Marine captain, "I will never trust any of them again."

[Number9Dream]

A Marine captain speaks of disillusionment after two tours in Iraq.

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=snomarine12&date=20060412&query=coming%2Bhome

[Coexist]

1. knr - sometimes it doesn't feel good to be right.

[rodeodance]

6. yes, i know the feeling.

[Notoverit]

7. This is NOT one of those times. Not for me!

[godhatesrepublicans]

2. But why did he trust them in the first place?

I admire the Captain in question for his courage in admitting his error, but what in the world made him trust them in the first place? Can anyone explain that? Any military readers out there care to sum up what possible reason there would be for such blind faith in a Democracy? I don't get it, but I wish I could.

[Neil Lisst]

5. He trusted them because he was ignorant of the Bush lies.

Why do you ask what possible reason would there be for such blind faith in democracy?

He was talking about blind faith in the Bush administration, not democracy.

[godhatesrepublicans]

9. I meant "In a democracy, why would one have such blind faith"

My syntax was a bit unclear there. But my point was that elected leaders should still be seen as fallible even by people who voted for them, and people should view all their leaders with a critical eye. Taking anything said by one person as automatically true, when millions around the world are marching waving signs that say "He's wrong" seems to lack critical thinking.

[exlrrp]

10. Sometimes you have to see to believe

As a soldier who once volunteered for an unpopular war, who then changed his mind after he saw it, I can relate. Back in '03 things looked a lot different. Who would have believed Saddam DIDN'T have WMDs, I believed it myself--as did much of the country. But I didn't have all that contradictory evidence to look at that Bush and Cheney did.
Leaders are defintely fallible but younger people aren't so inclined to believe it untill they age and get a little more experience, after theyve seen the feet of clay.
Millions of people weren't marching and waving signs when Bush invaded, that came later.
You don't understand the situation in the military if you think someone has the right of freedom of speech and action. You do what youre told or fac e discpline and you don'tt talk about it either.
Thats why all these RETIRED generals are criticizing Rumsfeld, not the active duty ones. If an active duty military person expresses and opinion his superiors don't like, he's screwed.

This guy had the same reaction I did when I went to see the actual war instead of reading about it in the medis--it SUCKS!! I hope he does the same thing I did when I got out: protested it

[riderinthestorm]

11. Thank you for your service!

And welcome home - glad you found DU.

:hi:

[exlrrp]

12. Don't forget the protesting

I think I did a bigger service to my country when I protested the war afterwards. Nobody says War Sucks better than a returning combat veteran. they have the REAL cred.
I returned to Vietnam in '03 for a look and I'm glad I did. It resolved one major question for me---protesting the war WAS the right thing to do. I felt then that what that country needed was a long time of peace and I was dead right (AGAIN!) I felt welcomed in that coun try for the first time. Peace WAS what that country needed.
So does Iraq

PS you can see pictures of me in the Vietnam War at: http://www.hackworth.com/photo0022.html

[Number9Dream]

13. Thanks for your service & input

Being a one time boonie-rat gives one a unique perspective. I agree with all you said in your replies.

[blm]

14. Media told them Bush was a great leader, a straightshooter, and was a man

of deep Christian faith and values with impeaccable integrity - and they said that for YEARS, and YEARS, and YEARS, with never a hint that it was all a charade.

It took a category 5 hurricane to blow back the 5yrs of relentless media spinning for George Bush.

[DearAbby]

17. I know what you are talking about...

I have to admit I thought that there was some protective shield or something that would filter out the "bad" people from ever taking office. That only the cream of the crop rises to the top. Even when there were faults, I felt that they had the best intentions for this country. I was disillusioned of some these beliefs with Nixon. I feel somewhere in Nixon's soul, he still had the best intentions for this country and her people.

Some people still believe this, that only the best of the best achieve office, so they must know what to do, and they leave it trustingly in their hands. Crazy I know, I was really naive in my youth. I outgrew it.

It appears that this gallant young man has outgrew it as well. I hope the best for this man, hope he can pick up the pieces and live in peace.


but...

we need more to speak out, those that have been there.

[DemonFighterLives]

8. I would say it is the way the "news" is filtered for the Military

All they get is gung-ho joe news and how the administration is trying to protect the homeland. The bad guys are trying to take over Amurica and we must stop them. After that information, it is like a team sport working for the greater good. They need to get information from other sources that what comes down the pipe.

Dubco had the media in its pocket and many people believed what was presented. 29% are still deluded and see no wrong. = Must Kill Muslims
:argh:

[FLSurfer]

3. "We were simply the little Dutch boy with our finger in the dike"

Interesting way to describe Falluja.
Thanks for the article Number9Dream.

[bills]

4. Marine captain, "I will never trust any of them again."

Good to know.

[Imagevision]

15. It appears that Marine Captains opinions/views don't count?

[cassiepriam]

16. Bush has caused many to start questioning their blind obedience

and failure to be an independent thinker.
Perhaps we can see the maturation of the American voter.