The Bravery And Valor That Transcends Policy Disputes

Posted by JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief in War.
Jan 27th, 2007 | 2 responses

While Americans vigorously debate Iraq War policy, it’s too easy to forget the individual sacrifices, acts of bravery and actions that make a difference. The real “decision maker” is the military person in the field who has to make life-death decisions each day. Lest we forget, here’s a story from the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Members of the Minnesota National Guard rescued three victims shackled to bloodstained walls during a raid earlier this week on a “torture house” near Fallujah in Iraq. The troops discovered shackles, chains, clubs and a blowtorch in the raid.

One of the victims had been burned and cut; his kneecaps were shattered and he was slipping into shock when the troops discovered him.

The troops who found the victims were part of Company B of the 2-136th Infantry. They were on patrol late Monday and early Tuesday and expected to find the house — but not victims — inside, said Capt. Chip Rankin of Litchfield.

“They looked like they hadn’t eaten or had any water in a long time,” Rankin said in a news release provided by the Multinational Corps Iraq in Baghdad. “There’s no doubt we saved those three individuals’ lives by getting there when we did.”

After discovering the three men, the troops, a contingent of the Minnesota National Guard based between Fallujah and Ramadi in Anbar Province, detained 10 people identified by the victims as people who lived in the house. Eleven others had been captured in an earlier operation. Seven of the detainees were later identified as known Al-Qaida operatives, and another seven were identified as known insurgents or criminals, the release said.

As the increasingly heated debate continues over past, present and future Iraq policy — something valid and desirable in a democracy in which the entire decision on policies does not rest exclusively with the executive branch — it’s important to keep in mind the people in the field who (no matter what politicians and talking-heads on both sides are saying) are out there doing risky daily assignments. As the reader notes in his email to us, there are some “bright spots” like these people being freed from brutal torture and likely death.

2 Responses to “The Bravery And Valor That Transcends Policy Disputes”

1. GreenDreams says:

   January 27, 2007 at 10:03 am

   They’ve served well, indeed and have our gratitude, even those of us who hate this war. Sadly, our effort to defeat Al Qaeda has degenerated into an amorphous, eternal and unwinnable war on “terror”. An excellent article by Richard Parry at Alternet provides a lot of perspective and is a must-read. Specific to Al Qaeda:

   The truth is that the motives of Islamic militants are much more complicated and diverse than Bush wants the American people to know. In Iraq, Sunni insurgents are killing Americans because the United States invaded their country and handed the reins of power over to rival Shiites, while Shiites are using “death squads” to consolidate their authority by killing Sunnis. Along the Mediterranean, other Islamic militants have fought against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and Lebanese land. Some Middle Eastern militants are resentful of U.S.-backed autocrats like those governing Egypt and Saudi Arabia; many object to the corruption that has surrounded the region’s oil wealth; others want a return to more traditional Islamic religious values; some actually favor democratic elections because they expect to win and want to unseat corrupt pro-American leaders. In the Palestinian territories, Hamas did win an election. In Lebanon, Hezbollah is a powerful political force. In Iran, radical president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gained office through a limited democratic process. Even al-Qaeda has far more limited objectives than Bush has claimed. Despite Bush’s oft-stated assertion that — if the United States retreats — al Qaeda will form a caliphate stretching from Spain to Indonesia, no credible analyst believes that.

   Intercepted al Qaeda documents actually reveal leaders fretting about how fragile their position in Iraq would be if the United States withdrew. According to one captured letter, “Atiyah,” a senior aide to Osama bin Laden, stressed the need to exploit the continued American presence so al-Qaeda can put down roots in Iraq.

   “Indeed, prolonging the war is in our interest,” Atiyah wrote.

   Read more of the letter from Atiyah to Zarqawi HERE.
2. m says:

   January 27, 2007 at 8:54 pm

   Coming from a military family, a father who fought as a Marine in Korea and was wounded, I never forget what a service person puts on the line. But the truth is, brutaility and ugliness and all that comes with it are part of war, more-so then brave acts that save innocent people. Dead children, innocent bystanders ripped in half, lives destoryed, loved ones with no limbs, tempers go from bad to worse and often humans show their worst traits in a lawless, tense and out of control situations which battle and occupation are. It can turn the best of us into monsters.

   Yes good can happen, and sacrifces are made, but please talk with people who are veterans who have been in battle, (not the guys in the supply depots – state side jobs who brag about their war experience) and you will learn that war is ugly and horrible even in victory. Don’t let yourself think it is black and white and that bullets nad bombs can smell virtue and truth.