INTERVIEW WITH JANE DOE-B
In accordance with her request for anonymity, this mother is referred to as Jane Doe-B.
Jane: My son, Bob, 20, is with the 1st Infantry Division in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He left Germany for Tikrit February 6th, 04, to relieve the 4th Infantry Division.
Bob was home for Christmas, 2003. That was a difficult time both because my son was preparing for Iraq and because I've come to realize that Bush's policy in Iraq is wrong.
My son always wanted to serve his country and, after 9/11, he finished a few college classes and then enlisted. Bob feels this war and occupation in Iraq is not warranted. He believes in the principles our country stands for and believes those principles cannot be applied to our actions in Iraq.
Six of my eight brothers and sisters are pro Bush and his policies, mostly because many of them believe in his anti-abortion stand. Since the sister I� closest to is born-again Christian and pro-Bush, she can� understand my concerns, in fact, she dismisses them. I�e asked her how many people she� willing to see killed in Iraq before she becomes truly pro-life. She could not answer that question. I believe that it� Bush� anti-abortion stand that� giving him a free pass to the White House from many people in this country.
It makes me sad that I can� be around my family members anymore. But I� meeting and turning to people who reflect more of my beliefs. Yesterday I went to my first protest to hear Susan Niederer speak out after her son was killed by an IED on February 3, 04. Susan says, �y son died for absolutely nothing. He died for President Bush� personal vendetta!�/p>
It was scary to be at the protest as it appeared members a secret service group were taking pictures. I believe they were not protesters as they all wore black dress suits and used small digital cameras, definitely not the same kind the press uses. Or the way the press dresses.
In the beginning, when Bush was talking about war, I believed he was saber-rattling. I never believed Saddam had WMD �Saddam didn� want to draw the wrath of the US military to the nice despotic lifestyle he� created in Iraq. I believed our congress would not allow a war, I thought they�e reign Bush in and we� all get on with our lives. So I was guilty of not protesting at the start of this thing. Now something is wrong, terribly wrong in our country.
I work in pharmaceuticals and I was disgusted by Bush� prescription drug plan. It� basically a give away to the pharmaceutical companies. I find I can� concentrate at work. Generally, people in New Jersey are a little more than 50% anti-Bush but it surprises me how many people still believe that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11. The other day someone at the water cooler asked me if Osama Bin Laden should get away with what he did to the Trade Center. That man, well-educated, worldly, still believes that Saddam Hussein and Osama were together on the atrocity against the twin towers.
I� trying to stay informed. I� trying to filter what I� reading so as get the whole picture. I wanted to travel to Iraq but for now I� writing to congress people and doing what I can in that way.
Do you know that our troops have to purchase their own gear? My son is not allowed to share the shopping list he was given by the military for purchases before he left for Iraq but he was told, �ou�l not have to wash your own socks or underwear but you�l have to buy a year� supply of socks and underwear.�By now many civilians know that the military contractor, Kellog, Brown & Root, subsidiary of Halliburton, is supplying laundry, catering, and other services in Iraq but do civilians know that our kids are given shopping lists to supply their own personal items? This information became known to the veterans of World War II and Vietnam and they�e angry about it. They say, �e never had to do this. Its outrageous that soldiers are having to do this for this war.�/p>
My husband is also very upset about the war. My husband deals with it in a different way to me. While I write and talk to people my husband is training for a tri-athalon. That� where he does all of his thinking, worrying, and grieving.
Before Bob left my husband and I asked Bob to put in for a transfer. Bob was angry with us for suggesting that. He said even though he doesn� believe in this war he would never forgive himself for abandoning his military colleagues. Bob has a lot of compassion for people and I believe he�l manage to keep that while he� in Iraq. But I� afraid of what will happen to him there.
I can� believe he won� be psychologically damaged by what he sees over there and I worry about how I�l react to that. How will we cope with our beautiful son who acted out of duty and love for his country and is damaged by a war he doesn� believe in?