Stryker Brigade News

After 3 and a half years isn't it about time to turn our backs and bring our brave soldiers home. The ultimate fate for Iraq will be the same.We tried and gave them more than they deserved. This has become very tragic and ridiculous.

I agree, my husband is over there with the 172nd, he has been there since Aug 05! yes they helped make things better in Mosul, but now in Baghdad , which they were extended to help out in, nothing, nothing. Many American's are dieing each day and for what purpose? Are we defending our country from Iraq? Afganistan and Al-Queda *spelling* yes, but Iraq? Many of the soldiers feel that they arent needed atall, of the polls tanken, 72% of Iraqi's don't even want us there! they feel that we aren't doing anything to make things better so if we leave the country just maybe things will get better, thats more than half. I know that my husband would rather be home changing diapers and dealing with tempertantrums than babysitting in Iraq. Give their government the rest of the control, its their job, its their country let them run it, we have already done more than enough and needless lost more than enough lives. its time to come home. and its time to move on.

oh thats just cut and run talk, but don't worry I have a solution! now stick with me, we have all the soldiers deployments extended indefinitly, have them convert to islam, learn farsi, and apply for iraqi citizenship, then we can say IRAQI forces have stood up and are now providing security for their country! we declare the mission a success just in time for the elections! great huh? makes me wanna hum a few bars of "god bless america"

amen!!! its time for them to come home, no more innocent soldiers need to die for this unjust war

I feel the same way, I think it is time to set an ultimatum to the Iraq forces. Take over your job, it is time for the U.S. to come home! No more of our soldiers need to die in this civil war.

I'm a parent of a soldier in the 172nd and I agree with 'Tex' and the other comments above. It's time to get out of Baghdad and move on. It's not working. It's not working at all.
A 4-23 mom

Well after 17 years i never thought i would say this but i have lost faith. Has everyone forgot about a former Cheif of Staff who warned us about this. Several hundred thousand troops and he was forced to retire. What happened to the Powell Doctrine that i was apart of 17 years ago during the first gulf war(over whelming force). Let the Iraqi people go to the poll's one more time and vote for us to stay or go. If they say go we still save face becuase there freedom to vote was used, and if they say stay we have a mission.

I am the mother of a Stryker Soldier. The comments shown above show a very self interested lack of understanding of what is going on in Iraq and the world. A cut and run is not the answer. What the politicians, and apparently the military leaders have seemed to forgotten is that this is a war zone. I don't think they have addressed it as such lately. We are playing by a set of rules that only works if the enemy is playing by the same rules. Obviously they don't. Cut and run isn't the answer, a change in tactics is. We must win this WAR and then bring all the soldiers home so that their children are not fighting a larger battle in 20 years. Sticking our head in the sand and pretending it is someone elses problem has never worked throughout history. Never.

For Tex, Rayvn, fudgems, bring them home, garckare and Andy's Mom: I can't believe that your are true Stryker parents or supporters because you sound like anti-war zealots. Your pleas to cut and run display your lack of will, character and further embolden our enemies abroad as well as those at home. I am embarrassed for your soldiers that have to witness your cowardess while they risk their lives every day for you and I. But don't worry, kiddlets4, your soldiers (including my son, who is on the ground in Baghdad) and the rest of us that have not lost our will or dignity over this war, will continue to carry your water while you wallow in your self pity, and pretentious tantrums. Hooah!

I'm ashamed of my earlier comments, you're right, I don't want to stick my head in the sand and pretend this is not americas problem anymore, and I certainly don't want my children fighting OUR unfinished wars 20 years from now. So okay people, now Khadija (mohommads wife) and Ali (mohommads cousin) WERE the first leaders of islam, not Caliph Abu Bakr like those sunni's claim, now americans have known this since the prophets death @ 700 A.D. and yet we still haven't chosen a side in this civil war, now that everyone understands what the fight is about in iraq, I want a calm orderly line to the recruiters office...

I am the wife of a 172nd Soldier. Instead of the cut and run theory why don't we change the rules of engagement and let our men and women do what they are trained to do. If some Iraqi gets killed then let's not have all these inquiries into his death to find out if one of our soldiers were in the wrong. If we didn't trust our men then they should never have been sent over. Let our guys finish their mission so they can come home with their heads held high knowing that we are proud of them. I also want to say I am proud of the wives or husband of soldiers deployed who have not cut and run and who will be proudly waiting for them when they step off that bus. Kepp our men and women in your prayers and keep the negativity from them. You are in control of their morale! God Bless Our Troops!!!

To hipnip: One of the things we cherish in this country is our wide range of opinions and our right to speak freely. The people you have viciously attacked in this post have love ones who are on the front line in this war. Their opinion is every bit as valid as yours and they deserve to be heard without having someone who disagree do so by resorting to childish name calling and personal attacks upon their character and their devotion to their family members.

