In Responce to Tex Norman's Article, "Reply to a Republican Satire" by Ryan Stroud

Home » Categories » Society » Opinions » In Responce to Tex Norman's Article, "Reply to a Republican Satire" » Printer Friendly

	In Responce to Tex Norman's Article, "Reply to a Republican Satire"
	No Reader Ratings Available ?	Rate It / View Comments / View All Articles submitted by Ryan Stroud
	Submitted Monday, September 29, 2008
	Ryan Stroud ^(2,264) Ryan Stroud Log in to become a member of Ryan Stroud's Fan Club!

First, let me put a disclaimer here.

I am not trying to start fights or arguments on this site, it just really bothers me when someone makes a wrong statement about our military efforts in Iraq. As many of you know, I was over in Iraq for 14 months. My job was a public affairs specialist: to write stories and handle media. I invite everyone who wants to see the real side of things happening in Iraq to Google my name "Spc. Ryan Stroud" and read any of my past stories. They are honest accounts of what going on over there, the good being done.

This is my response to Tex Norman's article, just on his points about our military creating new terrorists. Please know, I lost many friends out there, making blanket statements like these is like spitting in the faces of my friends and America's fallen heroes.

I truly hope no one is offended by this post.

-------------------------------

Tex, on your comments about the military blowing up a house, then entering it to find dead parents and a scared little child, you have no idea what you're talking about. Speaking as someone who has been there and seen it, the military does not and will not attack a random house without cause. We in the military follow the Geneva Convention's laws and we would not have entered that house without reason.

Did you get this from the liberal media? Did the media mention how the day prior that young child's family planted IEDs in the roads or housed criminals or had a cache in their bedrooms? Did you hear that from the media? No, the proper answer is no. It was my job out in Iraq to care for the outside media, protect them, feed them, just so they could tell you crap stories like this to liberals who really have no idea what going on. Google my name, "Spc. Ryan Stroud" and you will see stories that I've written, telling the truth from over there.

Is it a shame these people, these terrorists, had to die? Yes, it is and it is a shame that we might have just made an enemy out of that child for what we did, but if it saved the lives of our fellow Soldiers, our American families back at home, and most importantly, the free Iraqi people who do like us (oh yes, trust me, they're tons of them out there, don't let the one Iraqi man CNN puts on TV fool you) than so be it. We have and still are helping the people of Iraq. We are providing jobs over there for them. We have given them money to start new lives for their families and we protect them from others who wish them harm. If you are too closed minded to see that, just because you saw something on TV, then I feel sorry for you.

The military does not want to attack others. They don't want to kill others or harm them. But, the military will do so if it needs to be done. If you saw it on TV, then I'm honestly telling you it probably needed to be done.

War stinks, it's not fun. But I promise you, what you've seen on TV from over there needed to be done.

►Reprint Rights◄

» left by Terry Mitchell ^(2,813)
Terry Mitchell (64 days 12 hours ago.)

Ryan, I take your word for everything you said in this article. Now, I have some questions for you:

What do you think happened to all those weapons of mass destruction that you guys were originally sent to Iraq to disarm Saddam Hussein of?

Do you believe torture is ever necessary?

Do you believe water-boarding is torture?

Do you the believe the atrocities at Abu Ghraib actually occurred as reported by the U.S. media? If so, do you feel that they were necessary?

Respond to this comment

» left by Ryan Stroud ^(2,264)
Ryan Stroud (64 days 11 hours ago.)

The WMD, that's a hard one. Saddam once said he did, in fact, have WMDs. When he got rid of them, I'm not sure. It could have been before we even went in there.

I have worked with many Iraqis who were tortured by Saddam. I've heard their stories. I do not agree with certain degrees of torture, like what they went through. (Being shoved down onto a dr. pepper bottle was the one which got me the most.) But, if information is needed to be obtained, yes, you have to do what it takes to get it. It is a very hard line to walk on; friends of mine can't even look in the mirror at times. But the important thing was others were saved, lives not taken, because of different types of torture.

To be honest, I have no idea what water-boarding is. If it is what I'm thinking it is (boarding up a house and filling it with water) than no. That doesn't happen out there, to what I know of. Water is in such demand; the military wouldn't waste any of it.

Abu Ghraib. It is important to know every group has someone who is bad. Every classroom in America has a bully. The Army does as well. These people, and don't forget their seperiors as well, sick, disgusting people. What they did is not right in any means. But, one bad apple can't spoil the whole bunch. Don't let the horrible decisions made by a small group speak for all of us.

The difference in the everyday man and a Soldier is the Soldier will do everything he can, by law, to protect you. You might not like the way it gets done, but in the long run, it will benefit you. Like I said before, one bad apple will not spoil the whole bunch.

As for why we are in Iraq: have you ever looked at it this way… We went in there and overthrew a powerful dictator. One who has killed millions of people and has openly threatened our people, our family members. We have given his people the chance to make decisions for them selves and given them the money to have a better life. It wasn’t pretty, it was and still is hard, but the Iraqis know they have a better life, thanks to us. One day, the rest of America will catch up and see this. We have bettered the lives of these people, yet we get spit on.

The Soldier looks at evil everyday so you don’t have to.

Respond to this comment

» left by Terry Mitchell ^(2,813)
Terry Mitchell (63 days 18 hours ago.)

Ryan, thanks for your honest and enlightening answers. It's always nice to get a soldier's perspective on these issues, instead of the stuff we're always getting from the politicians and the media. And thanks for your service to our country as well.

Respond to this comment

Was this article helpful to you? Leave a Public Comment or Question:


	This Article has been viewed 37 times. Article added to SearchWarp.com on Monday, September 29, 2008 View other articles written by Ryan Stroud ^(2,264) Ryan Stroud

If you found this article interesting, you may want to check out:

Can it be Fascism?
The American Investigation - Day One
Bluetooth Etiquette - Different from Cell Phone Etiquette?
When Political Street Fails to Get It: An Opinion on Historical Lift-off
The Halls of Arrogance and disdain.
Things Money Can, Can't Buy
Hello Bill Collector, please go away, I own this debt now and I didn't hire you.

Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional or organization.