A Life, Wasted - Let's Stop This War Before More Heroes Are Killed

[papau]

Paul Schroeder, the managing director of a trade development firm in Cleveland, pens a Washington Post op-ed arguing that his son's death in Iraq was a "waste." He blames President Bush for not sending enough troops and for misunderstanding what it takes to build a democracy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/02/AR2006010200974.html

A Life, Wasted
Let's Stop This War Before More Heroes Are Killed
By Paul E. Schroeder

Tuesday, January 3, 2006; Page A17
Early on Aug. 3, 2005, we heard that 14 Marines had been killed in Haditha, Iraq. Our son, Lance Cpl. Edward "Augie" Schroeder II, was stationed there. At 10:45 a.m. two Marines showed up at our door. After collecting himself for what was clearly painful duty, the lieutenant colonel said, "Your son is a true American hero."<snip>
"People think that if they say that, somehow it makes it okay that he died," our daughter, Amanda, has said. "He was a hero before he died, not just because he went to Iraq. I was proud of him before, and being a patriot doesn't make his death okay. I'm glad he got so much respect at his funeral, but that didn't make it okay either."<snip>
In our last conversation, Augie complained that the cost in lives to clear insurgents was "less and less worth it," because Marines have to keep coming back to clear the same places. Marine commanders in the field say the same thing. Without sufficient troops, they can't hold the towns. Augie was killed on his fifth mission to clear Haditha.<snip>
Though it hurts, I believe that his death -- and that of the other Americans who have died in Iraq -- was a waste. They were wasted in a belief that democracy would grow simply by removing a dictator -- a careless misunderstanding of what democracy requires. They were wasted by not sending enough troops to do the job needed in the resulting occupation -- a careless disregard for professional military counsel.
But their deaths will not be in vain if Americans stop hiding behind flag-draped hero masks and stop whispering their opposition to this war. Until then, the lives of other sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers may be wasted as well.
This is very painful to acknowledge, and I have to live with it. So does President Bush.

[rkc3]

1. You think Bush lives with deaths of these young men and women?

Neither do I.

[papau]

2. Nope - I do not think Bush has ever seen death up close - and cares not

to know what is caused by his Presidency.

[Caoimhe]

3. WOW I just forwarded that url to a bunch of republicans I know

as well as fellow progressives. That is so touching, I really feel this man's anguish at the situation in Iraq, and here in America. How can we sit back and let more young people die for Bush's lies. :cry:

PLEASE forward this to others. I don't care how hard-hearted they are, this man's words will find a chink in the armour.

GOD BLESS YOU MR. SCHROEDER AND YOUR SON DID NOT DIE IN VAIN AS YOU HAVE PICKED UP THE TORCH FOR TRUTH!

[TomInTib]

4. Wonderful, sober account. recommended