Going Back To Iraq, Getting it right this time...well what did we get wrong the first time?

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 10:19:48 -0400

While standing in line today at Whole Foods to get some chocolate milk (don't judge) I saw a magazine at the check out and the cover had a picture of a fighter jet on it and the title of an article "Going Back to Iraq, Getting it right this time". I stopped and looked at it again and then the thought hit me "What did we get wrong from 2003 - 2011? We set off with a objective to not only look for weapons of mass destruction but to also remove Saddam from power. Well we don't get into the whole WMD thing but the truth remains that we Saddam and his son's are dead. We tried to stage the country for success. We training their leaders and their military however upon the first sight of trouble, the same guys we trained threw down their weapons, ripped off their uniforms and left their posts.

Now the ISIS has control of the country and after a weekend when we saw an American beheaded, the country is again looking to the east and yelling for action.

What a lot of people outside the military fail to remember is the reason we left Iraq wasn't because of some person sitting behind a desk at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. We left because the SOFA expired and the country of Iraq said they could handle their business. So we took the training wheels off their bike and let them go. Now, they are on their side looking for help and we are once again being called to clean up a mess.

So what did we get wrong between 2003 - 2011? Is it our fault that the country who said they could handle it failed to do so? Is there anything more we could have done? For those that served in support of OIF how do you feel about going back? Do you see any sort of damage being done to the mental health of the US Warfighter by asking him and her to return to a place where we were told our job was done?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2014 10:43 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 10:43:53 -0400

SGT Ben Keen Yeah now I wonder where those people are that castigated President W????

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Aug 22 at 2014 11:21 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:21:07 -0400

I may take some heat on this, but long story short, I believe we will continue down this same road indefinitely as long as we allow politicians (of any ilk) to control the battlefield rather than the Commanders on the ground. I realize this is overly simplistic on it's face but I also believe there is a lot of merit in it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2014 2:58 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:58:49 -0400

The error the first time was we simply did not have an official end game or a specific task to be accomplished. If we were to go back full fledged into Iraq or end game must be the complete destruction of ISIS. Anything less is a waste of time, resources, and lives.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Jul 23 at 2015 12:54 PM

SGT Michael Glenn — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 12:54:06 -0400

Action will not come in the form and shape Most Americans want, the reason... the radical muslim loving asswipe who some claim is the CIC refuses to act against his muslim brothers and has chosen to make not only a mockery of this once great super power but is attempting to tear the country apart by dividing it with muslim extremists being placed in key positions and outlawing anything but radical muslim ways in this country. The enemy isnt in Iraq its in the white house and until we all realize this you active duty members will just be sheep being led to slaughter, nothing more. Sure high ranking Nco's and officers will slam me for this comment but ask yourself, are they the ones going out on patrols or just setting back in an office in the states or within a safety/comfort zone else where while our brothers and sisters die/ have died? Only when we stop playing world police and take care of our issues at home will we regain our place as a super power on this planet. Many of the worlds countries have a huge dislike to the American people and the country because of the way we treat them. Americans are called arrogant, stupid money hunger, POWER HUNGRY, and just plain idiots. So instead of bitching at this comment and thinking I care not about this country,why dont we all concentrate on the REAL issues at hand...the piss poor condition of this once great country and how it lies almost in complete ruin because of a few bad decisions made by a few morons who lied to the country and chose to let greed and power dictate how they ran/are running things. I am a proud American and respect the members of the armed forces but enough is enough.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2017 3:15 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 15:15:08 -0500

I can remember with remarkable clarity when I figured out we were doomed in Iraq. It was when an Iraqi soldier explained to me that he was not from Ramadi (which is where we were) and so he couldn't care less about the people in that city. He surely wasn't willing to die for them. As Americans we're pretty much born with a sense of national pride. You saw it on Sept. 11th when every one of us, coast to coast, felt personally attacked. Even if we lived 2000 miles away from the actual attacks. That doesn't happen in Iraq. And we tried to implement a system that relies on that idea being instilled within the people.

Another moment of clarity came when a local Iraqi told me (as well as others) that they didn't care who "won". They just wanted the shooting to stop. That spoke volumes about their attitude toward the whole ordeal.

Response by SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter made Nov 16 at 2017 3:31 PM

SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter — Thu, 16 Nov 2017 15:31:28 -0500

Unfortunately the Politicians get to involved in all wars and don't allow the train and experienced Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines do their jobs. Therefore things get undone again keep in mind many Politicians only care about their political careers. Unfortunately for those that actually have to go out and fight they use us as political pawns to push their agenda's right or wrong all lies included.

Response by SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter made Nov 17 at 2017 12:05 PM

SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 12:05:22 -0500

A little off subject but I think the government should do a heck of a better job caring for Veterans. That should be this country first order of business when it comes to providing services and assistance to any group of people absolutely no offense intended to any one. I am so sick and tired of hearing so many lying politicians say what they are going to do for Veterans. Then they back door us screwing us out of something we deserve. My question is why are there so many homeless veterans? When the peace treaties are negotiated and signed. The fight and war isn't over for the Veterans it continues. However politicians can easily agree on spending trillions of dollars sending us into battle. Then why can't the politicians come to their senses and agree on spending billions taking care of the Veterans? As politicians they don't have to be brave to send us into battle. The ones that go into battle are the braves ones putting their lives on the line to ensure we have a free nation . However the politicians should have some decency to see that we get what we deserve when and if we return and not have to fight our own government for it. This shouldn't be a partisan issue when it comes to looking out for Veterans.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Nov 17 at 2017 1:27 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 13:27:20 -0500

We made the mistake of invading, instead of adjusting the torque setting a lot higher on Saddam. We made the mistake of not leaving the Iraqi Military in place 2003. We made the mistake of leaving Mr. Bremer in Charge of things (dictating that we mandate set aside positions for women in the Iraqi parliament, what the new flag was going to be, and other idiotic mandates). We didn't split the country up when we had the chance, so now the Kurds wouldn't feel like they just got triple penetrated by the US, Turkey, and the Iranians. So we are going back why? Nothing to gain if we are not setting up for a free Kurdish State.

The Kurds could be the New Ally we need, as the Turks have shown little resolve to help us. Withdrawing from NATO is not in their best interest economically. And the Kurds could help keep the Iranians in check. With Iraq pretty much a quagmire between the two Muslim factions, it is essentially a failed nation state, slowly becoming a puppet of Iran. Tune in next week when Saudi's dump billions in arms into the Sunni's side of Iran.