Apparently some soldiers in Iraq are not even needed.

[SoCalDem]

The company of soldiers who lost 6 and had 3 captured have done nothing BUT look for those soldiers for 5 days now. Apparently the tasks that they had been doing, must not have been all that important, to have dropped them like a hot potato.

If their jobs there consist of parading around and making themselves targets...and then collecting and hunting for their killed/captured, it seems like a futile "mission" to me..

[xultar]

1. Zaff Brannigan...just keep sending waves and waves of soldiers till the enemy kill limit is reached.

[mikeytherat]

11. A sad day for robotkind - oh well, they can always make more killbots!

mikey_the_rat

[dogday]

2. What ever happens to those soldiers,

the responsibility lies in the laps of this administration...

[madrchsod]

7. and the congress.

there is no excuse anymore to spend one more penny to fuel this carnage

[zbdent]

15. Remember how Republicans held Clinton responsible for the three bodies

dragged naked through the streets?

[BushOut06]

3. This is exactly why I do not support the military in Iraq

You know that in the course of "searching" for their missing soldiers, these guys are inflicting all sorts of terror on the Iraqi people - both physically and mentally. We're all familiar with the tales of abuse and war crimes that our soldiers are committing. We've heard the stories of troops kicking in doors in the middle of the night, and taking people away never to be seen again. Now imagine the tension being ratcheted up several notches, as they try to locate their comrades.

It's time to get out NOW.

[phoreten]

4. Soldiers are dedicated to their comrades

For a hundred years the American military has prided itself on its unswerving loyalty to injured, captured, or fallen members.

Each man serving has the knowledge that the full might of the military will be brough forward if he/she is in trouble and that every attempt will be made to retrieve them should they fall in battle.

Obviously any enemy also knows this and will use this good will against us. Capturing three soldiers means thousands of troops will be tied up looking for them. It is the same tactics used against us in Vietnam when Communists were urged to attempt to (mortally) wound American soldiers knowing full well it took three men to remove a wounded comrade from the theatre.

God bless these soldiers. I have two sons; one in the US Air Force and another going to Marine boot camp in July of this year as MANY Americans do.

[SoCalDem]

5. What they are doing is admirable and expected.. BUT if their "mission"

can go "un-done" for days, perhaps their service there in the first place is less than "necessary".

[phoreten]

8. You miss the cushion factor...

The cushion factor of any surge or reinforcement is meant to accommodate enemy tactics such as capturing soldiers in an effort to get us tied up in searching for them.

You must trust men trained to battle those that would kill or destroy everything you like about your surroundings.

[SoCalDem]

9. um.. no

I am from a military family and am old enough to see this for the fiasco it is.

Not gonna argue with you..you have your opinion and I have mine, and if you ar willing to sacrifice your loved ones for the asshole in DC, that's your choice.. I know that people with family in harm's way HAVE to rationalize their loved ones' risk..because to have them killed or injured for such a farce would be unbearable to live with, so I do understand.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. So do you want them searching for missing troops

or fighting insurgents?

[Wickerman]

12. Thanks for your family's service

Many Americans, as you noted, have family over there. A lot of us on DU have family there. My sister's son spent three tours there, two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Now he will get the pleasure of going back quarterly for reviews. Her other son is on a 6 month pleasure cruise of the region with the Navy.

Supporting our troops does not include supporting the mission. Whatever that actually may be. This war was horribly defined, horribly planned (if indeed it actually were), and executed in a manner that will give War Colleges decades of blunders to study.

The point of the OP seems to be that we shouldn't even be there, there is no defined mission so why on earth should we continue to lose our sons, daughters, wives, husbands, and nieces and nephews?

I pray for the safety of your sons and the well-being of all troops - its time to bring our troops home and let this meaningless mess resolve itself.

Welcome to DU.

[Karenina]

13. Such a sad post...

[Arkansas Granny]

14. What you say about the dedication of our soldiers is absolutely

true. The loyalty they have to each other is unmatched. It is unfortunate that our enemies use this loyalty to harm them, but this is one of the aspects of war. I have three sons who have served, though none of them have been active during Bush's term, and a grandson who has just signed up with the Navy and will be leaving for basic training before the end of this year. I will keep your sons in my thoughts.

Welcome to DU.

:hi:

[MrSlayer]

10. Interesting perspective.

But do we know what their specific mission was? They may have been out patrolling for just such a group, paid a price and are now pursuing.

[ellenfl]

16. that's what i was thinking. perhaps they are the same

troops that walked through the marketplace with mccain and mike 'feels like indiana to me' pence.

ellen fl