Stars and Stripes letters--Bush takes another hit

[lebkuchen]

‘Year in hell’ long enough

In war, it’s unconscionable to extend combat units beyond one year. That’s protocol. Why was the 1st Armored Division singled out for extended duty after anxiously packing and preparing to depart? Could it be that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld erred by failing to deploy the necessary forces? As a result our soldiers, having been targets for one year, are now told to keep the targets on their backs because the Defense Department miscalculated? Not good enough!

And is it not obvious that the DOD under Rumsfeld could not care less about our deployed soldiers when Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, while testifying before Congress, didn’t have the foggiest idea how many U.S. servicemembers had fallen in battle? Was it 300, he said? No, it was 700. That speaks volumes to the value our government puts on the lives of our sons and daughters. Wolfowitz dehumanized our soldiers and, by his testimony, relegated our sons and daughters to the position of so much disposable property.

Then by edict, no flag-draped coffins are to be displayed, denying the fallen the honor due them. The fallen — in unidentified flag-draped metal boxes stacked neatly in cargo planes — are the sons and daughters of America. Then we’re told that to honor the fallen would be tantamount to politicking?

It’s unconscionable to unilaterally breach the agreement with the 1st AD and keep my son and other soldiers in deadly harm’s way beyond that expected of any other unit. They’ve been subjected to deadly fire beyond what’s been expected of any unit, and only by the grace of God have many been spared death or serious physical harm. Is it not enough that they spent one year in hell with the promise that after that time the bull’s eye would be removed from their hearts? Well, officials obviously didn’t think so.

Are we devoid of any semblance of respect for those who have spent their year in hell? A reprieve is the only recourse.

Louis Morelli
Brielle, N.J.


Treat GIs like heroes

Many people, including me, don’t think it’s fair that 20,000 troops have to stay in Iraq three months longer. A pledge was given to the troops that they would not be in Iraq for more than 12 months, and that pledge was broken. They deserve a break for all their hard work and sacrifices. Without a break, they may slow down. These troops are tired. They had their hopes up to come home and be with their loved ones, and the opportunity was stolen from them. It’s so sad and unfair to them and their families.

Even if they do have to stay for three more months, they should get some kind of break. Three months is a long time to wait, especially when these troops were on their way home. They’re being treated like prisoners and not like heroes. Life is short, and any chance we get to be with our loved ones should never be stolen from us. Soldiers have lives besides this war. They have children, wives, mothers and many others who really care about them.

If violence is not tolerated in the United States, then why should it be anywhere else? Let the Iraqis live their lives the way they want to and let our people live their lives in happiness instead of war. No one should be forced to be anywhere they’re not wanted. There’s much talk about a “free Iraq.” What about free Americans? Is a free Iraq more important than the lives of our troops?

If the Iraqis want to live their lives in a certain manner, then let them. But our troops don’t deserve to be involved in that. By being in Iraq so long and being around nonstop violence, our troops could really have their minds messed up. But I guess it doesn’t matter as long as they make President Bush happy. Whatever point that Bush is trying to prove has caused hundreds of troops to die, and whatever it is that he wants, whether it’s oil or Iraq (or maybe both), that stuff can come and go, and sometimes even come back. But once a life comes and goes, there’s no coming back, and we’re all sorry for the troops who have lost their lives in Iraq.

Continuing this war is not going to bring any of them back, but ending this war could save lives. Let them come home or have some kind of break. How could Bush treat the ones fighting for our country like they are nothing and not understand their feelings and needs? You treat prisoners like that, not America’s heroes.

Danielle Williams
Westville, N.J.


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=22329

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Bush lost the military

a while ago... don't count on their votes being truly
counted... and this is just one more insult to the troops