interesting blogsite
http://deaniemills.com/2007/06/06/what-the-troops-really-think-voices-from-iraq.aspxexcerpts:
"In Mosul, in 2003, it felt like we were making the city a better place…(but now, on his third deployment), "We killed a man who was setting a roadside bomb. And when we searched the bomber's body, we found identification showing that he was a sergeant in the Iraqi Army.
"I thought, What are we doing here? Why are we still here? We're helping guys that are trying to kill us. We help them in the day. They turn around at night and try to kill us.
"If we stayed here for five, even ten more years, the day we leave here these guys will go crazy. It would go straight into a civil war. That's how it feels, like we're putting a band-aid on this country until we leave here."--Staff Sgt. David Safstrom, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division.
"In 2003, 2004, 100 percent of the soldiers wanted to be here, to fight this war. Now, 95 percent of my platoon agrees with me." (that we should get out.)--Sgt. First Class David Moore, platoon sergeant., same unit, self-described "conservative Texas Republican"
"The Iraqi Army would not fight with us. Some actually picked up weapons and fought against us…Before that fight, there were a few true believers. After that, I don't think you'll find a true believer in this unit. They're paratroopers. There's no question they'll fulfill their mission. But they're fighting now for pride in their unit, professionalism, loyalty to their fellow soldiers, and chain of command."--Capt. Douglas Rogers, same unit.
"I don't believe we should be here in the middle of a civil war. We've all lost friends over here. Most of us don't know what we're fighting for anymore. We're serving our country and our friends, but the only reason we go out every day is for each other.
"I don't want any more of my guys to get hurt or die. If it was something I felt righteous about, maybe. But for this country and this conflict, no, it's not worth it."--Sgt. Kevin O'Flarity, squad leader, same unit