Nov. 5
Screening of “The Ground Truth” and panel
 
Kristen and I met Sgt. Larry Cannon, an Iraq vet that walked with me in October, and Sgt. Ryan Poland, whom I served with in Iraq and Kosovo, outside the Salt Lake City Library before the screening of “The Ground Truth.”
 
I saw the movie for the first time two days before. It was painful to watch because it was so honest. It got me thinking about all the Iraq vets who are quietly suffering with posttraumatic stress disorder.
 
We all went in to the theater and took our seats. During the viewing, several people audibly wept. Military Families Speak Out sponsored the event, so I know that it was uncomfortably close to home for many people in attendance. Still, I think we all felt it was important to be there and to let people know what Iraq War veterans are going through.
 
After the screening, a panel consisting of Larry, a military mom, a VA psychiatrist, and me answered questions about Iraq and posttraumatic stress.
 
Once again, people asked us what the Iraqis were feeling. I told them that I couldn’t say for sure but based on the people I talked to, they want us to leave. The most common response to me was, “Thank you for getting rid of Saddam. Now please leave.”
 
At the end of the panel, an Iraqi man stood up. He’s lived in the U.S. for about 20 years but keeps in close touch with his relatives in Iraq. He said getting rid of Saddam was a  good thing, and now America should leave. He said that as a boy his father talked to him about the impending civil war.  This man told us that America should leave and have nothing to do with their civil war.
 
For me it was fascinating to hear him speak. This is what Iraqis are saying and it’s time we started respecting their wishes. My hope is that if we pull out in a responsible manner we can mitigate the risk of civil war. However, according to this man, it’s a war that has been in the works since before the U.S. arrived on the scene.