A couple of days ago I was talking to 2 U.S. Special Forces Soldiers and I was very surprised to find that they thought that we were loosing over here in Iraq and that it would take, "10, 20, 30 years until we are done here."
One of the SF soldiers told me that he is so sick of coming over here that he will do anything when he gets home just so he doesn't have to come back over here.
Even our most elite troops are seeing the grim reality that we have here in Iraq. Why can't you see it too America?
60 comments:
Mixed reports:
http://strengthandhonor.typepad.com/captaink/2005/08/the_new_job_1.html
-tmg
Zach,
We do see it here, the ones of us that have a personal involement... the rest for the most part hide the heads in the sand and go on with their lives....I have 2 in the military...one in the Navy and one in the Army...my Army son will be deployed soon. I live in a non military town and I believe there are some people that think the war is over....out of sight out of mind sort of thing...
I do not believe in the war...I want all the troops to come home...I do not want my 18 year old son over there for all the reasons you have wriiten about in the last few weeks. I will support him and all the other troops as long you are there....I want this maddness to end.
So many people think you have to support the war to be able to support the troops...different as night and day.
Just keeping talking Zach...someone in the last post said the talking doesn't make rice...but you can't know how to make rice unless someone tells you how or you see how to make it for yourself....I wish there was truthful reporting from over there...raw and to the point...make this country know we are at war and it has to end. I don't want to bury my son.
Stay safe Zach....
It has always been my experience that SF troops are more intelligent and more aware of the big picture than most troops. They also live in a world where all opinions count regardless of rank.
Even our most elite troops are seeing the grim reality that we have here in Iraq. Why can't you see it too America?
I don't know.
Alice Marshall
Reality? Don't you remember? That's cliche' man. If you want a little relief from reality, you should visit http://www.venganza.org/
You might appreciate the humor and maybe even accept the FSM into your heart.
Seriously, I get sick to my stomach every day about this war. Logic does not prevail ... yet.
Maybe soon, we're trying.
Sadly, I'm hearing the same thing from my husband in Afghanistan who's working with SF forces now. I guess this is what happens when wars are waged on ideology and on the cheap. We never fully committed to Afghanistan and it shows. And we all know about Iraq...
Take care, Zach. I'm thinking about you and your family --
I don't think Zach means other soldiers don't have a clue about the war, I think he means Americans don't have a clue, ie, Bush, O'Reilly, and other idiot republicans
It looks like 'America' is starting to see it too, Zach.
I hope it will also 'act'.
And I definitely do hope you'll be back in the States soon.
You have a nice family, so you should return to them, safe and sound.
Let the Chickenhawks do their dirty work themselves.
Hi Zach,
I hope you never feel as if you are alone in your world there. As you can tell, with all the responses you get after your writings, a large number of us support you. I wish we could find the way to make it all go away. The best we can do is respond to your writings, support Cindy Sheehan and others who dare to speak out. Those who pray, will pray. I do. I have candles lit for you. You are an inspiration like no other. It is because of people like you, that I do the work I do; working with veterans. By the way, when I talk to the vets here, they all support you.
Luv.........beverly
Hurria,
One of your countrymen "The Messopotamian" doesn't believe your rhetoric that the US should be leaving ASAP.
Another of your countrymen "Hammorabi" knows there is in fact a flow of insurgents into Iraq.
The truth is out there, for those willing to find it. Unless of course they only read your postings. Then they might of course mistake what you say as the truth. When in reality you are just another Iraqi with an opinion, that isn't even in the mainstream of thought on the issues.
Hurria,
You claim to be an Iraqi.
Why should I believe you any more than them??? You won't even let us see your profile! Not even a fake one at that!
There are many more Iraqi bloggers here Bloggers For Freedom links to American & Iraqi bloggers
Zach,
Thank you for your blog. My brother just left for his second tour over there. I am an American that does support our troops with all I have. I was a troop at one time. I do not believe we should be over there either. I think Americans are waking up and soon you will see some more pressure to pull out. We can only pray and speak up every chance we have. (oh yeah and getting rid of Bush would not hurt either)
Joney
Having had the pleasure of being able to train with the Special Forces Group Europe back in the '80s I definitly agree with seriously ill and snag about their intellegence and knowledge of the 'big picture'. They have to have that in order to do the mission that they do. Because of that I've suspected for quite some time that they would be some of the first to come out strongly against this administrations idiotic war mongering. Thanks Zack for continueing to help keep us informed back here. Stay safe and peace be with you.
I hear many soldiers saying they think were winning in Iraq. It just depends who you talk to.
