Capitol Grounds
An Officer Responds to Soldier's Comments
RECEIVED Mon., Jan. 12, 2009
Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to Richard Whittaker's article about soldiers from Austin who oppose the war ["Stop the Loss," News, Dec. 19, 2008]. I am an officer in Casey Porter's unit in Iraq. I've met Porter a few times, and he seems nice. Porter's experiences have left him jaded; mine have left me surprisingly fulfilled. Unfortunately, Porter's attitude has led him to misrepresent some of the facts for your paper. I can agree to disagree with just about anyone, but I will not sit idly by while my soldiers and my peers are slandered.
There are several opinions in the article with which I do not personally agree. I am not writing to counter everything Porter said. However, I would like to address one point Porter conveyed that I find personally offensive: "There's no reconstruction going on at the level they show you." Firstly, I have to ask who "they" are. Second, I would really like to know how Porter knows so much about the amount of reconstruction being done. I find it incredible that a low-level mechanic can speak so intelligently to the level of reconstruction being accomplished in our unit. He goes on to indict the media for misrepresenting their reporting of the war, much to the advantage of the military. That's quite a bold statement, and I would be thrilled to hear Porter cite specific cases of this.
Much of our work here has been devoted to reconstruction. It is a long, slow, tedious process into which my peers have poured their hearts and souls. The majority of the soldiers here are still dedicated to their units and their fellow soldiers. What sets them apart the most from Porter is that they express themselves in positive ways and try to improve their organization. It's not always easy, and it is much harder than making movies that highlight everything negative around you.
Personally, I think it is hilarious that Porter has made so many videos that clearly are intended to portray him as a victim of some bureaucratic conspiracy. But I think it is sad how many civilians believe him. His movies are fiction, and he is the leading man. I would love to meet with you and Porter together when we come home so he and I can debate some of the stories he told you and put in his movies. I predict Porter would not be able to put together quite as coherent an argument without the benefit of postproduction editing.
Yes, Porter, that is a challenge. Will you show the Chronicle how brave you really are?
I am writing in response to Richard Whittaker's article about soldiers from Austin who oppose the war ["Stop the Loss," News, Dec. 19, 2008]. I am an officer in Casey Porter's unit in Iraq. I've met Porter a few times, and he seems nice. Porter's experiences have left him jaded; mine have left me surprisingly fulfilled. Unfortunately, Porter's attitude has led him to misrepresent some of the facts for your paper. I can agree to disagree with just about anyone, but I will not sit idly by while my soldiers and my peers are slandered.
There are several opinions in the article with which I do not personally agree. I am not writing to counter everything Porter said. However, I would like to address one point Porter conveyed that I find personally offensive: "There's no reconstruction going on at the level they show you." Firstly, I have to ask who "they" are. Second, I would really like to know how Porter knows so much about the amount of reconstruction being done. I find it incredible that a low-level mechanic can speak so intelligently to the level of reconstruction being accomplished in our unit. He goes on to indict the media for misrepresenting their reporting of the war, much to the advantage of the military. That's quite a bold statement, and I would be thrilled to hear Porter cite specific cases of this.
Much of our work here has been devoted to reconstruction. It is a long, slow, tedious process into which my peers have poured their hearts and souls. The majority of the soldiers here are still dedicated to their units and their fellow soldiers. What sets them apart the most from Porter is that they express themselves in positive ways and try to improve their organization. It's not always easy, and it is much harder than making movies that highlight everything negative around you.
Personally, I think it is hilarious that Porter has made so many videos that clearly are intended to portray him as a victim of some bureaucratic conspiracy. But I think it is sad how many civilians believe him. His movies are fiction, and he is the leading man. I would love to meet with you and Porter together when we come home so he and I can debate some of the stories he told you and put in his movies. I predict Porter would not be able to put together quite as coherent an argument without the benefit of postproduction editing.
Yes, Porter, that is a challenge. Will you show the Chronicle how brave you really are?
Capt. Patrick R. Rice
