Bobby Dixon served in Iraq for only three months before his life was taken by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) this month. My partner, Daniel, and his daughter, Anathea, were close to Bobby and deeply mourn his loss.
The service this week was painful, sad, and aggravating. Even though Bobby was personally unknown to me, I felt a sense of loss and the senselessness of war.
Over 3,400 of Americans have lost their lives during the last four years we’ve occupied Iraq and over 25,000 have been wounded. All of the troops, wounded or not, will be profoundly (and negatively) changed by this experience. I think I’m a pretty typical American and I don’t buy the reason we’re there … and I don’t see a way out. Over time the situation in Iraq hasn’t gotten any better. To me, what’s worse is the seemingly unplanned way this effort has been executed. The old quality improvement saying “If you haven’t got a plan, you have a plan for failure” seems to apply.
And young people like Bobby take the brunt of the mistakes those in power make.
I am sorry to hear the news. I think the media downplays the war and the effect it has on both American and Iraqi lives – and all for what? My best to D & A.
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