Ten Reasons Why Many Gulf War Veterans Oppose Re-Invading Iraq

This is dated about 6 months back but is a very good breakdown of what alot
of us that were on active duty during the gulf war feel now.
I'm fortunately one of the lucky ones I didn't get physically sick just
mentally disturbed and I didn't see the front lines but I saw photos from
the lines and the towns and the cities. I had friends that were forced to
drive over people with thier M1 Tank, fire high explosive rounds at civilian
transportation. Talk about war crimes.

At the time in 91' most of us opperating the tanks were less than 23 years
old. The average infantryman is 19. I think its still the same.

Ten Reasons Why Many Gulf War Veterans Oppose Re-Invading Iraq
By Anonymous, AlterNet
September 9, 2002

With all the war fever about re-invading Iraq, the press and politicians are
ignoring the opinion of the veterans of our last war in the Gulf. But we
veterans were there, and we have unique and critical first-hand knowledge of
the course and consequences of warfare in Iraq. Our opinions should be
solicited and heard before troops deploy for battle, not after they have
returned wounded, ill or in body bags.


Another invasion of Iraq in 2002 will be very different from the invasion of
1991. The war's mission has changed in the intervening years, from removing
Iraq from Kuwait to removing the entire Iraqi government and military
establishment from power. Because the goal of the U.S. military has changed,
the Iraqi army may retreat to the cities, where they may face better odds
than in the desert.


During the open desert tank battles of '91, U.S. tanks out-classed and
out-fought obsolete Iraqi tanks, and U.S. infantry captured tens of
thousands of poorly supplied Iraqi soldiers operating without command and
control from Baghdad. But in the urban warfare scenario of 2002, pitched
infantry skirmishes and ambushes in cities may present a more level
battlefield for Iraqi troops fighting in their hometowns. The Iraqi military
can be expected to fight for each block within each city with the most
ruthless means available. When faced with the impending overrun of their
nation, the Iraqi military didn't hesitate to use chemical weapons against
Iran.


Because of these significant differences, here are 10 reasons why, as a Gulf
War combat veteran, I oppose a second Gulf War as a costly and preventable
mistake.


1. U.S. troops are vulnerable to Iraqi chemical and biological warfare
agents