A Soldier's Feeling on the War in Iraq
My pride in my country is what pushed me hard to become a soldier to defend my country. For many generations Americans have stood up to fight for our freedom and to fight against injustices in other areas of the world. World War II was the first time in a long time that the enemy attacked Americans on American soil. No one protested when our government went to Japan and kicked their butts for daring to attack us on our own soil.
Now though we were attacked on our own soil September 11, 2001. So we went to kick some butt and show that we are a strong country and that we will not tolerate anyone attacking our country. Problem is though that many Americans oppose the war and oppose us defending ourselves. Why is it that now a days Americans no longer feel there is a reason to fight back? Have we become so passive and weak that we no longer care what happens to our country?
It does not matter if you like your president or not. What matters is that you care enough about your freedom to fight for it, to defend it at all costs. The majority of people believed in Bush enough to vote him into office but then turned on him for sending troops to Iraq to defend your freedoms. To me I don't understand how we can trust him enough to vote him into office only to turn on him when he makes a judgment call that is done to defend our way of life.
The media is another area where the war in Iraq went to hell in a hand basket. The media portrays all the bad with this war but none of the good or positive effects of this war. They have done a great job dividing Americans over this war. The only thing they are doing when they do this is tearing their own country apart. During a war time our country needs to stand together as one united country not be divided over who supports that war and who is against the war. I have seen many people who supported the war and what the soldiers were doing change their outlook based on negative crap they seen in the media.
Presently we are over in Iraq to help them rebuild their country. Many would think that we should leave them to themselves to do this and just pull our troops home. Well look at it this way, we pull out of Iraq and they are taken over by more terrorists that now are obtaining more power. Let the terrorists obtain enough power and guess who they are coming after? They will come after us again.
When that happens many people who wanted to pull our troops out are going to look around and wonder how did this happen. It happened because all those people stopped something that should not have been stopped. The more we stay on it to bring the terrorists down the more we keep them from gaining power. The less power they have the more we as Americans can go to bed at night and sleep easier.
I personally am willing to do anything to maintain our way of life. I do not want to see another attack on American soil. I support what the troops are doing and have a lot of respect for them. They are putting their lives on the line to protect democracy and to keep us all back home safe. When the time comes I will feel honored to join them in their fight.
Author's Disclaimer- This is written based on my personal views and beliefs. None of this represents the views of our government or other military soldiers. I speak solely for myself and no one else.
Published by Antoinette McGowan
I am a stay at home mother. I love writing. Many topics interest me when it comes to writing. View profile
- The American SoldierSome people think that the life of a soldier is easy. In reality a soldier's life has many up's and down's.
Iraq War Critic Howard ZinnHoward Zinn, the author of "A People's Hisory of the United States", is a passionate opponent of American intervention in foreign countries. A harsh critic of the War in Iraq, Z...
Homage to My People and the American SoldierAs a people, we're losing our culture and some of us have lost our identity. I respect the American soldier for reminding me of an ideal that is still acceptable.
Taliban Video of Captured U.S. Soldier Hits the InternetThe Taliban has released a video on a website of a captive U. S. soldier who went missing in Afghanistan on June 30. The soldier, who hasn't been identified (but has been ackno...- Interview with American Soldier Michael ChecheleAll together I asked him 10 questions in 2 separate interviews. He was very generous and very kind. I was very gracious to have the opportunity and honor to interview one of our countries many heroes.
- Book Review: "The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell: An Accidental Soldier's Account...
- 9-11 Five Years Later and the War in Iraq
- Congress Should Suspend NASA Until the War in Iraq is Over
- War Without End: For Many Soldiers Returning from Iraq, the War Continues at Home
- Bob Woodruff Speaks Out for Brain-Injured Iraq War Veterans
- The Role of the Internet in the Iraq War
- Iraq War..Hear My Voice
14 Comments
Post a CommentHi, do you still feel this way about the war or has anything happened to change your opinion?
I have covered two funerals for soldiers killed in Iraq. So sad and emotional. It brings the war home.
Thank you all of you for your comments. I must update this though because sadly I was discharged at the beginning of December. I had family issues that could not be resolved while I was in the military. I will continue to do what I can to support the troops who bravely serve our country everyday. When things settle better with my children, I may reenlist.
EM: Iraq (as well as most nations in the region) have tolerant, if not openly assistant, policies regarding terrorist training and financing operations. We said we would fight terrorism "wherever" it existed.
1776 Dad: I would not "want" my child to go, but I would gladly serve my country again and go in their stead.
Antionette: I certainly hope we can resolve the mess we've made (not the mistake) and do this militarily right before you need to be deployed. If you do get deployed, my prayers are with you; keep your head down and your armor on.
I agree with alot of what you are saying except that most Americans did not oppose the first diployment to fight back of the "attack on our soil" just the fact that we have stayed in it to long and should have allready gotten out of where we are not wanted.
A well written article. If you do not learn from history you are bound to repeat it.
hey you didn't let any worms loose, lol. You just said how you felt which most people don't and that is partially why many people are on AC to begin with. Cheers to you and I enjoyed the debate
Iraq may have not had anything to do with 911 except for 1 big thing. 911 was a result of the United States ignoring our enemies and respecting the Sovernty of other nations. After 911 it became apparent that we couldn't ignore open threats nor hidden threats. If government schools were doing their job (that we tax payers over pay them to do), our Population would understand history and geography better and our presence in Iraq would be obvious.
We have been in a silent war with Syria since WWII. We have been in an undeclaired war with Iran since the Carter Administration (Thanks Jimmy) and of course we were at war with Iraq at the time of 911.
Here's the story of why we are in Iraq.
2 weeks or so before 911 Sadam fired on our aircraft. He had been doing so for years ever since he signed a peace treaty. He had been openly threatening us since he signed the peace treaty.
911 happened. The U.S. declaired we would go after terrorist no matter where they are. Two weeks or so lat
I think that you opened up a can of worms by writing this article. But then, everyone has their own opinion of what the goverment should and shouldn't do. I say bring our boys and girls home. We need to be putting all the money that we spend in Iraq on our own people. We need better health care for the poor and middle class of our country. Just think how all the money that we are spending over there on
araq to rebuild what we have torn up could do for our own people.
Good story but how we can talk about sovereignity when the people and the government cannot even keep sovereignity for the native americans