Cut and run is a nice slogan, but slogans don't win wars - a winning strategy and proven tactics just might. If you disagree with the postings on this site, by all means, challenge their assertions, but please refrain from the personal insults and attacks. We, the military families deserve better.

While I admit we haven't done a good job of highlighting it, we do maintain a comment policy. I think a number of comments to this entry run counter to those guidelines. Rather than edit anything I'll ask everyone to review the policies.

http://www.strykernews.com/archives/2004/07/25/comment_policy_1.html

Thanks,

Todd

Borr,
You're right, you and others do have the right to express your feelings but you are wrong if you think that they should go unchallenged or criticized. That too is the beauty of our freedom. The ability to disagree. If you don't want a response to your views, don't communicate them to begin with. You have your opinion and I have mine. Let's just agree to disagree because while you think military families (of which I am one)deserve better, I think our soldiers do.

To Todd,
I reviewed your comment policy and I don't see where anybody who has posted comments on this subject have violated them. Even those I disagree with. Spirited debate is a natrual outcome of this subject and I think all of us have engaged within your policy. Thanks for the forum.

Dear sfct.

My question is what is our mission? No one has really stated a clear purpose or mission, and the purpose we went to Iraq for was proven to be false. (the weapons of mass distruction.) I never thought I would disagree with our government going into this war and I supported it, however how many men and woman do we have to sacrifice for the Iraqi government who is not willing to stand up and fight for themselves and are too busy with secratarian violence and crooked police forces to do an adequate job themselves. It is not cut and run, when you do NOT have the support from the Iraqi people and government! It is letting them take responsiblility for their own future!

Well, kiddlets4 and others, out country is founded on the freedom of speech. I love my country and I love and respect and honor our troops! I just do not agree with the current political stance on the reasons we continue this fight. If we had a clear understanding of our goals and mission in Iraq I may feel different. I support our troops continuing to look for Bin Ladden and I and every other stryker parent, spouse or american has EVERY right to speek up and state what they want without being told that we are bashing our troops. I will stand by my daughter and all of our troops no matter what the job at hand, but I can have an opinion just as you can. Thank you USA for the freedom of speech and thank you to our troops for fighting no matter if you agree or disagree with the politics of the mission at hand!

Some day the Iraquis will have to take over their country. Today is as good a day as any. The USA is giving Iraquis a free ride - we commit to stay indefinately, and they can take as long as they want to form a government, etc.

If we leave now we are not "cutting and running,' we are turning over Iraq to the Iraquis. We can always be the international "firemen," putting out "fires" in Iraq and elsewhere. Like firemen, we leave immediately after the fire is out. Unlike policemen, we do not stay around and end up reviled by the very people we are "protecting."

Support this action: 172nd out of Iraq now!

"Cut and Run" well if thats what you want to call it then fine thats what it is, but then again thats what your parents did when you turned 18 and they said either go to college get a job, or get out. they gave you a choice ( which we need to be giving the Iragis) and if it took you too long to decide then they "cut and Run" they kicked you out. We went into Iraq, we took out the tyrant, we gave them government, we need to give them a choice, either take control of YOUR government, and YOUR country, and YOUR people, and make things better for YOURSELF, and do it soon, or we will "KICK YOU OUT" we will leave. When Rumsfeld came to Ft. Wainwright, to speak to us familys about the extension, he said to not be mad at him for the decision, for out troops wanted to be in Iraq, they wanted to serve their country, and then about 5 minutes later he said, Don't be mad at him and the Government for the extension they had no control over it. and I'm sorry but.. no control? you are the government, you can do anything you want. you started this war, you can end it. And yes those of us here are the main support for the troops and the ones that help morale, well its kinda hard to keep up their morale when ours is at an all time low. I found out 3 days before my husband was to return home finially after one of the longest years of my life, that he wasn't comming home, instead he was going somewhere even more dangerous than where he was for at least another 4 months. And I wasn't the only one, there are hundreds of wives and families here and else where that had to stand tall and try so hard to not cry and pretend that they are ok with that, so close to having a loved one home and safe. again I ask, What are we defending our country from in Iraq? what are we proctecting ourselves from, other than the obvious that we wouldn't have to if we weren't there? I love my Husband, my friends, my uncles, and cousins and the rest of my family that is there, both of my parents, and my grandfathers, and their grandfathers, my uncles and a few of my aunts, were either in the military or are in now, I support all troops wether I agree with what they are doing or not, becasue its not like as a soldier you can say, well I don't agree with the war so I'm not going to fight. you can't do that. From the e-mails I've recieved and the letters I've gotten ( not just from my husband and family) Nobody wants to be there. very few understand why they are still there, and why they can't just come home. So label it what you want, and since "Cut and Run" seems to be popular, call me a hippie casue I want to "Cut and Run".

