I'm being deployed to Iraq January 4. Anybody been there? What's some good stuff to take and some good advice?

12/17/2005 5:46:42 PM

godspeed and be safe

12/17/2005 5:49:36 PM

it depends on what you're doing

my cousins are in the army, on some random base and are ALWAYS bored. they always ask for more stuff to do like, dvds, crossword puzzles, books.

12/17/2005 5:57:24 PM

It can be extremely boring. My friend is deploying on Mon. and he is bringing his new notebook. Best of luck!

12/17/2005 5:59:50 PM

Good luck, man. Let's hope you get "stuck" with some boring shit.

12/17/2005 6:04:26 PM

Bad thing is the boring stuff is the convoy security.

12/17/2005 6:05:31 PM

bring a gun. you might need it.

but seriously, good luck man.

12/17/2005 6:05:48 PM

I've heard I'll be mostly doing external lifts on helicopters.

12/17/2005 6:11:00 PM

Marines don't have it easy over there from what I've heard.

12/17/2005 6:34:49 PM

My uncle just got back he is in the Army...

I have a friend there now, he is in the marines. They have been on lockdown the past couple weeks due to a few bombings. THey just got off, so if you want his email address or what not PM me, i'm sure he'd be more than happy to talk to you and tell you whats up.

12/17/2005 6:38:29 PM

as retarded as i think the military is, and those who volunteer to die for the sake of oil, i wish you luck, hope you stay safe, and i suggest taking a pack of cards

12/17/2005 7:15:50 PM

Quote :

"as retarded as i think the military is, and those who volunteer to die for the sake of oil"

you have absolutely no respect, lets just roll over and die k?

12/17/2005 7:22:14 PM

jeez, not this argument again

you can just bite me...if ncsu_ot_usmc dies over in iraq, i'm sure his family will be comforted by the fact that the iraqis are "free" and bush's stock went up half a point

you go die over there and do us all a favor

12/17/2005 7:24:27 PM

well i'm sure everyone is over there worrying about bush's revenue... Americans are over there and they are dying regardless of whether or not they support Bush... at least act like you care for the sake of those who have lost their lives.

12/17/2005 7:28:39 PM

Quote :

"i wish you luck, hope you stay safe, and i suggest taking a pack of cards"

i DO sound like a real hater, don't i?

12/17/2005 7:30:18 PM

Quote :

"as retarded as i think the military is, and those who volunteer to die for the sake of oil"

that cancels out anything else you might say.

12/17/2005 7:45:05 PM

Quote :

"as retarded as Probasesteal is, i wish he'd just volunteer to die for the sake of humanity"

better?

12/17/2005 7:55:36 PM

i wish bitches like who you don't give a rats ass about human life would get drafted and sent overseas. How would it make you feel to know you were there fighting for our country and know that people (like you) back home don't support you, they don't care if you live or die.
What if it was one of your family members?
You are just ignorant.
Do i support Bush's war for oil, no i don't, but i do support the troups and i don't think the military is retarted. Without the military who knows where this country would be?

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 8:01 PM. Reason : s]

12/17/2005 8:00:40 PM

wow, as retarded as you think the military is? are you fucking serious? i hope you have fun sleeping, feeling safe under the blanket of protection they provide.

12/17/2005 8:02:35 PM

Quagmire, what would happen if there was no military to defend this country?

12/17/2005 8:18:56 PM

My uncle is at Camp Anaconda-he says they get mortered on a daily basis-Mortaritaville. He has internet there, an ipod, webcam, his bible, a journal, a coffee pot, mugs, and lot of coffee.

Good luck d00d!!

12/17/2005 8:19:30 PM

Quote :

"drafted and sent overseas. How would it make you feel to know you were there fighting for our country and know that people (like you) back home don't support you, they don't care if you live or die"

oh crap! they instituted the draft? DAMN...oh, no, wait, the people who are over there are volunteers, all who decided to risk their lives for WHATEVER their president deems worthy of them dying for...in this case, they're dying for NO REASON whatsoever...the freedom of iraqis has NO bearing on my life whatsoever and my life was not in danger (from them) before this fiasco we call a "war"...i don't want a single one of our troops to die...in fact, i value the lives of OUR troops over the lives of iraqis (which is wrong, i admit)

Quote :

"Do i support Bush's war for oil, no i don't, but i do support the troups and i don't think the military is retarted. Without the military who knows where this country would be?"

