Five years and counting. Four thousand American military deaths and counting. More than 80,000 Iraqi civilian deaths and counting.

We’ve heard enough from the politicians on both sides of the aisle about the war. But what do they know? I’d rather hear from someone who has been in the middle of the conflict.

To honor the efforts of our troops, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War, I contacted one of our own: a member of the U.S. military who has served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and who has a connection to the University.

Below are lightly edited excerpts from my e-mail interview with this brave, thoughtful and non-doctrinaire American soldier:

Q: What in the American news media seems to be the most accurate about what’s going on in Iraq?

A: I think that there is little they get right, except our body counts. I believe the mainstream media gives the public what it wants versus what it needs to know. They are very sophisticated to viewing habits and ratings are more important than educating a vast number of people who are (rightfully?) more concerned with what the weather is going to be like tomorrow.

Q: What do you see in the media accounts of the war that make you want to yell at the TV/newspaper/computer because it’s so false versus your experience?

A: Fox News, I laugh at the elevated terror alerts. If terrorism were so easy to predict, it would be pretty ineffective. Not that I really believe terrorism is as big a threat as it is made out to be. Nor do I think that you can kill an idea or fanaticism.

Q: Do you interact with any private contractors (e.g., the Blackwater et al. folks) in your work? What’s your view, and/or others’, about waging war with so many non-military organizations taking a role in it?

A: I have little interaction with them. I see them in the chow hall and mainly avoid them. They are a sign of what Ike warned us about [a reference to the military-industrial complex, a phrase from President Eisenhower's farewell address].

Q: We hear a lot from some politicians about how we are winning the war and how we must win the war. From the perspective of someone on the ground in Iraq, what would “winning” entail? What would it look like?

A: I doubt that it will ever happen. Either we will accept a certain amount of hostilities and stay over here or we will wash our hands of the entire situation and allow another dictator to do our work for us.

Q: Do you believe Americans can support the troops, but not support the war?

A: I think that you can support the troops and not support a war. I don’t think anyone who knows what war is or looks like would support it. All wars are horrible and show how much of an animal we are.

Q: If I were next to you in Iraq and asked everyone around you when they thought all American troops would be home from Iraq, when would that be?

A: I am a little cynical, so I would say when the huge oil field in Kirkuk is dry.

Q: What is one thing college students should be doing about the war?

A: Pay attention, vote, demand accountability of their leadership, be less oblivious to what is happening and why.

With that said, we all live a better life because the cards are stacked unfairly in our favor.

An American who cares little for material things still has more and lives better than 95 percent of the world.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share?

A: Go Dawgs!!

- John Knox is an associate research scientist in the faculty of engineering and an instructor/adviser in the Department of Geography.