A Real Soldier Speaks Out: The State Department Policy is Fool Headed

I haven't seen The Postman in years but one line from that film stuck with me. It's the scene near the end when the postman character is facing the local despot on the battle field and asks retorically "wouldn't it be great if wars could be ended by the assholes that start them?". I believe that it is a reference to the way warriors are thrown into the fray while their leaders stay behind where they are mainly safe.

CNN.com reports that the state department has mandated a new policy that state department personel must submit to mandatory postings in Iraq or risk losing their jobs. I am undecided on wether or not this is the right thing to do. On one hand you have the "it's only fair" argument. however, these are not the polititians that started the war. I was irked at the comment on CNN's page ."that is a potential death sentence and you know it. Who will raise our children if we are dead or wounded?". The first thing that went through my mind as a soldier myself was "What about my kids, what about my commrades kids? That is what prompted me to write this article but then it occurred to me.

I AM a soldier, they aren't. What the hell is our government thinking? We are losing enough people by sending in our trained soldiers. Nnow they want to send untrained civilians against their will? I started out a little irritated with what struck me as whining from the state department employees till I actually thought about what they said. I agree with them now. If any civilians need to be forcibly placed in Iraq I think it should be the asshole that started the war.