Big pitcher of Kool Aid (Iraq/Afghanistan)

[Aaron Brachowitz]

Following is a guest column published today (9/11) in the local paper by a local captain serving in Iraq. Below that is the response I emailed to him and posted on the newspaper's website:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/art...tizens-resolve

A soldier's reflections on 9/11 and Iraqi citizens' resolve

As the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, unfolded live on television, I remember being frozen in my seat, unable to make sense of it all. The confusion and chaos in the media reports left one clear conclusion: An enemy had viciously attacked our country and our way of life. I will never forget that Tuesday morning in Norwalk, Iowa.

Three weeks prior to that day, I enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard. I swore an oath "to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic." I was attracted to the opportunities and the benefits the Guard provides to service members; however, the attack on our country brought an entirely new meaning to my decision to serve. Personal benefits were clouded by scenes of smoke and ash. Opportunities were replaced by an overwhelming sense of duty and responsibility to serve my country in a time of need.

This year will mark the nine year anniversary of 9/11. It also marks my ninth year of service in the Iowa National Guard. Today, I'm a U.S. Army captain serving in northern Iraq in the 10th month of a 12-month deployment. The connection between Iraq and 9/11 has been gray and contentious at best. Regardless of the debate that has ensued over the last nine years, I find myself serving in the Middle East and assisting in the honorable effort to set conditions for democracy and freedom for a group of people who have known nothing other than oppression.

Terrorism invokes fear and causes people to question their security to freely enjoy basic rights and freedoms. For Americans, these freedoms were threatened by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. For Iraqis, these rights remain threatened by terrorists' efforts to destabilize progress in Iraq. There are many recent instances where Iraqi citizens have demonstrated their resolve. They captured the international stage during the March 7, 2010, elections, when Iraqis came out in record numbers, went to the polls and exercised their right to vote. It was truly inspiring to see Iraqi men and women, with their children in hand, walk to the voting polls in the midst of mortar fire and improvised explosive devices. I witnessed this bold defiance and their refusal to let their future be manipulated by threats of terrorism.

Success in Iraq is due to the boldness of Iraqis and the bravery of Americans who answered their nation's call. Many Americans have sacrificed life and limb to provide innocent people with freedom. I have not sacrificed to that extent, but I have had the great honor to serve at a time where I have witnessed the results of the sacrifices they have made.

What is it that compels people to stifle the natural emotional response of fear and replace it with courage? Hope. I believe that the enormous price we pay will pay off exponentially for our children's future, and that is why I serve. Adversity and terrorism will remain a reality in today's world, but we should never accept it as a 'way of life,' and respond with inaction. Doing so would not only be irresponsible to our children, but a disservice to all those who have paid the highest price.

In just nine years, my motivation to serve has transitioned from benefits and opportunities to duty and responsibility and now desire and belief.

I will continue to believe in the American ideals that previous generations have fought so hard to defend. I support these ideals through my service to my country, my commitment to support those opposed to terrorism and to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have gone before me.

My response:

Captain,

After reading your column today I would say you have a great future in the Army, as you've gone from drinking the kool-aid to serving it up in large glasses to the general public.

I recognize the symptoms; I drank the kool-aid too and served in Desert Storm as a lieutenant in a tank unit. Twenty years later, it's plain to me that Desert Storm was nothing more than the US protecting one group of thuggish dictators from another thuggish dictator. Our reward, which you cited as your motivation, was for 15 Saudi citizens to participate in the 9/11 attacks. That's what I risked my life for, and what quite a few of my fellow soldiers died for.

You admit that there is no connection between Iraq and 9/11, so your motivation to serve in Iraq is difficult to understand at best. You want to "set conditions for democracy and freedom" -- why? Why Iraq? Why the US military? Why you? And how long do we get to keep writing this check in dollars and lives?

I suspect you don't ask these questions. Like me at the time, you go where you're told to go and carry out the missions you're assigned, and believe that the generals and politicians above you are acting wisely. Instead, open your eyes. Our current missions in Iraq and Afghanistan have nothing to do with our original reasons for deploying. We found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and we gave up looking for bin Laden long ago. We are there now simply out of refusal to admit failure. That's what you're risking your life for, and what many of your fellow soldiers are dying for.

Good luck and I hope you and your soldiers make it back safely. And try to ease up on the kool-aid.

Aaron Brachowitz

[Jasper07734]

Thank you for your service AB. (That's all I got for now.)

[Eimon Gnome]

Probably did you a lot of good to say what you did. And that is a good thing.

As a piece of communication, I rather doubt he will be able to hear the message. It most likely fails on that front. And that is a tragedy.

But perhaps some other soul will. And that is a good thing.

[Omikron]

AB, your fight is with the politicians that give the orders, not with this captain who is trying to scrape together some meaning for a service he questions. In that sense, is it worth asking yourself if YOU have misunderstood who you are fighting more than this captain has? Your kool-aid remarks are acceptable for an anonymous forum where we openly question politican decisions involving military action, but I find them completely insulting when directed toward an individual service member.

[RichieGB]

Very hostile opening to a letter. That has the potential to start the dialogue off in an unproductive path.

Not that I don't agree with the letter's content, btw.

[Aaron Brachowitz]

Originally Posted by Omikron

AB, your fight is with the politicians that give the orders, not with this captain who is trying to scrape together some meaning for a service he questions. In that sense, is it worth asking yourself if YOU have misunderstood who you are fighting more than this captain has? Your kool-aid remarks are acceptable for an anonymous forum where we openly question politican decisions involving military action, but I find them completely insulting when directed toward an individual service member.

I know -- I feel as a vet I can take some verbal liberties that non-vets can't. I also feel that this captain went over and above simply "scraping together some meaning for a service he questions" -- he is evangelizing the war. Having done that, he opens himself up to critical responses.

[JohnLocke]

Stupid idealists.

Now when we setting up that libertarian state?

[Paul Krugman]

Originally Posted by JohnLocke

Stupid idealists.

Now when we setting up that libertarian state?

Uh, it already exists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia

[notreallyme]

Originally Posted by Paul Krugman

Uh, it already exists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia

Anarchy <> libertarian

There is also a BIG difference between what a country will look like while at war vs. one that is established and has never had it's mainland attacked from another country.

But don't let fact sway you.

--------------------------------

PS Great letter Aaron and thank you for your service.

[Omikron]

Originally Posted by Aaron Brachowitz

I know -- I feel as a vet I can take some verbal liberties that non-vets can't. I also feel that this captain went over and above simply "scraping together some meaning for a service he questions" -- he is evangelizing the war. Having done that, he opens himself up to critical responses.

I read his column differently. He practically says "I'm not sure why I'm here, but this may be the reason". I suppose I have given him the benefit of the doubt. A bias perhaps.