by Samuel D. Arbuckle, TSgt., USAFR
506 ECES/CEF, Freedom AB, Kirkuk, Iraq

"Today, here at KIRKUK AB, IRAQ, we were told that we no longer were allowed to fly the United States Flag. The reason we were given is so we would not offend the Iraqi people. We were told that we are not occupying the country! And apparently, we are not in charge. Well, my question is this, if we are not in charge, then who is? Obviously, the Iraqi people are not. The Iraqi people do not run any of these bases over here yet, and may not for quite some time. Today in a show of respect and honor, especially for those who have fallen, we disobeyed the order and raised our flag, but less than an hour later we were ordered to take our flag down. The morale is low. But our mission remains focused. It's a slap in the face of those families back home who have lost loved ones. It's also a slap in the face for those who still remain here, not only protecting our people back home, but trying to make a difference here in the pursuit of freedom for the Iraqi people. If we are to fly the Iraqi flag with our flag then so be it. But don't tell us that we can't show the respect for our flag, when so many have died in the name of Freedom. The only people I think who would be offended are the people who kill innocent women and children in the name of religion. Thank you for your support and prayers."
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Ed note- I found this link
http://www.veteransparty.us/WordsToMoveYou.htm

Wonder if Bush is going to design an iraqi occupation flag with his father's face on it.

Yeah, but is this real? I've seen a lot of things like this that end up under the category of "It must be true 'cause I read it on the INTERNET."

Great article as usual Kyodylee.

Firstly, a sincere thank you for your service to Samuel D. Arbuckle, TSgt. A grateful country appreciates what you have done and are doing.

Secondly, even during the hottest part of the "Cold War"
we could fly our flag at the embassy in Russia. My brother in law, almost got killed defending that flag at an embassy in Liberia.

Thirdly, what have we gotten for our involvement there...
a) Highest gas prices in a long time
b) Men and women brought back maimed and killed from over there
c) Hemorrhaging money at an alarming rate minute by minute
d) We are more hated now than we were before the war.

This makes my blood boil. I salute Samuel D. Arbuckle, TSgt for his courage in writing the letter and letting us know what is going on.

We should all write Bush and Congress and tell them how angry and disgusted we are.

God bless you men and women in uniform!
Hooooo-aaah !

I see the added link. Documentation is good. The question is whether or not this is policy or one idiot commander. When I was in(late 80's, just before the wall came down), there was a standing order that haircut standards could be relaxed in Europe in order for US servicemen to blend with local populations and be less conspicuous as terrorism targets. The order ended with the phrase, "By discretion of the local commander". This meant a local commander didn't have to abide by this rule. None of them did. No one wanted "his" men to look like a "ragbag". This could be a similar scenario.

Good point Jefrystube...but, I can also envision this as a "trickle down decision"..coming from the top...as an early phase out of American presence in Iraq IF they are really intending to withdraw the troops...

It would be a "PC" way of lowering the level of visibility...don't use the US flag...means, show we are starting to decrease our presence...still...it bothers me.

I guess this means the terrorist won this round. Our flag should never be lowered. And if true, it will come across to some countries, and it's leaders as being weak. I turn my back on who ever ordered this in complete disapproval.

OUR FLAG IS TO FLY HIGH! IT STANDS FOR PRIDE, COURAGE, AND MOST OF ALL FREEDOM!!!!!!

Either that or they'll be ordered to raise the RIAA $ Flag. You know, the one that looks like the Nazi flag, but has a sharp angled $ sign on it.

Isn't it a possibility that they asked the soldiers to take down the flag in order to lessen their chances of becoming a target?

We took our flags off our vehicles in the very first week of the war. The goal of our mission, (political goals are always primary in armed conflict), is to turn Iraq into a democratic ally. If not flying our flag facilitates that process, then so be it. Letting our emotions get the better of us will only lead to certain defeat and humiliation.

