Soldier wounded in Iraq feels cynical (Bush ego "getting people killed")

[Barrett808]

Soldier wounded in Iraq feels cynical
By PETER CARLSON

...

"We did hit the wrong house quite often," he says. "We had these overhead maps, satellite maps, and when you're on the street in the middle of the night, it's hard to find the right house. In those instances, we'd say, 'Sorry,' and give 'em a card with a phone number to call the Army and we'd pay for the damages." In April, Rodgers's company was transferred to a tiny farming town about 20 miles away -- a place where no Americans had been stationed.

"We started looking for a building that would be suitable for a patrol base," he says. "And we took this building over. There was a family living there and we had to kick 'em out. ... They weren't too happy about it, but there was nothing they could do."

...

One day a nurse came in to ask Rodgers if he wanted to meet President Bush, who was visiting the hospital. Rodgers declined.

"I don't want anything to do with him," he explains. "My belief is that his ego is getting people killed and mutilated for no reason -- just his ego and his reputation. If we really wanted to, we could pull out of Iraq. Maybe not completely, but enough that we wouldn't be losing people -- at least not at this rate. So I think he himself is responsible for quite a few American deaths."

...

"It's gonna go on as long as we're there," he says. "There's always gonna be insurgents trying to blow us up. There's just too many of 'em that are willing to do it. You're never gonna catch all of 'em. And it seems like they have unlimited amounts of ammunition. So I don't think it's ever gonna end."

(more)

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/1870805.shtml

[Jacobin]

1. This gentleman has managed to hit the nail on the head

I'm very sorry he had to get maimed

[Cha]

2. It would be Grand if this got

attention in conjunction with Cindy Sheehan.

[EST]

3. Remember that dumbf*** 2l who had his heart set on making

major? The pretty football player?

[despairing optimist]

4. Cynical? Is that the neocon term for "rational"?

Or maybe the editor's way of trying to get Poppy to read the story.

My favorite graf: By the end of the year, he'll be out of the Army -- "medically retired" -- and he's happy about that: "I did my tour. I had my fun. Time to move on with my life." CATCH THAT LAST SENTENCE. SOUND FAMILIAR, ANYONE?

And this soldier is the cynic, not our Leader. Where's the scream room around here?

[lebkuchen]

5. I know someone who fits prostheses on soldiers at Walter Reed

A few months ago Rummy was going to tour the hospital and amputees were asked if they would attend Rummy's speech and meet with him. Nobody volunteered.

The soldier in the above article is just part of a large group of like-minded individuals. He's not acting solo.

[tanyev]

6. While I completely respect his decision not to meet with the

Coward-in-Chief, I wish more people who had the opportunity to do so would take advantage of the chance to give him a piece of their mind right to his face.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

7. I'm sorry we couldn't get the b*tard out

There would be so many whole and alive people today. We really did TRY and that was all we could do. But, thank you for service, honest soul.

[goforit]

8. Now that soldier is very astute and profound!!!

I salute you sir!

[eridani]

9. Something to put in an LTE--

"We started looking for a building that would be suitable for a patrol base," he says. "And we took this building over. There was a family living there and we had to kick 'em out. ... They weren't too happy about it, but there was nothing they could do."a

We weren't terribly happy about this kind of thing a couple of hundred years ago.

http://www.usconstitution.net/declar.html#Crimes

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

[Karenina]

10. Reality check!

:kick:

[Greyhound]

11. Does this sound familiar?

"No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law."
Oh yeah, They get to write the laws. :kick: