To address more of the substance of this thread, do any of you know soldiers that do not say basically the same thing that the form letter said? The letters I've gotten from these guys has similar sentiments. There is, of course, a great desire to come back home. However, there is also a lot of resentment over the way the media has portrayed things over there. The administration has bungled lots of things, but I don't think they had anything to do with this letter. Was there anything in the article that I missed, or do you think everyone that supported the war is a mindless administration drone?
Yes. From todays paper: The key I think is the last sentence "it wasn't supposed to be like that"; No it wasn't, the administrations propaganda deliberately created the lie that it was going to be an easy, cheap, joy ride for everybody. (please, spare me the citations to Rummy and Bush saying, well I never technically said it was going to be easy, it's like Clinton talking about te word is) Oil was going to pay for the war. We were going to find banned weapons. We were going to leave the infrastructure intact. That is what they should be held accountable for, and they will be.
Sam, I asked if anyone (personally) know anyone who feels the same way. I know a few people over there that feel the way I described and feel hostile towards the media for 'turning' on them. They all told me it isn't like how it is described in the media, except for terrible sandstorms/weather that is thankfully getting better. And none of them even know each other, so it is coming from several different sources. I was asking to see whether the sentiments I've heard have been heard by others.
That's a direct quote that's part of a long article in today's times. I suppose you can disbelieve it if you want, but it's better attributed than "a few people I know said something like this".
Sorry, but my father and three people I have known for more than five years get a little more weight than the media's "Specialist Castillo". One is a hero (is in rehab after getting hit by a grenade attack in August). I don't doubt that there are some that feel like he does, but 4 out of 4 people I personally know are saying the exact opposite. That's why I asked the question in the first place. So basically it sounds like you don't really know anyone over there, do you?
If I say no, do you reward yourself with a cookie or a gold star? Here's the link to the whole article about "Specialist Castillo" who you seem to believe is a fictional character, that was on the front page this morning, complete with pictures : http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/15/national/15FURL.html Read it yourself. Or don't, I don't really care.
Sam, Ok, let me try to explain since you're not understanding. I don't think it would be hard for the media to find a soldier dissatisfied with the war, if that's what they're looking for. The same way that it would not be hard for the administration to prop some soldier up to say that everything's great, blah, blah, blah. I'm trying to find out people's experiences from a more random group. (I was hoping people other than glynch, TJ, bama, etc. would respond).
