Email from a soldier in Iraq

[Defenderofthefaith]

Got this from a friend--says it all. This one is not at Snopes. com, so I choose to believe it :)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message from Soldier in Iraq

As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened. I am sorry that I have not been able to visit all of you during my two week leave back home. And just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening in Iraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this on to you. This is the list of things that have happened in Iraq recently: (Please share it with your friends and compare it to the version that your paper is producing.)

* Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations.
* School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war.
* Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored there so education can occur.
* The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off-loaded from ships faster.
* The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.
* Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq.
* The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war.
* 100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed, compared to 35% before the war.
* Elections are taking place in every major city, and city councils are in place.
* Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.
* Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets.
* Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country.
* Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with US soldiers.
* Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever.
* Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs.
* An interim constitution has been signed.
* Girls are allowed to attend school.

Don't believe for one second that these people do not want us there. I have met many, many people from Iraq that want us there, and in a bad way. They say they will never see the freedoms we talk about but they hope their children will. We are doing a good job in Iraq and I challenge anyone, anywhere to dispute me on these facts. So If you happen to run into John Kerry, be sure to give him my email address and send him to Denison, Iowa. This soldier will set him straight. If you are like me and very disgusted with how this period of rebuilding has been portrayed, email this to a friend and let them know there are good things happening.

Ray Reynolds
SFC Iowa Army National Guard
234th Signal Battalion

[susieand]

Thank you!!! This was very nice to read :gvibes:

[Txsweeper]

Thanks :gvibes:

[superchickee]

Wow! Where did you get this! More wonderful things are yet to come!!! KEEP UP THE HARD WORK ! (All Military Personnel ) You are HEROES!!!! :cheer7:

[advantage2000]

Nice bit of propaganda...

I'll believe it when I see it.

Are we to ignore the violence? Are we going to continue to marginalize those who would fight occupation by calling them "insurgents"? Are going to believe this unrealistic utopia painted here, shutting our skeptic eyes in the name of OIL and feeling safe?

(Oh yes, I did see the 2 billionth barrel of oil, and that's what this is all about, isn't it?)

[Defenderofthefaith]

Nice bit of propaganda...

I'll believe it when I see it.

Are we to ignore the violence? Are we going to continue to marginalize those who would fight occupation by calling them "insurgents"? Are going to believe this unrealistic utopia painted here, shutting our skeptic eyes in the name of OIL and feeling safe?

(Oh yes, I did see the 2 billionth barrel of oil, and that's what this is all about, isn't it?)
Why is it propaganda when it's not anti-Bush but not when it's anti-Kerry, hmmm?

[dandylin]

Why is it propaganda when it's not anti-Bush but not when it's anti-Kerry, hmmm?

Unfortunately, I was tainted a while back. Do you remember the pro-war letter sent by a hometown boy, sent to quite a few town newspapers, exactly the same letter, sent to different towns.

We aren't over there holding hands and singing kumbayah

[Defenderofthefaith]

Unfortunately, I was tainted a while back. Do you remember the pro-war letter sent by a hometown boy, sent to quite a few town newspapers, exactly the same letter, sent to different towns.

We aren't over there holding hands and singing kumbayah
Of course not--we're fighting a war that the terrorists started. I have respect for the military because they are fighting for freedom. I am against war in principle but since we live in a fallen world I am not against war in practice--sometimes it is necessary. And even if I disagreed with the war itself I am proud of those who do their jobs and do them well. Also, since we don't have a draft in effect currently those who signed up should expect to serve and die if necessary(I am pretty certain they do, but their families and friends may be a different story...)

[dandylin]

Of course not--we're fighting a war that the terrorists started. I have respect for the military because they are fighting for freedom. I am against war in principle but since we live in a fallen world I am not against war in practice--sometimes it is necessary. And even if I disagreed with the war itself I am proud of those who do their jobs and do them well. Also, since we don't have a draft in effect currently those who signed up should expect to serve and die if necessary(I am pretty certain they do, but their families and friends may be a different story...)

