by Martin Fletcher at Forward Operating Base in Wardak province
American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned, according to the chaplains of two US battalions that have spent nine months on the front line in the war against the Taleban.
Many feel that they are risking their lives and that colleagues have died for a futile mission and an Afghan population that does nothing to help them, the chaplains told The Times in their makeshift chapel on this fortress-like base in a dusty, brown valley southwest of Kabul.
The many soldiers who come to see us have a sense of futility and anger about being here. They are really in a state of depression and despair and just want to get back to their families, said Captain Jeff Masengale, of the 10th Mountain Divisions 2-87 Infantry Battalion.
They feel they are risking their lives for progress thats hard to discern, said Captain Sam Rico, of the Divisions 4-25 Field Artillery Battalion. They are tired, strained, confused and just want to get through. The chaplains said that they were speaking out because the men could not.
No comments:
Post a Comment