OPEN LETTER
TO AMERICAN SOLDIERS
Everything that follows is the voice of experience and concern.
The military has taught you a lot of useful things, like the proper way to kill--proper dress--proper conduct and how to look sharp while marching. But they have not and will not teach you how to survive! Yes, they can teach you how to find water or how to prepare a snake for consuming, however I am speaking of the battles you may encounter with personal demons. Demons brought on by war. Once the visions, voices and dreams start; they can be more lethal than any insurgent you have ever faced. They can destroy a life, a marriage and bring the destruction of self-respect.
These demons will consume you, but they can be fought and beaten; sometimes easily and sometimes it can take a long battle, no matter they can be beaten. My war, Vietnam, too many vets lost their battle with demons. Why? NO ONE CARED! There were not many support groups. Today there are those who will help you in your struggle. But beware some are in it for the grant money--not all really care.
Please--if you are fighting your demons--DO NOT do it alone--find help! Seek support groups that are made up of Vets who actually know what you are going through. Look for those Vets who know the sound of an RPG. Those who were not in your situation will have no idea what you are going through. FIND THOSE WHO KNOW!
Post script
It was reported on CNN on 9/25/06, that more Americans soldiers after returning from war are have a difficult time adjusting.
DO NOT LET THE DEMONS WIN!
CHUQ
28/09/06
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Futility
IRAQ
A STUDY IN FUTILITY
Hot Damn! The Report is out, the Iraq Study Group Report, that is and guess what? Nothing new! This report is nothing more than toilet paper. It is a Study in Futility!
The much awaited report is nothing but a rehash of points and proposals made by myself and other analysts and for years. For whatever reason, the report is heeded by all when a bunch of retired suits echo the analysis of others. These people spent nine months compiling their information and putting it into the report form.
So far your president has not embraced too much of the study its recommendations.. Did you expect him to receive it with open arms? Not likely!
What does this report mean to you, the American soldier? Not much change; basically it is a band-aid for a gunshot wound. You will still be in-country and still be facing dangerous situations daily. Much of this report will be good to help the soldier be safe, but it will not be heeded. The president has an agenda and be damn anyone who bucks that.
The only part that I read in the finished report that made any sense was the section on the recommendation that diplomatic efforts should be made with Iraq’s neighbors. This has been called for in the past year, but no one in Washington likes the idea.
There is one part that amused me somewhat and it was the call to change the US troops job from combat to training missions. Sorry guys, this was attempted in Vietnam and we were called “military advisors”. We were to teach the army, police and militias to cope with insurgents. IT DID NOT SUCCEED! And it will not in Iraq either. As in Vietnam, American troops did most of the fighting because the locals were overwhelmed by the insurgents. This is your future, if this lame plan goes into effect. Kind of reminds me of my favorite Einstein quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome”. I love that quote!
I hope I am wrong but it would please me to be mistaken. All I have read says I will not be wrong and that the Iraqi forces do not have the will or the experience to handle this rising violence.
So my critique of the Iraq Study Group report is just a disguised “stay the course” that they renamed “A Way Forward”. None of this report will help you come home any sooner for it will be ignored by the “suits” in Washington. Why? They refuse to admit to their imperialistic mistakes. As long as they hang on to their belief in success, you will be in the cross hairs of the insurgents.
CHUQ
14/12/06
A STUDY IN FUTILITY
Hot Damn! The Report is out, the Iraq Study Group Report, that is and guess what? Nothing new! This report is nothing more than toilet paper. It is a Study in Futility!
The much awaited report is nothing but a rehash of points and proposals made by myself and other analysts and for years. For whatever reason, the report is heeded by all when a bunch of retired suits echo the analysis of others. These people spent nine months compiling their information and putting it into the report form.
So far your president has not embraced too much of the study its recommendations.. Did you expect him to receive it with open arms? Not likely!
What does this report mean to you, the American soldier? Not much change; basically it is a band-aid for a gunshot wound. You will still be in-country and still be facing dangerous situations daily. Much of this report will be good to help the soldier be safe, but it will not be heeded. The president has an agenda and be damn anyone who bucks that.
The only part that I read in the finished report that made any sense was the section on the recommendation that diplomatic efforts should be made with Iraq’s neighbors. This has been called for in the past year, but no one in Washington likes the idea.
There is one part that amused me somewhat and it was the call to change the US troops job from combat to training missions. Sorry guys, this was attempted in Vietnam and we were called “military advisors”. We were to teach the army, police and militias to cope with insurgents. IT DID NOT SUCCEED! And it will not in Iraq either. As in Vietnam, American troops did most of the fighting because the locals were overwhelmed by the insurgents. This is your future, if this lame plan goes into effect. Kind of reminds me of my favorite Einstein quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome”. I love that quote!
I hope I am wrong but it would please me to be mistaken. All I have read says I will not be wrong and that the Iraqi forces do not have the will or the experience to handle this rising violence.
So my critique of the Iraq Study Group report is just a disguised “stay the course” that they renamed “A Way Forward”. None of this report will help you come home any sooner for it will be ignored by the “suits” in Washington. Why? They refuse to admit to their imperialistic mistakes. As long as they hang on to their belief in success, you will be in the cross hairs of the insurgents.
CHUQ
14/12/06
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