We are not fighting a war against terrorist in Iraq. That was the reason for Afghanistan, not Iraq

[superchickee]

No, we aren't over there singing kumbaya. We're working to improve people's lives! They didn/t have a life or any freedom! Maybe, they will soon!

[dandylin]

No, we aren't over there singing kumbaya. We're working to improve people's lives! They didn/t have a life or any freedom! Maybe, they will soon!

If you believe that's why we are there, I have a prime piece of real estate I'd like to show you!

[superchickee]

Where is it?

[Hhhyyyddd]

Why am I having trouble believing that the Iraqis didn't teach their children to wash their hands until the Bush administration came along and showed the barbarians the error of their ways?

[dandylin]

Why am I having trouble believing that the Iraqis didn't teach their children to wash their hands until the Bush administration came along and showed the barbarians the error of their ways?

They are godless heathen, and we all know that godless heathen don't wash their hands.

[Veuve-Cliquot]

From Gannett News Service:

Letters from US troops exposed as Pentagon fraud
By Kate Randall

Gannett News Service (GNS) reported Saturday that identical form letters signed by different US soldiers in Iraq have appeared in hometown newspapers across the country. The letters paint a rosy picture of troop morale and improving conditions for the population in warn-torn Iraq. However, the soldiers whose names appear at the bottom of the letters didn’t compose them, and many say they signed their names under false pretenses, or not at all.

The “letter-writing” blitz appears to be part of the Bush administration’s efforts to boost US support for the Iraq occupation in line with its campaign against what it calls “negative” media coverage—that is, any news that doesn’t toe the White House line.

Speaking Thursday at a fundraiser in Kentucky, Bush commented on the situation in Iraq, “We’re making great progress—I don’t care what you read about.” This week, the administration also launched an effort to reach regional broadcasting companies, granting a series of exclusive interviews to regional news organizations that don’t regularly cover the White House, hoping for more favorable reporting.

Facing sagging public support for the war at home—A USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll released September 23 found only 50 percent of Americans thought the Iraq situation was worth going to war over—the White House and the military have now resorted to outright fabrication in an effort to rehabilitate the war effort. The letters from soldiers that appeared in hometown papers across the country last month—some of the only “good news” to come out of Iraq in recent weeks—were in fact bogus.

A search by GNS, USA Today’s parent company, found 11 identical letters that had appeared in different papers signed by soldiers with the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment. The letters appeared in large metropolitan dailies, such as the Boston Globe, as well as smaller publications such as the Beckley (W.Va.) Register-Herald and the Tulare (Calif.) Advance-Register.

The letters read in part, “Things have changed tremendously for our battalion since those first cold, wet weeks spent in the mountain city of Bashur. On April 10, our battalion conducted an attack south into the oil rich town of Kirkuk, the city that has since become our home away from home and the focus of our security and development efforts. Kirkuk is a hot and dusty city of just over a million people. The majority of the city has welcomed our presence with open arms.”

“The quality of life and security for the citizens has been largely restored and we are a large part of why that has happened,” the letters added. “The fruits of all our soldiers’ efforts are clearly visible in the streets of Kirkuk today. There is very little trash in the streets, many more people in the markets and shops, and children have returned to school. This is all evidence that the work we are doing as a battalion and as American soldiers is bettering the lives of Kirkuk’s citizens. I am proud of the work we are doing here in Iraq and I hope all of your readers are as well.”

In fact, the northern city of Kirkuk has been the scene in recent weeks of angry demonstrations of Iraqis protesting unemployment, poor conditions and repression by US forces. US soldiers around Kirkuk and across Iraq have been continually targeted by sniper fire, ambushes and remote-controlled explosions. Suicide car bombings have become a regular occurrence.

At least 19 US soldiers have been killed in Iraq so far this month, with five killed on October 13 alone. A total of 387 have been killed since the invasion, 216 of these since Bush declared the end of “major combat” on May 1. With this bogus letter-writing campaign, these same men and women—who face death on a daily basis as a consequence of Bush’s military policy—are being cynically exploited to advance the administration’s propaganda.

