Short Insider Essays About The Military Read online

of War

  (Staff SGT Wuterich, a U.S. Marine, went on trial last week at Camp Pendleton in California for the deaths of twenty-four unarmed civilians in Iraq. Wuterich was the squad leader in Haditha, Iraq in 2005 when a roadside bomb killed one Marine and injured two. He ordered the raid of three houses in search of suspects which resulted in the deaths of twenty-four men, women, and children. He is the eighth Marine to go on trial. The charges against six were dismissed and one was found not guilty. Wuterich faces more charges than the others.) 

  Staff SGT Wuterich’s court martial is an example of a lack of leadership on the part of someone way above the good Sergeant in the chain of command. No one condones the killing of innocent civilians. It is sad beyond words. 

  Wuterich and his squad were in a terrible situation in the worst kind of environment: urban warfare. The facts from what I’ve read bear out the fact that it was the “fog of war”: confusion, split decisions, adrenalin pumping. Sad that  innocents were killed.

  Now, we have second guessing on the part of the squad and of the Squad Leader’s leadership. What is going to happen to Staff SGT Wuterich now? The court martial will probably find him guilty. It is what military court martials do. By their very nature, it is “Bring the guilty bastard in.” A thorough article 32 investigation (which to civilians is a grand jury) looks at facts mostly interpreted in black and white. 

  No real “combat soldier” would convict this young Marine.  All of the jury and investigators have probably been to war, but it does not necessarily mean “combat vets.” All combat is not equal. 

  Staff SGT Wuterich’s and his squad were not sitting back at some camp in Iraq, working on computers or calling home when off duty. The Sergeant and his squad were on the front lines. Make no mistake about it, this was the “fog of war” and in such a situation, the squad can’t be second guessing. Removed from the moment, the Staff SGT’s squad might see it differently, but I believe him. He did what he had to do. It is the FOG of WAR. He is going to die or his men are.

  And, politics that might intrude need to be put aside. I hate his circumstances have gotten to this point. Some commander somewhere who has the authority should have said, “Enough,” this is not happening, but, the pure cold facts will probably convict him. In this case, in my view, the facts are only a slight bit of the story. And, I might go with the idea that Staff SGT Wuterich is a scapegoat of this sorry Iraq misadventure. We ought to be putting those who got us into Iraq in jail not Staff SGT Wuterich who was trying to protect his men.

  Maybe Ron Paul Isn't That Crazy (he really is but to make a point).

  Listening to Leon Panetta talk about the cuts in military spending and the future of the military, my initial thought was “What has this guy been smoking?” Honestly, I don’t understand this thinking.This goes beyond politics Do these people have some script they are reading from? There are plenty of ways to cut. To me, at this stage, it is all philosophical. But, I don’t think that Panetta or even the President “gets it.” Life has changed—circumstances have changed in the world. HELLO! HELLO! 

  The Arab Spring should have taught us that countries can determine their own destinies without us. Panetta talks as if we are in the cold war. Sure, there are threats in the world but we are not the world's policeman. Even if we wanted to continue to be stupid, we no longer can afford it. But, what is more important than that is our worldwide police activities have produced nothing but dead bodies, i. e., mostly young Americans and innocent civilians.

  Panetta's (whom I basically like) views make someone like Ron Paul credible. His foreign policy sounds drastic but only compared to what we have been doing and the way Panetta is talking.

  Look at the objective evidence of the past three wars. In Vietnam, we left with our tail between our legs. Ten years and a waste. In a thumbnail view, the Vietnamese solved it on their own. The great strategy of the domino theory was so much BS.  In Iraq, all we got out of that was a dead Hussein and dead American soldiers. Just a day or two ago, close to a hundred Iraqis were killed.

  And, for goodness sakes, don’t listen to the generals on Iraq or Afghanistan. They have to share some of the blame for our misadventure into Iraq, especially, where we don’t even get a break on Iraqi oil. (The only general that disagreed with strategy on the invasion of Iraq was Shinseki. They in essence fired him). And, Afghanistan is a mess by any standards and the only people who say otherwise are the generals and State Department.

