Cheryl Leeds, Catoosa (7/8/2007 11:05:31 PM)

I completely agree with Kyle. This war was sold to us on a pack of lies, and isn't doing anything to make American's safer. It needs to be stopped now, and the money used more appropiately.

Kyle's opinion should have more weight then mine, or anyone elses who hasn't served in the military. It took great courage for him to speak out, and he is a hero in my book just for having the guts to speak truth to power. Thanks Kyle.

CSM Michael C. Turley, Sand Springs (7/9/2007 2:56:17 PM)

An older and wiser soldiers perspective:

I disagree with many areas of Kyle's Forum article. He states the reason we went to war was a lie and implies Bush was a liar. The available intelligence information utilized by the Clinton and Bush Administration as well as numerous other countries intelligence reports showed signs of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The intelligence may have been faulty but it was the best available information at the time. Saddam's repeated defiance to the world and UN resolution 1441 to disarm and to allow inspections are the reasons utilized for War. To imply it was a lie is quite immature and postures on using bias versus the actual facts. Ask the Iranian's and Kurd's who were gassed by Iraq using these same WMD's in the past whether or not it was a lie that Saddam had WMD's and an ability and intent to use them. I have served this nation for 20 years and been deployed overseas numerous times. We do not need any sunshine patriots, what we need are those who are willing to get the job done, and achieve Victory. Thomas Paine stated it best when he wrote "These are the times that try men's souls." War is not easy especially fighting a non-uniformed insurgent force. How about realizing that the enemy will only win if it is able to sway public opinion and cause a withdrawal and surrender of US forces. Yes I state specifically surrender by US forces as this is what we would do by leaving Iraq and allowing the Insurgents the victory. If we had the same lack of conviction and foresight during the Revolution or during the D Day invasion I wonder if we would have had the same victorious outcomes. I very much doubt that we would have. Let's keep the faith and support our soldiers and let them win the victory they very well deserve or we will deserve what we will get in return.

CSM Michael Turley

Kar, Tulsa (7/9/2007 3:42:29 PM)

Poster #2 may be older, but he's certainly more gullible. Best available intelligence? Nobody believes that anymore, not even Colin Powell who dutifully spouted it at the UN. The best intelligence was buried by Rumsfeld & Cheney because it didn't fit what they wanted to happen. The WMDs were, we were told repeatedly, NUCLEAR weapons, not nerve gas. Several other countries had the best intelligence & tried to tell us ours wasn't. It's a fact Saddam murdered all those people, but we didn't get involved in areas of the world where greater numbers were killed. War is a bad way of rescuing a whole country's population, as we've seen by the civilian death rate in Iraq. We took a bad & evil situation & managed to make it worse thru hubris/lack of planning. Getting our soldiers out of this no-win, who's-the-enemy war IS supporting them. Thanks, Kyle!

Jim Young, East Lansing (7/12/2007 7:43:28 AM)

I would like to add my thanks to Kyle Tibbits. He certainly has the perspective that I share with millions of Americans.

I'm not impressed with Mr. Turley's opinions, however. To compare invading Iraq with the Normandy invasion is ridiculous. In fact, had we sent the number of troops to Iraq that we went into Normandy we might be already out of Iraq with whatever would satisfy Bush's definition of "victory". However, that was then and this is now. It is difficult to admit how big a SNAFU the invasion of Iraq was. Painful though it has been, the American public has done so and the vast majority of us are ready to move on. The propaganda that Bush and Cheney continue to try to foist off on us is no longer working.

Mr. Turley would call it surrender if we leave. We took out Sadaam. The Baath Party is broken. Where is the Iraqi Army? It's not a surrender if you decide it's time to leave and choose to do so.

Our military has been seriously affected by repeated deployments. We are doing a lousy job of caring for our wounded and disabled veterans and their families. Our national security is at risk because of what we have done in Iraq. We are still there for one reason and one reason only:

Dick Cheney and George W. Bush can't admit that they were completely wrong about his whole, sordid fiasco.

Wordsmith, Boise (7/12/2007 1:33:20 PM)

CSM...

One of the things I learned in the military are that the higher in commands regardless of rank (officer/NCO) are there to do the bidding of & for the status quo. The intelligence was a lie.

And WHO pray tell, sold the 'gas' to Iraq that was used DURING the Iraq/Iran war and unfortunately slaughtered Kurds who had the misfortune of living near the Iranian border. The U.S. gov't - and for the record, Halliburton is STILL conducting business with Iran.

Read more of Thomas Paine and you'll find out what he really meant by that line that's so often quoted. Our Revolution is not comparable to this quagmire.

Roberrt May, Crystal (a suburb of Minneapolis) (7/13/2007 9:48:39 PM)

At the beginning the author indicates that he is an immature young man setting out into the world.

What follows is an impressive growth into manhood.

That this letter is receiving nationwide attention is an indication that many others feel it is a truly impressive document.

Anne Green, Columbia, MD (7/14/2007 4:54:57 AM)

Kyle is correct that we need to start getting out of Iraq. The military and civilian leadership that got us to this point have totally failed and have us in a no win situation. We can leave now or leave after another 3000 Americans and another 100000 Iraqis die. The situation that we leave behind will not be pretty in either event.

feckless, (7/17/2007 6:48:51 PM)

thank you Kyle, both for your service and the bravery of offering your perspective.

Your integrity gives me hope for our future.

Diane, Ellensburg (7/18/2007 12:00:04 PM)

To Mr. Turley,

To say that all the world believed Saddam had WMD is not true. The country with the most at risk, Israel, certainly did not believe this or they would have taken steps to destroy them (as they did previously). In all the Administrations claims of intelligence from Britain, France, Italy...they never cited the Mossad, the ones who would have the best information. Even if other countries thought Saddam was a threat, they obviously did not think he was a great enough threat to invade...perhaps they were looking at ALL the intelligence and not just the info that supported the argument for war.

Just how long do you think we should let our troops fight to achieve this victory you think is there? They already achieved the victory they were originally sent there for. Do you think the American public would have supported a continuation of WWII so we could invade Russia? That would have been a change in the original purpose of the war and we would not have supported it. Just as many of us do not support the constantly changing rationale for this occupation. And what about those few men and women who are paying the price? Some are on their 4th and 5th tours of duty....we have a responsibility to these men and women and their families not to abuse their offer of service and we have allowed this President to treat them like game pieces, with no thought of the toll on them or their families as they are called to fight again and again....we should all be ashamed for not speaking out in protest.

Lynne Shirley, Tulsa (1/23/2008 10:05:08 PM)

I am sad to say, that my wonderful son Kyle V. Tibbits is going back to Iraq for the third time, tomorrow, Jan. 24, 2008. I had no idea how many touching responses his letter evoked until today,after having just read them. Whether one agrees or disagrees with his opinion, no one can call him anything but honorable. His attitude is astounding. I feel like my world has been shattered, and he comforts me, and makes me promise that I will believe that he will be safe, and time will fly by. He is the most amazing person I've ever met. The Army is privileged to have my son in their care, and I just hope they honor that.