Iraqi war veterans - Please join and share your experiences.

Purpose of this thread:

1. To invite American veterans of the Iraq war to join this thread and share their experiences of the war.

2. To educate non-combatants about the realties of war.

3. To offer real support of ATS members to our men and women of the American Armed forces on any topic that is informative or helpful.

4. To give a place for veterans to share photos, stories, or opinions of the war.

5. To give a place for veterans to find one another once they return home.


I would like to start by saying that many of us here at home have no real idea what you as soldiers are facing everyday.

Many members of ATS are inquisitive and desire knowledge, and I think would love to talk with any veterans out there.

Now I understand some things. My best friend’s father went to Vietnam, and my father’s best friend went to Vietnam. They were both killers. To this day they will not talk about their experiences. I understand some Iraqi war veterans may feel this way and I want to let them know that this thread and its author fully respects their service and sacrifice to our country and will be here for them.

- Moldmakertech


(Question for moderator - is this an appropriate thread? And is there a way to keep it positive?) Please u2u me with the answer or comments.

I will be sending invites to veteran groups across the web. I ask other ATS members to do the same.

[edit on 10-4-2006 by moldmakertech]

I've got a couple of friends who are either back from Iraq or there now.... I'll pass it along.

Watch out. In another thread I was called a murderer because of serving my country.

Originally posted by WithoutEqual
Watch out. In another thread I was called a murderer because of serving my country.

I understand your concern. I thank you for your input. This is why I have asked a moderator if there is a way to keep this thread positive.

It may be that this thread is short lived if we cant get some sort of protection from the staff here. I will in now way support rude behavior from people towards U.S. Servicemen and women.

That is not what this thread is for.

I dont know how I can protect it. I will try to find out.

Originally posted by moldmakertech
I will in now way support rude behavior from people towards U.S. Servicemen and women.

It would be ridiculous if you would support it. I am not a US citizen, but a serviceman is nothing to blame. They are fighting over there, getting mind-killed, all for their country.

People accusing servicemen of murderers are totally respectless. It's the Bush adm. that decides what will happen, not the servicemen, they are just simple puppets.

Great idea but I think it would best be served on BTS, maybe even PTS.

Even though I believe that there is a conspiracy concerning the Iraq invasion and occupation, I don't think that is where you want to go with this thread.

Enough is Enough!

Originally posted by firebat
I've got a couple of friends who are either back from Iraq or there now.... I'll pass it along.

Did you call them "baby-killers," as well?

They're just robotic killing-machines brainwashed by the government to shoot anything that moves. I don't blame them one bit. Baby-killers.

Baby-killers


And Mdv2:

People accusing servicemen of murderers are totally respectless. It's the Bush adm. that decides what will happen, not the servicemen, they are just simple puppets.

Excuse me, but have you ever served?
Lets get something straight here for those of you who have never served, yet persist with the continued mythological insinuations of "They are not to blame. They are simply puppets. They are simply brainwashed zombies...They are "baby-killers"...blah, blah, and blah."

I served and I served in a number of known and unknown conflict zones.
You insult the dignity of virtually any person who has served or is currently serving when you simply and haphazardly insinuate that the people who joined or are in the military are all that I have mentioned above. It is simply "respectless".

The use of the anology that servicemen are "puppets" is hogwash.
A "puppet" implies that the one being manipulated has no other recourse--no control but to be manipulated. It is an absolute stereotype of describing those who have been in the military or who are currently serving. "Brainwashed," among other mentions, such as "baby-killers," etc., would fall into this stereotype category, as well.

I was and am nobody's puppet.
I served because I wanted to serve--no one made me join and STAY.
No one made me fire my gun in defense, but me.
No one made me take the lives that I did, but me.
In each of the above cases, I always had the CHOICE to act or to remove myself from the military.

You type people are the same ones that claim 'people' do not kill other people, it was the gun that killed the people. Question: who pulled the trigger: the gun itself or the operators finger?

In all this stereotypical rhetorical mentioning that some of you persist in making about people who have been in the military or who are currently in the military, you people forget one thing: choice--I had the choice, I made the choice, I went into conflict and killed because I made the choice, not because I had strings coming from every appendage on my body manipulating my every move and decision, for I was always in control of my destiny, always! How so? I could always refuse to fire my weapon, I could always refuse to kill, I could always refuse to go into combat, and I could always make the choice to get out of the service.

You want puppets, baby-killers, robotic brainwashed people?
I would suggest looking into a mirror one day and asking yourselves if you honestly fit the description, becuase dear friend, you do not have to have served in the military or currently be in the military to be manipulated, to be a puppet, to be a baby-killer, or to be a robotic brainwashed person. Bet.





seekerof

[edit on 11-4-2006 by Seekerof]

Way to ruin a perfectly good thread. I'm sure that's EXACTLY what this guy had in mind when he started it.

