• -“At first I didn’t give a sh*t, but now I’m glad, I like giving little kids tootsie rolls.”
  
  
• -“At first I thought it was good because there was viable cause with weapons of mass destruction.  Now I think it’s a farce because they’re aren’t any and if there are they’ve been brought in by the Americans.  Anyone with shiny things on their collars [officers] is an idiot.”
  
  
• -“I always wanted to come over and kick ass, glad we did it this time.”
  
  
• -“Before I wasn’t sure how Iraqi civilians felt about us coming, how they felt, if they actually wanted us to fix their country.  If it was really an Iraqi freedom operation.  Now I think they’re happy, they’re friendly, they’re glad to see us (except the six we just captured).  It’s a rich oil country, but people live Third World, no shoes.”
  
  
• -“First the constant is that the U.S. has it’s own ideas on capitalizing from this.  But I feel better being here now, because we are here, but it’s worth it that we’re helping these people.  The U.S. is a bunch of pigs because it’s for oil–not humanitarian, but the people will be helped.”
  
  
• -“I didn’t think we’d face as little resistance as we did from hard core Islamics, because we’re a non-Arab army in an Arab’s country.  War becomes more legitimate with each person I see every day.”
  
  
• -“First our intentions were not to help these people, so not entirely.  But a little good has come out of it, but who knows what kind of mess this will lead to.”
  
  
• -“War is not what it seems to be on TV, only a few exciting seconds are shown.  I still think it’s good for why we’re here.”
  
  
• -“Since the beginning I wanted to help people.  My understanding of war has changed, it’s a messy business.  America promised too much, Iraqis had basic needs under Saddam.  They’re starting to wonder how America is going to end up here.”

• -“I think we’d still be here even if 9/11 hadn’t occurred.”
  
  
• -“No, I look at my watch twice a day at 9:11, that’s the only context.”
  
  
• -“We’ve all moved on from that.”
  
  
• -“Last night.  I’m trying to relate it to here.  I want people I know living in New York City to live and not have to worry about things.”
  
  
• -“No, surprisingly I don’t think I have.”
  
  
• -“Yes, since then our country has taken on a different stance in dealing with the world. That’s part of what we’re doing, not just freeing Iraq, fighting terrorism. The world wouldn’t be where it was today.”
  
  
• -“In the beginning. Now I have no time to think about that sh*t.”
  
  
• -“I wonder if Saddam had anything to do with it.”
  
  
• -“No, not really.  Now that you mention it, I’m surprised I haven’t.”
  
  
• -“Every day. A family friend, a firefighter, was lost. This was my first experience of America being attacked.”
  
  
• -“All the time. It began this odyssey. Personally it was the start of a long journey to this point. It will never be over in full, but my own contribution to my country will have been resolved, so I can move forward. This is closing the chapter on the journey. Time to move on to a new phase.”

• -“I have a ten inch c*ck – just kidding.  I’d say Saddam is gone, but the job is not done.  Make sure you help us get you a new government, so we can get out.  Never become as cowardly as suicide bombers.”
  
  
• -“You owe us.”
  
  
• -“That’s all you had?”
  
  
• -“Look forward to a brighter future.”
  
  
• -“If you’re happy we’re here, good. If not, we’ve won, f*ck you, we did it fast. Your country sucks d*ck and I don’t know why you stay here.”
  
  
• -“Bring me meat and bread.”
  
  
• -“I’d thank the people for their cooperation. I’m glad they’re free.”
  
  
• -“You’re welcome.”
  
  
• -“We’ve given you a chance to unf*ck yourselves, don’t f*ck up, take full advantage. Tolerance is key.”
  
  
• -“I’d advise them there is a lot in this world they’ve never know, and to be open to this.  We’re giving you a chance to see something beyond what you’ve known before.”
  
  
• -“Patience, Patience.  There is no magical stick to change everything.  You need to do things yourselves, Americans won’t do everything.”
  
  
• -“Thank you for tearing us away from our loving families to live in your miserable country.”
  
  
• -“I hope we actually helped them. Everything done was done for their good. I’m sorry if they had to suffer at all.”
  
  
• -“Now it’s up to you guys.”
  
  
• -“Freedom to live the life you want is the greatest freedom you can have.”
  
  
• -“Now we’re here to help, we mean no harm. Take precaution on how you approach us, we’re still alert. Please cooperate and obey the laws.”

• -“Talking to the grandkids–it’s nothing, not a big deal. There’s more reaction to things now, not in the future.”
  
  
• -“In forty years America’s power and influence won’t be as strong. Our mideast expansion is the beginning of us overextending.”
  
  
• -“I’d just miss everybody. You don’t have friends like this at home, or anywhere.”
  
  
• -“I won’t.”
  
  
• -“I’m trying to appreciate what we’re doing. I feel proud, I’m proud now.”
  
  
• -“I’d be proud I did something productive.”
  
  
• -“If I hadn’t come here I would have been frustrated. I’m glad I was here no matter what we end up doing.”
  
  
• -“I hope to forget, but probably never will.”
  
  
• -“Everything was worth it–stopping our lives for a second time and making sacrifices.”
  
  
• -“I really have no idea. I probably won’t talk about it.  People wouldn’t understand.  Only if someone was there would I talk about it.”
  
  
• -“It characterized the youth of my life. It formed the foundation for the rest of my life.  Friends here will know you better than anyone. This is life.”

-“I wouldn’t care. / I’d punch them, then kick them when they’re down.”

-“They have every right to. / I’d walk right by them.”

-“I think they’re stupid. / I’d punch them, I’d be so angry I couldn’t even speak. They haven’t earned the right to protest, not until they serve their country. Civilian couch potatoes don’t know their d*ck from their ass.”

-“They do it because some have nothing better to do, to do something. They have no idea what it’s all about. / I’d say that’s your opinion, but I don’t agree and I’m not going to discuss it with you because you weren’t part of it.”

-“It’s good. It’s America. Some people do it because it’s the hip thing. People think it’s cool to be anti-something, but not anti-troops, that’s bad. Before being here I’d be more easily swayed into protesting. It’s still for oil, but I’ve become more for it. If we leave without capitalizing on oil, I think that would be great. / Hey, whatever. I’d have the same conversation we’re having right now.”

-“Every American is entitled to opinion, go for it, but I don’t agree with it. I hope the news shows it as we’re seeing it. After people see how it is right now, there should be no more protests. If they’re protesting they’re just hypocrites. / If you protest you protest the soldiers, and that’s wrong, they don’t make policy. Soldiers will fight when you hate the cause and when you love the cause.”

-“Protesters are naïve. Their agendas are not as benevolent or pro-Iraqi as they might seem. They’re all under the Iraqi banner but using the war for their own agendas. / I might be personally angry but would try to educate them that I’m a professional soldier, that’s my job.”

-“They have every right. I don’t agree with a lot of it.  You can protest anything, that’s what’s great about our country. / I’d just keep walking.”

-“If they were here and saw the people here with nothing and smiles when they see us, they would change their views real fast. They protest just to argue. / I’d go nuts on them. I would love to hear their reason, then show them a video of Iraqi people and then see what they would say.”

-“They have a right to, but a lot don’t know all the facts. They haven’t been to Iraq like we have, but they have a right to do and say what they want, which is why we’re the most powerful nation. I just hope they don’t call us baby killers. / Depends. If they were hostile I’d punch them. If they were decent, I’d try to talk to them about what they saw.”

-“They don’t have a f*cking clue what’s going on. Cowards. They’re over privileged kids directing their own ideas against this. They can afford to go against their government. / I’d honor their right. If they made accusations against me, things would get heated. I’d ask them to back up what they say.”

-“I like them, they’re the ones who care about the troops.”