they’ll be home for Christmas
The official end of the Iraq War was the polar opposite of the arrogantly named
“Shock and Awe” campaign that officially started it. March 20, 2003, an aerial
bombardment lit up the Baghdad night. Thursday the U.S. command rolled up
its flag for the last time and slipped a camouflage cloth over it in an attempt to
slip away into the day.
Protected by concrete blast walls, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta accepted
the covered colors and spoke briefly about the American success, rounding off
the actual number of 4487 combat deaths to “nearly 4500”. He assured a small
crowd that those deaths weren’t in vain. Iraq’s President and Prime Minister
didn’t bother to attend.
What did the U.S. get for its $800 billion investment? A nation that lost at least
100,000 citizens in the war and still has frequent car bombings. And tens of
thousands of troops returning here forever changed by their war experience.
Expect spiked rates of depression, divorce, drug abuse, alcoholism, crime and
violence from these veterans as they are quietly forgotten by a public that
scarcely acknowledged the war, anyway. Watch as movies and TV shows tri-
vialize their struggle by depicting them as deranged and dangerous. Do you
remember how often Vietnam vets were shown as villains in the 60’s and 70’s?
There may be hope for this group, though. Jude and I recently watched a
segment on “PBS NewsHour” about how the Army is not only admitting that
there is such a thing as PTSD, it’s realizing that it might be prudent to prepare
troops for it before they go into combat situations. That’s revolutionary in
its own way.
At any rate, they’re coming home, folks. Please greet them with the compassion
of the season. Tell them you really care how they’re adjusting. And please,
please don’t conflate the heartwarming homecomings so prevalent on the news
now with the nobility or necessity of war. The Iraq War was an illegal invasion
and occupation of a sovereign nation. No amount of burnishment can polish
that turd.