Edit: I respect you for deciding to serve, while knowing there's a chance you could goto war and die. You may okay with dying. But that's a gutsy choice, even though I personally believe that the people who give out the orders, from the top, move the military around like game-pieces on a monopoly board. The guys at the top have no concern for who lives and dies, in my opinion.

As I said, I respect you for making the decision to serve, knowing the potential risks. What I don't respect is you "making the decision" to kill someone, for whatever reason. You may call that hollow rhetoric, whatever you want. But I'd consider the whole "fighting for freedom" shtick a total crock. Since we entered this "War on Terror" we have actually LOST freedom. And liberating the Iraqis was certainly not the FIRST thing in mind when Bush and Cheney made their plans to invade, long before 9/11 even occurred (which had nothing to do with terrorists).


[edit on 11-4-2006 by firebat]

Your a walking contradiction.



seekerof




Mod Note: One Line Post – Please Review This Link.


[edit on 4/11/2006 by 12m8keall2c]

Originally posted by moldmakertech


I dont know how I can protect it. I will try to find out.

I do. There WILL be respect shown to members, servicemen or not. There will be NO namecalling.

Thread topic:
Iraqi war veterans - Please join and share your experiences.


Contribute to this discussion or post off topic comments in the appropriate thread.

Thank you.

EDIT: Post deleted by user, per request from moderator.

[edit on 11-4-2006 by firebat]

Originally posted by Seekerof
Enough is Enough!

Originally posted by firebat
I've got a couple of friends who are either back from Iraq or there now.... I'll pass it along.

Did you call them "baby-killers," as well?

They're just robotic killing-machines brainwashed by the government to shoot anything that moves. I don't blame them one bit. Baby-killers.

Baby-killers


And Mdv2:

People accusing servicemen of murderers are totally respectless. It's the Bush adm. that decides what will happen, not the servicemen, they are just simple puppets.

Excuse me, but have you ever served?
Lets get something straight here for those of you who have never served, yet persist with the continued mythological insinuations of "They are not to blame. They are simply puppets. They are simply brainwashed zombies...They are "baby-killers"...blah, blah, and blah."

I served and I served in a number of known and unknown conflict zones.
You insult the dignity of virtually any person who has served or is currently serving when you simply and haphazardly insinuate that the people who joined or are in the military are all that I have mentioned above. It is simply "respectless".

The use of the anology that servicemen are "puppets" is hogwash.
A "puppet" implies that the one being manipulated has no other recourse--no control but to be manipulated. It is an absolute stereotype of describing those who have been in the military or who are currently serving. "Brainwashed," among other mentions, such as "baby-killers," etc., would fall into this stereotype category, as well.

I was and am nobody's puppet.
I served because I wanted to serve--no one made me join and STAY.
No one made me fire my gun in defense, but me.
No one made me take the lives that I did, but me.
In each of the above cases, I always had the CHOICE to act or to remove myself from the military.

You type people are the same ones that claim 'people' do not kill other people, it was the gun that killed the people. Question: who pulled the trigger: the gun itself or the operators finger?

In all this stereotypical rhetorical mentioning that some of you persist in making about people who have been in the military or who are currently in the military, you people forget one thing: choice--I had the choice, I made the choice, I went into conflict and killed because I made the choice, not because I had strings coming from every appendage on my body manipulating my every move and decision, for I was always in control of my destiny, always! How so? I could always refuse to fire my weapon, I could always refuse to kill, I could always refuse to go into combat, and I could always make the choice to get out of the service.

You want puppets, baby-killers, robotic brainwashed people?
I would suggest looking into a mirror one day and asking yourselves if you honestly fit the description, becuase dear friend, you do not have to have served in the military or currently be in the military to be manipulated, to be a puppet, to be a baby-killer, or to be a robotic brainwashed person. Bet.





seekerof

[edit on 11-4-2006 by Seekerof]

I couldnt have said it better myself. I served for 7 years in the US Marine Corps, nobody FORCED me to join, nobody FORCED me to reenlist. Anybody who thinks those in the military are nothing more than just robots are sadly mistaken. One of the things taught in bootcamp is how to work as a team, how to think on your feet, how to analyze a situation and find a solution, etc...

I PROUDLY served, and if not for a service connected disability I would be back in uniform today. How many posters on here are willing to sacrifice for something greater than themselves?

Originally posted by Striker8441
I PROUDLY served, and if not for a service connected disability I would be back in uniform today. How many posters on here are willing to sacrifice for something greater than themselves?

