Letters to the editor for Thursday, May 13, 2004

European and Mideast editions

(EDITOR’S NOTE: These are the letters that appeared in each edition of Stripes on this publication date. Click here to jump ahead to the Pacific edition letters)

What are we accomplishing?

As my deployment in Iraq slowly passes, I ponder many things that my fellow soldiers discuss. One topic never fails to inspire heated debates: What are we U.S. soldiers actually accomplishing here?

I’ve been a soldier for more than 12 years. This is my fifth major deployment, my sixth if Korea is included. I’m no stranger to leaving my family, my goals, and my life behind for a purpose much more important than any one person. I’ve willingly made personal sacrifices and asked for nothing in return. But until now, I’ve always seen the need and the goal.

Most of us are extremely confused as to our mission and the level of success. We were initially told that we were crushing an evil regime and striking a hard blow for the forces of righteousness during the war on terrorism. All of the reasons justifying the war in the beginning, such as links between Iraq’s leadership and terrorist organizations, as well as weapons of mass destruction, have failed to produce tangible fruit.

So suddenly the stated mission was to liberate Iraqis from a cruel and corrupt dictator. We can appreciate this as soldiers, but we wonder where the results are. Our military and political leadership say that the situation is getting better every day for the average citizen. If this is the case, why are these happy people staging attacks and killing us on a daily basis?

The actions of a few may indeed be causing the problem, but the average citizen is not stupid. People know what happens outside their doors. Joe Iraqi may not place the explosive device or launch the mortar round, but if Joe is aware that there’s a weapons cache two doors down and says nothing, he’s silently condoning the action and reaping a share of the results. So once again, why do we persist in giving our time, money and blood to help a nation that doesn’t show the slightest interest in improving its own situation? When is enough actually enough?

Being in Iraq has exposed us to many new experiences. We deal with oven-like temperatures, insects that could inspire horror movies, food shortages, the loss of basic human needs and fear. We put our lives on hold and miss out on events like the births of children. Loved ones die and we can’t say our goodbyes. We sit helplessly as life goes on without us. For some, it’s asking too much. Some GIs decide they’ve given all they can and aren’t willing to give more. But they’re told that they must give more. The GIs who don’t wish to be GIs any longer are kept in the profession. Why? Have they not earned the right to partake in the freedoms that they’ve defended through their giving? It would appear not, and therein lies the tragedy.

We’ll do our jobs to the best of our abilities and continue sacrificing, making due with whatever we’re given. We can be counted on to do what’s right and moral and just. We can be counted on to deal with others fairly. Should we expect or settle for anything less from others?

Sgt. Erik C. Barbrick
Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq

Pacific edition

Gas-price articles don’t tell all

It seems that every other month Stars and Stripes prints another story on fuel prices in South Korea. The latest story “Gasoline prices soaring in South Korea” appeared in the May 2 edition.

The story is basically always the same: fuel prices have either gone up or down and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service determines their pricing based on the average price of fuel in the States determined by the U.S. Department of Energy during the previous four-week period.

The reporter never asks the question nor reports why AAFES determines the cost of gas from data gathered in the States. The reporter never asks why AAFES continues to gouge its customers in South Korea at the pump. Additionally, the reporter always goes out of his way to tell us how much fuel costs out on the local economy. Who cares? What we care about is how much we have to pay for it on post.

A few years ago I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to AAFES and obtained a copy of its gas contract with a local South Korean vendor.

I found out that AAFES was paying 74 cents a gallon for gas, but was charging its customers in South Korea $1.65 a gallon. Now, let’s see, AAFES does not pay state or federal tax and pays no South Korean tax. And the vendor that supplies the fuel to AAFES also does not pay South Korean tax on the fuel sold to AAFES. So where is the rest of the money going?

One would think that AAFES would base its fuel pricing on what it actually pays for a gallon plus a markup for operating costs and profit. Based on the 74 cents a gallon information I gathered a few years ago and the current price increase to $1.84 for regular gas, AAFES is making a profit of $1.10 on each gallon of gas sold. Of course the 74 cent cost per gallon is old information, but am sure that it’s not too far off. Maybe Stripes could do a little bit of investigative journalism and find out the current price that AAFES is actually paying for fuel? Now that would be real news.

One final comment: What is U.S. Forces Korea’s stand on this? Why is USFK allowing AAFES to gouge us at the pumps?

Anthony A. Merkel
Yongsan Garrison, South Korea