Ohio soldier killed in Iraq questioned U.S. role there

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1122897317163460.xml&coll=2

Monday, August 01, 2005
From staff and wire reports

A Columbus area soldier who died Friday in Iraq had told relatives that he feared he would not make it home alive and was questioning the purpose of the U.S. military presence.

Army Pfc. Robert Swaney, 21, was killed Friday after the Humvee in which he was riding was struck by a roadside bomb, said his aunt, Angie Denes, of West Jefferson.

Swaney left for Iraq in March, "positive and upbeat," but recent phone calls, letters and e- mails to his aunt conveyed a much more critical view of the U.S. mission.

"He was questioning why we were there because he had just lost two guys in his unit a couple of weeks before, and the Iraqi people were clapping, cheering and dancing, and it hurt him," Denes said. "He felt like the mission we went over to do - we were starting to lose it."...

[Botany]

1. Blessings & prayers on his spirit, family, and friends.

Army Pfc. Robert Swaney :patriot:

You were far braver then the folks who sent you.

:cry:

[ckramer]

2. Isn't that terrible when you see

"Iraqi people were clapping, cheering and dancing" because they saw your truck getting hit by a bomb?

It really sucks to die like that.

[babylonsister]

3. Yeah, sure they want us

there. :sarcasm:

R.I.P., PFC Swaney, and condolences to all those he leaves behind.

[sleipnir]

4. To give your life up in exchange for oblivion on a lie. That's hard.

My his family find some level of comfort, though I hardly doubt they will for a while. Lies, to die for lies.

[Tesla]

5. Wait till the soldiers HAVE to go to Iraq

Then we'll see the same numbers we had in Vietnam.

[flamingpie2500]

6. My brother is leaving Iraq today for 2 weeks at home.

I have also noticed that his e-mails are troubling in that the morale is very low. Swealtering heat, no time off. He is a 1stLt (Army Reserves) so I doubt he will ever openly question why he is there. Will be seeing him this weekend, they are having a party for him on Sat. I have to wonder how much he has changed. We shall see.

Condolences to this young family.

[Botany]

7. give your brother a hug for me.

:hug:

i wonder why we have never seen the voting #s from the troops.
Haliburton handled the vote ..... I wonder what the real #s were?

I worked for Kerry last fall in Ohio and know we got calls from Iraq
by Ohioans serving there and they wanted * out bad.

[flamingpie2500]

8. my brother is from WI and was assigned to Ohio because of a shortage

of LT. I get a lot of google alerts on the 983rd engineer battalion, out of Ohio.
They have had 2 killed since Dec. One just this last Fri.
Hats off to you for your work for Kerry!

[WhiteTara]

9. give him a hug for me and let him know that

we are all working to get rid of the evil that has fomented this terrible disaster. :grouphug:

[Rose Siding]

10. Oh, CNN. Where aaaaare you?

:grr:

[wtmusic]

11. They have to all be questioning our role there nt

[Tippy]

12. Condolences to the family and friends and prayers for all

Who are stationed in Iraq and those headed there...

[xchrom]

13. the Iraqi people were clapping, cheering and dancing, and it hurt him,"

is that just sad or what?

my condolences to the family.

now, bring home the troops and stop this fucking stupidity.

[Coexist]

15. Amen to that

how sad. My thoughts go out to his family.

[bushisanidiot]

14. Makes you wonder who's planting those roadside bombs

well, it makes ME wonder..

[frictionlessO]

16. This is one that should've made the greatest page...

Sad... just sad...