  It is insane to continue our present strategy. We cannot afford it. And, what is equally disturbing to me is the lack of interest in our foreign policy which often involves troops. I heard one of the Republicans criticizing the President for his military cut-backs while singing the tune of a strong military. His audience applauds and why not; He’s talking to people who have no “skin” in the game. We have no draft; other people’s children are fighting our wars. (Romney, for instance, has no military experience and doubt that his 5 sons have served). Here’s why Ron Paul is a possibility. 

  Unfortunately, Paul's overall strategy wouldn’t fly. He couldn’t pull it off, but he might be able to do enough to move us to a sensible and sustainable position. It is worth looking at. Any possibility that it might happen? Heck No. The American electorate by in large is a selfish entity with only one mantra, “How does this affect me?” 

  F___king up a Two Car Funeral Procession

  “F__king up a two car funeral precession” is a good Army expression. It aptly applies to the U.S. handling of many things. Mostly it is the bureaucracy surrounding an attempt to get something done. In this case, it has to do with those Iraqis that helped us in our ill advised adventure into Iraq. 

  Regardless of how one feels, utter stupidity and lunacy dominated many decisions made after the Iraq invasion or the lies that got us there. The sad fact, from all appearances, is that our efforts in Iraq were totally worthless. (Don’t be waiting for anybody in government to admit it). 

  Iraq is already sinking into sectarian violence. The democratic process has fallen apart.  “Hoo Rahs” that we are gone are coming from the invaders and the occupiers. Iraq is all over for us we hope but cleaning up some of our mess remains.

  We have to deal with the reality of what is. In our strategy of prosecuting the war, many Iraqis helped us and we owe them some sort of allegiance. Helping those who helped us is a big priority or ought to be. Getting them out of country NOW is paramount. They will be killed. The State Dept appears to be dragging their feet. Bureaucracy. Why not do what we did with the Vietnamese and have a massive airlift and sort it out when they are out of danger. Taking a chance? On what? The risk is only right.

  Bradley Manning-Only a Private

  PFC Manning is a soldier, big-time stupid but not dumb. He doesn't need to be treated like some treasonous paragon. If I have been disappointed with the President in anything, it is on issues like this. I can't believe, that in his heart, he wants to take this heavy-handed approach to this stupid young soldier.

  Manning is a PFC. Do you know what a PFC is? He is a Private First Class-at the lowest rank of our military system. (E1-a recruit, E2-finished basic training-E3, breathing, sometimes given E3 based on civilian education and has to do with pay). Manning as a PFC  would be invisible. Comparatively speaking, in the civilian world, a mail room clerk in a large corporation would be way above a PFC. Are you getting the picture here?   It is just the military system.

  The very idea that we would allow Manning or any "Private" access to important material is unfathomable. It is like a parent giving the car keys to a 12 year old. There is no way that he should have been able to see classified documents. When will we "call
into account" those who put this temptation in his path? Manning is a smart, twenty-something, disgruntled soldier. 

  The military has spent lots of taxpayer money on his education. But the real issue isn't Manning, it is a piss-poor system that puts us in this position. I haven't seen where the leaks have hurt. Cost lives? If that is the case, from the media, I haven't seen it. For instance, Afghanistan is in chaos.  I don't see where anything we do or don't do makes a difference, surely not leaked documents. We don't even know who is on whose side.

  Manning is a troubled soul- a Private First Class in a military that hardly allows his existence, other than scut work. His work is probably listening for radio traffic, maybe seeing some block of info, but most of the time he is cooling his heels. He was obviously unsupervised, much like the Americans who screwed up at Abu Ghraib.The American military has a strict

  chain of command, but with Manning, someone was asleep at the wheel.

  My suspicion is that by taking a heavy-handed approach means that the President is listening to the military or other bureaucrats. Plain and simple, Manning should not have had access to important documents. He is a Private for God’s sake.

  Those at the top of the military are