TJ-

[color=#666666]Most Americans haven't seen the growing legion of wounded troops returning from Iraq who are cared for at military facilities sealed off from the public. The media, in turn, have focused on the hit-and-run guerrilla attacks that claim one or two GIs in Iraq almost daily. Little attention has been paid to the long, difficult and very personal struggles that ensue in wards at BAMC and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.[/color]
[color=#666666][/color]
[color=#666666]WARNING GRAPHIC PICTURES!!![/color]
[color=#666666][/color]
http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/wounded/gallery.htm

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The_Neon_Cowboy

Such is the nature of WAR...

But, you must agree thier are still better off then who were left
the field in a body bag.This is after all part of what they signed
up for weather it was between the lines or not. Maybe this would
be a diffent story if they were drafe's but these are volenteers....

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Nacht

and for what? and for WHAT?

THESE MEN, unlike you, have a sense of patriotism and pride.

Asmoday

Well....you are fighting a war, and you can't expect a war being fought without casualties and injuries.

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Geminiwave

indeed they were volunteers but they signed up for specific rules...such as getting sent out for only a certain amount of time and then returning and not fighting anymore...but many of the people in the reserves were sent home for 2 weeks and then called back in for more active service. This is in complete violation of their contract. Seriously we've had rules set in place for decades about how we use soldiers and we have been grossly misusing them.

Yeah we're gunna have casualties...every war is the same. But our soldiers got badly demoralized. It could have been much better, thats all I gotta say.

Like for instance using our actual army instead of reserves and marines. We have a huge army that can be deployed anywhere in the world in 20 minutes or less. I think we should start using it instead of leaving them in other people's countries as an american presence.

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TJ-

Patriotism and pride have nothing to do with the war in iraq, its not the american peoples war is Bushes war. Saddam and Iraq have nothing to do with America. Saddam was never the aggressor towards America, he never bombed America so what does patriotism have to do with invading a forign country that did nothing towards you guys. It was proved that he had no ties to Usuma Bin Laden or terrorists which was the main reason (or so they say) for the invasion. The soldiers are sent in as pawns in a big game and for what...? so a country that has nothing to do with them can be liberated... or so there is a permenant American presence in the heart of the middle east where they dont belong... but to keep the war machine rolling along you do need oil and money, so they invaded the right country fot that... So far in my opinion they have made no progress, they have only gone backwards. After 9/11 the world wasnt any different than before, it only turned to shit after talks of war and the "shock and awe" campaign launched in 2003. America made it ten times worse by trying to control any country they want... And who has paid the price, Bush and his cabinet still have thier nice houses and cars and limbs while the soldiers get paid didly fuc*in squat and lose their limbs.... for what...?

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Nacht

This is our countries war...NOT "Bush's War". The vote to go into Iraq was a UNANIMOUS CONGRESSIONAL VOTE. That means that EVERY CONGRESSMAN believed the same thing as Bush. Each congressman is there to represent one part of the nation. There is one there for you too. That representation for you in DC was YOUR VOTE to go to war as well.

Saddam was never the aggressor towards America? Sounds like you've been watching too much Fahrenheit 9/11. Every day the Iraqi military shot AA missles at our planes as we patrolled the No Fly Zones (which were necessary to keep Saddam from gassing more of his own people). How in the hell is that not showing aggression???

TJ-

He shot down spy planes...yea so what they were flying over Iraqi air space... if he flew spy planes over america would your government not shoot them down to, who the hell wants spy planes flying above thier country... I would hardly call that aggression...

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Falstaff

battleaxe187 to be kind, I suggest you study history a little closer, Saddam was an aggressor, and a maniacal dictator. IRAQ did in fact fire upon our ships long before the gulf war.

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Frodo301

As a veteran of the first Gulf War/Somalia the pictures bring a tear to my eye as I have seen this and much more before working in a Combat Support Hospital (CSH) and foward support medical team. I salute them all for their bravery and hope for a speedy recovery.

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The greatest thing you'll every learn is to love, and be loved in return.

Nacht

no, like i said, do some research. they WERE NOT SPY PLANES. these were military joint strike aircraft, (planes fitted for air to air, and air to ground, a la f15s and f16s and all that) that were PATROLLING...not SPYING.

Sandok

Oh a few thousand deaths is nothing on the whole scale. Yes a loss but what of the iraqis dying? What of the millions dying of hunger? What of the millions lost in poor countrys? War is bad... Those people who work for the army must do their job and die if they must!

Frodo301

It was not only the US flying military aircraft over the no fly zones in Iraq. I believe the British and French govts also patrolled these areas as well. Also in response to using the active duty instead of the reserves, we are using active duty troops. But due to the draw down of the military which hit a peak in the mid '90s, and later restructure more emphasis is placed on the reserves to get the job done. There are currently many more reserve troops then active duty and Iraq is not the only place US troops are based. Someone has to fill those slots and it's usually active duty. Afghan, Saudi, Kuwait, Oman, Germany, Britian, Korea, Japan, Cuba, little small countries south of here that cannot be mentioned, and too many other places to name. Heck the DMZ in Korea or the Sinai can be just as tense as any battlezone. Some of the bases are in the process of being closed so that should increase the amount of troops stationed in the US which hopefully ease the load on the reserves in Iraq.