For some good reports go to
michaelyon.blogspot.com
he tells what you would never hear from the msm.
quilter 12
please sir, kindly advise your son to ask himself if he wants to go to a foreign country, invade and occupy it, and kill the locals. its very simple. it might start him thinking if he is capable of killing any human anywhere. then if he could plant gardens, vegetables, flowers. i dunno..........
after that, it's his decision. hug him and write him and pray for him and plant gardens and flowers for him for when he returns.........
kristin and hurria,
madre miA.
wonderful really to be able to interact with 2 people form such differnet viewpoints. what a GAS¡
when i happened upon this blog, i'd hoped the group was searching for future postive solutions. in between, there is always lots of conversation.
sargeant Zach has done a courageous thing, with this blog. ¿why? i dunno. but i like it. i want this guy to keep himself safe and healthy in body and soul, return to his wife and children and parents and live a long life planting trees and shrubs and gardens in his hometown.
f
Kristen,
As far as I can determine Hurria has every right to bring Zach into this. After all, it is his blog and it is his perogative if he wishes to establish particular guidelines.
In my view, your comments to Hurria are mean spirited and appear to be motivated by anger and frustration.
I have learned from Hurria's comments. Her insights have value and show serious thought and study. U.S. politicians and citizens could learn a good deal from her critique of U.S. policies.
It is all too clear that the U.S. invaded another country based upon false premises. The U.S. administration lied about weapons of mass destruction. Officials lied about ties between Hussein and Al-Qaida. (The U.S. under Reagan was a major Al-Quaida supporter; Reagan also pressured King Fahd to give financial support to Bin-Laden. Iraq never had such ties.) Tens and tens of thousands of people have died because of the invasion and continued occuption. Iraqis have been tortured in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions. Cities have been bombed by Americans in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions. Iraqi hospitals, medical workers, and ambulances have been attacked by Americans in direct violation of the Geneva Conventions. As far as I can see, Bush has commited impeachable crimes.
Zach's discussion with U.S. special forces gives an indication of how present U.S. policies have gone badly, badly wrong (in my view from a human rights perspective, but as we can see, even on a strategic and tactical level).
I'm interested in hearing Hurria, Zach and others who can help Americans understand what is happening in Iraq.
Stephan
WELL!!!!! kristen's irony sure has taken this discussion a long way from talking about SF soliers speaking the truth.
soldiers
CAT FIGHT!!!!
Welcome back to 1967, folks. The year that people began to see Vietnam as a fiasco. For Vietraq, the year will be 2005.
-roamer in mich
I highly doubt Hurria is an Iraqi woman. It is probably a yuppie from the Village in NYC who can *sympathise with the Iraqis*
Worse yet, how can we trust any of this is real. Ever seen the Matrix?
Vox pop absurdum.Come home you are a danger to your fellow soldier
Hi
I am Jose, an university student from Spain, and I have discovered this weblog through internet, and I would like to say that you are doing an exceptional work in Iraq. I am sorry you have lost so many friends there and I hope you go home as soon as possible.
Bye friends
WE DO see it...but all of the Bush supporters are chosing to bury their heads in the sand!! I will go to DC on Sept 24th to march and support all of you well deserving soldiers.....by trying to STOP THIS DAMN WAR!!!!!! Take care of yourself!!! From a veteran!!
Hi, Zach & all,
ted turner wrote:
Another of your countrymen "Hammorabi" knows there is in fact a flow of insurgents into Iraq.
Ted, that's probably true... NOW. It wasn't when this started. The wingnuts from other countries see Iraq the same way they saw Afghanistan under Soviet occupation, and for the same reasons. That, however, doesn't mean they comprise more than a small part of the resistance, which is almost certainly comprised mostly of native Iraqis, who fight us for the same reason we'd fight anyone occupying the US -- they don't want someone else's morality shoved down their throats at gunpoint.
This, of course, is something the Bushites can't comprehend b/c they're so delusionally convinced their morality is the only right one. And, although they label it "christian," it's not; it's little more than the typical addict's view of the world as revolving around them and their wishes at the expense of everyone else's. Unlike most addicts, unfortunately, they have vast wealth and lots of guns with which to abuse others.
Hurria wrote: But what do they really mean by "get the troops out"? Unless they mean a complete removal of all forces, and of all official American presence in Iraq there is no point in it.
What do you think will happen after we leave, Hurria? (I ask b/c I really don't know; I've heard a bunch of different ideas that all seem to be based on selective interpretation of the facts.)
If you are not prepared to deal with an uppity Iraqi woman...
Hurria is about as "Iraqi" as I am.
Regardless of whether she is an Iraqi or not "she" gives an interesting perspective into issues and "she" definitely knows her facts. Keep up the good work Hurria. When does your blog come out?
Roamer in Michigan comments,
"Welcome back to 1967, folks. The year that people began to see Vietnam as a fiasco. For Vietraq, the year will be 2005."
