This is a valid take if it's real. I'd prefer if the soldier's name was known; "anonymous" letters always smack of spam e-mail circulars. I also wish he'd included some specifics about his work in Iraq.
I haven't seen anything that shows it to be fake. It certainly has that feel to it, and it is from anonymous. But if it is real then the soldier's input should be heard. I just wish there was someway to ascertain the validity of the actual letter. Calling Murtha a coward was horrendous. Murtha was Marine who served in Viet Nam.
basso, without a name, it's meaningless. It could be the product of a scrivener in the West Wing. How would we know? Having said that, and although I disagree with much of what was in it, there is no limit to the writing abilities of someone in the military, no more than a school teacher, a police officer, a college student, an electrician, or an anonymous person writing from their study on a Rockets BBS. They are all capable. It only requires the talent and motivation. Keep D&D Civil.
I have a stupid question. How many people are in a platoon? Am I reading this letter correctly or is it purporting to speak for the entire platoon? If it is, then it is not exactly anonymous. It is like if the entire Clutchfans BBS wrote a letter and signed it "Clutchfans." If it is a fake, then it is an audacious fake, for it claims to be more than just the opinion of one soldier.
I agree 100%. I'm a veteran of the 1st gulf war and any vet should be heard, I don't care what their stance.
I have friends who served in both GW I and II. Both are college educated. One was counter intelligence and the other was a machine gunner. They seem relatively indifferent to the entire situation, and both believe Iraq will quickly fall into civil war the moment the United States leaves and there is nothing anyone can do about it. They have also mentioned that most Iraqis don't really understand what "freedom" means since their economic situations are so depressed. They don't describe the Iraqi people as terribly noble. Their primary goal is to survive, and they commonly lie and manipulate to this end... which I don't think is a bad thing given the situation. Projecting domestic sentiments of the American Revolution onto GW II are an illusion that doesn't exist. Whether or not that letter is legit, I believe there are probably soldiers who feel that way, but I believe my friends are a lot smarter, perceptive, and trustworthy than the person who wrote that. Sappy patriotism is a silly tactic to quell criticism anyway. It would be a different story if 90% of Americans had the same feelings toward the Iraqi people, but I would guess (and it is a guess) that most of the people who support the war harbor bad opinions of the Iraqi people. In fact I would stereotype the hard core supporters as the same people who would throw out offhand remarks like "just nuke 'em." It is the base of the Republican party that support this war the most, which are the Evangelical Christians.... the same Christians who believe everyone in Iraq is going to Hell anyway.
For those of you doubting the authenticity of this letter, the author has been ID'd: SGT Walter J. Rausch and 1st Platoon Charlie Co. 2/327 Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) http://2slick.blogspot.com/2005/11/another-great-letter-from-iraq.html
This letter was pretty funny. I love how he starts off "Dear Mom" and then follows-up with "My fellow Americans". So much much for dear old mom....
no? with the soldiers name and unit it should be relatively easy to verify, no matter where the story originated. go ahead, i'll wait.
Yup: http://cbftw.blogspot.com/ http://soldierlife.com/ here's my two favorites. They have links to other military blogs as well. Great reading.
Actually, I regularly speak to both contractors and soldiers who are over there and have been over there. Different people have different perspectives, to be sure, but not one of them has come back and said anything even remotely as positive as this unsigned email does. That is what leads me to believe that it could be fake.
LOL! Why read that, I am in IRAQ. I will tell you this, there are more troops that I have met that have said this is some bull$hit than anything else. Seems none of them mind fighting for their country because thats what they signed up for, however they dont believe the reason why we are here is just. We see one of those letters once a week. One for either side of the fence. I am not convinced that they are authentic from what I see "FIRST HAND" here in IRAQ. 9.5-10 soliders I meet say they are not re-enlisting. Not because they are scared or anything, most of them seem to feel like, do they dont know what needs to be accomplised before they are sent home. What I will say is, it is NOT as bad as what you see on TV. There is alot of good being done that you dont see on TV. On the flip side of that, should we really be out here doing those things in the first place? Should we really have been here in the first place? Will the country be better off for it in the long run? After Zaqarwi's death I guess only time will tell. However people conviently forget why it was we were supposed to be down here. WMD NO MORE, NO LESS. It was supposed to be here..... It was not, and who's fault is that? Should government be question? Or should they get a free ride and rewrite history as to why we are here. You be the judge..... P.S. Do know that with every one letter pro - their is a letter that is against. Reading what the soliders write on the walls in the urinals is very interesting, it seems like a hand written version of this BBS.
Wow, we have our own Clutch BBS war correspondent! I'm sure everyone on the board can agree that we appreciate your sacrifice. STAY SAFE!