first of all, learn to SPELL...how did you make it to college, anyway? at least you admit that the war is for oil...i'm glad to see you're not spewing back the same propaganda bush's speech writers hand you every freaking day

second, i understand and realize that without a military, ANY country is at risk for being trampled and enslaved...i apologize for my comment that made it appear as if i think the idea of a military is stupid, because it's not...but if i were in THIS military, THIS day, i'd throw my gun at my commanding officer, and tell him i refuse to fight...our goal in this "war" isn't noble, it's ludicrous

that being said, i don't see how our troops continue to fight...i have nothing but respect for people who risk their lives for a people who obviously don't want their help...i'd choose prison (and if the draft comes, WILL choose prison), rather than fight for an unjust cause

Quote :

"wow, as retarded as you think the military is? are you fucking serious? i hope you have fun sleeping, feeling safe under the blanket of protection they provide"

at this point in time, as well as the times leading to this misdirected war, i had/have nothing to fear from the iraqis, so there's no reason for me to feel as if the military is the only reason i have the freedoms i have (AT THIS POINT IN TIME, you idiots, i am speaking about this particular issue, not past, and not future)

Quote :

"Quagmire, what would happen if there was no military to defend this country?"

we'd be screwed...tell me how our little war in iraq is protecting this country, and perhaps i'll change my mind

12/17/2005 8:32:18 PM

Quote :

" oh crap! they instituted the draft? DAMN...oh, no, wait, the people who are over there are volunteers"

i like how rummy calls it the 'volunteer army'

like these gusy could come home if they wanted to. come home to jail, maybe.

12/17/2005 8:37:30 PM

it's volunteer because they chose to join (for the most part)

a draft would make it a "mandatory" army

does this concept truly confuse all of you?

12/17/2005 8:41:40 PM

they volunteered to be a national guard .... you know...defend the homeland?

what is so confusing about that?

they never volunteered for an elective war. its a fact.

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 9:21 PM. Reason : -]

12/17/2005 9:21:04 PM

oorahh!

good luck over there and be safe!


ET3 Faircloth
USN

12/17/2005 9:25:18 PM

^^ that's retarded...you sign up for the armed forces, ANY branch of the armed forces, and you accept the risks...which include, but aren't limited to, dying for the sake of making rich people even wealthier

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 9:26 PM. Reason : arrows]

12/17/2005 9:26:41 PM

1. I don't think the Iraq war is about oil.

2. Regardless of what you think about the war in Iraq, how in the hell do you get off with saying the military is "retarded"? The military doesn't set foreign policy.

3.

Quote :

"in fact, i value the lives of OUR troops over the lives of iraqis (which is wrong, i admit)"

and with that in mind--and with the "blood for oil" argument being largely a load of shit, in my opinion--don't you see how your credibility is eroding rapidly?

4.

Quote :

"in this case, they're dying for NO REASON whatsoever"

Quote :

".our goal in this "war" isn't noble, it's ludicrous"

Absolutely not. Regardless or whether or not we should've ever gone back to Iraq, and whether or not we screwed a lot of things up in the process, the potential is there to do some really, really good things (and we're accomplishing a lot of them). Would you have engaged the military in a war against Iraq had you been at America's helm? I'm sure not, and that's a position that I totally understand and don't necessarily even argue against--but saying that our being in Iraq is totally useless to anyone and our actions devoid of any noble ambition is ludicrous.

5.

Quote :

"but if i were in THIS military, THIS day, i'd throw my gun at my commanding officer, and tell him i refuse to fight"

Right. I have no doubt.

6.

Quote :

"and if the draft comes"

Don't worry...it's not coming. Not unless some really crazy shit happens where we are absolutely forced to go to war in direct self defense, and under those circumstances I hope you'd man up and fight. All of that draft talk was just political maneuvering by the left.

7.

Quote :

"at this point in time, as well as the times leading to this misdirected war, i had/have nothing to fear from the iraqis, so there's no reason for me to feel as if the military is the only reason i have the freedoms i have (AT THIS POINT IN TIME, you idiots, i am speaking about this particular issue, not past, and not future)..."

Quote :

"we'd be screwed...tell me how our little war in iraq is protecting this country, and perhaps i'll change my mind"

See #2.




Look, for what it's worth, I would've done a helluva lot of things different had it been my show. I'm not particularly pleased with GOP politics these days, either. That said, you're totally out in left field with a lot of those comments. Just recognize that my responses aren't those of a partisan hack.

12/17/2005 9:28:05 PM

and ncsu_ot_usmc, good luck over there, killer.