I came DAMN close to joining the military a few years ago-- around 6 months before the invasion of Iraq. I backed out because I wasn't willing to sacrifice myself... I saw the looming war and I was afraid. I was only interested in the benefits of joining. I guess I'm not as brave as some of you (and I'm not being sarcastic or anything). And maybe that's a good thing I decided not to as the military doesn't need people like that.

I'd be willing to sacrifice my life for my family and/or friends, and maybe my country in extreme circumstances, if this country was ever directly attacked... maybe I'd find the courage to join. 9/11 is not a valid argument as I now consider it an act of treason, perpetrated or at least allowed by the U.S. Government.

EDIT: That is to say, I'd sacrifice my life for my family and friends if I thought it'd make a difference.


[edit on 11-4-2006 by firebat]

EDIT: Mods, I apologize for the off-topic posts... you can delete them if you want to.

[edit on 11-4-2006 by firebat]

Originally posted by firebat

Originally posted by Striker8441
I PROUDLY served, and if not for a service connected disability I would be back in uniform today. How many posters on here are willing to sacrifice for something greater than themselves?

I came DAMN close to joining the military a few years ago-- around 6 months before the invasion of Iraq. I backed out because I wasn't willing to sacrifice myself... I saw the looming war and I was afraid. I was only interested in the benefits of joining. I guess I'm not as brave as some of you (and I'm not being sarcastic or anything). And maybe that's a good thing I decided not to as the military doesn't need people like that.

I'd be willing to sacrifice my life for my family and/or friends, and maybe my country in extreme circumstances, if this country was ever directly attacked... maybe I'd find the courage to join. 9/11 is not a valid argument as I now consider it an act of treason, perpetrated or at least allowed by the U.S. Government.

EDIT: That is to say, I'd sacrifice my life for my family and friends if I thought it'd make a difference.


[edit on 11-4-2006 by firebat]

EDIT: Mods, I apologize for the off-topic posts... you can delete them if you want to.

[edit on 11-4-2006 by firebat]

The edit added to this post is the key here. While it is admirable that you would sacrafice your life for family and friends the reason I joined the military is because I was willing to sacrafice my life for YOUR freedom, I dont know you from adam but as a fellow american I was willing to lay down my life for you if called upon. Its called selfless sacrafice for the greater good. Today's society has gone from a what can I do for my fellow citizens attitude to what can I do for ME and if it keeps going what will the next generation do?

Will we even have a volunteer military anymore?

OK guys, I think we've covered this, can we get back to the topic.

Iraqi war veterans - Please join and share your experiences.

Purpose of this thread:

1. To invite American veterans of the Iraq war to join this thread and share their experiences of the war.

2. To educate non-combatants about the realties of war.

3. To offer real support of ATS members to our men and women of the American Armed forces on any topic that is informative or helpful.

4. To give a place for veterans to share photos, stories, or opinions of the war.

5. To give a place for veterans to find one another once they return home.




This thread is not to debate anything.

Didnt understand that sentence, here it is again...

This thread is not to debate anything.

Why is this so hard to understand???????????????????????????????????

This thread is to WELCOME US VETERANS FROM THE IRAQ WAR.

THESE PEOPLE ARE GIVING EVERTHING THEY HAVE SO YOU CAN SIT BEHIND YOUR COMPUTER AND SOLVE THE WORLDS PROBLEMS WITH A COUPLE MOUSE CLICKS.

Today, every U.S. Serviceman and woman is serving on the front lines, no matter where they are. To come to this thread and post off topic is ignorant, rude, disrespectful, and shows a complete lack of brain function.

To those who criticize the men and women in the Armed Forces, I would love to see a group of you walk into a off post bar somewhere and meet up with a couple of platoons from the 1/3 Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Scouts Out.




(To the Moderators, I don't know if this thread will take off or not. I posted this here because this is the place to discuss the war on terror.

I thought getting first hand accounts form eyewitnesses would shine a lot of light on this war.

If you want to move it go ahead, if you want to delete it go ahead. I was just trying to contribute.)







[edit on 11-4-2006 by moldmakertech]

[edit on 11-4-2006 by moldmakertech]

I am new here and was trying to do some good.

This thread is a good idea, but ats is the wrong place for it. I am sorry for wasting anyones time and energy on this.


PLEASE KILL AND DELETE THIS THREAD

mmt

No, moldmaker, its not your fault. Its the fault of those like seekerof, who chose to pervert this thread. Its a very common tactic of him, best that you try not let it get to you.

I myself want to hear what the Iraq War veterans have to say. They're citizens too, and its important for us to know what they are thinking.

Mods, if you delete this thread, I will understand. I just don't think a few bad apples (they know who they are) should destroy an otherwise legitimate thread.

[edit on 11-4-2006 by sweatmonicaIdo]