I am still one of the few people out there who does not think that everything in Iraq is going to hell in a handbasket, even when I read reports like this:
To Staff Sgt. Charles Pollard, the working-class suburb of Mashtal is a “very, very, very, very bad neighborhood.” And he sees just one solution.
“U.S. officials need to get our [expletive] out of here,” said the 43-year-old reservist from Pittsburgh, who arrived in Iraq with the 307th Military Police Company on May 24. “I say that seriously. We have no business being here. We will not change the culture they have in Iraq, in Baghdad. Baghdad is so corrupted. All we are here is potential people to be killed and sitting ducks.”
One thing anyone who has had more than just a brief experience with the military understands is that the best way to see that your soldiers are alright is to see if they are bitching. When they stop complaining, then you have trouble. At any rate, I read these reports, and I find them appalling- I would never, never, not in a million years, have bitched to reporters when I was on active duty. Yeah, there were a lot of times when things REALLY sucked, and I really was in a lousy mood, but I just would never have bitched to anyone outside my unit. I guess times have changed- and we have to keep in mind that in many cases, these are Reservists and Guardsmen, and many of them do have a right to feel as if they have been sold a bill of goods.
Dave Violence
Tell you what, find these soldiers’ Sergeant Major and have him dress thes clowns down appropriately. On top of that, where’s the Public Affairs Officer, Major What’shername (she had a crush on me but was married, sorry baby)? Why isn’t she out there busting these clowns down to private?
Just Some Poor Schmuck
So one clown, who thought he was joining the reserves for some extra cash, not to actually be deployed, wants to go home to mama. This is no surprise. GI’s have been bitching since armies were formed. The guy on the ground has no idea of what the actual situation is, except that portion that he is dealing with. As the previous commenter says, have this clown’s Sergeant Major have a discussion with him of the pros and cons of the deployment. Maybe he’ll see things differently then.
And before anyone even starts the “chickhawk” bullshit. I joined the Army in 1967 and retired in 1989.
Shauna
To all of you slack-jawed ex-military, re-enlist in today’s army to see what goes on and what people have to deal with. As for your comments about Staff Sgt. Pollard, He has a family at home who really miss him and want him to come home. His daughter (my daughter) who just turned 13 (they share a birthday) have not been away from him on their birthday but this year and war changed that. She’s afraid she’ll never see her dad again. Haven’t you heard all of the reports of OUR men being killed over there? What’s wrong with you people? I guess you think it’s o-kay for people to wear white robes and burn crosses in people’s front yards too. You have a right to your opinion but you already know what they say about opinions don’t you. They don’t mean s***!.
muff doe
Sgt.Charles Pollard is not whining but he standing up for his right which alot of people(americans) won’t do.So to all whose saying he’s whining why won’t you go to Iraq and take over for him.Until you can do that shut up and quit trying to be funny about things that are serious and act like an adult.if you know what that is.
Jack Murray
I’m an active duty Marine and have been to some sh^tty places. I have a wife and infant son. Bottomline, I volunteered to serve and my family knows the deal. Pollard should’ve kept his mouth shut – plain and simple. He is whining; it’s disgraceful that a 43 yr old Staff Sergeant would do this in front of his troops. If he has reservations about his mission he should’ve voiced that with his chain of command. I have 19 yr old Marines who have been in the same situation and acted with more courage. Warriors don’t complain to reporters – they perform their duties, execute the mission and take care of each other. If their families back home want to complain then that’s their right. However, This is not Viet Nam, not even close. Those who think so don’t know their history or are pushing an ajenda. Those who have never served will never understand. BTW – the older vets had it worse than we do so show some respect Shauna. You don’t know what you’re talking about in regards to today’s military. Also, what the hell does bed sheets and burning crosses have to do w/anything on this topic?
stephanie
I can’t believe all of these comments that I am reading. My sister is a Sgt. for the 307th military police company in Baghdad with the reservest in this artical and you have no idea what they are living through right now. You can’t imagine what they see day to day and what they are dealing with. Any of you that have not been to Iraq in the last year should keep your mouths shut. Can you imagine seeing a member of your reserve unit or family killed? I didn’t think so. Try living with no water, electricity, food, or shelter. Try seeing children and grown men and women dead every day. Try watching over your back every second of everyday hoping that you are not going to be the next soldier to die. Sgt. Pollard is right they should not be there and they are like sitting ducks. We have never in the history of the United States been in a war like this one. And I am sure that Sgt. Pollard was not expecting to go to war, but he is there now fighting so that we may live here in a free country.
Shauna
I Just Read your comments Jack Murray, The comments I made stands true. Let’s talk about Pres. Bush stating that we are liberating Iraq for starters. We haven’t liberated no one. Our troops are being MURDERED as our President and his cronies pat each other on the back for a job well done. They continue to tell the American people that everythingis going well in Iraq. Tell the hundreds of soldiers families who lost their lives since the “end of the war” that. As for your final comment, wearing bedsheets and burning crosses was/is used to terrorize and control others. This is much like what President Bush and his friends are doing to the American people. In one speech alone (Sept. 7th I believe it was) he used the word terrorist 15 times or more. He kept bringing up 9-11 which Saddam had nothing to do with. He also scared half the nation into buying duct tape, plastic, and other survival gear for nothing. Many of the people who stated that they think Pollard is whinning should go to Iraq. She how it feels to have one of your friends blown to bits right before your eyes. They should see how it is to deal with heat ranging in the 100’s with all that gear on. Eat foods that are not nutritious. They should see how it feels to have someone walk up to them but realize just a bit too late that this person has a bomb strapped to them. I am very proud of Pollard and the rest of the troops and wish them all home safely to their families. But, this war is wrong it’s about oil and they never should have been there in the first place.
Finally, I have and I will continue to speak out about this war to anyone who will listen.
Stephanie, thank you for your words there are many more people out there that feel the way we do that the way Mr. Murray do. Keep speaking out members of congress hear us and slowly but surely they are siding with us.
Shauna
I Just read your comments Jack Murray, The comments I made stands true. Let’s talk about Pres. Bush stating that we are liberating Iraq for starters. We haven’t liberated no one. Our troops are being MURDERED as our President and his cronies pat each other on the back for a job well done. They continue to tell the American people that everythingis going well in Iraq. Tell the hundreds of soldiers families who lost their lives since the “end of the war” that. As for your final comment, wearing bedsheets and burning crosses was/is used to terrorize and control others. This is much like what President Bush and his friends are doing to the American people. In one speech alone (Sept. 7th I believe it was) he used the word terrorist 15 times or more. He kept bringing up 9-11 which Saddam had nothing to do with. He also scared half the nation into buying duct tape, plastic, and other survival gear for nothing. Many of the people who stated that they think Pollard is whinning should go to Iraq. She how it feels to have one of your friends blown to bits right before your eyes. They should see how it is to deal with heat ranging in the 100’s with all that gear on. Eat foods that are not nutritious. They should see how it feels to have someone walk up to them but realize just a bit too late that this person has a bomb strapped to them. I am very proud of Pollard and the rest of the troops and wish them all home safely to their families. But, this war is wrong it’s about oil and they never should have been there in the first place.
Finally, I have and I will continue to speak out about this war to anyone who will listen.
Stephanie, thank you for your words there are many more people out there that feel the way we do that the way Mr. Murray do. Keep speaking out members of congress hear us and slowly but surely they are siding with us.