CALDONIA

Indeed, in a guerilla war where the "enemy" is loosely organized, does not wear uniforms, and strikes with seeming randomness, the occupying force eventually becomes as savage and ruthless as their foe.

As the duration of our occupation in Iraq lengthens, expect to hear of atrocities commited on both "sides." And as we saw in Vietnam, massive infusions of troops and waging a war of attrition are not failsafe means to achieve 'victory,' however it is defined.

Yes, Twain was quite a devastating social critic, though most know him only via his novels, alas.

Calzaer

Obviously, or else more people would refer to him as Sam Clemens.

Optional

To be fair, there's a REASON why on-duty soldiers are supposed to be completely a-political... The idea is to avoid military backed coups and the like. The military is supposed to stay firmly under the control of the government... Not the other way around.

Normally it's not a huge deal, just save up any politicking you might want to do until you're off duty and out of uniform.

Problem with the guys in Iraq is that technically speaking they are ALWAYS on duty and ALWAYS in uniform as long as they are there. Pressure builds...

-me

peacenik

Well, it doesn't help when their lied to by the Bush administration either.

jman0904

If your pet Iguana had the legal right to go make you fight others, you might question his motives and intelligence too.

uhcord

Lol, lol jman :notworthy

I don't know why, but that statement made me bust out laughing.

Thor Q. Mada

There is a bit more to the discontent than meets the eye.
When Germany was at war, it was a total war , and the entire population was participating in the war effort in the US and in Germany.
But in Vietnam, and now also here in Bagdad, the troops are walking around in an hostile environment dressed in combat gear in very high ambient temperature.
Death can come at any moment from any corner.
Meanwhile, home it is business as usual. Baseball, basketball, partying, wall street, name it, all going on, and the Iraq war is reduced to 2nd grade news.
How do you motivate young people under these circumstances?? A near impossible task.
And these fat old cats in Washington just keep on going as if everything is all right.

Danya

I don't think people waving their flags and having pro-war rallies at home will do anything to help get them through what is happening in Iraq. The fantasy of liberation and the reality of occupation probably comes as quite a shock. After convincing themselves the people would be grateful and better off thanks to their war they now see first hand how wrong they were.
One article I read today put it like this:

Too many of our soldiers are still dying. Too many others, living every day with the knowledge that an attack could come from anywhere, now find themselves acting with the brutality that has long been required of occupying forces. The transformation is no doubt necessary for their self-defense, but it may haunt their nights for years.

I hope their military medical benefits have good mental health coverage because they're going to need it.

Porky Pine

Are you kidding? Bush wants to cut vetren benefits!

Godless Dave

And the mental health benefits weren't all that good to begin with. PTSD from witnessing horrendous violence and being in constant fear for your life for months on end? You just need to toughen up, soldier!