Fathers, Sons And Brothers: Taking Account

(CBS)  About half of the soldiers in the Iowa Guard battalion didn't have to go to Iraq-they volunteered. They and their families are part of a small group of Americans shouldering the burden of the war. 60 Minutes and correspondent Scott Pelley witnessed a lot of sacrifice over nearly two years.

After their tour was extended, many of the fathers, sons and brothers came to a different view of the war and at home, wives were getting used to carrying the load alone.

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Back in August 2005, Shannon Foote was in labor when the call to war came. She told 60 Minutes she would be "Supermom" while her husband, Denver, was away. But she struggled, working, living with her in-laws, raising her son, and watching Denver's tour extended.

"My feelings about the whole deployment has probably changed because I'm just missing him so much and I just don't think anything is fair anymore, I don't think the amount of time he's been over there is fair and I haven't really seen any progress," she says.

But Shannon is making progress at home. She has started her own business, a daycare, and bought a house her husband hasn't seen. Like other wives 60 Minutes met, she's getting help for depression.

"I know I've had my share of dealing with it," she acknowledges.

"I wonder how common that is among the other wives?" Pelley asks.

"Everyone I've talked to…[it] is really, pretty common," she replies.

For the guardsmen, though, there's no moving on. They're running the same vital but monotonous missions. Many, especially the younger ones, are questioning the war. Mike Ites and his son Josh used to be on the same page.

"I have the sense here that you guys don't see eye to eye on the war," Pelley remarks.

"That would be a true statement," Mike Ites acknowledges.

Asked what he is thinking, Josh tells Pelley, "I just feel that we will be here a long time. And it's going to take a lot more time than what people think back home to fix what's going on over here. From what I see, they don't want us here."

"Mike, you disagree with that?" Pelley asks.

"Yeah, I believe that we're supposed to be over here. Progress is being made," he says. "If you go back to 9/11 and what the people did there and when the president asked 'Do you want me to after these people?,' the whole United States stood up and said in unison and said 'Yes, we do.' He says, 'This is gonna be long and drawn out. Are you really sure you're gonna stand with me?' And they said, 'Yes, we will.' Well, now there are some that aren't because the American people are a 'gimme' people and 'give it to me now.'"

"You're a little bit angry that the folks at home have turned against the war," Pelley remarks.

"Oh, you could say that," Mike Ites admits.

"More than a little bit," Pelley says.

Says Mike Ites, "As I said, I believe in what we're doing."

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[njva17420]

And shame on Mike Ites for his appalling condemnation of the American public as a "gimme" culture. Maybe we are, but we did not ask for this God-forsaken war.

[njva17420]

Unfortunately, Mike Ites has bought 100% into the Bush's propoganda. One had to feel sad for his son Josh, sitting next to him, because he got it right.

[feelfree1]

KWK1965,

Re: "Unfortunately it also shows that the United States has lost the war of terrorism, as we can't even correctly identify the enemy."

That was an excellent observation.

[kwk1965]

Guardsmen Mike Ites' continued claims that Iraq is/was responsible for September 11th simply shows that the Bush/Cheney propoganda machine works in middle America. Unfortunately it also shows that the United States has lost the war of terrorism, as we can't even correctly identify the enemy.

[feelfree1]

The Bush Butchers' Bill- A Memorial Day Reflection:

The Iraqis-

According to the best available estimate, published in the Lancet, last October, the illegal war against Iraq had claimed the lives of 655,000 Iraqis, with more than 200,000 Iraqis dead as a direct result of U.S. bombs and bullets.

With violence and chaos steadily increasing since that time, we can probably be safe in estimating the death toll on Iraqis at 1 million. With 1 million dead Iraqis as a result of the Bush regime invasion, we may easily conclude that millions of Iraqis have been injured and/or maimed.

Some 4 million Iraqis have been displaced from their homes, so far, with 2 million of them forced to flee the country, and another 2 million displaced internally.

