Monday's New York Times has a "view from the ground" article bylined from Baghdad:
Doubts Grow as G.I.’s in Iraq Find Allies in Enemy Ranks
I sure wish this had been around for our Congressmen to read before the vote on the supplemental.
The Times spent some time with Delta Company of the First Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division. Here's one anecdote that will give you the gist of it:
...When the battle was over, Delta Company learned that among the enemy dead were at least two Iraqi Army soldiers that American forces had helped train and arm.
"[April] 29th was a watershed moment in a negative sense, because the Iraqi Army would not fight with us," Captain Rogers said, adding, "Some actually picked up weapons and fought against us."
The battle changed the attitude among his soldiers toward the war, he said.
"Before that fight, there were a few true believers." Captain Rogers said. "After the 29th, I don’t think you’ll find a true believer in this unit. They’re paratroopers. There’s no question they’ll fulfill their mission. But they’re fighting now for pride in their unit, professionalism, loyalty to their fellow soldier and chain of command."
To Sergeant O’Flarity, the Iraqi security forces are militias beholden to local leaders, not the Iraqi government. "Half of the Iraqi security forces are insurgents," he said...
..."We’ve all lost friends over here," he said. "Most of us don’t know what we’re fighting for anymore. We’re serving our country and friends, but the only reason we go out every day is for each other."
"I don’t want any more of my guys to get hurt or die. If it was something I felt righteous about, maybe. But for this country and this conflict, no, it’s not worth it."
So, tell me again how we're supporting the troops?