What’s Really Going On: A Marine’s Perspective on the Surge and Withdrawal of Troops in Iraq

We are experiencing a historical race for the White House in this year of 2008. One of the main issues in this campaign for me, my peers, my family, and my friends is the undeclared war in Iraq. Many of you may have heard Senator McCain and President Bush sing praises about the successful surge in Iraq, and the negatives associated with pulling our troops out.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but can we really know how things are going in Iraq if we are not there? To attempt to answer this question I wrote to a Marine who is a friend, Squad Leader LCPL Wehmeier M.E USMC/0311, and asked him if he thinks that the surge is working, and if he feels that troops should start being pulled out.
This is what Mike said:

“I think that the surged worked and we need to start pulling some forces out, however we need to better train the Iraqi police and army. Which they have a team called MITT which works with them. But, as an occupying force we need to start leaving.”

Mike believes the surge worked or is working, but the crucial point he made is that “-as an occupying force we need to start leaving”.

Squad Leader Wehmeier is an old friend of mine who, in my opinion, is currently serving in an undeclared, unjustified war. Along with many other friends and all of the other mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and family members who have a loved one in Iraq, I need to know this is a top priority in the 2008 campaign. This is my primary concern, the loss of innocent lives due to an undeclared war that should never have been started. It is 2008; we are civilized human beings that should be able to end conflicts without war.

My heart goes out to these men and women every day. Even if the surge did work, it’s time to end the violence.

The next man or woman to take over the Presidency will have to make this monumental decision as to whether or not to start pulling troops out and ending this “war.” All we can do is hope that they make the right decision.

Gina Bove '08
Wilkes University
Communication Studies