THE FOLLOWING IS AN INTERVIEW CONDUCTED WITH A USMC SOLDIER CPL, AND PERSONAL FRIEND, THROUGH INSTANT MESSAGING (all text is unedited) HE WILL BE IDENTIFIED AS "CPL" FROM HERE ON IN TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS:
ME:I'm trying to support getting you guys pulled out of there
in the house so it can go to senate
CPL:trust me we would rather stay
ME:why is that?
CPL: when there is a war we have a purpose,
have you ever asked why some of us come out here?
ME:to protect freedoms
is my assumption
defend americans
and the constitution
right?
CPL:we fight because it is taught that the right thing is to stand in front of the flag but this war this war is different no one is attacking the constitution no one is attacking our freedom and the only defense we are doing is giving them a chance to shoot an american in afghanistan instead america wich for the most part they cant go anyway because of security and because of funds we for the most part dont fight for america
we fight to test ourselves
to kill the enemy so too speak
an some just fight because of too much video games
war is an intersting thing and we are all tourists
but mostly we fight because its what you do when your in the service
there is a million reasons but freedom and america are not popular ones
ME: let me start off by telling you this; i support all of you boys out there for having the courage to do what is asked of you
from your words bro, it sounds like an empty war... is that your feelings?
CPL: and we thank you in kind lol oh yeah thats one more thing i fight for individual americans and you are no exception you have helped shape my future no matter how big or small the role was and this is how i will repay all of you i will be that american that gets shot at lol so thank you jordan for helping me find the here an now
ME:i personalyy think it is so... especially with friends like you, del martinez, david w, and jerry byrne serving it hits close to home no matter how close i am to any of you; some close some seemingly not' either way i feel something towards you all
CPL: it is an empty war and you can (quote) it lol Cpl that is my rank
ME: let me ask you, if you had it your way, in the best interest of america's freedom and fiscal interest; would you support pulling out of both afghanistan and iraq? considering this war was not declared thru congress and only demanded by bush in retaliation of 9/11.
honest thoughts bro, no judgement here
just lookin for soldiers thoughts
CPL: iraq we helped crushed a dictator and his cabinet of assasins and help end a very long genocide plus they were decent enough to keep a govt an support us through our campaign any way they could i would stay in iraq so that we can support them on their young govt just as they supported us they are an educated culture that deserves a fresh start and for whatever reason we went there i dont care we still helped an they still appreciate us so pull out no but stay till they get on there feet without us yes now afghan well....
ME: still here and i see youre still typing, no worries
CPL: thats a different ball game until the old men die off with their teachings. the younger generation wants us; they want too learn and thrive but they keep getting murdered by the talibanas. we fight the taliban; they make more and more of themselves. they have a very long standing out here and its hard to dig in. they have no "real" govt and the corruption goes too high and culturaly they are very lazy people, not as bad as arabic, but they take no responsability for any of their actions and are quick too blame and call jihad or to just fight outright over nothing. its very hard and taxing. im with a mentor team. i teach them what i can so they can conduct combat operations but they blame more than they train. the taliban will never leave. they are an idea; one that gets passed through religious teachings, one that will not be forgotten. america will never change them only allah can and even then they are so uneducated they would probably miss it.
ME: do you think its AMERICAS job to govern other nations? dont we have turmoil back in the states to deal with like the fed reserve and recession and job loss and the deficit?
CPL:yea you play hockey right
ME:yes sir
CPL:and you have a captain right either the best guy or one that governs the respect of the team right
ME:yes
CPL: and as a captain you look to him for more than just governing the team but you can confide in him an trust him to at least try an show you another way which is by far not his job title or description right?
ME: correct
CPL: and even so you would expect these things of him..... an so does the rest of the world expect this of our country
ME: right, so is america's young soldiers the "team captains" of the world?
CPL: no and not by far but when things get bad we are leaned hard upon to make the choice. we are looked at and expected to jump into the midst and give a clear even head
that is why we do this that is why we are always in it.
that an telling a country to "fuck off" is not something you do when you have the ability to help.
we are not the worlds guiding light but we are expected to be responsible ones. its both dumb and something to be proud of but ultimately it does affect the head count abroad america.
make sense?
ME: but is that something you feel should be a burden of a country who is soviergn in respect to the world? are we responsible for every other country's turmoils? mothers fathers brothers sons daughters and friends are to be responsible for a country not their own?
CPL: and your right you are absolutely right but just remember no one put a gun to my head or anyone elses we know what we give to take these jobs we know what we give up an for those that dont well the adapt an catch up quickly or get ran over by this green machine we know the stakes an the freedoms we no longer rate and remeber another thing for every crisis we assist more jobs are made available for those who need just a little bit of hope to survive right?
in our country we have issues yes but issues are everywhere at any time we are just one of few countries that dont demand a full govt make over with the help of military
ME: i absolutely understand a soldiers point of view, you know what you signed up for, and at no point is fiscal concern greater than that of impact on family/death. you state " we are just one of few countries that dont demand a full govt make over," yet do you feel we have strayed from the constitution put in place by our forefathers who knew what would come if government began to grow and overcome the population?
CPL: "change is change and change is infinite, if we are to stick to the laws of our fathers then how do we expect to turn the wolves and their cunning to the hills." we are the idea possibly of what was to become of a land not our own but of others an to reap a different reward than that wich was sown of false regrets and changed rewards.
ME: who is that by?
CPL: i wrote both of these on an MRE box when i was in okinawa when i realized the type of country i was serving and how far we have strayed from the idea you just entertained.
ME: wow, thats very intriguing. in as short as possible , what type of country do you feel you serve today?
CPL: i serve a country, no i serve an idea that is far beyond me but allows me to dream of better life that is what i serve. i serve to preserve our dreams.
ME: dont wanna take up too much of your time so in closing what are your last thoughts on the things we discussed?
CPL: no trouble at all my thoughts are the same as they were we all have a job to do but what makes us different is our conviction to get it done and no matter why we fight or what business we are into that as long as we have an idea of what we do. what we do we will continue to survive and thrive as a nation of dreams this all seems very fantastic and other worldy but it is true i will do what is asked of me as long as what im doing protects my ideals and hopes lol a little ignorant yes but in a day of high speed internet and volumes of inforamtion at your fingertips who isnt lol
i hope i helped a little bit
ME: SURE DOES BUD
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME HERE, AS WELL AS IN THE BATTLEFIELD. IT REALLY IS APPRECIATED.
BE SAFE OUT THERE AND STAY IN TOUCH
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