Pfc. Nick Deaconson of Beckley, W.Va., told GNS that he didn’t know about the letter until his father congratulated him by phone after it appeared in the Register-Herald. His father, Timothy Deaconson, said, “When I told him he wrote such a good letter, he said, ‘What letter?’”

Sgt. Christopher Shelton said his platoon sergeant had passed out the letter to the soldiers and asked them to sign it if they agreed with it. They were then asked for the names of their hometown newspapers.

Sgt. Todd Oliver told GNS, “Someone, somewhere along the way, took it upon themselves to mail it to the various editors of newspaper across the country.” He said he had been told a soldier wrote the letter, but didn’t know who it was.

Sgt. Shawn Grueser of Poca, W.Va.,said he had spoken with a military public affairs officer about his experience in Iraq, and thought the information was to be used for a news release to be sent to his hometown paper. Grueser said he never signed the letter, and although he agreed with the letter’s content, “It makes it look like you cheated on a test, and everybody got the same grade.”

At this point, it is not known who wrote the letter and organized sending it out in multiple copies, although they were apparently distributed to the soldiers by someone in the 2nd Battalion staff. Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Cindy Scott-Johnson said that the Pentagon had raised no objection “that I know of” to the letters, and that they were in fact in line with the US military’s “hometown news release program.”

What is clear is that this fake letter-writing episode is symptomatic of the Bush administration’s non-stop campaign of lies and deception in support of its criminal war policy, which it is moving to escalate in the face of growing opposition—both at home and within the ranks of the military itself.

[dandylin]

Where is it?

Brooklyn

[Txsweeper]

They are godless heathen, and we all know that godless heathen don't wash their hands.

Lots of those "godless heathen" in the U.S.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/09/18/hand.washing/
The Dirty Truth:
Percentage of people who said they wash their hands after using a public restroom vs. percentage who actually did

Men: 92% vs. 58%
Women: 97% vs. 75%

[Veuve-Cliquot]

Lots of those "godless heathen" in the U.S.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/09/18/hand.washing/
The Dirty Truth:
Percentage of people who said they wash their hands after using a public restroom vs. percentage who actually did

Men: 92% vs. 58%
Women: 97% vs. 75%


I've always found this fascinating... so many people are health conscious with their diets, their exercise, etc., and never do the one thing that has been proven time and time again to be your best defense against sickness of all kinds: Wash Your Hands.

Your mother was right, people.

(Sorry to veer off topic... now back to your regularly scheduled programming.)

[superchickee]

Brooklyn's not really my cup of tea. I prefer to stay close to Crawford here in Texas !

[pattyepye]

* Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored there so education can occur- schools in our area are hurting, some in trailers. * The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August.-we are paying more for gas than ever.
* Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq-we have to buy bottled water to drink, and cities like DC have lead in the water. * The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war-we experienced a blackout last summer, and who knows. * 100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed, compared to 35% before the war-we have the hospitals, but many Americans don't have insurance so we might use their services.
* Elections are taking place in every major city, and city councils are in place-hope they don't have Jeb Bush overseeing the elections. * Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets- our inner cities could use more policemen.
* Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever-hope they have a good calling plan, cause it's high over here.
Well we know the letter is fabricated, but it looks like things are going so well over there, we need to elect GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENT.....OF IRAQ.

[Kym]

Why is there still so much confusion in the difference between the War on Terrorism (which took place in Afghanistan) and the war on Iraq.

Even the Bush administration has come out and said that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11...so how come Bush's supporters refuse to take off their blinders?

Is it easier to live in ignorance about it?

They are TWO SEPERATE WARS!!!

In fact, Bush will likely get in trouble for diverting money from the War on Terror (in Afghanistan) to the War on Iraq without congressional approval.

[Txsweeper]

Why is there still so much confusion in the difference between the War on Terrorism (which took place in Afghanistan) and the war on Iraq.

Even the Bush administration has come out and said that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11...so how come Bush's supporters refuse to take off their blinders?

Is it easier to live in ignorance about it?

They are TWO SEPERATE WARS!!!

In fact, Bush will likely get in trouble for diverting money from the War on Terror (in Afghanistan) to the War on Iraq without congressional approval.