With all due respect to the true Stryker parents and spouses(and not those posing as the same) , it isn't about you. The cause your soldiers signed up for is bigger than any of us individually, and I think most of your soldiers understand that. While we have the same rights as other Americans without soldiers, we carry a different and more important responsibility. If you must vent and release your frustrations, pick up the phone and call a friend or family member or pick up a pen and write private correspondance to someone. But to air your frustrations on sites like these in full view of the adversary, puts our soldiers at risk. If you think that the enemy doesn't read your comments on this site and use them for recruiting suicide bombers that are targeting your soldier than you are either naive or just disengaged. While unintended, your words in print are enemy fodder to use as evidence to their young recruits that members of the American military are losing their will to fight. If we are willing to accept the accolades for being military family members, then we must accept the other obligations that come with it. If you must exercise the rights that your soldier is fighting for, as many of you have kindly reminded me, then please use proper discretion concerning the forum that you use.

actually.. were counting down the days until my husband is out. cant wait. and why is it fair to say that i dont support the troops? my father was a sailor for 20 years. my grandparents fought in world war 2. uncles fought in vietnam. i come from a strong military family and i support our troops and i love my country. i think dying for your country is one of the most honorable things you can do. i support my husband, but i support him and his buddies by thinking they should be home, not fighting an unjust war that cant be won. and thats my opinion, yes.. put it aside. they should taken care of. all im saying is they did their time. whats going on over there isnt working. come up with something else. thats all. you say that just because we fall in love with a soldier or birth a soldier means we get to deal with whatever happens. i think thats one of the most hurtful things ive ever heard. yes we have to deal with it. only all of us can know what its like to have a deployed servicemember. just cause i fall in love with him, doesnt mean i have to just sit back and chill while things him and i dont agree with happen over there. i know i cant make a difference and change what the government decides. i stay strong for him, and ill continue to stay strong until he is safely back home.

Just because you don't support the war doesn't mean that you don't support the troops. If a poll was taken I'm pretty sure atleast half if not more, of our troops don't even support the war in Iraq. But they are still there, just like we here are still here, Because of this war, and because of the extensions, an stress, and distance, many girlfriedns, and even spouses, have left their soldiers. I don't know whats worse, hearing my husband Tearful voice asking if i'll still be here when he gets home?, or hearing him tell me that another set of divorce papers arrived and it was or so and so. or when we are talking on the phone and you hear another guy in the background screaming, and your husband tells you what he is so upset about. Yes in the beginning when this war was about finding WMD's, I supported it, but after we got saddam out and foud that there were no weapons, then our job was done, why are we still there, ok we gt them a government going, thats great, now let them run their country, thats like taking the training wheels off a bike and then never letting your child ride it. whats the point? If Iraq is falling into a civil war, we sill shouldn't be there, its a civil war, fought between the the members ofthe country, well i hate to say it guys but we aren't members of this country, we shouldn't be fighting someone elses war. thats no what America does. There are enough things here back at home that we need our men and women for. I support all the Troops, in all that they do, but i do no support the war. And just because we want our soldiers home, does not make us not support them, saying that the soldiers want to come home, does not mean they are losing their will to fight it just means they want to come home.

Thank you Hipnip and Ravyn for bringing such eloquant words to how you feel about your loved ones and the support you give them. I am a proud mother of my daughter who serves in Iraq. She has been there almost 15 months and I too here the anguish in her voice and the questions she has about the war. She continues to bravely do her duty, but her and I and the rest of us can have a voice and an opinion on the war, and still due what is asked of us. That is the beauty of being and American. FREEDOM!

Ravyn and bring them home,
You are watching way too much network news and your doing a great job of relaying talking points from anti-war groups. I guess you are solidly entrenched in the "me" generation. You totally ignore any plea to think about we instead of me. Your generations battle cry will be "What's in it for me?" I can't even believe that your are members of a military family because the members I know, understand duty, honor, country, even as civilians. Remember those words during your soldiers swearing in ceremony? I do and I can't believe that you speak for the rest of us. I may not speak for everybody also, but I'll err on the high side, you go ahead and cover the the low side because your doing a great job.

NOT am I only a proud member of a military family, But I too am an american soldier. I serve my country jsut as my husband does. if it wasn't for our 23 month old son, then I too would be placed over there. I too would be Fighting for something I don't agree with. I have lost friends that are over ther that I should be there with, and not one ofthe funerals that i've been to, not one ofthe greiving family members that i've talked to have said once, well at least they died for our country. becasue they didn't and they aren't. we are fighting a war for iraq, becasue they refuse to stand up for themselves. I am not only A VERY PROUD AMRY WIFE, BUT I AM ALSO A VERY PROUD AMERICAN SOLDIER, and no i don't agree wiht the war in iraq, but every night while i cry myself to sleep I think of the rest of my "Military Family" and pray that since i'm not there to lend what i can, to help what i can to support from that side of the line, that when they do finially come home, that they will know that I atleast tried to tell their side of the story, and not hide it from civilians like the government, and the media are doing. Yes I want my husband home, yes its hard without him, but becasue of freedom of speech you cn sit here and talk down to us and call us names, and your welcome.