For those of you who don't know John Bruhns, he's an Iraq War vet and a big-time Webb supporter. At the screening of "Iraq for Sale," a movie about contractor waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq, at the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse on October 29, Sgt. John Bruhns spoke powerfully to a crowd of around 75-100 people about his own experiences in Iraq. Among other things, according to the website "Finding Our Voices," Bruhns "participated in the march to Baghdad in March 2003," worked in a unit that "rounded up suspects and delivered them to Abu Ghraib prison," and "trained the new Iraqi military." Ultimately, "John was honorably discharged in February 2005." Since then, he has "spoken out against the war and testified to Congress about his experiences and his conviction that the reasons for going to war - WMDs, Al Qaeda, and liberating the Iraqi people - have all been proven false."
Now, John Bruhns has a letter to the editor in the Falls Church News-Press (January 4-10, 2007 edition). I believe it is worth sharing, and thank John for bringing it to my attention.
I saw the video of of Saddam being handed over to masked henchman who carried out his execution. The masked men reminded me of the terrorist groups I have seen on television who have captured and killed Americans in Iraq. The media reported that witnesses at Saddam's execution chanted "Al Sadr" as he hung from the gallows.Saddam Hussein is gone and I don't shed one tear for him. But at the same time I'm not at all pleased with those who have taken control of Iraq as a result his demise. It seems as if we have helped install an unstable government in Iraq controlled by radical Shiite clerics who are more anti-West than Saddam.
It is hard for me to rationalize the fact that more of our brave men and women in uniform will be sent to protect the new Iraqi government [that] is allied with Al-Sadr, violent militias, and death squads who are certain foes of the United States.
As a veteran of the Iraq war I find this totally unacceptable.
This past election I voted for change. I hope that our new Congress will make every effort to put an end to this failed neoconservative war in Iraq.
John Bruhns
Falls Church, VA
Fascinating letter, from a smart guy who was there and knows what he's talking about.
PS A great book I read recently on Iraq is entitled "The End of Iraq," by Peter W. Galbraith. I strongly recommend it to anyone who cares about the Iraq mess (and how to get out of it).
This can't be. Krauthammer and I are agreeing! By the way, saddam is due in court on 1-8-07 to face his crimes against the Kurds which would also take the bush/reagan/rummys down. Oops.
Change happens from the inside and it will be the military that gets this travesty of a war to end. See the documentary Sir, No Sir about how the vets stopped Viet Nam. Thank you John Bruhns!
Successful people are successful because they can change their minds. bush is incapable of changing his mind and he replaces anyone who wants him to.
And he has replaced Harriet Myers because he wants a junk yard dog to protect him now that he may get held accountable.
John is a true patriot. He supported and actively worked for Jim Webb this year, and he serves as the WesPAC (Wes Clark) Virginia Veterans Coordinator. This is a volunteer group of veterans living in Virginia who agree with the initiatives and philosophy of Wes Clark and who are interested in volunteering for him should he make the decision to run in 08.
Having men and women like John Bruhns willing to forcefully speak out about the problems we face in Iraq is one of our most effective ways to help turn the tide.
There are a lot of Vets who feel the same way as John Bruhns after their experience in Iraq. I hope America listens to their veterns to learn the truth of what the condition on the ground is like and hear our urge for changed policy in the Middle-East.
We need to continue to support leaders that use factual and tactical reasoning to support their decisions instead of gut instinct and idealism. We need an elected governemnt that represents the people rather than dictates to them.
In support of Sgt Bruhns,
Garett Reppenhagen
Iraq Veteran OIF II
Sniper 1st ID