Remember this:


For decades, Saddam Hussein has tortured, imprisoned, raped and murdered the Iraqi people; invaded neighboring countries without provocation; and threatened the world with weapons of mass destruction. The time has come to end his reign of terror. On your young shoulders rest the hopes of mankind.

When I give you the word, together we will cross the Line of Departure, close with those forces that choose to fight, and destroy them. Our fight is not with the Iraqi people, nor is it with members of the Iraqi army who choose to surrender. While we will move swiftly and
aggressively against those who resist, we will treat all others with decency, demonstrating chivalry and soldierly compassion for people who have endured a lifetime under Saddam's oppression.

Chemical attack, treachery, and use of the innocent as human shields can be expected, as can other unethical tactics. Take it all in stride. Be the hunter, not the hunted: never allow your unit to be caught with its guard down. Use good judgment and act in best interests of our
Nation.

You are part of the world's most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon. Share your courage with each other as we enter the uncertain terrain north of the Line of Departure. Keep faith in your comrades on your left and right and Marine Air overhead. Fight with a happy heart and strong spirit.

For the mission's sake, our country's sake, and the sake of the men who carried the Division's colors in past battles - who fought for life and never lost their nerve - carry out your mission and keep your honor clean. Demonstrate to the world there is "No Better Friend, No
Worse Enemy" than a U.S. Marine.

J. N. Mattis
Major General, U.S. Marines
Commanding

12/17/2005 9:37:44 PM

Quote :

""blood for oil" argument being largely a load of shit"

what's your opinion of why we're there? wmd's? there IS no other reason for us being there, and i sincerely encourage you to prove otherwise

Quote :

"don't you see how your credibility is eroding rapidly?"

what credibility? my opinion is simply that, just as yours is...my comments will do nothing to change the situation, just like yours won't...credibility is zilch in both cases

Quote :

"Regardless of what you think about the war in Iraq, how in the hell do you get off with saying the military is "retarded"? The military doesn't set foreign policy."

this is NOT a response to my statement of "tell me how our little war in iraq is protecting this country, and perhaps i'll change my mind"...try again

Quote :

"Just recognize that my responses aren't those of a partisan hack."

and mine are?

12/17/2005 9:38:34 PM

you're an idiot, cease to exist

12/17/2005 9:40:18 PM

^ you convinced me

i'm out for the evening...either running away because i'm afraid to reply or i'm out doing something constructive, pick one

12/17/2005 9:43:33 PM

Quote :

"what's your opinion of why we're there? wmd's? there IS no other reason for us being there, and i sincerely encourage you to prove otherwise"

there were a few reasons for us going there, with the WMD thing being the biggest one, in my mind. At any rate, I think the oil argument is stupid. We would've played more hardball with Venezuala before we played the fucking nation building game in Iraq for oil. The whole idea of spending however many hundreds of billions of dollars, thousands of human lives, and expenditure of both domestic and international political capital for the oil in Iraq is completely insane.

The reason that we're there right now is because we shook the place up pretty hard, and now we're obligated (both ethically and IOT prevent a very dangerous situation from developing) to have a hand in it until it's unfucked.

Quote :

"what credibility? my opinion is simply that, just as yours is...my comments will do nothing to change the situation, just like yours won't...credibility is zilch in both cases"

I'm talking about credibility of our respective arguments...not credibility of our respective positions (although I'm more than willing to get in a dick-measuring contest in that regard about this subject if you'd like)...and your arguments are all ate up.

Quote :

"this is NOT a response to my statement of "tell me how our little war in iraq is protecting this country, and perhaps i'll change my mind"...try again"

No shit. that wasn't what I was responding to with that comment.

Quote :

"and mine are?"

I don't know, and I wasn't accusing you of anything there. I was simply making a statement on my own behalf.

But--and I'm still not accusing...I'm just speculating--that the odds of you being a partisan hack are at least above average.

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 9:54 PM. Reason : asdf]

12/17/2005 9:52:53 PM

Quote :

"What's some good stuff to take and some good advice?"

Dont you ever think that we are going around the world to kill people who had no beef with you or this country till we parked our tanks in their backyard. It must in fact be that everyone you kill is a terrorist who is plotting attacks on our soil. Whatever you do, dont think like a normal rational person, think like a killer. Kill them all, becuase Iraqis are basically just asking to be killed anyway. Sure we got sadam, but now its time to kill anyone who hates america.

I know if some middle eastern army drove a HMV down an american street, nobody would be attacking them. Only crazy terrorist fucks that deserve to die attack people who invade their country.

I know at least duke would back me up on all this.

