PBS's NOW: Personal battles of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and their families at home
By Nicole Belle Thursday Sep 13, 2007 6:02pm
NOW:
On the heels of a much-anticipated progress report in Washington, NOW travels to Iraq for an exclusive, hard look at the war through the telling eyes of U.S. soldiers on the ground, and of the families they left behind.
We also examine first-hand the so-called "Anbar Awakening," a controversial partnership between U.S. soldiers and Sunni tribal leaders, many of whom who had previously been fighting the Americans. Some - including President Bush - are calling this a significant step forward in reestablishing peace and order in Iraq. Hear what soldiers on the ground have to say.
We first met the Third Infantry's First Brigade from Georgia's Ft. Stewart in a NOW show broadcast last January, only weeks before they headed back to Iraq for the third deployment in four years. As the long months of the "surge" unfold, we see them fighting an elusive enemy that prefers roadside bombs to pitched battles, while back at home their newborns become toddlers, and birthdays and anniversaries come and go.
With the personal and political effects of constant redeployment and re-strategizing apparent everywhere, are we at a turning point or a breaking point?
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Meh, who cares. As long as Bush et al. are lining their pockets with gold and oil, I'm all for it.
If it weren't for Bush and friends the U.S. would still be a democracy. For the love of Allah I hate democracies.
Thanks Bush. Keep up the good work.
We are well past the breaking point, literally and figuratively. The shiekh Bush met in Anbar himself was blown up yesterday, average Iraqi's are suffering much, much worse than our soldiers, themselves doing constant deployments and the daily threats of being blown up in an instant. It is nothing short of madness.
If only the Democrats would do what a majority of Americans and the entire world wants and end the war, cut off funding, and quit being spineless weasels.
Cut off funds first, and make LOTS of noise about impeachment. At least people will know you are not jellyfish.
Jim Webb has the key. Fix the number of months per rotation. No money cut, no "endanger the troops", no time-tables. Just set the maximum time per deployment. Make the asshole call up more reserves or re-institute the draft.
It should be clear that GWB got is sensitivty training from his mother.
The lives of the Iraqis are returning to normal.
Barbara Bush: Things Working Out 'Very Well' for Poor Evacuees from New Orleans
By E&P Staff
Published: September 05, 2005 7:25 PM ET updated 8:00 PM
NEW YORK Accompanying her husband, former President George
H.W.Bush, on a tour of hurricane relief centers in
Houston, Barbara Bush said today, referring to the
poor who had lost everything back home and evacuated, "This is working very well for them."
The former First Lady's remarks were aired this
evening on American Public Media's "Marketplace"
program.
She was part of a group in Houston today at the
Astrodome that included her husband and former
President Bill Clinton, who were chosen by her son,
the current president, to head fundraising efforts for
the recovery. Sen. Hilary Clinton and Sen. Barack
Obama were also present.
In a segment at the top of the show on the surge of
evacuees to the Texas city, Barbara Bush said: "Almost
everyone I’ve talked to says we're going to move to
Houston."
Then she added: "What I’m hearing which is sort of
scary is they all want to stay in Texas. Everyone is
so overwhelmed by the hospitality.
"And so many of the people in the arena here, you
know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this (she
chuckles slightly) is working very well for them."
"I Wish someone would tell us what we are doing here?"
From about $30.00 bbl to $80.00 bbl, you are doing a heck of a job for Chimp's close buddies
http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/CO/M
This is a real surprise...
http://mediamatters.org/items/200709140002?src=item200709140002
love the counting crows in the background =)
Sympathy for the troops plays well politically for both sides, doesn't it. I guess its better than having rotten fruit tossed at me as I got off the plane, but being a veteran in this country still doesn't mean jack shit until some liberal or some conservative puts you in the spotlight to make a point about something or another.
Oh Puh-leese... these people KNEW what they were getting into when they enlisted. NO SYMPATHY for these enlisters. Now if we had a draft, that was FAIR TO ALL, then I would have LOTS of sympathy.
[Deleted-Sitemonitor]
King of Mean @ 9:
Sorry, but I have to raise the bullshit flag on this one. When you enlist in the military, you sign a contract saying that you will do as you are told. You think you know the rules but no one tells you that rule one is that the military can change the rules when it suits them.
Your statement, in my opinion, does not account for a substantial portion of our military. A lot of people joined the military before all of this nonsense started and are too close to retirement to just chuck it. I did and daily I wonder if I did the right thing. Financially, it was very difficult for my family to start over.
Also, your argument doesn't take into consideration the various reasons people have for enlisting.
I'm not trying to be confrontational but honestly, I believe your opinion is one based on little actual knowledge of the military and its workings.
[Deleted-Sitemonitor]
King of Mean, I don't know if you know this, but there are a lot of folks that are lifers in the military because they have special needs children. I think you'd be shocked if you ever showed up at some of the clinics and saw how many sick kids there are.
I just finished watching the program, and I couldn't help but notice the same "information gap" between the soldiers as we see at home. Supporters of the war using the same misinformed talking points to defend continuing the mission, and soldiers that ask, "Why am I here?" refusing to reenlist.
The father that wanted to ask the politicians supporting the war: "Which one of *your* kids lives are you willing to give up for this war?"
Watching the family that waited for their husband/father's casket to show up is devastating, the sheer grief on the daughter's face puts into perfect context all the completely unnecessary grief, pain and anguish the Iraq invasion and occupation has inflicted on Iraq & the US
props to Bill Moyers. He's a national treasure for doing what other reporters and anchors refuse to do
Props to Moyers indeed, but this was done by NOW, itself investigtative journalism ignored by the MSM. Like why Moyer's is such a rarity in the media
I watched this last night, and it's a great segment. Sad as well, obviously.
Watch out when the returning troops demobilize, then take their frustration out on Americans: Military vets rushing to join the ranks of law enforcement. Are they going to miss their "freedom to conduct warrantless searches"? Watch your back.
The veterans in law enforcement are primsed to violate US citizens rights: They've been trained in Iraq to do this without hesitating. Needs to be better civilian oversight of the former mlitary personnel in law enforcement to ensure they do not abuse their "lessons learned" from the military. The vets aren't getting enough assistance from the VA; no reason to believe these demobilized mlitary personnel can be blindly trusted to self-monitor.
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