Iraq

[Killthesmiley]

I've been avoiding the forums a little lately...
things have gotten argumentive again...so I backed awya before I started throwing down the Bombs... haha

Anyways, last night I found out that one of my step brothers, that I haven't met yet (see my first live action video on youtube for that story) just got his orders to head out to Iraq.

Now as most of you know...I'm extremely Anti-Bush, Anti-war and Anti-Republicans (except for The Govenator) in the white house...but I don't know how this makes me feel...

it's making me feel divided. And I have a feeling that eventually it'll make me feel even more divided once I hear about his experiences there...

Do any of you guys have family over in Iraq...how do you deal?

[kellylen]

omg

*hugs*

I'm really sorry to hear that Kelly.

I unfortunately don't know anyone over there or other or how they deal with it. I wish I could help

[PolkadotConfederation]

First of all I extend my sympathies to you and your family.

I have a cousin who was in Iraq for two years. She said that it was one of the most difficult experiences she has ever had, but that it wasn't as bad as people imagine. I believe her exact words were, "Listen, you guys over here have a higher chance of dying while driving a car down the road than I did being in Iraq." She wasn't on the front lines, but worked as a nurse (therapist, really) for the soldiers. She said they had bombs go off near their camp, but no one she knows was severly hurt.

We had no way to contact her while she was over there, so all we could do was hope for her safe return. It wasn't an easy two years, but we survived. I come from a very anti-Bush, anti-war family, and she said that most of the troops staying with her wanted the war to stop, as well. But overall it wasn't as bad an experience as many make it out to be, and that casualties are few and far between.

I hope that helps.

[Kelly]

I'm so sorry! I think that would be hard on a family whether they were pro-war (or accepting that it's happening...I don't like the term pro-war...it scares me) or not.

I really wish your family all the best right now. I'm a little removed from the situation up here in Canada, so I don't know how I would deal with it...

[lejaders]

My boyfriend is in the Canadian Forces, and the chance of him ever getting sent to Afghanistan (Canada told the USA they would not go to Iraq with them, but we would occupy Afghanistan instead) has only forced me to become more educated about the issues in the middle east and more against the mission.

[Killthesmiley]

I'm so sorry! I think that would be hard on a family whether they were pro-war (or accepting that it's happening...I don't like the term pro-war...it scares me) or not.

I really wish your family all the best right now. I'm a little removed from the situation up here in Canada, so I don't know how I would deal with it...

I'm in canada too. So it's a little odd for me. Especially sharing the opinion of the war that most canadian's have.

[Killthesmiley]

My boyfriend is in the Canadian Forces, and the chance of him ever getting sent to Afghanistan (Canada told the USA they would not go to Iraq with them, but we would occupy Afghanistan instead) has only forced me to become more educated about the issues in the middle east and more against the mission.

Yea and what do we get for saying we won't go to Iraq??
A couple of hundred friendly fires in a week....


ggrrrr...

it gets harder and harder the more I talk about my views on the middle east and being a canadian and knowing that my american step brother is going over to Iraq to fight thi pointless.....sob's......grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Sami]

Anyways, last night I found out that one of my step brothers, that I haven't met yet (see my first live action video on youtube for that story) just got his orders to head out to Iraq.

I'm sorry to hear that :/

Now as most of you know...I'm extremely Anti-Bush, Anti-war and Anti-Republicans

I'm glad to hear that

[iamcool]

another pity party for kelly, looks like nothing ever changes on this forum

[ShardinsKitten]

I'm really sorry to hear this. I live right outside an army base... Anyways I know tons of people over there now, some I'm really close to and some I just know.

My "boys" are over there now. My boys being my best friend and his unit, heh I'm kinda like a mom to them, I feed them and stuff when they are here. Anyways. My adoptive (non legally just yea whatever it doesn't matter) has gone over there, my brother just got his orders to go over there here pretty soon.

It's pretty hard. Depending on his job it's more dangerous then others. My boys are scouts, which is one of the worst jobs over there, we lost are first guy within 2 weeks of them being in iraq. Certain parts of iraq are worse then others too. But overall it's not that bad over there. It's a lot better then what it used to be. And it is true you have just as much of a chance dying in car accident driving down the road here as them getting killed over there (in most cases). Now days most camps have phones and internet, most camps they can get internet in their room (they have to pay for it though), so communication between them and families is a lot better. Chances are (depending on his MOS and where he is, he should be able to call home or write an email like once a week, depending if he wants to.) Except during black outs, and if he goes out on missions, depending on how long they keep him out. Hehe I know it's confusing but there is no real concrete way how things work. Some people get to talk to their families every day, others once a week, some once a month, it all just depends.

