Calif. Battalion Deploys To Iraq For Third Time For Seven Months Of Hell

[bigtree]

Marines, Sailors Bid Farewell
Local Battalion Deploys To Iraq For Third Time

http://www.10news.com/news/5929553/detail.html



OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Hundreds of San Diego County-based Marines and sailors began a seven-month deployment to Iraq Saturday.

The personnel, members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, bid farewell to tearful family and friends Saturday morning in preparation for their latest tour of duty in Al Anbar Province, USMC authorities said.

Marine Gary Allen said he expected less strife in the area since his last deployment.

"I think it's a little more settled down this time," Allen told KGTV10.

Anne Goad, a Marine wife, said she and others are scared for their loved ones, but the feelings are complex.

"It's so mixed with how proud we are," Goad said.

The activation, which will occur over several days, is the battalion's third deployment to Iraq since 2003.

These send-offs really tear me up because of the needless risk that the politicians are putting these men and women under, for a mission that has nothing to do with anything related to our national security. And, there is that risk, very real, that some of these soldiers won't be coming home alive or in one piece. Who, what are they fighting for? Sunnis? Kurds? Shiites? Certainly not Iraqis. They want us out. These soldiers are political pawns on the wrong side of reality. Their rebuilding funds are being cut off. Why are they there?

Apparently there is no more interest in the White House for the needs of Iraqi citizens. No more interest in getting their electricity back on line, their water restored. But, there's more than enough money around to keep our troops tied to whatever imperialism in that region our secretive government can engineer. They are mercenaries for the new, propped up authority, they are guards for the oil, they are the thread in the fake uniforms the chickenhawks wear to mask their own avoidance of service, and the fabric of the flag that craven toadies of the military industry drape themselves in when they justify their warmongering.

They are our sons and daughters, our husbands and our wives, and they deserve better than this forced march to slaughter.

[babylonsister]

1. Can you image sending a loved one off FOR THE THIRD

TIME, especially after the horrific news we had this morning regarding 17 more dead? :cry:

[classof56]

2. My thoughts exactly. I am sad beyond all measure.

This evil, ugly, totally meaningless war will remain a blot on our country forevermore. May there be some place and some time when Bush and his minions must answer for their deeds. The hope that they will is all that keeps me going.

Tired Old Cynic

[NanceGreggs]

3. Beautifully written commentary, BigTree ...

... and oh, so sadly, true.

[democrank]

4. This is absolutely infuriating.

THIRD tour? Members of Congress and Bush administration officials who support this abomination should be having family meetings to convince their kids it`s time to go off to war. It`s plain sickening.

[stop the bleeding]

5. Our boys better be ready to be sent for a 4th, 5th and maybe a 6th

time- until we either leave or we install a draft the current pool of available bodies will have be kept in use - over and over again

Nominating this thread for the awareness factor.