Some thoughts on this very morbid milestone the media is "celebrating" at the moment...

[SKKY]

Two shipmates of mine just got back from Iraq yesterday. Thankfully, both are of sound body and, by all initial indications, sound mind as well. It's got me thinking a lot about this, since this time next year I won't be posting on DU but will be somewhere hot and sandy. In war, people die. It's what war is supposed to do. But in war, people are also hurt, maimed, and rendered incapacitated. Some of the injuries are obvious, like the soldier posing with W whose face is burned beyond all recognition. But many of those injured have wounds that only drugs and alcohol can subside. Many of those injuries affect the person long after the war has been lost, and the last confetti from the last parade has been swept off the street. I hate to say this, but I've seen enough over the past 16 years that it's made me realize this- in a lot of ways, those 4,000 who died got off easy. Their suffering has ended. The other 35,000+? Not so much.

[Droopy]

1. It seems that most people forgot what war does to people

back when Bush was selling us this war and 90% of Americans were buying into it. Well, they know now. It's shameful in the worst way that we actually have to have a war for people to remember these things.

[hippywife]

17. In the retirement center

where I work, there is one very sweet man who when asked one year if he wanted to participate in the Memorial Day program our "Rah! Rah!" Bush supporting activities person was staging got tears in his eyes and told her he just could not share his WWII experiences. His son asked me the other day if he had ever told me what he went through. I replied that he hadn't. His son said it was pretty horrific.

Most people may forget, but there are some for whom forgetting will never be an option.

[ThomCat]

2. I think the wounds from Iraq are going to haunt our country

for a very long, long time. :(

[DarkTirade]

3. Hell, there are still walking wounded from Vietnam around.

:\

[SKKY]

5. My sense is that you are probably 100% correct...

...perhaps more.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

12. In no way would I...

trivialize the plight of those in
the front lines by pointing out that
the United States is a nation of
walking wounded. That tragedy is
worsened by the keyboard commandos
and Chickenhawks who are proud of
their "patriotism."

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. It scares me, sickens me, and saddens me.

And I hate the thought of you going.

[SKKY]

6. I just hope I go and get back before we actually start the pull-out...

...I did that nonsense in Somolia, and it suckity suck sucked.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Just be safe...real safe.

and I will keep you in my thoughts every day.

[stuntcat]

8. I'm pissed off

I spend almost every day pissed off from now on but today I was just pissed the usual way. So then I watched the Frontline special that started on PBS tonight called "Bush's War" I had to turn it off so I can get ready for bed but it's some scary shit :mad: I can't watch part 2 tomorrow because I have to get up at 4:00 Wednesday. Not that I even need to watch that kinda stuff anymore :mad: :mad: :mad: I wish someone else would though.

[SKKY]

9. From what I've heard, it's not flattering.

[hippywife]

16. Not missing much.

I watched some of it last night and it was pretty easy to go "Oh, that was when they did the smoking gun, mushroom cloud routine." or "That's when they did/said this or that." just ahead of them showing it. We're all pretty well informed here so it's just a total rehash of the embarrassment and shame.

[Skittles]

10. the stress on military families is tremendous, too

as someone who grew up as a "miliary brat" I know the life is difficult enough; I cannot imagine what long deployments would have felt like.

[JVS]

11. Shipmates? What are sailors doing in Iraq?

[SKKY]

13. Two words. Individual Augmentees..

...We're all over the place in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Redstone]

14. I cannot reply to this post. I just cannot. But let me express my appreciation

for what you said.

Redstone

[SKKY]

15. Thank you redstone...

:patriot: