Bush's speech brings praise, worry, criticism from North County military families

[thedrifter]

Bush's speech brings praise, worry, criticism from North County military families

By: JOE BECK - Staff Writer

ESCONDIDO -- The parents of three men in the military who watched President Bush's speech Wednesday night reacted with guarded optimism and worry to the president's announcement of more American forces headed for Iraq.

All of the four who gathered in the Escondido home of Patrice and Eric Gadd said they were satisfied with the new plan's emphasis on an American-led crackdown on violence, and Bush's demand that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki show a greater commitment to rooting out bands of killers responsible for the deaths of American service members. They also said they appreciated Bush's willingness to admit mistakes in previous policies.

Since the war began in March 2003, at least 3,017 service members have been killed as of Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. At least 2,423 have died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

The parents included three women -- Kathryn Hood of Pauma Valley, Paula Clayton of Escondido and Gadd -- who are members of Blue Star Mothers, an organization for mothers of active-duty military and those who have been honorably discharged. The group, which Hood organized about 16 months ago, has 40 members over an area the extends from Temecula to Chula Vista.

"I'm cautiously optimistic. I'm glad there's a new plan, and they're making some changes," said Hood, whose son, Justin, is a Marine lieutenant in flight school in Pensacola, Fla.

Clayton, the mother of Army Pfc. Christopher Clayton stationed in Fort Polk, La., said she supported Bush and the war effort, but was worried about what might happen to her son if he is sent to Iraq.

"As a mother, it's upsetting that your child may go in harm's way, but that's what he wants to do," she said.

Gadd said it was too late to pull American forces out of Iraq, although she too is worried about her son, Jason, an Army lieutenant stationed in Fort Sill, Okla. She called Bush "a man with a lot of integrity" for taking responsibility for the previous policy and admitting that it hasn't worked.

"I think they realize they underestimated the persistence of the insurgency, and I do appreciate he's putting some pressure on Maliki that they need to start picking up the pace a little bit," Gadd said.

Bush's warning to al-Maliki that the United States' commitment to Iraq cannot go on forever was the most important part of the speech to Hood, along with acknowledgement of past mistakes.

"I'm glad to see it wasn't open-ended," she said of Bush's willingness to defend Iraqis from sectarian violence. "If they don't step up, they're going to lose us."

Eric Gadd said the president's tone and demeanor in the speech left him a bit disappointed.

"The speech didn't seem to have any oomph," he said. "It was kind of dry and didn't leave me feeling like there was a big change."

Another soldier's father, not at the Gadds' house, bitterly denounced Bush's speech after watching it.

In a telephone interview, Tim Kahlor, a member of the anti-war group Military Families Speak Out, said Bush's speech left him cold.

"I didn't think he said anything," said Kahlor, who lives in Temecula. "It's totally political."

Kahlor said he has had enough of the war after hearing from his son, Ryan, a sergeant in Iraq. Kahlor said Ryan has been in four Bradley tanks that were blown up by enemy fire and has seen several soldiers next to him killed. He said he is worried that Ryan, who is on his second deployment to Iraq, will run out of luck as the war escalates.

"He's been combat all the time," Kahlor said. "People have been killed all around him, but you know you can only cross a freeway so many times before you're hit by a car."

-- Contact staff writer Joe Beck at (760) 740-3516 or jbeck@nctimes.com.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Families of county's military question new direction

By Zeke Barlow, zbarlow@VenturaCountyStar.com
January 11, 2007

As President Bush unveiled his plan to increase troop levels in Iraq, many Ventura County families who have sons and daughters serving in the war were less than enthusiastic about the potential of longer or multiple tours of duty for their loved ones.

Though everyone said they unequivocally support the troops carrying out the mission, they questioned the wisdom of throwing more resources at a problem many feel is stretching out too long. More troops can be justified only if the plan also accompanies a timetable for withdrawing all of the troops, many said.

"Whatever the surge is, we just hope that there is a clear-cut objective, and we can get our boys home as soon as possible," said Mari Perez-Alvarado, whose son, Jose Alvarado, is a Marine on his second tour in Iraq.

She's worried that not only will Jose's tour will be extended, but that her other son, Carlos Alvarado, who is stationed in Turkey with the Air Force, will also be called to Iraq.

"I don't know if there is a right answer to this" situation, she said. "If you are going to be deploying so many, why wasn't this done in the beginning?"

It's a question Brandon Kiefer also wondered. Kiefer, a Simi Valley resident who served in the Marines, has a younger brother, Casey, a tail gunner with the Marines, stationed in Iraq.

"Why didn't we take care of it from Day One?" he said. "We should have gone in a little harder and done what we needed to do and get out of there."

Andrew Tafoya's son, Jesse, joined the Army two days after he graduated from high school and was passionate about serving his country, he said. Jesse will probably serve another tour in Iraq, but his father hopes he won't have to be in the country indefinitely.

"As far as a deployment of additional troops, I think I'm for it, but only if it is part of a phased plan to remove troops," said Tafoya of Ventura.

Shelley Stephens said her son Christopher Roy joined the Army National Guard so he could help protect California, and that she doesn't want him in Iraq any longer.

"We just need to pull up and leave; don't surge, don't risk hurting any other people" said Stephens of Ventura. "It's a no-win situation, and we should leave. But that's coming from a mom."

Tammy Lindsey's son, Brandyn Andres, just finished his tour in Iraq, where he was a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic. She said her son loves his job, and she expects him to re-enlist in the Army. Still, she doesn't want him going back to Iraq.

"I don't believe that increasing the troops is going to help," said Lindsey of Oxnard. "It breaks my heart that we are leaving so many of our young people over there. They need to come home. Enough is enough."

Bob Triol prays every night that his son comes home safely and soon. Rob Triol joined the Marines two days after he graduated from Camarillo High School and is passionate in his service, his father said.

Triol describes himself as a conservative Republican but said he thinks it's time America finds a way to get out of Iraq in an honorable way.

"I do believe at this point we are fighting a loosing battle," he said.

Steven Ramos communicates with his nephew, Oscar Avila of Oxnard, every few weeks via MySpace.com. Avila joined the Marines for its reputation for being tough and hard, he said.

Ramos said more troops might be what is needed to win in Iraq.

"I think it's a good idea," he said. "I'm all for it."

Bert Alton of Ventura wonders if his son, Brian, will have a longer tour as a Navy corpsman. He said more troops might mean his son might come home earlier or have his deployment extended. Though he thinks the ground war is not going well, he admits his interest in the surge is much more personal that most Americans.

"From a selfish point of view, I want whatever gets him home sooner," said Alton.

Ellie