Chicago Reader: How I Learned to Hate the War

[MetaTrope]

An army interrogator's eight demoralizing months in Iraq

http://www.chicagoreader.com/pdf/050930/050930_cover.pdf

...
When U.S. troops descended on someone’s home “SWAT-team style,” or when the soldiers overlooked the oldest male in a house and addressed his sons instead, Jake got the feeling that Americans were making enemies— that the soldiers were either blind to or disrespectful of cultural differences. He worried that such missteps would damage the overall mission in Iraq. He worried that they created a more hostile environment, making the soldiers’ jobs even more dangerous. And he worried that they would ultimately create new terrorists whose handiwork would someday be seen on U.S. streets.

The hostility brewing in the local population was palpable, Jake says. Sometimes when he caught Iraqis glowering at him, he was reminded of the fouryear- old girl in Chicago who had taken one look at him in his police uniform and declared, “You’re bad.” He remembered stepping out of his squad car on west-side streets, only to see the young males on the corner suddenly start spitting. The police in Chicago had a bad name in certain circles, but he was starting to think it was nothing compared to how Iraqis felt about Americans.

[newswolf56]

1. Very informative -- exceptionally so. A Must Read, in fact.

Recommended; thank you for posting.

[Bellamia]

2. Great Post

Thanks & recommended.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. I just finished this...

I will take what this soldier says over anything the misAdministration does.

Recommended reading for everyone.

[XNASA]

4. I got through a few pages on the train on the way home today...

I'll probably finish it on the way in tomorrow. Great stuff.

Thanks for the post.

[DIKB]

5. WOW just WOW

What an insight into what's happening there, to know the hows and whys that are resulting in an endless quagmire. I knew we were bungling everything up, but now it seems that there is no excuse not to oppose this occupation. Anyone who "supports the war" is clearly ignorant of the conditions our troops are under, of the way they operate, or how we are like fish out of water there.

"What you don't know doesn't hurt you, it's what you know that ain't so."

[Rich Hunt]

6. thanks!

Great to see the Reader is finally putting most of their content online now.

[Lisa]

7. this is exactly what another Iraq War veteran told me!

He said the cruelty and disrespect which he saw every day was starting to eat into his soul. More and more, he wondered how he would feel if someone invaded America and did those things to him and his family. He felt dirty and ashamed and angry, all the time.

He is now applying for refugee status in Canada.