• From: usa
  • Registered: 2007-07-14

Topic: no end in sight

Just caught the movie preview/trailer for No End in Sight, about the Iraqi War and huge blunder by our leaders/politicians/commanders.

If you have quicktime player, you can go to quicktime movie trailers to view it.

This documentary looks interesting, it won an award at a major film festival already, I'll try to catch it on dvd when it comes out.

The blurb in the trailer that caught my attention, was "some of these soldiers are serving their seventh and eighth tours of duty in Iraq, with no end in sight", or something to that effect, and then one says something like, "I'm never signing a govt contract again".

I served from 1988-1991 and was stationed in South Korea, I rebelled, went AWOL, and declared conscientious objector (the 1st Gulf War), and amazingly was honorably discharged (because of my mostly honorable time in service for the first two years).  I became schizophrenic and paranoid in 1991 after going AWOL with a Korean girl.  When I got home, my condition got worse.  The last few months I was in, I was not alowed a rifle, which was good because I no longer wanted to carry or use one.

I am one of the lucky few soldiers (infantrymen, grunts) who have returned and been given Veterans' Benefits and care by VA Hospitals (though that care is lacking and underfunded, understaffed, underpaid, overworked).  Most soldiers today returning home with mental health issues are wrongly being labeled "pre-existing condition" which allows the govt. to not award them disability compensation or VA treatment.  This is a tragedy, and many have commited suicide.

Its staggering that many soldiers are serving for multiple tours of duty (up to seven or so times?!!) and have signed their lives away when they decided to join.  Its any wonder that our country even has enough people to join or take a huge risk in serving.  I dont think they want to start a draft yet, yet, but how are they going to continue to have enough soldiers in this long term war?  By asking those who do sign up, to serve so many back to back tours?  The establishment must be counting on our dismal economy and small town, country people (of which 70% who sign up come from according to a news blurb i caught) who are desperate for employment and security of a steady paycheck, even if it means risking their lives or actually losing them.  I know one reason I joined was because I was such an idealist and student of military history and the lure of adventure and romantic notions of soldiers serving for their country (I had seen too many war movies), so I know many join because of this lure today.

The one thing I am grateful for that my service (during peacetime) gave me, was toughness, and some discipline.  And, I'm not happy that the stress caused me to go schizophrenic, but I was lucky, lucky, enough to get disability compensation and some kind of treatment.  There  are many homeless veterans out there, I pass them on the streets and give them some small amount of money sometimes for them to get food like a hamburger (hopefully not drugs or alcohol).

Back in 1991, Bush Sr., decided not to "liberate" or invade Iraq due to his commanders stressing that it could be a huge quagmire of urban warfare, which is exactly is what has happened today.  Yet, they still went in.  I can understand the need for pre-emption when it comes to the fact of countries developing or aquiring nukes, but how are we to trust the intelligence agencies who have been wrong (like in this case).

I think someone once said to the effect of, "if every soldier would lay down their weapon and refuse to fight, we would not have war."


This whole subject is tragic.

As a candle burning on, in the breezy shades of night, I keep up my faith and underset my hope, to call on a realm of light --Little Light of Love --Eric Serra --The Fifth Element (movie soundtrack)

Waving banners, swinging swords, queens and kings and other lords, and the battles of our pride, greed and hunger deep inside, all the sorrow born of pain, cruelty and cruelty again, who will stop this vicious spin, Open Arms and Let Love In  --My Heart Calling  --Moa and Eric Serra --The Messenger (movie soundtrack)
  • Registered: 2004-04-21

Re: no end in sight

There is no reason or excuse for war; we've just been conditioned to believe there is.  All of these wars have been about enriching the already rich and reshuffling the power among the elite.  They've been able to entice the masses to fight for them through nationalistic propaganda and by creating unemployment and hardship that drive them to it.  There is nothing noble about serving such interests although it often seems the only choice in the face of grinding poverty.  But, it will be necessary to break this cycle if wars are to cease.

  • From: usa
  • Registered: 2007-07-14

Re: no end in sight

I agree with your statements.

I must say I forgot to say:

I do admire those willing to serve (unlike some who think they're fools) and who have the courage to enlist, knowing they may be killed (those who serve in the front lines on the ground, like infantry soldiers).  I think that serving in other areas (like the Air Force or Navy) is good in its own ways and fulfills a need too, but not quite as risky or gutsy as frontliners.  I am grateful for our volunteers and hope they succeed in whatever way they can while serving their country (even if it is a corrupt government, somebody has to step up regardless of politics or current power structure).

Somebody has to protest too.

I guess if it had to be somebody, it probably had to be me (in declaring conscientious objection for spiritual reasons in 1991).

As a candle burning on, in the breezy shades of night, I keep up my faith and underset my hope, to call on a realm of light --Little Light of Love --Eric Serra --The Fifth Element (movie soundtrack)

Waving banners, swinging swords, queens and kings and other lords, and the battles of our pride, greed and hunger deep inside, all the sorrow born of pain, cruelty and cruelty again, who will stop this vicious spin, Open Arms and Let Love In  --My Heart Calling  --Moa and Eric Serra --The Messenger (movie soundtrack)
  • Registered: 2004-06-24

Re: no end in sight

The Iraq war is just another Viet Nam. At least back then there was enough social consciousness to support a large anti-war movement.
I worked with a guy who was in the first Gulf war. He said they were lining up all the soldiers to get shots. When he got near the front of the line he looked at the vial they were drawing from, it said "experimental" on it. Somehow he conned his way out of getting the shot. All of his friends who got the shot later came down with "Gulf War Syndrome".

  • From: Consciousness
  • Registered: 2006-04-26

Re: no end in sight

WeOpposeDeception,

Do you have any way of finding out which vaccine that was? I'd be interested in finding out more.

Fringe shows!
Project Camelot
Conscious Media Network
Far Above Space and Time
  • Registered: 2004-06-24

Re: no end in sight

I changed jobs 4 years ago so I don't see him anymore. It was ironic that his father was killed in VietNam. If it said experimental then who knows what was in it. He's lucky he managed to avoid getting it, he didn't give me details but I consider him a pretty street smart guy.