Vietnam my ass.
Hurria,
WE ARE NOT LEAVING! UNTIL WE ARE DAMN READY & WILLING TO!
Hurria,
You dont get it.
Hurria Said...,
"I am not one of your subserviant Uncle Ahmads"
This sounds like a familiar racial slurr, I Think. Who would have thought this would have come from an Iraqi?
Bret Wier
I have been lurking this blog for some time now, and I think Kristen Is completely right on the issue of Hurria's posts. Perhaps stephan and terrible have not been on this blog long enough to notice.
Hurria is always butting in and piping up with this "Super, Ultimate, Omnipotent, Massive, Monumentous, Titanic, Gargantuan, Descimating, DoomsDay" of destruction. I don't hear the other Iraqi's that have blogs Describe it in this fashion. I think she is either a fake, or believes she has something to gain from all this tripe.
Bret Wier
Hurria,
Are you an American Black Person?
You are the one who used the phrase!
Bret W.
Hurria,
"those backward savages would not ever have read or studied American literature, or history"
If you have studied history, and are a traveled person of the world, then why does this war and its destruction seem so "Super, Ultimate, Omnipotent, Massive, Monumentous, Titanic, Gargantuan, Descimating, DoomsDay" ish?
If you have studied history you would know that there have been many wars that outclass this one by far in destruction.
Bret W.
Or are you trying to garner some emotional effect to give your points more effect than they might otherwise have?
Bret W.
For about ten days this month, it looked like Americans were finally speaking up without fear. Partially because of Cindy Sheehan and media coverage of her personal opposition to the war.
She became entangled with several liberal organizations and went WAY off-message and lost focus. Then The Machinery starting churning and she was quickly discredited by conservative politicians and is still being mocked on conservative news outlets.
She's not very camera-ready, but in the first week of her campout she was speaking honestly and Americans were receiving her message loud and clear.
What they are teaching in OUR Schools these days.
hurria,
please, you keep writing your comments and questions.
rather than a forum for dialogue, the majority of the ameriKans just want to be stroked with warm fuzzies. they just want to feel good between bottles of diet coke and the ride to the 7-11 for more.
cognitive dissonance. you can cut it with a knife its so thick across the usa now. must be especeially tough seeing the "light of the universe" in its suicidal death throes. how about ole pat robertson and his "kill chavez" speech ? now there's a real he-man christian solution to someone who disagrees.
Date:
Tue. Aug. 16th, 2005 - 7:25 am
Subject:
Yeah... I can see how that would make things more difficult.
from insomnia, journal of mark kraft
Security: Public
An Israeli military commander succinctly pointed out the primary difficulty involved in getting their settlers out of Gaza...
"Normally we would storm a house killing everyone inside, whereas here we have to storm the house and keep everyone alive. It’s not an easy job."
(Envisioning the sound of a thousand *D'oh!* headslaps...)
2 comments | post a comment
Zach,
All of you folks over there need to start yelling very loudly for the restart of the draft. You folks need to do it loud and now.
-roamer in mich
frankinzaz said...
"rather than a forum for dialogue,"
What dialogue? All hurria ever does is whine about this "Super, Ultimate, Omnipotent, Massive, Monumentous, Titanic, Gargantuan, Descimating" Destruction, and tell us the US needs to get out.
And you keep referring to The American amenities such as 711's, in such a jealous tone too I might add.
frankinzaz said...
"must be especeially tough seeing the "light of the universe" in its suicidal death throes."
What do you see when you look through your minaret? A world of Muslim domination?
And I would have thought you might like Pat's approach to the problem. Its the Muslim approach, Kill everything not of your faith.
America & Britain will not be paying the Muslim "Tax" anytime soon, look somewhere else for your "Dhimmi".
You Can't Delete the Truth!
Zach,
Thanks so much for having this blog.
Many members of congress are finally getting up the guts to stand up to the Administration, and when they are back in session in Sept., I think things will change dramatically.
I agree with Hurria in that the majority of the violence will stop if we remove all troops, security, and contractors.
Be safe, and we will keep fighting for you all to come home soon!
Anonymous said...
What they are teaching in OUR Schools these days.
August 23, 2005 10:19 AM
Heeheehee, Anonymous, that's a March 18th 2003 propaganda piece of crap by a certain mr. Aaron Klein, not exactly what I would call the world's most reliable news resource.
We are now August 24th 2005, and a lot has changed since 'What they are teaching in your schools these days'.
No wonder the war in Iraq is going to way it is going : from bad to worse, from catastrophe to clusterfuck.
because kristen, only a few "peoples" need to know. some are more equal than others. we gots the "knowers" and the IED targets. very simple concept, really. if the stooges knew what was in store for them, rummy and butch would be out of cannon fodder. very simple.
