Marine in Iraq: 'It's worse every day'

by repost

Thu, Oct 14, 2004 4:48PM

He knew he'd be going to battle. His father said that's why he'd signed up — to protect his country.

After a few stateside assignments, his unit went to Iraq.

And it is there that the education of Lance Cpl. Jonathan Snyder really began.

His lessons culminated Sunday, when he was quoted in the Washington Post, saying, "Every day you read articles in the states when it's like 'Oh, it's getting better and better.' But when you're here, you know it's worse every day."

In July, his platoon — the 81s, named for the size of its mortar rounds — was deployed to Camp Iskandariyah, in Babil Province, about 30 miles southwest of Baghdad. The fighting there has been fierce, even though it's drowned out by headlines from places like Fallujah, Samarra and Sadr City. Since the Marines entered Babil Province, 102 of their ranks have been wounded. Four have been killed.

Nearly every day, the Marines encounter roadside bombs. Hardly a day passes without their camp coming under rocket or mortar attack.

Every day in the Corps, the saying goes, is a holiday — a holiday in hell.

When the 81s go out on patrol, the Post quoted the soldiers as saying, they seldom accomplish anything. One Marine told the reporter, "You don't really know who you're fighting." Other Marines said that by the time they respond to an attack, the insurgents have disappeared, and they're left with nobody to fight.

They hear their officers telling them that once they train Iraqi security forces, they'll be able to leave. They think that's nonsense — although you'd be hard pressed to find a Marine who uses that word in lieu of a more descriptive term. The soldiers believe the Iraqis are nowhere near being able to take over for the Marines and may never be. Some of the Iraqi police, in fact, have changed sides and have joined the insurgents.

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http://ydr.com/story/mike/45086/

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