Not to dispute what you just said, but the War on Terrorism isn't confined to only those actions surrounding 9/11. I agree they are two seperate wars, but I don't agree that the war in Iraq has nothing to do with the War on Terrorism.

[dandylin]

Not to dispute what you just said, but the War on Terrorism isn't confined to only those actions surrounding 9/11. I agree they are two seperate wars, but I don't agree that the war in Iraq has nothing to do with the War on Terrorism.


Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism, that is until we attacked them, after that happened Bin Laden's followers came into the country and took advantage of our blunder and began recruiting.

[dandylin]

Brooklyn's not really my cup of tea. I prefer to stay close to Crawford here in Texas !

And you are welcome to it!

[MrDave]

It is refreshing to hear some good news!

[suelee000]

Of course not--we're fighting a war that the terrorists started. I have respect for the military because they are fighting for freedom. I am against war in principle but since we live in a fallen world I am not against war in practice--sometimes it is necessary. And even if I disagreed with the war itself I am proud of those who do their jobs and do them well. Also, since we don't have a draft in effect currently those who signed up should expect to serve and die if necessary(I am pretty certain they do, but their families and friends may be a different story...)

We are NOT in Iraq fighting a war the terrorists started. That was Afghanistan. You know, the war Bush borrowed $700 million in funding to plan the war in Iraq. We are fighting in Iraq because Bush intended to start the war since his father left office.

[Txsweeper]

Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism, that is until we attacked them, after that happened Bin Laden's followers came into the country and took advantage of our blunder and began recruiting.

President Bush made it clear that any country that supported terrorists would also be subject to the War on Terrorism. I do believe that Saddam was a terrorist, he just hadn't attacked the U.S. and yes I do believe that Salam Park was an active terrorist training camp. So...in MY eyes, Iraq was/is a terroristic country.

These are my opinions.

[Txsweeper]

http://www.terrorismcentral.com/Library/Government/US/StateDepartment/CounterterrorismOffice/patterns/1999/OverviewStateSpons.html

AUTHOR:
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism

TITLE:
Patterns of Global Terrorism - 1999
Overview of State-Sponsored Terrorism

SOURCE:
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, April 2000


Iraq
Iraq continued to plan and sponsor international terrorism in 1999. Although Baghdad focused primarily on the antiregime opposition both at home and abroad, it continued to provide safehaven and support to various terrorist groups.

Press reports stated that, according to a defecting Iraqi intelligence agent, the Iraqi intelligence service had planned to bomb the offices of Radio Free Europe in Prague. Radio Free Europe offices include Radio Liberty, which began broadcasting news and information to Iraq in October 1998. The plot was foiled when it became public in early 1999.

The Iraqi opposition publicly stated its fears that the Baghdad regime was planning to assassinate those opposed to Saddam Hussein. A spokesman for the Iraqi National Accord in November said that the movement's security organs had obtained information about a plan to assassinate its secretary general, Dr. Iyad 'Allawi, and a member of the movement's political bureau, as well as another Iraqi opposition leader.

Iraq continued to provide safehaven to a variety of Palestinian rejectionist groups, including the Abu Nidal organization, the Arab Liberation Front (ALF), and the former head of the now-defunct 15 May Organization, Abu Ibrahim, who masterminded several bombings of U.S. aircraft.

Iraq provided bases, weapons, and protection to the MEK, an Iranian terrorist group that opposes the current Iranian regime. In 1999, MEK cadre based in Iraq assassinated or attempted to assassinate several high-ranking Iranian Government officials, including Brigadier General Ali Sayyad Shirazi, Deputy Chief of Iran's Joint Staff, who was killed in Tehran on 10 April.

[littlebitties]

Anybody interested in an authentic letter from a US soldier in Iraq?

Letter from MP in Iraq on military.com... (http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Defensewatch_041904_Extended,00.html?ESRC=army.nl)

[Cusmile]

Propaganda can sound so convincing sometimes.

[LastLaugh]

Anybody interested in an authentic letter from a US soldier in Iraq?

