My cousin Brenden just completed basic training and is headed off to Iraq.He is going to go to the deadliest place there,The Sunni Triangle.With the death toll of american soldiers climbing each year,I'm worried about whether or not he is coming home.He wants to meet my family and I before he goes.Brenden is visiting on saturday.

Now, the weird thing is,I've never met him.I've never spoken to him.He is a soldier,and I am a pacifist.I don't know what I should be feeling emotionally about this.I have never met him,But I am terrified for his life.He's family,but like I said before,I don't even know what he looks like.I have just heard what his progress is in the military.

So the question is,what should I say to him when He arrives,
And how should I feel about him going?

Just remind him to be glad he wasn't born 90 years ago.

There are no "should"s with feelings.

And you will only understand how it is that you do feel in time.

Just shake his hand, say it's good to meet him. Wish him good luck, tell him to come back safe. He'll have heard this from every other relative, but there you are.

tell him to protect himself shoot every arab man women and child to get within five hundred feet of him,
one less derka is one less chance of dieing

Where the fuck do you people COME from?

Christ.

how is it possible that he's headed to iraq when he just completed basic training? whatever happened to going to AIT/MOS training after basic training

Where the fuck do you people COME from?

Christ.

He's sorta right though.

For all folks moralizing, that's how it is. Kill or be killed. If this is a WAR instead of a police action, then we need to quit playing nice.

People didn't really give a shit when we firebombed Germany and nuked Japan, so why does America all the sudden grow a big rubbery one over a bunch of third-worlders who, need I remind you, HATE OUR GUTS?

how is it possible that he's headed to iraq when he just completed basic training? whatever happened to going to AIT/MOS training after basic training

i guess most people don't know about ait so at the end of that and all the other training people are just like 'oh yea, he just got out of basic'

Think of it this way: could YOU go to Iraq and do what he's going to be doing. Just congratulate him and wish him luck. (military myself btw)

Part of my soul just died

By the same logic the brit squaddies there need to shoot all american service men on sight!

You know there are now families here who don't want their children joing the army because they're frightened of their sons having to serve near americans?

Sounds like those British fams should be the ones getting shot. I know the brits, aus, and kiwis I've met all like us and are pretty cool. We must of brain washed'em or something eh?

I've been in Iraq for the past 11 months. He'll be fine... most likely. What's his MOS? (job)

i don't know why, but your post just reminded my of something my aunt said when she was stationed overseas. she was working with some british people, and they would always make fun of her for being american. they would say stuff like 'why do you call them french fries? they're not french. that's typical american ignorance for you.' and shit like that. so one day she was like 'hey, do you guys wanna celebrate the fourth of july with me? oh, wait, you lost that war...'

By the same logic the brit squaddies there need to shoot all american service men on sight!

You know there are now families here who don't want their children joing the army because they're frightened of their sons having to serve near americans?

At least the Americans arent gonna detonate themselves at any random time.

lol...this is why no one likes americans...you make all of us look stupid.

lol...this is why no one likes americans...you make all of us look stupid.

Well it is war, you've got to be cautious, theres even goddamn twelve year old children brain washed into wanting to kill soldiers for "Allah's will", you cant trust those pork hating bastards.

I would have thought it would have been good to meet him, just before he left.

But this is just my thoughts.

At least the Americans arent gonna detonate themselves at any random time.

Oh yeah, because being shot to death is so much better.

If they went around shooting every Arab in sight they'd make more problems. Anger the peaceful ones that actually appreciate American intervention.

You really don't think, do you?

He's a soldier and you're a pacifist?

Oh The Humanities!

He's sorta right though.

For all folks moralizing, that's how it is. Kill or be killed. If this is a WAR instead of a police action, then we need to quit playing nice.

People didn't really give a shit when we firebombed Germany and nuked Japan, so why does America all the sudden grow a big rubbery one over a bunch of third-worlders who, need I remind you, HATE OUR GUTS?

Bombing destroys production, "shooting every man woman and child within 500 feet" does not.

And don't even get me started on his last sentence. Racism against the sort of people that our "enemy" just happens to be part of isn't the best plan of action for our armed and not-very-intelligent forces.

Where the fuck do you people COME from?

Christ.

From the party down the block celebrating the recent football victory of Reality Check Tech over Should-Land.