[dekeguy]

I wouldn't be so fast to consign the Army to a bunch of poor downtrodden people who joined because they were seduced by money for education and other benefits. My troopers are a good cross section of the citizenry who saw the Army as both an opportunity for personal improvement and a chance to do something positive for our country. We are a mix of regulars and reservists who have no illusions about the possible dangers we might encounter and no sympathy for those who complain that they really did not expect to have to do what they signed up to do.
My troopers are here because they are soldiers who believe that obligations are to be honored. My regulars are sharp, professional, and damned impressive. My reservists are a well motivated group of soldiers who are a mix of business people, professionals, skilled labor, and even law students like the CO. None of us are the poor disenfranchised who were seduced by promises of a free ride. This is a Combat Arms outfit, not some rear eschalon safe billet, yet these guys do not seek the easy ride. They are the finest men with whom I have been priveleged to serve.
Hold whatever opinion you choose, it is after all your right as Americans, But please spare us the condescention of viewing us as the hopeless who were exploited by slick ad campaigns to lure in the desperate.
Here where we are a bit closer to the reality of confrontation it seems pretty clear to us that that Saddam runs a supermarket to supply money, training, and nasty stuff to many terrorist groups. I see a very direct benefit to closing down the terrorist supply store. I see a direct connection to choking off the terrorist cowards who attacked New York and Washington by cutting off one of their principal supply sources.
I think its about damned time we took action to stop this terrorist business and I think the immediate campaign is just one of a continuing series of actions that may take years. No body ever said it was going to be quick and easy, but I think it needs to be done. I am an American soldier and that is my opinion, an opinion which will be respected just as much as I respect the contrary opinions discussed here.
dekeguy
Captain, USAR
Forward Deployed