Letter from MP in Iraq on military.com... (http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Defensewatch_041904_Extended,00.html?ESRC=army.nl)
I found it quite amusing that they had an ad for the Army Reserves on that page. :laugh:

[LastLaugh]

Not to dispute what you just said, but the War on Terrorism isn't confined to only those actions surrounding 9/11. I agree they are two seperate wars, but I don't agree that the war in Iraq has nothing to do with the War on Terrorism.
You are correct the war in Iraq has alot to do with the war on terrorism. Like diverting money, troops and intelligence personnel away from fighting terrorism focused against America. Not to mention creating thousands of new soldiers for the jihad.
But Bush can take comfort in the fact that both Cheney and him will be living the good life when the "honorariums" start rolling in from Bechtel,Haliburton etc.

[LastLaugh]

http://www.terrorismcentral.com/Library/Government/US/StateDepartment/CounterterrorismOffice/patterns/1999/OverviewStateSpons.html

AUTHOR:
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism

TITLE:
Patterns of Global Terrorism - 1999
Overview of State-Sponsored Terrorism

SOURCE:
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, April 2000


Iraq
Iraq continued to plan and sponsor international terrorism in 1999. Although Baghdad focused primarily on the antiregime opposition both at home and abroad, it continued to provide safehaven and support to various terrorist groups.

Press reports stated that, according to a defecting Iraqi intelligence agent, the Iraqi intelligence service had planned to bomb the offices of Radio Free Europe in Prague. Radio Free Europe offices include Radio Liberty, which began broadcasting news and information to Iraq in October 1998. The plot was foiled when it became public in early 1999.

The Iraqi opposition publicly stated its fears that the Baghdad regime was planning to assassinate those opposed to Saddam Hussein. A spokesman for the Iraqi National Accord in November said that the movement's security organs had obtained information about a plan to assassinate its secretary general, Dr. Iyad 'Allawi, and a member of the movement's political bureau, as well as another Iraqi opposition leader.

Iraq continued to provide safehaven to a variety of Palestinian rejectionist groups, including the Abu Nidal organization, the Arab Liberation Front (ALF), and the former head of the now-defunct 15 May Organization, Abu Ibrahim, who masterminded several bombings of U.S. aircraft.

Iraq provided bases, weapons, and protection to the MEK, an Iranian terrorist group that opposes the current Iranian regime. In 1999, MEK cadre based in Iraq assassinated or attempted to assassinate several high-ranking Iranian Government officials, including Brigadier General Ali Sayyad Shirazi, Deputy Chief of Iran's Joint Staff, who was killed in Tehran on 10 April.

Iraq helped anti-Israeli terrorists and anti- Iranians terrorists( no suprise there). If we were to attack every country that helped palestenian terrorists we would have to take on the whole middle east. as far as Abu Ibrahim -
15 May Organization
Location/Area of Operation
Baghdad until 1984. Before disbanding, operated in Middle East, Europe, and East Asia. Abu Ibrahim is reportedly in Iraq.
External Aid
Probably received logistic and financial support from Iraq until 1984
http://library.nps.navy.mil/home/tgp/15may.htm
Are you trying to tell me that an organization that hadn't existed for 15 years is a credible threat against the U.S.?
The part about the Iraqi National Accord tells me everything i need to know - Chalabi. His misinformation regarding WMD's etc. was what bolstered Bush's arguement that we needed to invade in the first place.

[dandylin]

You are correct the war in Iraq has alot to do with the war on terrorism. Like diverting money, troops and intelligence personnel away from fighting terrorism focused against America. Not to mention creating thousands of new soldiers for the jihad.
But Bush can take comfort in the fact that both Cheney and him will be living the good life when the "honorariums" start rolling in from Bechtel,Haliburton etc.

I was just going to ask, Who are the members of the panel who are going to try Hussein? Haliburton employees?

[Defenderofthefaith]

We are NOT in Iraq fighting a war the terrorists started. That was Afghanistan. You know, the war Bush borrowed $700 million in funding to plan the war in Iraq. We are fighting in Iraq because Bush intended to start the war since his father left office.
I don't think Pres Bush's father had anything to do with 9/11--the terrorists did!

