsthetruth]

CounterPunch
May 5, 2005

"I Am Nothing More Than a Pawn"
May Day with an American Soldier in Rome
By MICHAEL LEONARDI

Rome, Italy.

Over the May Day weekend I met a 23 year old American Infantry soldier in a pub, who was here in Rome on a brief leave while being transferred from Germany to Fort Hood in Texas. Craig had already served a 15 month tour of duty in Iraq and is scheduled to return there in about three months. He described his experience as a complete and utter hell and provided great detail of his time spent north of Fallujah and in Baghdad. Craig's unit was hit with Improvised Explosive Devices daily and he witnessed the Red blood of death from many victims of this horrid war, both Iraqi and American. Craig, who originates from Portland, Oregon, volunteered for the military after 9/11 in the hopes of becoming part of a special forces unit. He had the naïve vision of targeting specific "terrorists" in covert operations as opposed to fighting in all out combat in a war that he does not believe in. He was misled by his recruitment officer into believing that he could quickly reach his desired post. Craig is completely disillusioned and feels, like so many soldiers, completely betrayed by his government. Craig does not believe in the war at all. He said "I am nothing more than a pawn," and does not want to go back to Iraq.

On May Day, along with a group of friends, I gave Craig a tour of Roma ending up at the annual outdoor concert organized by CGIL, CSIL and UIL ­ the three largest trade unions of Italy. He was excited about seeing some Italian music and being in the festive atmosphere among other young people. Craig was curious, open minded, observant and eager to learn, while we, in turn were learning much from him. Before meeting Craig I had a difficult time empathizing with soldiers who had so willingly signed up. Now I was gaining a new perspective.

When we arrived at San Giovanni and witnessed the massive crowd of half a million people, we were reminded and explained to Craig that this had been the end point of the largest anti-war action in the world just two years past. On February the 15th of 2003, over 3,000,000 marched and attempted to converge in this same place to voice their opposition to the illegal attack on Iraq which he had now witnessed and participated in first hand. As American youth have little knowledge of May Day because of its elimination by the American Government after the Haymarket uprising, I gave Craig a brief history of this International celebration of the Red and Green. I identified the many flags waving above the crowd: Italy's Rainbow flag of peace; some of the trade unions; many of the communist party as Red was a dominant colour of the day; the red and black of the EZLN Zapatistas, Che Guevara, Cuba, Palestine, and then ­ quite remarkably and directly behind us, when Craig had run off to buy us a beer ­a young man was waving the only Iraqi flag in the crowd.

I have contacted an old friend, CounterPunch contributor and fellow Toledoan, Michael Ferner of the Veterans for Peace and Program On Corporations Law And Democracy, for suggestions on helping Craig avoid a second tour of duty in Iraq. If anyone else has suggestions or ideas to help please send them along.



Michael Leonardi originates from Toledo, Ohio, and is currently living and working in Rome, Italy. He can be reached at: [email protected]

http://www.counterpunch.org/leonardi05052005.html

[Jade Fox]

1. Wow. The arrogant Neocons....

seem to be completely oblivious to how many Craigs they are creating
with their ugly war.

Its interesting to note how clearly this young person was thinking when
he envisioned how he could best be used fighting terrorists. Its common
sense that a sloppy blitzkrieig against a whole country was a stupid,
deadly plan, and he knew that.

[Double T]

2. With Bush and Iraq, we get everything but the truth!