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Do I condone this behavior? No, absolutely not, not in a million years.
Do I understand this behavior? Absolutely.
This has become political fodder here in the states, but yet it will do next to nothing to bolster the Talibans position around the world. This is a holy war to them, and they will have all the recruits they will ever need because of this fact.Let me give you a tiny bit of incite on the state of those who TRULY fight the war, not some dumb assed general that has seen the first bit of a TIC (troops in contact).
12 months deployed, 12 months "back home". The back home stuff first. When a unit re-deploys, those that are still married will fight to stay married. The last time I re-deployed, over 50% of married couples were either divorced or going through a divorce within 2 months of getting back. 50%!! I think we can agree that a horrible statistic, and that usually comes after just 1 deployment and during the happy-go-lucky times from being re-united with your spouse.After the first month or two, it's time to get ready for the next deployment.
The first issue that I have to deal with is the spouse. I had eight of the eleven spouses of my married guys asking something like.... What? What about all the time he missed with our family? Now you're telling me that you have to go back to the field to train for weeks on end?
So during our "12 months back", you get about 3-4 months of time with your family before its time to go again. Couple that financial issues because they aren't making as much money as they were when deployed AND the soldier is now spending money again because he's back in the states, the divorce rate rises even more.Sounds great, doesn't it?
Now deployment time. This isn't Desert Storm. This isn't fighting video game style. This isn't fighting an Army that didn't want to fight in the first place, in conventional fashion. This is fighting an unconventional war against people that have been fighting for decades. Remember, this is the same people that crushed the Soviet.
This is a war that the fight is sometimes no more than 25 meters away. It's a lot different than that spoiling Desert Storm, where death was distant. Now, every small arms weapon has kick ass optics such as the ACOG or the MGO (machine gun optic) that puts the fight right in front of your eyes and you watch arms and legs get dismembered as your burst from your M240 tears their bodies into shreds and their torso gets ripped apart. All of this happens right before your eyes. They become, what's the word, desensitized quickly.
Now lets factor in damage inflicted from their side. IED blasts so great if easily tosses 30 ton vehicles a hundred meters and vaporizes those inside. They ambush the US troops, only to run into a village and blend in with the populous and all the while being protected by the villagers.
Believe it or not, those same soldiers read the same exact #badword# as what is posted here. They get criticized, no, chastised by US civilians for becoming frustrated on the battlefield after calling a MEDEVAC for one of his best friends, that is either dead or his body if completely mangled. His true brother, one with wounds so bad you kinda hope he dies instead of suffering the rest of his life. Yet, because "your guy" is in office, or, NOT in office, his actions become your fodder.
We realized years ago that half the people waving their little 3"x4" American flags while saying we support the troops is a crock of #badword#. We know who really does and doesn't, but more importantly, we know that the ones that don't really support us are using us as your political tools. That is the worst feeling in the world, so thank you, we sarcastically appreciate it.
This is nothing but a small, minuscule sample of how easy it is to understand (not condone) these Marines actions. Someday, if you ever understand the absolutely cruel sacrifices that MUST be endured by your service members, you just might get it. Both sides of the isle are now responsible for this war. One started it, and one vowed to end it years ago, but alas.........
I will keep fighting, as will the vast majority of your armed services, It's my job and I go back to the 'Stan in a few months. You have my word that I and my 41 guys will not embarrass you while we are there. I see how our actions totally devistate you and I won't make endure such hardships.
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FLVOL
(199.46.99.240) on 1/13/2012 - 11:05 a.m. says: ( 235 views
, 4 likes
)
