Iraq Veterans Questioning Why They Went In The First Place
Iraq war veterans who saw their friends die want to know why they were asked to make sacrifices, as they see the country unravel.
Three years after American boots left the ground, Veterans who saw their fellow friends and soldiers bleed and cry and die are now questioning why they ever went in the first place.
Iraq War Vet Joe Dimond is one of those men.
“You’d be lying if you weren’t sitting at home saying, ‘What the hell was that all for?’” Dimond says. “It’s devastating. Sure, the blood sweat and tears, but even being away from your family for that long. All the little things that people don’t think about. And you’re saying, ‘For what?’ now.”
Dimond, a former Marine Sgt. on the ground in 2006, said all the pain and death felt like it meant something if it meant stability for the country.
Now, after the withdrawal of American Troops revealed even more instability and larger insurgency, Dimond says the military community only feels resentment…
“My post-traumatic stress right now is at its highest level that it could be,” says Sam Console (pictured), a proud veteran who served with the 28th Infantry Division of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in the city of Baiji…
“It really is time for Iraq to step up,” Console says. “And if they’re coming south, let them put everybody they can hold together on the line and push back to the north.”
fahvel June 16th, 2014 at 9:45 am
hey, no one listened to the Vietnam vets – no one will really listen to these guys either -and remember, the usa lost 50k+ back in SE Asia and lost like it has lost every real conflict it has ever been in – unless you count the massive invasion of Grenada. A country cannot base its self respect and world position on the mass of its military – every culture prior to the usa that was like that no longer exists!
dbtexas12 June 16th, 2014 at 3:22 pm
We said! As a Vietnam vet, I watched in dismay as Danang fell in 1975. Subsequent reading concerning the history of Vietnam led me to understand the complete folly of that misguided debacle. I stood in my classroom, March, 2003, and watched the TV broadcast with my students as the US military machine crossed the berm into Iraq. I looked at my class and said nothing good would come of this. My mind has not changed. When the majority of politicians making the determination for war are largely comprised of men that deftly avoided Vietnam, critical thinking and an understanding of war is painfully missing. I feel for the Iraqi soldier.
granpa.usthai June 16th, 2014 at 12:54 pm
M O N E Y !
Rixar13 June 16th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Ask George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
cecilia June 16th, 2014 at 8:07 pm
they already collected their money…they don’t care if people are dead or suffer…I objected to this disaster 10 years ago when bush was anxious to start it. I knew it would ruin lives, the economy and the world.
and it doesn’t take a genius. My Grandfather spent several years in the trenches. He KNEW war was a giant waste of resources. I learned to be anti-war from him.
those two draft dodgers know nothing of war
Roctuna June 16th, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Where’s our super-patriots like Guido van Horn? Wayout? Bob Waas? Surely you guys have a credible, clear and logical answer for the gentleman? What do you tell the guy? What can you possibly say to the guy that isn’t as lame as dubya in a flight suit.