letter to the editor, 10/04/07 about letter from Iraq

[jimboloco]

Subject: A letter from the front in Baghdad 9/30/07

In the Sunday Perspective, September 30, 2007, a letter from Iraq, Army Lt Col. Jim Crider wrote, http://www.sptimes.com/2007/09/30/Opini ... _fro.shtml
"The 1-4 Cav's primary enemy is al-Qaida in Iraq. Nine soldiers have died." This may be true of the Al Rashid district in southeastern Baghdad, which is an area that did not have a Shiite or Sunni majority before the Americans came. The admirable dedication by this army unit in this area is indeed the kind of standard that the American people want and need. However, the devotion to duty that these Americans feel should always be tempered by rational and critical evaluation by military and especially civilian opinion.

There was no operational activity by al-Qaiida in Iraq before we Americans started this war. The perpetrators on September 11th, 2001, came from several Sunni Arabic nations, including an Islamic community in Hamburg, Germany, and from resident al-Qaiida in Florida. The majority of al-Qaiida had trained in Taliban controlled Afghanistan, the result of the Muhajadeen insurgents against the Soviet Army.

Why are we suddenly fighting the Shiites? There is no al-Qaida in Shiite areas; that includes Iran, a Shiite centered nation. The Rashid neighborhood of southeastern Baghdad is one small piece of a larger map. How can we withdraw from Iraq and honor our neighborhood commitments?

This seems to be an unforgiveable option, but America is going to have to leave there someday, somehow, and these Iraqi people in this neighborhood will have to find a way to carry on, perhaps with our continuing help, but without sacrificing more young Americans in a cause which is not directly connected to national security or international al-Qaida.

Americans are united in finding a way through this period of time, though we may differ in opinion, we all honor our soldiers.

J W
© Copyright 2007 St. Petersburg Times

[jimboloco]

got a cheery reply from the journalist who posted the Iraq Colonel's letter in the Times, told him a cheery reply to get real.
not printed as yet in th Times.

[stilltrucking]

While the ink-pen patriots in Washington, Republicans and Democrats alike, use the war as a tool to strike their enemies, Crider's troops in Iraq are fighting to win hearts and minds while killing the enemy and trying to survive. It is hard work.

that is from the article, interesting observation, iraq just politics as usual.

There was no operational activity by al-Qaiida in Iraq before we Americans started this war.

Not important. Just history
that is how I imagine George W. Bush's brain works.

another interesting factoid
Forty five percent of the suicide bombers in Iraq have been Saudi Arabrians.

Hardly ever hear that mentioned, all I been hearing is Syria and Iran.

Where is Milo Minderbinder when we need him.

Good letter
I hope it gets published

[jimboloco]

thanks for your comments
it always helps
i donot think this one will get printed as two sundays have passed so far
but the effort was worth it
also maintiaining my sanity

just wrote another one i'll post it on tuesday

milo minderbender
into the soup
never never land