Care to comment on this Soldier's view?

[caribmon]

Or reply yourself. He just came out and is in Germany right now.

from WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING AT the bulletin boards at

http://www.expatica.com/www/marketplace/FORUM.asp?Country=&FORUM_ID=82&CAT_NAME=&CAT_ID=5&Forum_Title=International+news

at http://www.expatica.com

I found this website now while trying to research a possible assignment preference to Holland. Glad I did. If this bulletin board represents the majority of English speaking expatriates living in Holland you can have that country! I’ve never read more unadulterated crap in my life.

I’ve been in Saudi/Kuwait/Iraq since December but had to return to Germany for a few days. It’s definitely not a bed of roses there. War never is. But if you think GI’s are blowing away civilians at will then you are sadly mistaken or just an idiot. In order to do our job there we have to stay alive. If that means returning fire then so be it.

In case you need a refresher’s course on why we are there here it is in a nutshell. This might differ slightly from any official mandates for the various units but this is the general picture.

1. To find and or account for WMD. We know Iraq has them. Some were even obtained in the 1980’s. Iraq has failed to disclose the whereabouts or proof of their destruction. Their failure to comply with UN policies goes back to Clinton.
2. To prevent WMD being used by the Hussein regime. To facilitate this Hussein was removed from office. A benefit of this, the people have an opportunity for democracy.
3. To provide transitional assistance to prevent a Hussein-like dictator from seizing an opportunity to fill the government vacuum that now exists.
4. To aid and train internal Iraqi security forces to assume the role of peacefully policing the citizens and prevent large scale corruption due to any unlawfulness.


Byproducts of these will insure a tremendous jump in the quality of life for the average Iraqi. Saddam is not coming back. Never. Iraqis are happy we are there. Small unruly crowds can occur anywhere. Even in London and Washington. It’s the addition of weapons that makes any crowd control tedious.

If there are any expatriates in Holland that support our troops, I can’t tell it from this board. Only two or three posters appear to support our efforts to make Iraq a better place for Iraqis.

Sincerely,
Rob

[antineocon1]

1. Where's his rank and last name?

This is shite. Give us a letter with a rank and sir name, and then I'll give you an opinion.

[caribmon]

3. Not sure about his name and rank

He just posted to an expatriate site in Holland.

[antineocon1]

4. I want details...

Ask him about his experience. See if he has any details. I was in the military, so I'll know if it's a hoax. I've also been to the ME.

[punpirate]

2. No email address to verify.

Sounds like a ringer, to me. If not, well, that's the party line the White House and the Pentagon are pushing. I'm sure there must be a few soldiers who still believe the propaganda. Whole lot now who don't.

Cheers.

[tkmorris]

5. Not particularly

Though I will offer a couple of things which sprang to mind as I read this.

Number 1 this whole diatribe sounds more like it came from your average sofa-sitter than someone who had been there. I could be wrong (obviously) but thats just how it sounds.

Assuming te poster WAS there as he says, he clearly bought the whole bullshit "bring freedom to Iraqis" line. Plus the WMD "we know" are there. This stuff is just white noise but I won't bother to explain why. If you don't know this by now you're on the wrong board. Obviously there ARE military members who swallow whatever propaganda is fed them. The military's version of a teacher's pet.

Furthermore if he so easily dismisses the Iraqi's who don't appreciate the American occupation he seems a little obtuse. A class in empathy is definately in order here. On te one hand he lists all the wonderful things they are doing to make better the lives of the Iraqi people but casually dismisses the resentment they seem to have for the interference without ever examining it's cause.

In short, wake up boy, you've been had.

[GalleryGod]

9. I agree! Sounds like Hannity WannaBe Just 'Doin His Part'

:evilgrin: Know What I mean?:mad:
Military folk don't talk or write in that manner...takes a while to "lose the style".

FREEPER GOES TO AMSTERDAM is my Answer!:wtf:

[DarkPhenyx]

6. HE bought the party line.

My response as an Army Officer is.........

Well, technically it's illegal for me to give him my response.

[caribmon]

7. I could have been had.

I checked out the site and he did not leave an email. But Germany is a stopover point here in Europe.

Sorry if I erred. Who will ever know at any rate.

[deutsey]

8. Doesn't he mean "weapons program", not WMD

What's the current Bush revision of what we're looking for there?

Rob needs to keep up with what Bush's Ministry of Truth (Minitru) is saying...WMD is desperately being stuffed down the memory hole these days.