"Among Troops, Growing Doubts About Mission, Leaders Who Sent Them"

[GreenPartyVoter]

RAMADI, Iraq - Scaling back the military and political goals in Iraq’s Anbar province has hurt the morale of many U.S. soldiers stationed there, and some have begun to question openly not only their mission, but also the leaders who sent them to Iraq in the first place.

It’s not just buck privates. Several sergeants - the backbone of the enlisted military - said they felt the same way.


I don’t have any idea of what we’re trying to do out here. I don’t know what the (goal) is, and I don’t think our commanders do either. I feel deceived personally. I don’t trust anything Rumsfeld says, and I think Wolfowitz is even dirtier.

Staff Sgt. A.J. Dean
on patrol outside Ramadi, Iraq

Instead of neighborhood patrols, most of the convoys that leave the bases in Ramadi these days are on their way to guard main roads and the government building downtown. There are also observations posts throughout the city, where soldiers sit and watch, waiting for something to happen.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0721-01.htm

[AFSCME girl]

1. Great article

GreenPartyVoter, thanks for the post. What a frame of mind to be in -sent on a "mission" like this and wonder what the hell you are doing there!!
:grr:

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Welcome to DU :^D I know what you mean. Those poor kids!

[ThomWV]

3. There's A Name For That

"where soldiers sit and watch, waiting for something to happen"

The name for that is "Targets".