iSpeak: Iraq War, Six Years Later

I served in Iraq and we really had no mission. The troops should return as soon as possible.

Ivan Allende

Addictions counselor

St. Barnabas Nursing Home

The Bronx, NY

What we really need to do is have our officials make sure that all the equipment and money that is being spent on Iraq be used wisely….No one is holding the political and military officials accountable for how the money is being spent. We have people who want this war to continue as well as the many grassroots organizations wanting withdrawal. We can't send our troops home until we finish the mess we started. We need better equipment. I was given a vest that was way too big for my body frame but that's all we had at the time. The steel plates in the vest caused my left shoulder to give out and have to undergo surgery for a torn rotator cuff due to it being too heavy. Many of the troops I served with are coming back severely injured because our vehicles were not steel plated.

 

When the equipment finally does arrive it's lost in transition because nobody knows what connex or trailer it's shipping in. Or worse, we get the equipment but leaders say they are waiting for authorization from higher ups to use the equipment which is just red-tape at it's finest. Some soldiers who have served were not paid on time causing financial hardships both on the field and back home. Paperwork got lost or was improperly processed. Some soldiers to include myself were missing medals we earned that weren't documented on our DD214. Others were suffering from PTSD and their leaders would tell them "to man up" or "suck it up and drive on". When these soldiers finally do come home they are not given a heroes welcome many times. They are homeless, unemployed, or one paycheck away from being both.…

 

I want a politician or a military leader who will walk the walk and talk the talk and be willing to give up his or her office or title if they fail to do what they promised our troops and nothing less…

 

We all want our troops home but we only can do that if our leaders in the military and in Washington are held accountable. Until then we will only do one of two things. Either allow Iraq to crumble or lose more American and Iraqi lives. Let's stop focusing on the problem and finally find a solution.

Juan Alonzo