Final:How the War in Iraq Has Affected San Antonio

A Tragedy in the U.S.
Terrorism has been going on for years throughout the nation. Although 9/11 is one of the most crucial, darkest days for Americans, the War on Terrorism did not begin on this day. Our nation's most popular and most tragic war yet to this day is still ongoing. What happened on September 11, 2001 in New York was a devastating act of terrorism from the most notorious Islam, Osama Bin Laden, and his Al-Qaeda crew. Those horrible actions literally marked a day in our calendars. Thousands of Americans lost their lives on that tragic day, and many families lost their loved ones. Many Americans think that the war that is still going on in Iraq should end now. Many soldiers are dying everyday and families are enduring the pain of their tragic loss. Many children have to now live life without ever knowing their dads, or live life without their moms, or simply without a loved one.
In 1998 the Afghans, Sudan, and associates of Osama Bin Laden bombed the U. S. embassies in Kenya, and Tanzania which killed 224 people including 12 Americans, and injured 5, 000 others. This then led at the time President Bill Clinton to launch Operation Infinite Reach, a bombing campaign in Afghanistan that targeted against associations with Al-Qaeda and their affiliates. There were threats and controversy that the Afghans were making nuclear gas missiles to use against the United States. When the bombing in Afghanistan took place and the U.S. found no nuclear threats, and killed several Afghans, Osama Bin Laden later threatened that he would retaliate in 2001. His threat then became a reality. Then, the attack in New York City took place. Terrorist hijacked four airliners, two which intentionally crashed into the twin towers of The World Trade Center, The third crashed into the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed into an open area in Pennsylvania. Then, the war in Iraq was on its way. According to Eric Draper of the Washington Post, “On the night of Sept. 11, President Bush met with his war cabinet and started America on the road to war. Nine days later, the president would address the nation before a joint session of Congress. Those 10 days -- Sept. 11 to Sept. 20 -- marked a crucial turning point in the country's history as the U.S. confronted the threat of international terrorism.” President Bush then orders thousands of troops to head to Iraq to look for Saddam Huessein, Osama Bin Ladin, nuclear threats, and all terrorist threats they encounter. After the terrorist attacks,thousands of people around the world enlist to be part of the United States military to be able to represent and defend our country and freedom. The war has been active for six years, and many people still disapprove.
Although the whole world has been affected, I know some people here in San Antonio that were hit very hard by the War in Iraq. I work at an elementary school and one of my co-workers(Yolanda) husband was just recently sent to Iraq in October of 2007. He is in the Air Force and has been for twenty three years. This would be his first time he was actually sent out to operation Iraq or any other operation. I talk to Yolanda on a daily basis and she worries about her husband every single day. I had the opportunity to ask her how has the war in Iraq affected her. Yolanda replied, “Well, not only was my husband sent out to Iraq, but I also have a nephew out there so it has affected my entire family. Since, my husband has been gone, things have been tough around the house. He was the cook in the house. He cooked everything from scratch and that is only one thing we miss about him not being here. I have two young girls that miss their dad tremendously and we worry about him every single day. It is sometimes hard for me to concentrate at work, and then there’s times when I’m at work and it’s so busy that’s the only time I can get my mind off of worrying about David(Yolanda’s husband).” Her eyes got really watery while she was talking to me. I had to change the subject and tell her that was enough information I needed. Then, I chose a random teacher there at the school which I thought I could also ask how has the war in Iraq affected her. Surprisingly, Mrs. Garcia said, “The war has affected my whole family. My nephew was killed in Iraq three years ago. He was so close to my son and daughter they admired him. When they heard the news they were just devastated. My sister took it so hard I thought she was never get back on her feet. There is a in the SouthSide named after him in his honor.
Then, I have a friend Isabel a fellow classmate in my Spanish class. When I asked her how has the war affected her she replied, “It has had a dramatic affect on my family. My son-in-law just committed suicide two weeks ago. We had his burial last week. He served a year in Iraq and when he got home he was lost. He was not himself. He was diagnosed with post traumatic stress, and had to take depression pills. He heavily relied on them. He would tell us that we do not understand what he’s going through he needs to have the pills. So we told him to try to go without them because we thought he was addicted to the pills. Well, then he committed suicide.” I did not ask how? I really wanted to know at the time, but I did not think it was appropriate. It still lingers in my mind, because he was a young man, only twenty eight years old. He left behind a wife and two kids. These were only a few stories told. Imagine how many more war stories around San Antonio there are to tell. San Antonians show their support by hanging up yellow ribbons on their trees, porches and doors. Many people also contribute and show support by donating items and money to send care packages to the soldiers in Iraq. People in San Antonio have come together since the war in Iraq has began. It is imperative that we show our support for our troops that put their lives on the line to ensure our safety and freedom, also support the families who have loved ones deployed, and to those who have lost loved ones during this time of tragedy.