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The greatest thing you'll every learn is to love, and be loved in return.

Xx#1BallerxX

I can't believe people are saying things like "well, they volunteered, it's their falt." All these kids wanted to do was get free college, not have their legs and arms blown off.

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Falstaff

IRAQ was a rogue nation, Saddam was a meglomaniac, the world is better served by his capture and eventual demise.

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TJ-

at what cost ??????????????????????????????????????

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GOG

Were these ships inside or outside the territorial waters of Iraq?

GOG

If kids need to sign up for the armed forces just to get an education, I don't think the casualties in Iraq are the worst problems in your country.

Frodo301

I don't think anyone is saying it's their fault. When you join a military fighting force and take an oath of enlistment or get commissioned as an officer I would hope the potential enlistee has a pretty good idea of what can happen. If a person is only joining for the benefit of college money then he or she is in the wrong place and should seriously reconsider. There are many ways to get college money that does not require 1+ year tour of duty in hostile territory.

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The greatest thing you'll every learn is to love, and be loved in return.

TJ-

Good question, but it doesnt really matter cause the U.S.A ownes the world and they can go anywhere they want, do what ever they want and anyone who opposes or disagrees is a terrorist, its their way or the highway, or in this case there way or guantanamo bay...

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digerati

*edited for clarification, I got my times messed up so I'm going to do this with some chronological-ness*

He shot down spy planes, and took weapons inspectors hostage during the Former Bush administration to which Bush threatened to respond with military force on behalf of UNSCOM (Funny the UN didn't offer the threat *cough*)

Now this was during the Clinton Administration.

Source: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl.../etc/cron.html

Vasot

Patrols??

And how do you know that...are you working in the Military Air force ??

For enlighting you
If fighter planes are "patrolling" inside foreign Borders (without authorization) it is considered SPYING and not patrol

Just think if Russian fighters were patroling in America...What you would think of that action??

There are many meglomaniacs in Africa and Asia and not only Saddam
But of course USA and "Bush the Great" choose Iraq again just like his father did....

Ohh but of course i forgot.....Iraq has some great Oil Rigs, Nice

Falstaff

I am beginning to see a substantial ignorance or denial of historical fact here....
sounds like the same people tha believe John Kerrys crap when he ran.
I was there, I lived it and endured it, I dont need Time magazine to convince me of the truth. If it was about oil, why havent we recieved on gallon of crude from IRAQ.
No again, the the real issue is the ignorance of people all over the world.

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Xx#1BallerxX

ok, then.

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TJ-

No, the real issue is you and most of the American people are being decieved and lied to and are either to proud or ignorant to believe that Geroge Bush and his cabinet are the real terrorists. Over 100,000 people have died as a direct result from the invasion and it was initiated by America. Do two wrongs make a right? Usama is still out there and i cant help but laugh at your government for spending all this time and money and the embarassment of not finding him is still there. Also the main reason for the war was the WMD, none found. So Saddam was a maniac and needed to be taken out of power, why is it Americas choice to do it, its was denied by a security council from the U.N. Basically there was no need to invade Iraq, why did they,

In early 2001 Condelezza Rice released a report stating that Saddam did not have the money nor the intentions to launch or create nucleaur or chemical weapons, so what made them change their minds, now they had a reason to take power in Iraq, settle a old debt and create a permenant pressence in the middle east where they DO NOT BELONG.

In the end they will pull out with a half finished job, another dictator will reign with the backing of the U.S and they will be forced to give U.S profits from THEIR oil, but since America needs oil to survive they have to get it from somewhere, boom, they now have a partner for life. Its a smart plan but it has back fired and the troops that believe they are fighting for freedom and to protect their country are only doing more harm than good, i feel sorry for them they are being USED....

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Falstaff

George Bush a terrorist...hmmmm...wax philosphically if you will, but I disagree.

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Frodo301

I would have to agree, it amazes how quickly people forget the past. Off topic: read in another thread about your brother going to Iraq. I wish him godspeed and the best of luck.

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The greatest thing you'll every learn is to love, and be loved in return.

Xx#1BallerxX

There are millions of people who should of gotten person of the year instead of Bush. Ya know???? Cause I do. :-

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TJ-

Arnold Schwarnegger !!!!!!!

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Vasot

He is not terrorist but he is a IDIOT...

He plays with USA people like puppets and the <tools> are buying his sh*t and voted him



Not that Kerry is an angel of course but at least he is not his "Fathers toy"

Anyway i am not from USA and i do not really care so much...Only what decisions may affect the rest of the World (Especially here in Europe)

Except from England most of the European Countries in here do not like Bush so much

And what is these <Facts> ??