In his June 25 article in the Washington Post, "Reality Check for The Antiwar Crowd" LT. Pete Hegseth says he takes issue with Sen. Levin and his three common antiwar arguments. I on the other hand take issue with the Pro-war argument Hegseth presents. Like Lt. Hegseth I too served alongside the Rakkasans in Iraq. We apparently saw two different wars while we were there only 40 miles apart. While Hegseth was making his gains in Samarra I recall the turning point in Samarra when the Golden Dome was blown up and the aftermath of the ceaseless line of refugees on the main highway that runs through Samarra, on their way North to relative safety because of the mounting ethnic violence. Although I fully support Hegseths’ Civil Affairs background and optimism that a strong civil society is the best foundation we can lay, that is pretty much where my agreement ends.
Lt. Hegseth blames our Congress for destroying the morale of our troops because they say they support the troops while simultaneously trying to bring them home. In my opinion, there is no greater support than someone who does not understand why our young service men and women are dying. While I was in Iraq I was heartened when Congressman John Murtha made his stand, I was relieved that someone was paying attention and questioning why my fellow soldiers and I were there. On the other hand, Hegseth worries what message the troops get when they hear arguments that the war is "lost" in Iraq. Does Lt. Hegseth question his opinions and beliefs about this war when he hears this? I would guess his answer would be a decided "no." Do I question my antiwar stance when I read an article by Hegseth or hear President Bush or VP Cheney talk? No. I ask Hegseth to give our military more credit on having the ability to develop their own opinions based on their experiences, what is going on in Congress or the public is really of little interest to them while they are "boots on the ground" and "outside the wire." It is pretty sad if our soldiers are dependent on Congress to form his or her opinion. If a soldier cannot form an opinion on their own in Iraq based on what they see, they have more serious issues than what Congress is talking about. The truth is for that the majority of those who face the diverse Iraqi people everyday and risk their lives they are pretty much focused on staying alive and public opinion can do little to diminish that type of adrenaline. Therefore, to imply that our service men and women are dependent on anything other than what is right in front of them to form their opinions is a disservice to them.
Furthermore, the same thing applies to the average Iraqi. Much like U.S. military personnel, the average Iraqi likely starts their day wondering if they or someone they know will die that day. For Hegseth to imply that the average Iraqi is so feeble-minded as to sit in their
mud hut[s] with a satellite dish
transfixed by "instant enemy propaganda" about our Congress failing them is to imply they are incapable of forming their own opinions either. Again, if the average Iraqi is truly concerned about the United States Congress they have not been looking outside their own window. True it may give them pause, but in the end it is all background noise to what is really happening.
Next, Hegseth brings up the
unfortunate reality: Iraq today is the front line of a global jihad being waged against America and its allies. Both Osama bin Laden (OBL) and Ayman al-Zawahiri have said so.
Did bin Laden or Zawahiri draw that line in the sand? Hardly. We gave it to them and they took advantage of the gift Bush gave them. Bush gave them the best propaganda tool, American soldiers in close proximity. Sadly, death is a reality, not mere propaganda. The propaganda Hegseth speaks of is actually news. I ask Hegseth how many lives, Iraqi and American, is he willing to sacrifice so "propaganda" does not win?
In my opinion, Hegseth has put too much concern into propaganda and opinions and not the human cost. Bush, Cheney, bin Laden and Zawahiri have the luxury to philosophize on the power of propaganda and opinions, because they are now the policymakers sitting across from one another at the chessboard while Iraqi’s and the American military pay the price. Death has not made the figureheads flinch, they both remain determined to win their schoolyard brawl. The more lives Bush is willing to sacrifice the more like bin Laden he becomes.
So I say to Lt. Hegseth, Sir, our opinions differ and I suspect we developed our opinions based on our life experiences, which further dictates what we choose to see and believe. Why do you give so little credit to Iraqi's and our U.S. military personnel? Opinions are bias created by circumstance. Those who want to believe in Congress will, as will those who want to believe what OBL and Al Qaeda tell and show them. The human brain is not as meek as you would lead us to believe.