by Harry Burlington

Created on: August 28, 2008   Last Updated: September 09, 2008

Being an Iraq War veteran and spending most of 2004 and some of 2005 patrolling the highways, neighborhoods, and outlying areas of Baghdad, as a Military Policeman. The work being done in Iraq is valuable, sacrifical, and mostly work that is setting the foundation for Iraqis to one day be a Democracy. But, it will take time and setting "timetables" will methodize the people and groups in Iraq, who want to spread their idealogy of hate and murder, to maintain a status of "fake surrender". In turn, if the U.S. forces exploit to the world that they will pull out on X day, in X year, then what purpose would the anti-democratic forces have to waste their allocations now?

Now, I am not going to be one of those combat veterans that writes about how you all don't what it's like over their? Or, I've fought and taken out so many insurgents and that is the reason we should stay. I am not one of those veterans. You've all seen first-hand what is going on in Iraqi daily. With the global communication access' we all have, instant news and video is broadcasted on the media everyday. How much of it is really the truth, is left up for debate. But, none the less, our tax dollars are not going to waste for a cause that once was unjust. Yes, the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" theory didn't prove to be as true that is was made out to be. But, there is no question that should be raised Saddam Hussein didn't use chemical weapons in the past and was very eager to utilize them again, if chemical weapons were available.

Is every American service members life precious and valuable? Absolutely and there should be no question that the ultimate sacrifices of over 4,000 American combat troops was given for the future safety and preservation of the democracy, that we Americans love and live everyday here at home. Being part of several combat actions in Iraq and witnessing the heroic acts of the ones around me, who paid their life for our countries future, will always instill into me that the cause is just. No matter how much we want our troops home, the voluntary dedication to service that all of us made, came with the expectation that death in war is possible. But, that acceptance of our time has come when the darkness falls onto us, eliminates any feelings of "Why are we here?".

I hope that shedding some light on why we serve our country will in turn, give a few who read this that none of us who made it home, want our sacrifices and extreme efforts to go wasted. Especially for some of us who lost fellow comrades, while looking into the eye's of the enemy and seeing nothing but hate. Hate that isn't only directed to "Westeran Ideals", but hate that extends towards their own people and beyond.

Thank You.

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