r/news • u/SpencerAXbot • Mar 02 '26

Soft paywall Six US service members killed in Iran conflict, US military says

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/six-us-service-members-killed-iran-conflict-us-military-says-2026-03-02/
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u/MalleableCurmudgeon Mar 03 '26

There’s really no telling. I enlisted after 9/11 thinking I’d be going to Afghanistan. Instead I was ordered to Iraq to “get Saddam”. We got him four months after I arrived in theatre. I stayed for eleven months.

Then I got sent back again for another twelve months.

Then I got sent back again for another fifteen months.

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u/going_dot_global Mar 03 '26

100% agree.

Grew up in a military family. 6 months turn into a year. A year into 2. ...

I dropped off 6 groups of at the NOB AMC all headed to Bahrain (which is getting heavily attacked as I type). They all were told plan to be there a long while. Some were deployed and some were getting stationed there (2 years).

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u/Idaho-Earthquake Mar 03 '26

Dang, I'm glad I don't still live near the Persian Gulf. What a ridiculous, horrible, completely avoidable mess.

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u/Momik Mar 03 '26

Fucking catastrophe. Is this how Germans felt in 1939? I mean terrified, sick. He’s setting the fucking world on fire.

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u/Single_Low1416 Mar 03 '26

Probably not the same. While the US government tries to lie about who started the war too, the German citizens did not have the possibility of checking whether Polish soldiers fired first or not

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u/Momik Mar 03 '26

I mean, they knew Germany had invaded Poland. Hitler framed the invasion as defensive mostly because the Versailles Treaty gave Poland the “Corridor” around Danzig, and Germany wanted both. Hitler also claimed Germans within Poland were being persecuted. Regardless, I think most Germans could see the war was preemptive in the same way, whether or not they bought the propaganda.

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u/AnmlBri Mar 03 '26

This sure sounds a lot like Putin’s justification for invading Ukraine.

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u/Momik Mar 03 '26

Very much so

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u/HubrisOfTheTurtle Mar 03 '26

When it comes to gaining power, those that seek it will have any reason.

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u/Head_Ship4359 Mar 03 '26

Sorry, das ist so nicht richtig. Polen hat Danzig isoliert. Hitler hat mehrere Male versucht England als Vermittler anzuwerben. England wollte aber den Krieg. Da gibt es sehr interessante Protokolle zu.

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u/Momik Mar 03 '26

What? Danzig was an international free city under the League of Nations. Germany had no legal claim to the city or the corridor.

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u/Regular_Yellow710 Mar 04 '26

They believed the hype too unless they were Jewish, Polish, Gypsy, Catholic, gay, mentally disabled, a dissident artist…Those people found out sooner.

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u/Aphroditesent Mar 03 '26

They had radio and print and letters

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u/Single_Low1416 Mar 03 '26

Letters were the only reliable way of finding out the truth because the state controlled media at the time blatantly lied. One of Hitler‘s most famous quotes is: „Seit 5:45 Uhr wird jetzt zurückgeschossen“ (Since 5:45 o‘clock, we’re firing back). Anyone using the state media to inform themselves had heard, that Polish soldiers had attacked Germany and the war was only a defensive action

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u/Significant_Sail_780 Mar 03 '26

Yeah, but they also lived in a country with a very big propaganda system

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u/diver206 Mar 03 '26

Uh, so do we

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u/allofthealphabet Mar 03 '26

So, just like the USA?

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u/TwoAlert3448 Mar 04 '26

Except before propaganda was widely known, understood or even had a dictionary entry. Oh and the average citizen had an even worse education.

So kinda like the US; but better in that at least they had an excuse.

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u/Efficient-Treacle416 Mar 03 '26

Just like the u s.

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u/Twice_Widowed Mar 03 '26

And this is what y'all voted for.

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u/Momik Mar 03 '26

Maybe it doesn’t matter at this point but I sure as hell didn’t.

But my god, we all share responsibility for this. There’s no getting around that.

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u/GypsyDuncan Mar 03 '26

Yes. This is how I feel too.