Addressing the substance of our over emotional response to this tactic, Iraq was our ally in the cold war and our war against the Islamic fundamentalists for roughly 30 years. Then Saddam pissed off Herbert Walker Bush. Bush owned oil interests in Bahrain in the early 90s and we started dropping bombs on them for the last 12 or so years. The Iraq dispute with Kuwait was entirely legitimate and we (The US Gov't) sent very mixed signals about our approval of the invasion of Kuwait. They have every right to be pissed off at us and we have little right to be pissed off at them. We are kicking ass and taking names. Maybe good policy, maybe not. In either case we have no moral authority to act like little whiney bitches and cry over things like, making feeble little token efforts not to rub our kicking their asses in their faces every chance we get.

Thanks Code for finding that link. The e-mail letter was published in a newsletter that I received from my American Legion Post, and it didn't refer to any web address.

no problem kyodylee..and thank you for submitting it.

" If not flying our flag facilitates that process, then so be it. Letting our emotions get the better of us will only lead to certain defeat and humiliation."

Maybe if we took the flag off state buildings and the Capitol,
they would be less of a target for terrorists...also, embassies too...

OK...I have to say this...I am in sympathy with that soldier...
Our men and women are putting their lives on the line there...and I think every death paid a price to be able to fly that flag with pride.

I say this...if our flag is provocative and not wanted there...we aren't either. When is this country going to learn that we have no mandate from
the world to be the street cop of the world.

I say move the American flag out of Iraq all right...but don't lower that red, white, and blue cloth...bring 'em home.

In WWII, the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima meant something....
In the 20th century, raising that flag and saluting it on the moon meant something....

I'm sorry, but lives are shed daily for that flag to be there...if we don't even get a break on gas prices from all that oil...the least they can do is
allow our flag to fly....seems a lot of OUR people raised that flag during the Shock and Awe...and Bush wants to include it on all his ads....so fly it there or fly it nowhere!

I told my brother in law , a Marine about that letter, and I won't repeat what he said, suffices to say, he agreed with me.

But to be fair..my wife's take on it was this...
"It probably makes them more of a target"
and "I don't think the flag should be flown in another country, it's their country not ours."

But, she agrees with me that we need to bring our boys home.

Zieman mentioned the flag making Americans a more prominent target first. Simply put, it does. That does not mean, however, that we should immediately remove it from all locations in Iraq.

We were not any occupying force when I was stationed in Germany from 90-92, but the flag flew over our posts, all of our posts. In Iraq we ARE an occupying force until at least June 30th and probably much longer as civil war will break out on July 1st.

Removal of the US flag from vehicles, personnel and the like is a good decision. They are already targets and they already stand out. The visibility of the flag in such cases only serves to antagonize. When it comes to buildings used for occupation business, posts, administration, barracks, etc. then the US flag should be flown in accordance with military protocal. Simple as that. Our soldiers are there and that is the flag under which they serve. I agree also that all of the soldiers and flags should be removed from the theater and returned home. But let's try to return them home separately instead of flags draped on caskets.

It's a bad move to pull down the flag in all locations. It is a good idea to remove the flag from some locations.

By all means you should display the flag if you want to. But in this instance I agree with George and your wife Code.

If a US citizen over there wants to wave our flag and personally risk being shot at It is their call. (But not if he is standing next to other people who are not wanting shot at.)

Our soldiers, while on duty, are representing our government. Displaying the flag when it is not in our best interest (as in this instance) is not the right thing to be doing. I really have no problem with this order our troops have been given. (I do have a problem with them having to be there to secure our oil interests and to settle daddy Bush's old vendetta.)

But if they were stateside and not putting others in danger, it would be a different thing altogether. I would then be screaming bloody murder.

Shmoo

Word is just starting to come out that the power changeover may be held off due to the outbreak of more violence in Iraq. The very interesting thing is that the U.S. government had to know what would happen when they shut down the newspaper. Oh, what was I thinking this is what they wanted all along, a chance to commit more atrocities in the name of freedom. But even though I strongly disagree with the policies of the government I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS and would never say a bad thing about the troops on the ground. My problem is with the politicaly apointed and influenced military leaders.

If we want the Iraqi oil we should be subtle about it. Flying the American flag is too obvious.

why don't we just raise the flag here and let them know that it's for them if they can't fly it there so they know it's not in vain. It'll show them we haven't forgotten them and the flag will proudly flap in the wind to also remind us all.

I'm sorry, but this whole topic doesn't belong here.