Anonymous
September 7, 2010
Hey, everybody! I just wanted to send a quick update and give y'all (all of you) the REAL story on what is going on over here with the troop withdrawal. The picture is of my crew and I on a break during a mission. The guy to the far left is my gunner and the guy in the middle is my driver. They go with me on every mission and are great guys. The reason I'm sending this out is because I have had a few people ask if I left Iraq early because all of the combat troops are out of Iraq and I wanted to let everyone know the real deal. It's kind of ridiculous how the news is saying that the last of the "combat" troops are out of Iraq because of President Obama. He says that it was his campaign promise. Take our Brigade for example. We were originally called a HBCT (Heavy Brigade Combat Team). Well, since Obama said he would pull all of the "combat" troops out by August, all they did before we left was change our name from a HBCT to a AAB (Advise and Assist Brigade). We have the same personnel/equipment layout as before and are doing the same missions. The ONLY difference is that they changed our name from a HBCT to an AAB and that is how he is getting away with saying that he has pulled all of the "combat" troops out. It is really ridiculous what he is doing and he has ticked a lot of people off (made a lot of people angry). And it is funny how the media is buying all of it, too. So no the last combat troops are not out of Iraq. We are still here. There are other Brigades just like ours that are doing the same missions that are still over here. Sorry for going on about it but we are just sitting over here watching it and are like "You've got to be kidding me!" So anyway now you know the REAL story, so that is why I am not coming back early.
Editor's note: These next two paragraphs are from a father whose son is in Iraq.
My son called this morning from Iraq after arriving just a week ago (2nd tour of duty) and told me the exact same thing. They are no longer getting "combat pay" as they used to get in addition to their base pay, because they are no longer in combat. Right!
The troops have been told they can no longer engage the enemy until after the enemy has fired on them first, since they're not "in combat" anymore. My son said they can see the enemy get as close as 15 feet to the base, watch them load their launchers, and can do nothing to protect themselves until after the bombs/shells have landed. All thanks to Obama. How many more troops will come home in body bags? God help them and us! Obama has got to go!