[Hhhyyyddd]

I don't think Pres Bush's father had anything to do with 9/11--the terrorists did!

Bush Sr. was the vice president when the CIA trained Osama and his gang to fight Soviets for them. An administration he was part of gave them weapons and training that made them what they are today.

[Tametaz]

I don't think Pres Bush's father had anything to do with 9/11--the terrorists did!


HUH??? Daddy Bush invaded Iraq - Baby Bush is finishing what Daddy Started. Iraq was not involved in 9/11. Afganistan was involved in 9/11. Baby Bush moved $700 million meant to fight the war in terror and used it to finish a war his Daddy started(Iraq) - which took the focus off of the fight on terror.

[dandylin]

Bush Sr. was the vice president when the CIA trained Osama and his gang to fight Soviets for them. An administration he was part of gave them weapons and training that made them what they are today.

We have a very long history of backing bad people. They serve a purpose during a short period of time, then we kind of forget they exist, that is until something bad happens. Then we never ever mention that we backed those terrible, terrible cowardly men in the first place.

[Hhhyyyddd]

We have a very long history of backing bad people. They serve a purpose during a short period of time, then we kind of forget they exist, that is until something bad happens. Then we never ever mention that we backed those terrible, terrible cowardly men in the first place.

Agreed. Think Noriega...

[NHGrits]

littlebitties,
The letter is from a Reservist. Difference being, as the reservist has stated, reservist and national gaurd troops are part-timers and should never have been there for extended periods of time. The reason this happen is because SOMEBODY cut the troop strength thoroughout the 90's causing it to become a hollow force. Further more, many permanent soldiers do not like working side by side with reservists/gaurd forces, because they are not as trained as the active duty, plus they are often become unhappy at spending long periods of time on active time, which is now the norm, due to the downsizing I mentioned above.

[LastLaugh]

The Department of Defenses own projections in the 90's called for a reduction in the size of the military force.
Of course their predictions did not forsee Bush opening a second warfront without support.
"Often in these MRCs, the United States will be fighting as the leader of a coalition, with allies and friends providing some support and combat forces. In fact, DoD assumes that regional allies will fight along with U.S. forces. It is also expected that other friends and allies from beyond the crisis area will contribute forces to any MRC. However, U.S. forces must be sized and structured to preserve the flexibility and the capability to act without them, if necessary." - http://www.defenselink.mil/execsec/adr95/bldg_.html

[LastLaugh]

We have a very long history of backing bad people. They serve a purpose during a short period of time, then we kind of forget they exist, that is until something bad happens. Then we never ever mention that we backed those terrible, terrible cowardly men in the first place.
In 1931, former Marine Corps General Smedley D. Butler bluntly admitted, "I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street, and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism...Thus, I helped make Mexico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for (New York's) National City Bank to collect revenue in...I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras 'right' for American fruit companies in 1903."
Some things never change.

[fromtheheart66]

I really hope that is all true because I foresee my son and his friends being there in 3 years as the draft will be brought back I am sure. :worry: :frown3:

[oldroses]

That first letter was a piece of propoganda-no doubt about it! Wonder if all the letters sent out were identical or changed just a wee bit? You'd think they'd make them vastly different and therefore more believable. :rolleyes: If not-big whoops! LOL! That second letter, I'm not so sure about. What I find strange about this is that when my dh was in the Gulf war, he could not write anything about anything they were doing. Everything was censored. That's why I doubt their validity. I think if we were getting the real and true nitty gritty from the soldiers on the ground, we would all look at this war for what it is-a big bunch of lies. :nono:

[littlebitties]

What I find strange about this is that when my dh was in the Gulf war, he could not write anything about anything they were doing. Everything was censored. That's why I doubt their validity.

My husband was also in the first Gulf War, and yes, things were heavily censored back then, That was before the era of email.