Mr Anonymous,
"if the stooges knew what was in store for them,"
You have done a great injustice to the soldiers of our country, in that you would call them stooges!
Soldiers like Zach have FREELY Agreed to enlist in the Armed Forces of our country, and follow their orders, no matter which side if the aisle the commander in chief hails from!
You may criticize the Administration all you wish to sir, but honorable soldiers will follow their orders whether they come from your favorite president or not!
I know a few stooges who would kick the sh*t out of you right now, for being such an ass!
I am a former 3RD Infantry Division soldier with 13 years active duty, and 2 years NATO Allied Forces SHAPE under my belt. and i believe beyond a shadow of doubt, this government has been taken over by Corporate Fascists, These Criminals are using our Military Industrial Complex who are using our Soldiers and sacrificing them on the Global Alter of Greed to Further there Global Agendas.
Article 1 Section 8 clause 11 (Only) "Congress shall have the power to Declare war" The US. Congress has Not signed a Decleration of War since 11 Dec 1941. Congress now Cites UN resolutions , and invokes the The War powers Act of 1973, which Ceds Congress power to the President so he is able to Send US.Troops any where he Chooses with the concent of Congress of course ,up to 60 days. I thought We got Ride of KING George during the American Revolution? What dose the Decleration of Independence say? I can seem to get it through Congressmans THICK SKULL!!!
Refrences:
US. constitution, Decleration of Independence
US.Congressman Ron Paul
http://www.house.gov/paul
Bill Of Rights Defence Committee
http://www.bordc.org
Libertarian Party
http://www.lp.org
INFOWARS.COM
http://www.infowars.com
Im Chewing my US.Congressmans Butt at least once a week, Demanding him to, bring our Soldiers Home NOW!
To Anonymous, you are deadly right. This is the truth, truth is liberating to everyone, some catch it on this side of eternity some on the other. Bush is on the Dark Side. We need a righteous coup or a righteous military coup. He and all of the Senate and Congress need to step down. Whilst the military (NOT FEMA) holds new paper ballot elections for a new president and senate etc. Of course this would have to be post haste as the military would probably start to get big headed, but it could be done. The other things that can be done is a 10 MILLION man march on Washington!! say 3-4 months from now. Unfortunately we are going to see a NEW 911 probably w/ in the next 3-5 months possibly nuc here in Amerika. We may or may not launch on Iran, they may no longer be the focus, but all indications show they are. Since the media is all corporate it is hard to get this message out. Once Lord Bush sees the mene mene upstarshikin (writing on the wall)he will sink us deeper and deeper, cuz "I'm a WAR TIME Prezident!!!"
Hurria Said...
"Get out, get out now, and leave Iraq"
WE ARE NOT LEAVING!
GET OVER IT!
Hurria has every right to tell you Americans to get the hell out her country. To leave NOW! Think about it you all war mongers… No one is bombing you, no one is pointing a gun at your fathers or brother’s heads, and no one is making you suffer for a useless cause. And how dare you think you that the American way of living is better than others!
The fact is that the United States of America invaded another country. Bush deceived his own people for the sake of corporate America. Bush has created more terrorist than Osama would never have dreamed of.
I support the soldiers over there for the courage to go out every day and face the danger that they do. I hope and pray Zack that nothing happens to you and that you'll be home safe to your family soon.
Hurria sorry to tell you this but the Americans are there and it looks like they are going to be there for a long time. Think about it.. they have invested to much $$$$ on Iraq. The Saudis are happy the have more $$$ Bush and Corp are happy they are making and will make more $$$. The American right wing are happy because the troops have “liberated” a country. I don’t know what would happen if one day they walk into Canada simply because we don’t share their moralistic values..
martinez.ca said...
"And how dare you think you that the American way of living is better than others!"
The Haitians, and Mexicans seem to think it is better!
Oh, and the Cubans too!
Yeah they do..because Americans foreign policies have created their misery..
martinez.ca said...
"Yeah they do..because Americans foreign policies have created their misery.."
So because American policy has created their misery, they wish to come to America?
And you say it had nothing to do with the Haitian civil wars, the corrupt Mexican government, or Cuba's Dictator Fidel Castro?
Interesting....
You are a highly intelligent man who does not belong where you are. You need to beleive in your life's occupation. Obviousy, you are doing the wrong thing. Get out of the military and let the beleivers fight. You need to be doing something else.
Anonymous in Arizona
I have One question in refrence to the Oath of enlistment to Support and Defend the US. Constitution,
If we never read or study the Doccument we swore to support and defend how do we know if its not being swiped by new laws like the usa patrot act section 213?
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