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 9:58 PM. Reason : -]

12/17/2005 9:55:10 PM

haha

that's not exactly an apples to apples comparison, but it isn't a point completely without merit, either.


and that's part of why I posted the letter General Mattis distributed to the 1st MarDiv.

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 10:09 PM. Reason : and part of that is more or less what Murtha was getting at, but I don't think many people "got it"]

12/17/2005 10:08:14 PM

the good news is we will never run out of people to kill in iraq.

12/17/2005 10:15:36 PM

yeah, i think we will

but not by simply killing enough bad guys


which is simply the optimistic version of what you're saying

12/17/2005 10:19:50 PM

how can we? there are millions of people who hate us in the middle east. now they dont have to plan or get money to kill us, its just a camel ride, a bag of nails and some tnt.

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 10:22 PM. Reason : -]

12/17/2005 10:21:25 PM

which is essentially Murtha's argument, which I think is an excellent idea for the foreseeable future, but not RIGHT THIS SECOND.

and when Iraq is unfucked, the # of people who hate us will be comparatively small.



I mean, either of us could be right, I suppose, but it doesn't really matter. If we leave that place fucked up and it becomes as bad or worse than it was under Saddam Hussein, then we are definitely in for a shitstorm. If we get the place unfucked, I think we will have relieved a huge liability, not to mention done one helluva good deed.

Basically, I think you had at least a valid argument 3 years ago...but we're underway now, and it is what it is, so we have to deal with that.

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 10:27 PM. Reason : adsfasd]

12/17/2005 10:24:02 PM

but regardless, we're hijacking this Marine's thread. i'm done debating in here. PM me or start a thread in the Soap Box.

12/17/2005 10:33:19 PM

^ I agree with pretty much everything you've said in here.


Good luck and be safe ncsu_ot_usmc.

12/17/2005 10:35:08 PM

ok but Im getting in the final point that "unfucking" a country takes a lot more time then just a few years.

[Edited on December 17, 2005 at 10:36 PM. Reason : - ]

12/17/2005 10:35:23 PM

Man, Eminem has brainwashed the fuck out of some people

12/17/2005 11:07:03 PM

Blah blah blah soapbox crap . . . here is actual advice for someone not working at the strategic policy planning level:

I'm out west in the Marine AO right now and I'll say to

a) bring warm clothes, it doesn't warm up here till about March. I've got no heat at night and waking up in 30 degree weather sucks.
b) ignore anythign anyone tells you about Anaconda or Victory, or any other Army FOB. The Marine posts are far more Spartan, so bring stuff to do. you'll have power, but it'll be 210v not 120v. most laptops will run on both but you can get a converter here.
c) As far as internet, it sucks, the only reason I'm on right now is because I'm on an Army outpost right now.
d) if you go to Al Asad, bring cash to buy a bike, you can get them for $100 or so. everything seems like its a 15 - 20 minute walk away and you WILL wait in line.
e) pre package stuff you'll want over there, but can't carry, so all your family has to do is drop it in the mail when you get on ground
f) get people to send you food, everything here is stale for some damn reason
g) listen to what your NCOs say, they've been here a while and they know what they're talking about

other than the obvious, thats about it, pm me if you have any specific questions

12/17/2005 11:28:07 PM

Quote :

"THey just got off, so if you want his email address or what not PM me, i'm sure he'd be more than happy to talk to you and tell you whats up."

same here d00d.

12/17/2005 11:30:57 PM

remember: you lose 4 points for a team kill

12/17/2005 11:59:35 PM

good luck mang

12/18/2005 12:03:10 AM

Hate the war or not, only a retard can pretend its about oil.

We've spent more cash on the war than all the oil in Iraq would have cost us on the open market. War for oil is a myth...it always has been

War for strategic interests in the Middle East in order to have friendly owners of oil fields have happened, but nowadays South America is more important for us.

12/18/2005 12:11:59 AM

ncsu_ot_usmc good luck my man, i can honestly say that i respect you along with the rest of the American troops.

And to quagmire02 move to Canada, if you take prison over fighting for your country. If I were drafted I can honestly say that I’d take the challenge and not be a fucking pussy about it. People like you are the epitome of today's society. If our forefathers were like you who knows where the fuck we’d be today.

And how did I make it to college? Your major is “beats me, let me know if yours is fun”, that’s very mature. But then again you did prove your maturity and ignorance all throughout this thread.

12/18/2005 1:35:56 AM

My friend swears on Campbells Soup in Hand. She said it made her day better and her parents sent her tons of it.

12/18/2005 1:55:09 AM