Letter from a U.S. Soldier Serving in Iraq

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/23931

Letter from a U.S. Soldier Serving in Iraq
Submitted by davidswanson on Sun, 2007-06-24 22:06. Media

Hello everyone!!!
Well it's been a couple of weeks since my last letter to the group. I just want to start off by saying that it has been one of the toughest times of my life and without your prayers I don't think I would have made it this far. If it hadn't been for the Lord that's for sure. Keep your prayers up my friends. The Army is in a reaaly bad spot right now. What we hear our leadership telling the American people isn't the case at all really. The common line soldier is not being heard. I want you to know the truth. The truth from a soldier from the gound in the middle of Baghdad. We are not making progress. I can tell you from the last time I was here in 05 that we are fighting a whole new beast. Instead of a few individuals from a different land we are now fighting the whole country.

The streets are empty. The people that supported liberty and freedom have long been killed or have moved. I cleared a group of houses the other day that was at least 50% abandoned. The only people that seem to want us here are the people we put in power. How is this a Godly war? How is forcing our way on another country that doesn't want us here the right answer. Sure the government we put in place needs our help, yet we gave them power for which they aren't inclined to give up too easily. This county is in the middle of a civil war. They tell us we are on Iraq's side. Well Iraq wants to be free to fight their own battles, Sunni and Shiite alike.

All this being said it's not the fight for freedom that upsets me. If I saw citizens dragging terrorists in the streets and wanting Liberty I would gladly give my life for that cause. That is not the case at all. The people keep thier mouth's shut and therefore the Terrorists leave them alone. Thats all they want anyway.

Well a Army is held together by a "cause" . A cause to hold the soldiers together, a cause to give them some cause for sacrifice. Four of my close friends gave that sacrifice the other day. Death is part of a soldiers life. It is the accepted risk. The price for Liberty. The hardest part has been justifying thier sacrifice. Is so many good many lost worth the freedom of a country who doesn't really want us here. I say no.

When is this going to stop? When is enough, enough? Please we need your help. The common soldier needs your help. The soldier that signed up to serve and protect his country with no political gain needs your help. The command is not representig the truth. They are representing thier careers. It is costing you your son's and daughter's lives. Please stand up and help us. Bring us home!! Bring your sons and daughters home.....it's time.

I am a believer in my Christ Jesus. I pray everyday that the Lord will bring His wisdom down on the leadership of our country. I believe that these people have seen nothing but violence their entire life. How are we bringing them any difference. Christ looked at the individual. We need to help this country one person at a time with the love of Christ. The Lord will bring His Judgement when the time is right. There are good people here, yet they are ruled by fear. They need Christ's love.

I dont think they have the burdon of liberty on their hearts yet. You have to want, desire, and yearn for Liberty and be willing and ready to sacrifice everythig for that cause. That is what I don't see. It has a heavy cost and it cannot be bought by anyone but
yourself. Please send this to whomever you please, The county need to know the truth. In fact, please send this out to as many people as you want.

In Him
SGT Walker, Jason
B CO 1-64 AR BN

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. The telling phrase was the one about

how different it is now than it was in '05. It has, indeed, turned into a civil war.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. Thanks. Very sad. Do you happen to know how this letter

was authenticated. Oh, I believe it - but I can just hear the naysayers now - claiming it's bogus.

[babylonsister]

6. No, I don't-sorry. Got it off of David Swanson's site. nt

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. K&R! Thank you for posting this!

And thank you, Sgt. Walker, for your service and your bravery. Peace be with you....

[bbernardini]

4. His name is mentioned on this hideous crapfest of a website:

http://www.geocities.com/westcoast2111//easter.html

Not only is it a fine example of how not to design a website, it's full of "JANE FONDA WAS A TRAITOR" goodness. But it at least confirms there's a Sgt. Jason Walker. How many of those can there be?

[bbernardini]

5. And it's equally bad sister site:

http://www.geocities.com/ssylchak/patty.htm

[Ezlivin]

7. "...Lord will bring His wisdom down..."

Well you can toss that theory right the hell out. You don't see any of the faith-filled Christians who boil over at stadiums hosting "Promise Keepers" heading off to win Iraqis for Jesus. Yeah, they got a lot of faith in God but they have more faith in the accuracy of Kalashnikov's rifle.

The sooner the human race drops this absurd belief in an invisible super-being the quicker we can move toward some sort of sane, rational way of life.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

9. the real problem is trying to use "the love of Christ"

to "liberate" a group of people that don't believe in Him and view you as a crusader. I have no quarrels with the message of Christ, or even in spreading it in foreign lands, but in this region and in this context it is a terrible, terrible idea. One reason of many this war is not working and will not work.

[az chela]

8. This is so heartbreaking!!!!!!!!!

Please for the sake of this planet stop this war and bring our troops home and rebuild Iraq.
We have destroyed this country and most of the people in it and for what????
If this isnt stopped nature will take care of this planet and it will be a catastrope.
How dare cheny and bush murder these people!!!!!!!
THEY WILL PAY

[Tom Joad]

10. I do think this was worth reading, even if i don't agree with the perspective

(mostly) I think his view that the US is there to promote "liberty" is complete delusion.
But even he sees the disconnect between what the command is saying and they are seeing with their own eyes, and that is probably why Swanson posted this. When this happens across the board, the military (mis)leadership has a problem. Let the problem multiply by the hour, may morale slip by the minute, let the military resistance grow.

So thanks for posting. I think we need to really listen to voices like this, and try as best we can to really hear and understand their perspective. Especially those of us who never were in the military.

I got finished reading "The Sutras of Abu Ghraib: Notes from a Conscientious Objector" by Aidan Delgado (available at a bookstore near you soon) and now reading "Road from Ar Ramadi" by Camilo Mejia. I do relate to the perspectives of the resisters more.