My husband is over there in Iraq now, and while his official government email address is monitored (as are the phone calls), he writes plenty of uncensored mail on his unofficial email account. The communications technology is far different this time around...and they can't "catch" everything. In fact, our local paper is doing a series of articles based on my husband's letters to family and friends. It should be online in the next few days. And it will be very enlightening to those who think morale is high, and everyone is so happy to be there "liberating" Iraq.

I think if we were getting the real and true nitty gritty from the soldiers on the ground, we would all look at this war for what it is-a big bunch of lies.

Absolutely. I know this firsthand. My husband is horrified...he used to be such a big supported of George W. Bush, now he has zero respect for the man and his administration.

Regardless of whether the soldiers deployed are active duty or "part-timers", my husband has not found a single soldier who wants to be there risking their lives for the "cause". Everybody is unhappy with the "long periods of time on active time" in a war zone. At least, this particular war zone.

My hubby was so proud to have served in the first Gulf War, never complained, even after three back-to-back tours of duty. He was in danger then, as he is now, but during that time he BELIEVED in why we were there. I think that makes all the diffrence in morale.

[MrDave]

I appreciate hearing from soldiers not only for their perspective, but also because of the scores of people who feel that people cannot have an opinion on war unless they have served in the armed forces who need to hear something from someone on the front line in order to open up their ears and minds to different perspectives.

[oldroses]

My husband was also in the first Gulf War, and yes, things were heavily censored back then, That was before the era of email.

My husband is over there in Iraq now, and while his official government email address is monitored (as are the phone calls), he writes plenty of uncensored mail on his unofficial email account. The communications technology is far different this time around...and they can't "catch" everything. In fact, our local paper is doing a series of articles based on my husband's letters to family and friends. It should be online in the next few days. And it will be very enlightening to those who think morale is high, and everyone is so happy to be there "liberating" Iraq.

Absolutely. I know this firsthand. My husband is horrified...he used to be such a big supported of George W. Bush, now he has zero respect for the man and his administration.

Regardless of whether the soldiers deployed are active duty or "part-timers", my husband has not found a single soldier who wants to be there risking their lives for the "cause". Everybody is unhappy with the "long periods of time on active time" in a war zone. At least, this particular war zone.

My hubby was so proud to have served in the first Gulf War, never complained, even after three back-to-back tours of duty. He was in danger then, as he is now, but during that time he BELIEVED in why we were there. I think that makes all the diffrence in morale.

littlebitties-Thanks for explaining the difference between the censoring of snail mail and email, I didn't know that's what was going on these days. I would love to read your hubbys letters, please post them here when they are published.

My dh felt the same way as your hubby-proud to have served in the Gulf War-he never complained and believed in the reasons for being there. He was very pro military when he got out about 8 years ago, but has gradually become more and more disillusioned with what's going on. He no longer supports Bush or his administration and is more middle of the road these days. And while I supported him during his military career, it was not easy because we had differing views. These days, he and I are on the same page, and it's nice to not be sparring over politics, LOL!

I also want to say that I really feel for what you and all the other families are going through. It's not fair what they are doing to the soldiers and their families. Being separted from loved ones for such long periods of time is so difficult. The constant worry about your loved one so many miles away and in danger is such a big strain emotionally!

I will keep you and your hubby in my thoughts and prayers. :gvibes:

[littlebitties]

Here is the article written about my husband, based on his emails.

http://www.transcriptbulletin.com/20040422soldier.phtml

But now, the Army is "requesting" there be no more articles in the series. Not for security purposes, but so that "the wives of the deployed soldiers don't get upset thinking their husbands are in danger". Well, DUH! It's a war zone! We KNOW they are in danger, hello? I get so angry at the government sometimes. The only thing they want printed is happy happy, joy joy. How are we supposed to know what is going on if the media only blows sunshine up our butts? I feel like if mainstream America knew what the situation is truly like, they would not be so blindly supportive of the war in Iraq. :mad2:

[dandylin]

I wish I knew what to say to you. I don't. Your pain is so obvious. All I can say is thank you to you and your husband for at least trying to speak the truth.

[Txsweeper]

littlebitties: I'm sorry.

[perlster]

Nice bit of propaganda...


The saddest truth of war is that good people have to die for the freedoms of those who hate them.