Are you upset by what is going on in Iraq?

2014-06-14T00:34:35-04:00

I keep reading about how angry I'm supposed to be as an Iraqi Vet that were not going back to stop the attacks by ISIS in Iraq.
The media says I feel betrayed and think we need to go back in to restore what we established to honor those we lost.
Truth be told I think we all knew this was coming when we left and it was only a matter of time. Should I be angry about this?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2014 6:02 PM

2014-06-12T18:02:18-04:00

It was inevitable, but that's just my opinion. You can't look back on the past, we had a mission to do, we executed it to the best of our ability and now it's on to the next mission. I was there in the beginning (April 2003) and I believe we left Iraq better than we found it. But in the end, we can't change centuries of culture in only 1 decade. Same can be said about Afghanistan. We did what we felt was the right thing to do at the time. History will judge our actions and I'm betting it will be kind to us.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2014 8:08 PM

2014-06-12T20:08:00-04:00

They got complacent in my opinion. Just going to leave it at that.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2014 12:39 AM

2014-06-14T00:39:10-04:00

Should you? I can't tell you how you should feel. I lost some friends there. However, to put it all in context - we (the military) go where we are told, do what we are told and leave when we are told. The politics and the why's aren't our problem. Do I feel angry? No. We did what we went there for: to boot SH out of office. Done.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jun 15 at 2014 11:52 PM

2014-06-15T23:52:51-04:00

SFC Parker, I do not feel angry that there is yet another Civil War in Iraq. I think that our presence there was the only think that kept peace for a short time there after we ousted Saddam Hussein. Did we really need to oust him, probably. But that was not the call of the Armed Forces, we answered the call of the President and went in.

Is it smart to render assistance to the current government of the Country? Probably not, but once again that is not our decision. Our C-I-C may decide to send in troops after saying we needed to get out as soon as possible and forcing a withdrawal long before the country was stable (if it will ever be stable). Right now he is saying no troops, but... (I know a lot of people who were "not" in Viet Nam prior to our official arrival there either.)

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 16 at 2014 4:22 AM

2014-06-16T04:22:21-04:00

I can't tell you how you are supposed to feel and I cannot feel your pain brother.

What I do know is that I served alongside many of my Army & Marine brethren that made the ultimate sacrifice on that foreign soil....and I will limit personal comments to that statement

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jun 16 at 2014 9:25 AM

2014-06-16T09:25:19-04:00

About how we left? Maybe.
However, the people who make those decisions made those decisions. The results are the responsibility of those who made the decisions and/or advocated for the eventual decisions made. The people in uniform did their jobs as ordered and can hold their heads high. (and, yes, I believe this outcome was both predictable and predicted when these decisions were made.)

Current events? Nope all good here.

At this point, all I can say is "sunk costs are sunk." If it is worth going to Iraq to do something about the current situation, those who make those decisions can do so. Going back solely to "redeem" the outcome of our last trip? No. That's like putting $5,500 worth of repairs into your $5,000 car.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 9:35 AM

2014-06-16T09:35:44-04:00

Just like the housing market crash, there were people predicting this outcome for years in advance. Unfortunately, the smartest people are neither the most vocal nor the most listened to.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 9:50 AM

2014-06-16T09:50:47-04:00

I will echo the others, I can't tell you how to feel. I wrestled with it when it initially started showing up in the news. I was a bit angry at first, even felt a tinge of betrayal but in the end I remember the soldiers I have served with, lead and were lead by and how we accomplished the mission(s) we were given and made a positive impact while we are there and I leave it at that.

I will leave the geopolitical wrangling to those that are better (or at least elected to be) suited at those nuances. Me, I remember the good times and great camaraderie I had while there, we did the job they told us to do. The aftermath, well thats still being determined.....

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jun 16 at 2014 10:32 AM

2014-06-16T10:32:08-04:00

Not a tear shed over conditions there right now. Arm the Kurds and give them the country.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jun 16 at 2014 12:05 PM

2014-06-16T12:05:26-04:00

Angry? No. Surprised? Heck no. Saddened? Yes.

On Friday, I was on the CBS Morning radio show here in Pittsburgh to discussion this very topic. And yes, I'm saddened by the reaction of those members of the Iraqi "Army" that we spent time training. To hear about them casting aside their weapons and uniforms in fear of facing ISIS head on did make me sad. However, they did the same thing when they saw us coming.

We tried to give that country everything it could need to be successful. Spent over $2 TRILLION US Dollars to rebuild their infrastructure. Saw over 4000 Americans pay with their lives and many more injured. I think we can all agree that we knew that this sort of thing was possible when we left. ISIS knew that if it tried this sort of thing while we were, the result would be totally different so they planned, waited then moved in.

Like I said, we gave the country a chance, but just like the fact you can lead a horse to water, you can't force it to drink; we can set a country up to be successful but if that country is unwilling to do what it needs to do, then what more can we do?

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 16 at 2014 12:25 PM

2014-06-16T12:25:14-04:00

What is upsetting is that the siutation in Iraq once again shows that we have a culture that does not think strategically. No one considers the 2nd and 3rd order effects of their decisions.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2014 12:45 PM

2014-06-16T12:45:20-04:00

SFC Parker this thing will never be over. Th e conflict in that region of the world is as old as time itself. It is not a person or a group of people that continue to terrorize he region, it's an idea... A living breathing idea that will continue to prevail through its manifestation of young minds absorbing what is being woven Into their fabric from birth. There will be know quick fix or temporary solution for this issue. This will take the united effort of the host nations and the UN to accommodate an enduring presence and financial comment. Let's neutralize the threat via an overwhelming and swift display of landpower, TRULY stabilize the region through maintained presence, and make this place a 1 year unaccompanied tour. The only reason it app aired calm before was because we where there. Let's hold a 50 year starring contest like we have been doing in N/S Korea and I bet they give up first.

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Jun 17 at 2014 12:11 PM

2014-06-17T12:11:06-04:00

Vietnam all over again! That is all I can say! And you can blame both parties on this!!!!!!

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made Jun 17 at 2014 2:35 PM

2014-06-17T14:35:54-04:00

Excellent question, thank you for posting it. I don't know about all my fellow OIF/OEF vets, but I started feeling this huge, messed up empty feeling the last year or so that I can only attribute to thinking that the war was "all for nothing" or something of that sort. I think I agree with your statement that we all knew it was coming and I think I was feeling angry about it. I don't want the war to occupy or hold my life back anymore, so I'm going to say for myself and hopefully all of you too that we try not to be angry and just move forward with our own lives. We can't solve all the world's problems and we need to quit trying too all of the time. Thanks for hearing me out everyone. Doc Hill

Response by PV2 Abbott Shaull made Dec 12 at 2014 5:12 PM

2014-12-12T17:12:46-05:00

Nope should be more upset that we may have to fight our way back in to finish a job, that we left uncompleted in the first place.

Response by SGT Shaul Funt made Dec 12 at 2014 5:13 PM

2014-12-12T17:13:26-05:00

Grate question!

what upsets me is that our president didn't listen to the military advisor and pull the truth out of there much too soon. all of this great American heroes the sacrifices there lies limbs and mental health did it for nothing?

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 13 at 2014 3:43 PM

2014-12-13T15:43:16-05:00

Am i upset? Yes. Do i feel betrayed? No. I saw this coming as soon as they said we were pulling out. I would like for one day to be able to go back there one day i think it would help with closure (i know kind of sappy).

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2014 11:44 AM

2014-12-17T11:44:59-05:00

not so much, I don't care about those people. I pray for the christians living there.