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Edited on Sun Sep-17-06 09:52 AM by shadowknows69
I picked up a young Sergeant the other night and he was definitely one of the most polite and gregarious customers I've had in a while. Our trip was about 20 miles and he instantly struck up a conversation with me. With genuine interest he asked me how long I'd been a driver, was I married, what did my wife do, where was I from? He was someone you could tell truly liked other people and was clearly good at putting someone at ease with him, obviously a good trait for a leader of men. We got on the subject of my former radio work and talked extensively about music and he asked many questions about the industry and I was happy to expose our darkest secrets to him.
"You mean you're told what to play all day?"
"That's pretty much how it works now yes. A station categorizes all its music according to its desired spin count, throws it all into a computer scheduling program and it spits out your daily playlists."
Any further questions about radio can be directed to me or the dozens of other disgruntled former "jocks" I'm sure lurk here on DU.
But I digress. It was this soldier's questions about my marriage that got us into the meat of this report. Along with everything else of course he asked if I had kids. I responded that I didn't but sadly that I had just lost a furry child. He asked why my wife and I never had any and I answered him honestly.
I said, "My wife and I got married a bit older and she already had a son so it was never that urgent to me and honestly I kind of made a conscious decision not to have children because I'm not so sure this is going to be such a great world to bring one into soon."
Surprisingly to me he responded, "My wife and I were talking about the very same thing the other day. Now I've got kind of a personal question if that's ok?"
"Go right ahead". In my years of driving I've been asked everything from: "Where is the post office", to, "how can a guy get someone to spank him in this town", and no, by the way, I didn't know where to find this guy a spanking, but this soldier caught me off guard.
"I want to know how you honestly feel about the Iraq war?"
"I'm not so sure you want to hear my opinion on that one brother", I replied.
"No, I really do", he genuinely wanted to know John Q Public's opinion on this conflict.
"I'm very against it sir. Now please don't get me wrong, I'm definitely a 'love the warrior, hate the war' kind of person. I have mad respect for what you guys must go through. I just don't think you're being led by very good people right now.” I said, trying to put it as diplomatically as possible.
Well he pretty much completely agreed with me and said that was a very prevalent feeling throughout the army and he confirmed to me what I've heard on many occasions that that the "mission" to most of the men and women there now is simply survival and watching the backs of their brothers and sisters. This Sgt. himself said he was requesting to get back as soon as possible just to protect other soldiers basically.
He made a remark that I took the opportunity to add some wit to when he stated how much Rumsfeld liked this base, the most deployed division in the Army, and I joked:
"Of course he does, you guys do all his work for him. Sometimes it seems like you guys are the only division in the army. Most of the soldiers I've met are at least on their third tour or on their way to it.", then without thinking I added, "If you guys ever lay down your rifles and say 'no more' there aint gonna be a war on terror". I don't think I would have made this comment if this young man didn't have me so at ease and to another soldier this could be highly offensive I suppose but this young Sergeant simply said:
"Damn straight", perhaps I was able to plant a seed there.
We spoke a bit more about Iraq and the differences between there and Afghanistan and this guy was repeating the same mantra I've heard many times that Afghanistan is actually getting worse than Iraq in ways. I remarked I thought we should definitely have committed more people to Afghanistan and secure the job there. He said that the people we are fighting actually can move resources pretty well themselves. He said that whenever we move forces around they'll compensate and attack weak flanks. He said, and I quote, "Some smart mother fuckers". Not exactly the deadenders we are led to believe.
I told him like I tell many of the guys and girls that as far as the general public know, things are just rosy in the WOT and I even told him of my intentions to possibly write about my experiences and the stories I've heard. I didn't get a clearly defined vibe on how he seemed to feel about that but I've actually been telling a couple soldiers lately just to see if it would prompt any truly exceptional confessions or revelations. So far it hasn't borne fruit.
Since I laid my plans bare I had to stop playing sneaky journalist at that point but he did volunteer one tidbit after. He told me that another full scale war in Iraq was someday inevitable, either in the form of a civil war or another US invasion someday. I didn't have time to get him to speculate on any more than that but the confidence that seemed to be behind this statement was frightening to me. We are truly in the endless war of our time if someone doesn't put a stop to it. That above all else is the feeling of reservation I still get from these soldiers. I've been kicking myself since that night for not coming out and asking if they want us to stop it. One of these days I will find that courage. Always tip your cabbie.
Shadow out.
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