Linkster
09-15-2007, 05:53 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20779987/site/newsweek/
Seems those soldiers scheduled to come home by Petreaus and their wives are kinda pissed off that the general used them as political pawns - and are speaking out - interestingly they confirm that the "early date" of Nov 17th that the General used as proof that we would draw down troops - was scheduled months ago and the wives even already knew - long before the General prepared his report and gave it to congress and the white house - it was a scheduled redeployment
One Marine from the unit, who asked not to be identified for fear or reprisal by his superiors, has a more cynical view. “Seems to me we’re just being used as political pawns by the Pentagon and the White House,” he says. “They’re pleasing the Democrats with this announcement, I guess, but we’ve been here a short time compared to other units. In my personal opinion, the general is playing off our regular deployment schedule and our success here, knowing we’re scheduled to come home anyways. It’s totally political, and I think it’s deceptive.”
Kristy McFarland, 29, who’s married to S/Sgt. John Mundy, 29, a 10-year veteran of the Marines and a member of the 13th MEU, was “dumbfounded” when she heard her husband’s unit named as the first to be sent home as part of the troop reduction. “I was kind of disgusted, to be honest,” says McFarland, a business consultant. “They made it sound so great for this unit. I exchanged an e-mail about this with my husband already, and we both just had a laugh about it. He’s been in the Marines a long time, and he loves his job, but when it comes to the politics of it all, we both just have to roll our eyes and roll with it. It’s just politics
Seems those soldiers scheduled to come home by Petreaus and their wives are kinda pissed off that the general used them as political pawns - and are speaking out - interestingly they confirm that the "early date" of Nov 17th that the General used as proof that we would draw down troops - was scheduled months ago and the wives even already knew - long before the General prepared his report and gave it to congress and the white house - it was a scheduled redeployment
One Marine from the unit, who asked not to be identified for fear or reprisal by his superiors, has a more cynical view. “Seems to me we’re just being used as political pawns by the Pentagon and the White House,” he says. “They’re pleasing the Democrats with this announcement, I guess, but we’ve been here a short time compared to other units. In my personal opinion, the general is playing off our regular deployment schedule and our success here, knowing we’re scheduled to come home anyways. It’s totally political, and I think it’s deceptive.”
Kristy McFarland, 29, who’s married to S/Sgt. John Mundy, 29, a 10-year veteran of the Marines and a member of the 13th MEU, was “dumbfounded” when she heard her husband’s unit named as the first to be sent home as part of the troop reduction. “I was kind of disgusted, to be honest,” says McFarland, a business consultant. “They made it sound so great for this unit. I exchanged an e-mail about this with my husband already, and we both just had a laugh about it. He’s been in the Marines a long time, and he loves his job, but when it comes to the politics of it all, we both just have to roll our eyes and roll with it. It’s just politics