OR: It May Be Much Worse than We Thought
Published on September 22, 2004 By CrispE In Politics
Politics is very much the "art of the debateable." Every one is entitled to an opinion and the way we settle the conflict over viewpoints is an election (coming right up, one long election night!). But before you take the conservatives at their word over all the wonderful things we are saying we do in Iraq, I have a website you should visit. Link is a site run by soldiers, featuring stories from soldiers predominantly now returned from Iraq.

The reason you should hear "their stories" is that you might think from JU that every soldier supports the way we conducted the war and the peace in Iraq. That would be not true. The story of Specialist Richard Murphy, an MP who served in Abu Gharib and elsewhere is especially revealing of a war fought in a way much like a 4 year old would approach a Rubik's Cube.

Having read interviews with SPC Murphy I know that he is very much upset about the way the soldiers were "mislead" in Iraq and how other servicemen who are currently there feel we have no sense of direction. When a friend suggested he wasn't alone and that there were many others unhappy with the management in Iraq I went to the website. Murphy notes that at Abu Gharib he was in charge of over 300 prisoners and the stress on the MP's was overwhelming. This does not excuse what occured there, but the bottom line is that the stress was caused by a lack of leadership, training, and manpower.

This is, of course, where the politics enters into the equation. We ask "Who's responsible for this? and Why don't we know what's going on?" when leadership is so much of the debate over whom we elect. My first thought on this is that it reflects the problems that are inherent when a political party (the Republicans) do not agree with what their leader (Mr. Bush) is doing. This week we heard from Senators Hagel, McCain and Kyl, all Republicans, speak about how badly things were going in Iraq and how we needed to change course if we are going to make progress. "The fact is, we're in trouble. We're in deep trouble in Iraq," said Hagel, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees. (Quote from CNN.Com)

Many conservative Republicans are saying Bush is not a conservative, the policies of the administration are not responsible and the White House are "out of control." These include unlikely bedfellows like John McCain and Pat Buchanan who from both sides of the party blast the President for his reluctance to change from what they think are failed policies.

Remember, thus far, I haven't included a Democratic opinion of the policies.

The point is that Republicans have a sense of values not shared by the White House. They believe in smaller government, responsible fiscal and economic policy, and shared responsibility between the federal and state government. But a projection of a 10 to 12 trillion dollar deficit is not something a Republican would ever vote for on his own volition. A war that goes on and on and threatens to become extended far into the future is also not a good selling point with Republicans.

We are now enterring the last 40 days of the campaign and Mr. Bush needs his party behind him more than ever. This is especially true in the midwest and southwest where polls show Kerry is neck and neck with the President. But his attitude towards his party being one of "I'm the boss" like Geroge Steinbrenner on a bad day means the party machinery may well take the election off in terms of getting out the vote.

It's a problem Mr. Bush can't afford. Remember, not all soldiers wear uniforms. Some of them wear suits.




Comments
on Sep 22, 2004
This was passed to me and I thought it was pertinent to the discusion.:


http://www.hughhewitt.com/#postid927
Yesterday I posted an e-mail from a USMC Major in Baghdad <./>. We have exchanged e-mails, and he thought the audience might enjoy an e-mail from the mother of a Marine serving in Najaf. I left the major's name and e-mail ff of yesterday's post on the theory he was already getting enough mail from the USMC list, and do so again for the same reason. Here's today's exchange:

"Hugh - You asked & here is something you can do.....digest the email below that I got from the mother of a Marine down in Najaf and use some good quotes on the air (no names please, I didn't get any permission). I'm just a staff pogue giving my opinion. This young hero is on the front lines living & fighting with the Iraqis on a daily basis. His perceptions are profound and strike at the heart of what we mean to the Iraqis right now. They really want to trust us, but they're scared to death we will "cut & run" on them like we did when they rose up in 1991.

We have got to get this right! - w__"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:
Sent: Tuesday, 21 September, 2004
To:
Subject: Thank you from a Marine Mom!
Dear sir: I'm a marine mom from Helena, Montana. My son (____) is in Iraq right now. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one still supporting the mission over there after all these negative reports hit the airwaves. John Kerry just adds fuel to the negative fire! It makes me crazy to listen to him talk. He just doesn't get it! You just summed up my sentiments of this whole operation. I thank you for helping me stay strong in the continued "fight" at home to keep the troops morale high by standing by them. I absolutely agree with everything you say by what ____has written in his letters. He said that he has a huge respect for the Iraqi National Guard because they are trying so hard to make a better life for the Iraqi people. He also told me not to listen to news reports that the Iraqi people don't like them. He said even the places they've gone where most people didn't like them to begin with, they gained their respect by the time they were done there. After the people watched them standing back and getting shot at as they guarded the Iraqi's while rebuilding hospitals and schools. He said the people start to realize what the USA stands for. They are not there to be aggressive, they are there to show them how to stand up for themselves. He said there's been many times they've been shot at and they don't shoot back unless absolutely necessary just to build the trust of the people and the ING. They take orders from the ING in those situations and he said the ING is starting to feel some confidence in themselves. His quiet humor amazes me. He said "Sometimes it's a little nerve wracking hoping their aim has gotten better..... but it all seems to work out and is worth it to see the ING gaining confidence in themselves" He said it's been an amazing process. ____was sent to Najaf in August and was helping tranport troops (both marines and ING) to the Mosque in his Amphibious Assault Vehicle. The storming of the mosque was called off at the last minute, but ____said he was impressed with how hard the Americans and Iraqis worked together. He told me it was something he can't even describe and that I will never even imagine and that if we back down now the Iraqis would be totally devastated and never trust us again.

On a final note: I am always amazed at the lack of whining of you marines! The only thing ____has complained of is missing the upcoming Monday Night Football game between his beloved Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins....ha! Anyway, I appreciate articles like yours! Keep em coming!

________- Helena, Montana
Proud Mom of CPL _______, Camp Lejeune
24th MEU"
on Sep 22, 2004
Link is down to your SPC.
HOORAH for the 24th MEU!
on Sep 22, 2004
drmiler:

Did you look at the optruth site? As for this letter, as I saide, politics is the art of the debateable. Both viewpoints have a place.
on Sep 22, 2004
ssg geezer:

Try www.optruth.orgLink Don't know, works when I put it in the browser address.

on Sep 22, 2004

Reply #3 By: CrispE - 9/22/2004 4:11:33 PM
drmiler:

Did you look at the optruth site? As for this letter, as I saide, politics is the art of the debateable. Both viewpoints have a place.


This letter is NOT politics and not debatable. It is the feeling of "one" marine that's all it is.You and I "can not" debate on what "one" person feels or thinks! Mainly because we"don't know" what he feels or thinks.
on Sep 22, 2004
drmiler:

Don't be ridiculous. When someone says "sometimes I feel like I'm the only one supporting the mission" that is VERY POLITICAL. She is complaining about the "choice" (which is the basis of politics) to be apathetic about what she considers important. Whether it is democrat or republican isn't the issue.