Spring Break
The Iraq War Comes Home
As war in the Middle East continues, the impact of Iraq invades the lives of an increasing number of Americans
Steve Markley, Senior Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/7/06 Section: Features
"He'll say something like, 'This is gonna be a bad one,' and I'll have to go to three days of classes with that on my mind," he said. "Then, he's on the phone joking with me about hitting a roadside bomb the next week. That just gives you a different perspective of what's going on over there."
One of the primary reasons for this difference of perspective is that the Bush administration has consciously designed the current conflict so that the country can fight a war without an interruption of civil life.
The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are the first protracted, long-term military operations done with an all-volunteer military.
"There's an entire section of society that did not volunteer," Haney said. "And for them, this war is different than for the people who did or have loved ones who did. That first section hasn't been asked to participate, and in fact, has even seen tax cuts."
Neack worded her opinion a little more strongly.
"Supporting the troops is not putting a yellow ribbon on your car," she said. "It's using our military wisely - picking the right battles."
Senior Kevin Mullins has first-hand experience with the disconnect Haney and Neack speak of. As a machine gunner for the Marine Corps reserves, he served in Iraq from March to October of 2005, doing sweeps for insurgents in the Anbar province, up and down the Euphrates River.
He remembers being in a bar one night not long after returning home, watching the people around him, all of whom were kids his age.
"It was strange to think that they didn't know," he said. "I had just gotten back and it was the only time I felt angry about it. It just didn't seem like anyone really noticed or cared. But I had just gotten back, so it was all still fresh in my mind. I don't feel that way any more because it's not their fault, and I realize that. This is just the way it is."
Mullins was a friend of Cifuentes. They served in the same company, and in a strange coincidence, lived two streets away as children. They were deployed and stationed together in Iraq. When the roadside explosive killed Cifuentes, Mullins was two Humvees in front of him. His vehicle had traveled over the device without detonating it.
One of the primary reasons for this difference of perspective is that the Bush administration has consciously designed the current conflict so that the country can fight a war without an interruption of civil life.
The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are the first protracted, long-term military operations done with an all-volunteer military.
"There's an entire section of society that did not volunteer," Haney said. "And for them, this war is different than for the people who did or have loved ones who did. That first section hasn't been asked to participate, and in fact, has even seen tax cuts."
Neack worded her opinion a little more strongly.
"Supporting the troops is not putting a yellow ribbon on your car," she said. "It's using our military wisely - picking the right battles."
Senior Kevin Mullins has first-hand experience with the disconnect Haney and Neack speak of. As a machine gunner for the Marine Corps reserves, he served in Iraq from March to October of 2005, doing sweeps for insurgents in the Anbar province, up and down the Euphrates River.
He remembers being in a bar one night not long after returning home, watching the people around him, all of whom were kids his age.
"It was strange to think that they didn't know," he said. "I had just gotten back and it was the only time I felt angry about it. It just didn't seem like anyone really noticed or cared. But I had just gotten back, so it was all still fresh in my mind. I don't feel that way any more because it's not their fault, and I realize that. This is just the way it is."
Mullins was a friend of Cifuentes. They served in the same company, and in a strange coincidence, lived two streets away as children. They were deployed and stationed together in Iraq. When the roadside explosive killed Cifuentes, Mullins was two Humvees in front of him. His vehicle had traveled over the device without detonating it.
