Hearing from the troops

America Wants to Know recently heard from an annoyed active-duty service member and thought you'd find the correspondence interesting. The name has been changed and the e-mail address deleted. But if you'd like to respond to him, or to me, comments have been enabled on this post.

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From: Zachary Morrison
Subject: How to end the violence in Iraq
Date: Thu, March 20, 2008 11:12 am
To: susan@extremeink.com

You recently wrote an article, "The Motive of War," where you state that the *"The Iraqis are murdering each other by the hundreds every day, and the American government is flailing in the dark, looking for a way to stop the violence." *Which, if you watch and believe the strictly liberal media programs, would validate the above statement.

The truth is much different from that. I am a part of a military family, my wife and I both are active duty. Your statement and the articles splashed in local newspapers and on the news programs are well off the mark. We are not "flailing in the dark," we are systematically training more and more Iraqi citizens in the field of security. Shiite, Kurd and Sunni peoples, working together to keep their own streets safe. Now, like most Americans with blinders on, I am sure you fall in the "Pull the troops out," category. This would be the worst move we could make. We have walked into a sovereign land, changed the entire political process and given the people of that land a type of freedom that they didn't know was possible! We have put our foot in it... we must stay now until they ask us to leave. Only when the Free Government of Iraq asks us to leave will we leave. To do so before that would be a form of murder. In their eyes and in the eyes of all of us military members who have fought and watched friends die to give these people freedom.

Thank you for your time.

Zachary G Morrison

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From: Susan Shelley
To: Zachary Morrison
Subject: Re: How to end the violence in Iraq
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 8:39 pm

Hi, Zach,

Thanks very much for writing.

I'm a little bit confused by your note, because I'm on your side. I want the Iraq policy to work, and I want the Iraqi people to live in freedom.

You mentioned my article, "The Motive for War: How to End the Violence in Iraq," but in quoting from it you didn't seem to notice that it was written on November 16, 2006. The "flailing" that I described referred to President Bush's then-upcoming change in policy, ultimately resulting in a "surge" of U.S. troops.

Frankly, I suspect that you didn't read the article at all and that you wrote to me as part of a letter-writing campaign to shut down criticism of the president's policy.

I hope I'm wrong about that.

Since 2004 I have been writing consistently that the political situation in Iraq will never be stable until the state-owned enterprises are privatized. I invite you to read "Why the Iraq Policy Isn't Working" at this link:

http://www.extremeink.com/awtk/2005/11/why-iraq-policy-isnt-working.html

And also, "A Plan to Get Out of Iraq: Blackstone's Fundamental Rights and the Power of Property," at this link:

http://www.extremeink.com/susan/iraq.htm

We are all on the same side here. We all want freedom for the Iraqi people and U.S. troops out of Iraq. I hope you'll forward my articles to anyone you know who is concerned about the situation and wondering why the policy in Iraq has not worked out the way we all hoped it would.

You and your wife have my admiration, respect and gratitude for your service.

With all good wishes,

Susan Shelley

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From: Zachary Morrison
Subject: Re: How to end the violence in Iraq
Date: Fri, March 21, 2008 1:51 am
To: Susan Shelley

Susan,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my letter, I truly appreciate that. Firstly, I would like to say this, I am not defending President Bush. I believe that we are needed in Iraq and were needed before we attacked. Though you are right about the privatization of Iraqi businesses, which is a step that will be taken, when they are ready as a people. For thousands of years these people have been a dictatorship, they are taking the steps to Democracy as quickly as they can. The Republic system they have set up at the moment is the closest thing that any of them have seen to freedom. Ever.

Further, we will never be "out" of Iraq. Just like Germany, Japan and Italy, we will always have a base in Iraq. Which, strategically is brilliant, especially in the hotbed that is South West Asia. Not to mention the economic value to the host country, in this case Iraq, a base will bring thousands of jobs and security to the local area.

I didn't mean to seem so harsh in my first email, because I do agree with much that you are saying. The problem I have, and it is not strictly directed at you, is that so many people are so vocal in their arguments against the War in Iraq that the military men and women suffer because of it. Sometimes all you have is your morale, the feeling that you are doing the right thing in the face of such unutterable hardship. It hurts to come home and hear nothing but anger and hate directed at the actions that so many of us have died for. Its easy for all those same people to say "We love the troops!" Then in the next sentence say that this war is lost. How is it that they can't understand that by saying that, they are saying that our brothers and sisters have died in this war for no reason. That by saying such things they put lie to their own words of Love for the troops.

Susan, thank you for your time.

Very Respectfully
Morrison, Zachary G. USN Active Duty

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From: Susan Shelley
To: Zachary Morrison
Subject: Re: How to end the violence in Iraq
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 5:35 pm

Hi, Zach,

Thanks for writing back. I apologize for thinking you were part of a letter-writing campaign in support of President Bush's policies.

I don't want to take up your time, but I feel that I have to say a word in defense of the war critics who have made you so angry.

They don't want to see U.S. troops sacrificed. They don't want you to be sacrificed in order to prove that earlier sacrifices were not in vain. They don't want another generation to be sacrificed in order to prove that your sacrifice, God forbid, was not in vain.

