Anybody here ever served 4 combat tours? I guess I was lucky.

[glowing]

14. My brother in law is now on his 2nd tour..

The first was in Iraq.. He's now in Afghanistan.. inside the base that people came to protest against for burning Koran's.. Anyway, he says its 10 times worse than being in Iraq.. On top of it all, they have this over all mission of "winning hearts and minds".. so if Afghani's start throwing rocks, they can not retaliate or protect themselves (just duck and cover).

He was recently on a convoy transport, the Afghan kids pulled up beside the transport for a bunch of humvee's and started stripping them of parts. By the time they realized it, there were missing doors and bumpers and tires... They are intruders and if they are stupid enough to bring in expensive shit, they take it and there is a general "winning hearts and minds" type of attitude. Its frustrating as all hell to be a soldier on more of a humanitarian mission. If this guy had become frustrated by these day in and day out types of issues that happen, he may have just snapped. I know my brother in law is so ready to come home... and they aren't doing shit. It doesn't matter if they leave tomorrow anymore than if they extend it another year.

I do know the soldiers wish that the govt would take some money and build up a WPA and Army Corp of Engineers so that they could leave the armed services and have a job that they know and that actually does something for America.. because the current mission is just a waste of money for tax payers.