What The Troops Are Saying
The Times of London carries an article that lets the average soldiers in Iraq speak. Not the political elite, not the general officers, not the pentagon insiders or the pundits. And they really do not want to leave Iraq with the mission unfinished.
Indeed, some members of the 101st Airborne Division and other troops approached by The Times as they prepared to fly home from Baghdad airport yesterday expressed concern that Robert Gates, Mr Rumsfeld’s successor, and the Democrat-controlled Congress, might seek to wind down their mission before it was finished.
Mr Rumsfeld “made decisions, he stuck with them and he did what he thought was right, whether people agreed with it, liked it, or not”, Staff Sergeant Frank Notaro said. He insisted that Iraq was better off now than before the war.
Staff Sergeant Michael Howard said: “It’s a blow to the military. He was a good Secretary of Defence. He kept us focused. He kept the leaders focused. It’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.”
But one US army colonel, who did not want to be named, said that such positive views were uncommon in the higher ranks of the US military. “We are the ones closer to the problem. We are the ones who have the broader picture,” he said.
The colonel criticised Mr Rumsfeld for sending too few troops to Iraq, and for refusing to listen to the advice of his generals. He noted that General Eric Shinseki, the former US Army Chief of Staff, was dismissed for demanding more troops, while General John Abizaid, the commander of Central Command, was the sole general to have differed publicly with Mr Rumsfeld and survived.
Certainly the rank-and-file are trained not to question the decisions of their superiors. “We don’t question why we’re sent here. Our job is to do what we’re told and we do it with pride,” said Sergeant Jason Gomez, a military policeman. When pressed, some also admitted that to question Mr Rumsfeld’s execution of the war would raise doubts about the value of their mission and of their comrades’ deaths.
“I try to keep positive. That’s what keeps you going,” said Sergeant Daniel Allen, of the 101st, who has lost three friends during his two tours in Iraq. “When you lose someone close to you, it’s hard to say whether [their deaths] were worthwhile or not. I like to believe so, especially for their families’ sake.”
Ed Morrisey points out the obvious here:
The American troops believe in the mission they serve. Interestingly, the Times — which does not back the Iraq war — gives an extended forum for these men to express their support for their mission and the man who sent them there to complete it. They want to see Iraq succeed, and even now want to stay until it happens.
It's an interesting point of view, and one that may surprise many who claim that the best way to support the troops is to have them retreat. Will that "support" turn to scorn when they realize the troops want to stay? After all, these men will have openly endorsed the policy of forward engagement that critics find so objectionable.
Fletcher reports that the troops also fear the impact of the new Democratic Congress on the war. They see the elections and the sudden departure of Rumsfeld as an ominous turn in domestic support, not without reason. Many of these men have built relationships with Iraqis, especially in the new security units, and will have bonds of friendship with the Iraqis that will be left in the lurch in the event of a precipitous withdrawal.
It seems to me that any effort to "support the troops" ought to at least involve their input.
My son has expressed his concerns about the new Democratic control of congress and the fears of what will happen to the military - again - with them in charge. Maybe they have enough of the "blue dogs" to offset some of the worst effects of the old generation of Democratic leadership.
By Pam, Friday, 10 November , 2006 @ 10:03 am
The Democrats support the troops all right, as long as the troops are stationed at home and ready to lend a hand with domestic emergencies like hurricanes, etc. When the troops are in the field doing what they are trained to do, then the support stops. Just think, dear, of what the neighbors will think! I read (I think it was here!) that we should expect a drop in enlistment if we elect a Democrat in 2008. And why should we be surprised? With the exception of FDR, Democrats have a dismal record when it comes to supporting our military, both morally and financially. I would not want to serve for a commander-in-chief who doesn’t believe in me.
By Arlo, Friday, 10 November , 2006 @ 10:17 am
I’ll be honest here on the anonymous internet: I don’t care what the troops think. The Iraq war is a disaster, a huge blunder, a mistake so huge and obvious that we can’t understand how Bush was allowed to do this to our country. I don’t want my 6 year old nephew to get drafted when he’s 18; I don’t want to keep throwing $2 billion dollars a week at a mistake because Bush is an insecure bully who can’t admit he made a mistake.
And this is all going to get so much worse for the American people because Americans want to think they’re so “good” and their motives are righteous. We’re going to get our noses rubbed in the horror our country has perpetrated on the Iraqis for years and years to come. At least with Vietnam, we got to hand the mess over to the North Vietnamese and leave. With this one, we’re going to be pleading with Iran, Syria, Turkey to help us out of this mess.
By Nahanni, Friday, 10 November , 2006 @ 10:59 am
All the people I know in the service will not reenlist with the Democrats in power-they went through the Clinton years and that is enough for them.
It is ok, though. The Democrats will get Rangel’s draft bill passed so your 6 year old nephew will get drafted. Ain’t gonna be any deferrments this time around for him to duck out of. Sure, he can run to Canada but I doubt there will be any amnesties handed out.
By Deb (x_dhimmi), Friday, 10 November , 2006 @ 11:01 am
“My son has expressed his concerns about the new Democratic control of congress and the fears of what will happen to the military - again - with them in charge.”
Please transmit to your son that I am sorry he has this nagging concern on top of all the responsibility he shoulders. It’s embarrassing to me (in southern Ohio) that this nation has given our brave troops reason to doubt our resolve which is so pathetic in comparison to their own. Tell your son that he and his buddies are much admired, respected, and loved in my home. Prayers rise daily on his behalf. Bless your families at home, too.
ARLO, I share your anxiety about our younger children growing up and being drafted. I have a dear 12-yr-old nephew who is closer than I enjoy thinking about to the possibility. My grandsons are 6, 7, and 10. Time passes quickly. Must not forget my granddaughters, either — ages 5 and another one due to be born next March. Who knows how long this fight will continue?
But I will say this. Knowing the potential sacrifice in coming years, I constantly hold our American troops up to my grandchildren as role models, knowing this will influence their decisions in a few years (assuming no draft). I am not hypocritical enough to laud the sacrifices being made now by our troops and their families, then turn around and pretend my family is exempt. Besides, the society we will become if we fail this mission or if we come home in shame is not a society I relish my grandchildren living in, anyway. So, neither option will cause me to throw a party, but I prefer my grandchildren to live in liberty and if not that, then what is life worth as a slave to tyranny? Hard options, I agree. But they must be made. Count on it.
By Gaius, Friday, 10 November , 2006 @ 11:20 am
My son has already said he will not reenlist if the Dems are in control after the 2008 election. I think that will be widespread.
Pulling out from Iraq is going to have devastating longterm consequences.
And in case you hadn’t noticed, the relentless drumbeat of bad news out of Iraq has suddenly slowed to a trickle. If you think that’s a coincidence, you are easily fooled.
By Deb (x_dhimmi), Saturday, 11 November , 2006 @ 6:41 am
Gaius, Your son is a wise man. As is your prediction about retention rates.