You're undoubtedly too young to remember it personally, but this kind of thinking is how we ended up with fifty-eight thousand names on a black granite wall in Washington D.C.

None of us want that again.

Like the Vietnam war, the Iraq war was not declared by Congress as the U.S. Constitution requires. Instead we had a deployment of troops by order of the commander in chief, followed by a series of assertions that the troops must be kept in place because to pull them out would be catastrophic.

That's not the deal we signed in 1789. The United States should go to war when the elected representatives of the people of the United States agree to go to war, not when the president mistakenly believes there's an imminent danger and then claims for five years that the decision was right for other reasons, and now can't be reversed without disastrous consequences.

Your commitment and valor deserve better support from your country. Blind allegiance by Congress to the president's policies is no substitute for a frank and ongoing debate over whether the policies are succeeding, whether the goals are attainable, and whether they are worth the sacrifice of even one treasured American life.

What I'm trying to say is that we're all looking out for you. Even the people who sound like they're not backing you up.

As far as keeping a base in Iraq permanently, that might be a good idea, but once again it's not the deal we signed. Congress must debate and authorize a permanent military presence in Iraq, it can't just be ordered by the president. Unchecked executive power is dangerous to freedom. If Saddam Hussein taught us anything, it's that.

One of the U.S. commanders said some time ago that the U.S. military is the finest hammer in the history of the world, but not every problem is a nail. If it turns out that Iraq is not a nail, no one in the United States, not even the most outspoken or obnoxious protester, will have anything but the highest regard for the hammer.

In the meantime, let's stay friends. I really am on your side.

Best wishes,

Susan

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From: Zachary Morrison
Subject: Re: How to end the violence in Iraq
Date: Fri, March 21, 2008 6:21 am
To: Susan Shelley

Susan,

Again thank you. I agree with you wholeheartedly on the issues of Military misuse. Bush didn't have a right to take us into this war, nor does he have a right to keep us in this war. But, if you were to ask those of us fighting this war, if we wanted to pull out tomorrow, most of us would tell you no. As horrible as war is, blood is the price for freedom. Though it is our blood and their freedom, it is a price we have begun to pay and would be loathe to leave unfinished.

You are right, though, I am too young to remember Vietnam but I'm not too young to know the difference between right and wrong. It wasn't wrong to start this war in Iraq, though if it had been done through the correct process no doubt there would still be nay sayers and critics. It wasn't wrong to depose that dictator. It wasn't wrong to allow those people the chance at freedom and a government chosen by the people. Its not wrong to stand along side those same people and protect them while they finalize the acts of that government. It's not wrong for us to be teaching them the same means of security we use on our streets. It was just wrong for the President to use another war and scare tactics to get us there in the first place.

It hurts to see people whose sole opinion stems from CNN say such horrible things about this war without pausing to ask us. Those of us fighting this war. Not a single one of us expects a parade, just some honest support from our countrymen.

I do like your writing, Susan. Don't misunderstand me, just remember that there are more than two sides to this. That's all I ask.

And again, thank you for taking time to listen, whether we agree or disagree.

Zach

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From: Susan Shelley
To: Zachary Morrison
Subject: Re: How to end the violence in Iraq
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:46 am

Hi, Zach,

I should have known better than to think I could win a fight with the U.S. Navy.

Would it be all right with you if I posted our correspondence on my blog, AmericaWantsToKnow.com? I know a lot of people would like to read your thoughts on this war, and I think they should.

I'll take your name and e-mail address off, of course, to protect your privacy.

Best regards,

Susan

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From: Zachary Morrison
Subject: Re: How to end the violence in Iraq
Date: Sat, March 22, 2008 12:36 am
To: Susan Shelley

Susan,

I wouldn't mind at all. Though, I don't think it's really a fight, more a differing of opinion. I believe pretty strongly in this. I don't agree with the manner in which we went to war but I do agree with the reasons that keep us here. Many of our fighting men and women feel this way. Oh, and please don't think that I singled you out for my rants... I have made it a point to comment as much as I possibly can with as many differing authors as I can find. Not in an effort to actually disagree with the authors but in an effort to show as many of those people how we feel about this war.

Truth be told, we are winning this war, one small step at a time. Remember, we are trying to change a country from Dictatorship to Democracy. Not the easiest of tasks. Not four years ago these people had no idea what it meant to vote, to actually have a place in the process of Government, now everyone over 18 has that right, both men and women! With the help of all the clans, Sunni, Kurd and Shiite, we have trained and built a police force that is keeping the streets so much safer than it was even 7 years ago!

That's enough of my ranting though, I truly appreciate you listening to what I have to say. Thank you, Susan. All I ask is that you remember just how hard this country's men and women are working to keep every American safe at home and trying to give those same freedoms and safety to the men and women who live in other countries. Do I think we should try to force Democracy on everyone? No. But where we can, we should.

That's all I have, again, thank you, Susan.

Very Respectfully,

Zachary G Morrison

I have truly enjoyed reading your articles and look forward to reading still more and I would be proud to have my opinions posted. I don't feel that I have anything to be embarrassed about. I am a proud American.

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