Veteran: Cautious Optimism in the Face of Obama's Iraq Annoucement (ContributorNetwork)

Yahoo! News asked service members and their families for their perspective on Obama's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. Below is a story from a reader.

FIRST PERSON | Today, my wife called me over to the computer while I was milling about the house to tell me news that everyone by now already knows -- that President Obama has officially announced a complete pullout of all troops from Iraq by the end of the year. We have had our military over there so long I almost didn't believe her.

I was one of the first Americans sent to the region. Stationed onboard the USS Bataan, I was at the helm of the ship when the United States first opened fire on Iraq. I was a relatively insignificant cog in the machine, but a cog nonetheless. And I was among a group of the first that started what we thought would be a relatively short engagement. As the weeks and months went on, it became what seemed to be a never-ending cycle of fighting.

I've dealt with many aspects of the fighting in Iraq for years now. It's something that never quite really leaves you. With the news that President Obama announced today, the best way I can describe my feelings right now are ones of cautious optimism. I'm elated that we finally have someone giving us a definitive answer on when everyone is going to be home. However, we've heard news of pullouts for years now. And they never come. We hear announcements of them, then get hit with news they are actually sending more people over. Part of me thinks in the back of my mind that, maybe, President Obama is doing this as a vote getting gesture for next year's election.

So I slightly doubt the sincerity of the president's announcement. But no matter what reasons he does it for, I am not the only one that wants everyone out of there. Getting everyone out of Iraq is the right decision. But it's far too late. We were told in 2003 the infamous words: "Mission Accomplished." Veterans of the Iraq War, like me, have had to live with the words of that lie ringing in our ears ever since then. It's a feeling like you're being sold out by the people whom you elect because you think they know better. Too little too late.

To say I'm happy would be correct. To say I'm angry would also be correct. Angry because this is something that should have happened years ago. I'm scared, too. Scared because of the general history of politics and that sometimes politicians tell you something and then do another. So I hope that President Obama is ready to back up his statement with actions this time. I got home. I got home before it all went to hell. There are too many guys that didn't get to come back. I hope the government doesn't mar their sacrifice by going back on their word. And for us that made it back, I hope this can be another step in the healing process.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111021/us_ac/10259841_veteran_cautious_optimism_in_the_face_of_obamas_iraq_annoucement

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