We have seen wedding parties slaughtered from high altitude, a young girl gang raped, murdered, and set on fire by U.S. soldiers, following the execution of most of her family, and we have seen Iraqi children spattered with the blood of their parents by trigger-happy U.S. troops at checkpoints.

We have seen Iraqis tortured- to death in at least one case, we have seen them raped, and soddomized by various U.S. agents, and we note that most Iraqis still lack electricity, safe drinking water, and employment.

This is the legacy of the illegitimate and contemptible Bush regime. Obvoiusly the people of Iraq have every right to defend themselves against the brutal and illegal invasion of their country, and from collaborators of the invaders.

[feelfree1]

The Bush Butchers' Bill- A Memorial Day Reflection:

American toll-

We note that the Bush regime has wasted 104 U.S. military lives in Iraq, so far this month, bringing their official U.S. military death toll to 3,731. We see another 600+ U.S. mercenaries are dead since the beginning of the illegal invasion of Iraq, and another 390 U.S. military dead in Afghanistan. We see tens of thousands more U.S. service men and woman injured and maimed from these military misadventures.

And here at home?

We know that the Bush regime was notified that the levies in New Orleans were constructed 18 inches too low, as a result of an Army Corpse of Engineers calculation error, and as reported by investigative journalist, Greg Palast. Out of incompetence, &/or out of apathy, the members of the Bush regime failed to take any corrective action, resulting in the deaths of another 1,500 Americans. We have yet to see how many Americans will die as a result of the Bush regime declaring the poisoned air in New York City, following the 9/11/01 attacks, to be safe.

Just from the above figures alone, we can conclude that the actions and policies of the illegitimate Bush regime have claimed the lives of more than 6,000 Americans.

This is the bloody and shameful legacy of the Bush regime.

Happy Memorial Day.

[bb19631]

depression??? yeah get on something soon as you hear the word deployment,youll need it. as far as going to get yourself pregnant before your husband leaves to iraq, is STUPID... you will be going it alone... yeah, have a special on what happens after they come home. nothing is the same. it took alot of patience on my part. he got on my nerves, he wouldnt talk about iraq or anything that happened over there. i tried to be understanding. ***, it never happened. PTSD- BIG TIME. HE wouldnt take his meds. angry outbursts from him over minor things. my marriage almost failed because of iraq. he didnt go back to work for months. i finally called his boss. it took 1- yr. at least for him to be back to somewhat " NORMAL". i have a feeling he will be called again soon.

[kacdee]

I am totally behind our troops 100%, but to hear Guardsmen, Mike Ites say to Scott Pelley we have to be in Iraq after what they did to us on 9-11. This is totaly false as they had nothing to do with 9-11 and half of the nation was against going to Iraq when Bush told us we where going anyway. Also why is it neither Scott Pelley or any of your correspondents remind people they interview that Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. Are the people in our nation so blind they cannot see we are there for the oil. Everyone knows this but are afraid to admit it, we will be there for a long time losing more troops. What a shame. Only those with family in the military are doing all the sacrificing while the rest of us go on with our daily lives and give up nothing.
Kacdee

[klmullican]

Thank you, Mr. Pelley, and 60 Minutes for showing us what happens to our troops in Iraq. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to see this! I support the war, I support what the men and women of our military are doing, and I pray for them to be able to come home soon! My heart broke for them and their families when they found out they would have to be there longer after thinking they were so close to coming home! I am so thankful to them for protecting our country. I firmly believe that their efforts are keeping the terrorists at bay from attacking us here in our country again. We are praying for God to keep them safe until their safe return home, and are so grateful to them! Thank you!

[NorthrupP61]

While I appreciated your show about the National Guard I was completely floored when I heard one of the guardsmen claim that Iraq had been behind the attack on 9/11! The administration carefully fostered that notion initially, but apparently when they changed tactics no one told the military.

We had no choice but to go into Afghanistan, but the invasion of Iraq was an error in judgment of staggering proportions, and it has been a recruiting tool for terrorists around the globe. A bumpersticker I've seen pretty well sums it up: "We are making enemies faster than we can kill them."

I hope that the rest of these brave men will return safely to their families.