Personally there's not right or wrong way to cope. I wont watch the news, because when I hear about deaths and stuff over there I freak out and worry (I'm a worrier). You just have to take it day by day, and have faith in him, and the rest of his unit, they are well trained and know what they are doing. Remember for security reasons he can't tell you everything that is going on, some guys by choice wont talk about their experience at all while they are over there (and even some after they get home). So don't push him for that kind of stuff. Sending letters and packages not only makes them really happy, but for me it helps me feel like I'm doing something and helping out. Ummm I really don't know, it's so different for everyone. If you ever want someone to talk to you can send me a PM here and I'd be happy to give you my yahoo messenger (if it's not already in my profile).

Just remember the media shows all the bad stuff happening there. It is a lot better, and safer for the guys there now. And believe it or not there is a lot of good going on over there. (That is coming from someone who is against the war and bush).

[JustAnotherLonelyGirl.]

I don't want to get into my political opinions. I'll just say that I have been against this war from the start (no need to state my reasons.. again, I argue enough on a daily basis, don't need to start something here since it's my only escape from reality).... but you can support the troops without betraying your true politics. I have nothing against the soldiers. It isn't their fault we got sucked into this shithole by the shittiest piece of shit and his shitty team of shitheads and shitfaces okay bye.

<3 best wishes to your step brother

[robtomorrow]

Kelly,

I am also strongly against the American involvement in Iraq and was so from the beginning. I am sorry to hear that you are having to deal with this.

[Aithne]

I'm extremely Anti-Bush, Anti-war and Anti-Republicans (except for The Govenator) in the white house...but I don't know how this makes me feel...

it's making me feel divided. And I have a feeling that eventually it'll make me feel even more divided once I hear about his experiences there...

Do any of you guys have family over in Iraq...how do you deal?

I am also Anti-Bush, Anti=war and my sis-in-law is in Iraq now. She has become my little sister over the years. My sis-in-law and I respect each others right to have different political views. She does tell people "my sis-in-law questions the war because I can't". We can't talk on the phone often, but we have discovered that we can chat online using gmail (google) chat, because the army allows them to access google from work. I worry, she stays in touch so that I don't worry so much. She keeps me from stressing about danger by telling me her man troubles.

She comes home in 6 months! (unless Bush screws that up too)

[ApotheosisAZ]

Kelly,

Send your step-brother your support. Please mention that we all are pulling for him!

Also, how does he feel about his involvement? Is he hesitant or enthusiastic? Being a veteran myself, I am curious how he views the situation; as your friend, I am concerned about how this whole thing makes you feel.

What is his role there? Is he an infantryman, supply clerk, cook? Where will he be pulling his duty there? Green zone? Fallujah?

There are many questions here. His job in the military and his location are important considerations regarding how we respond to your concern.

[Killthesmiley]

Also, how does he feel about his involvement? Is he hesitant or enthusiastic? Being a veteran myself, I am curious how he views the situation; as your friend, I am concerned about how this whole thing makes you feel.

He's a little bit of everything. He's proud to be going to "defend" (theres a piece of my division rising...) his country. He's excited to be able to travel..and the pay raise makes the excitement a bit better. He's sad because he's leaving his family. He's worried about his wife (i'm not sure if she got her orders or not, but I know he's worried about her). And he's scared out of his wit.

What is his role there? Is he an infantryman, supply clerk, cook? Where will he be pulling his duty there? Green zone? Fallujah?

I'm not 100% sure of where he's heading off to. He's infantry, and by the sounds of it, he's heading out to ground zero. When ever he does speak about his worries and fears, it sounds like he's heading off to Fallujah. But I'm not 100% sure. I don't even think he really knows, either, which proves for a little more freaked out situation. He knows he's going to a large base for two weeks (or less), then they are heading out to where they need to be. Which, to everyone I've spoken to, they find that odd...and weird, but not uncommon over in Iraq. He barely talks about what his duties and orders are, he's more so about what its going to be like at home when he is gone, and he's trying to figure out ways to keep them from giving the orders to his wife to head out...which the only way he figures is to get her pregnant...ha!

Either way...he's scared, but excited ... it's an adrenaline rush mostly right now. It's crunch time and he's heading out in a couple of weeks...