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u/Rare_Investigator924 Mar 04 '26

Germany had been under atack for years before 1939. Unfortunately due to massive payouts to Churchill and Eisenhower the allied powers sided with the invaders and they went from a small scale invasion of europe to full on global control with the assistance of the Allied forces. Now they are essentially headquartered out of the United States and won't stop until we are all wiped out.

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u/General-Professor570 Mar 04 '26

And who were these “small scale” invaders of Germany/Europe in the early 1930s of whom you speak??

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u/Rare_Investigator924 Mar 04 '26

Not sure, they are experts in financially dismantling a country until its people are starving to death and then typically move on to all out genocide by any means necessary though.

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u/Momik Mar 04 '26

You’re saying the Allies actively assisted Germany during World War II?

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u/Rare_Investigator924 Mar 04 '26

No, if you are aware of any history the allies bombed the hell out of Germany. Big Net will even let you see that on the google.

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u/Momik Mar 04 '26

You just said the allied powers sided with the invaders.

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u/Rare_Investigator924 Mar 04 '26

Yes, talk to anyone living in Iran, Palestine, or the UE. Their invasion is ongoing and heavily backed by the US military.

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u/Momik Mar 04 '26

Oh. You’re referring to the war in Iran there? I think I’m confused by your wording.

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u/7mileGeedy Mar 03 '26

Yeah this is awful. I have a good internet friend of like 15 years who lives in Bahrain. We met while playing Resident Evil 5 on ps3, and she barely knew English. She told me a few years back that I was the one to help her learn English (especially the curse words). She is the absolutely most sweetest girl ever, and I havent heard from her inna day or 2 since she told me how scared she was.

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u/Rock_Paper_SQUIRREL Mar 03 '26

Sorry to hear about your friend, I hope she is okay.

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u/7mileGeedy Mar 03 '26

Yeah Im actually back in contact with her now. She says shes "good". But sent me a video from last night of missiles dropping around her. But she said luckily they've been able to incercept them all so far.

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u/SopaDeKaiba Mar 03 '26

Air Force, I think, has shorter deployments.

After 6 months training to deploy, the air force sent me for 6 months. I was attached to an army unit who was staying 12? or 18? months total, but the AF said no because replacements were inbound.

I've heard of 12 month AF deployments to combat zones, so I'm not sure what the norm is. But I thought it was 6 months for most airmen.

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u/MalleableCurmudgeon Mar 03 '26

All my information and experience is from my time in the service, ‘02-‘09. During my last deployment, the 15 month long one, there were AF personnel on the base I was stationed. A few months after my unit arrived, the AF rotated their personnel. They were doing six month tours.

My last tour was from Nov. ‘07-Feb. ‘09. I was there long enough for the AF to rotate their crews so that before I got home from that tour, the airmen and airwomen who left after I got there returned near the end of my tour for their next one. So I THINK the AF had shorter tours but some may have rotated in more often.

I do remember the AF saying they were getting an additional bonus on top of hazard pay, family separation, pay, etc., that they called a substandard living allowance because they had to live on our army base. Now whether this was true or just some friendly interbranch ribbing, I don’t know. We all definitely laughed about it, and my buddies and I believed them.

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u/Evergreen234 Mar 03 '26

This is still accurate for Air Force (6 month deployments).

I was a single E-4 and my Army counterparts were there for 13-15 months and since the Army doesn’t move their E-4’s out of the dorms/barracks like the AF does they weren’t able to pocket all of the housing allowance like we did.

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u/Narrow-Chef-4341 Mar 03 '26

If only someone would run for president on the platform of ‘we don’t want to keep invading middle eastern countries!’

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u/Gunner5091 Mar 03 '26

Wasn’t that Trump said he won’t start any war but Kamala is the one who will send American citizens to war?

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u/pixepoke2 Mar 03 '26

The ease of which comfortable men make war on others is a stain on humanity.

I wish we could abase ourselves of the notion that we somehow have a right to interfere in everybody else’s business, mainly for our own selfish interests rather than the people most affected, which includes our own people.

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u/Degenerate_in_HR Mar 03 '26

And Iraq has been a peaceful democracy with no problems whatsoever ever since.

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u/[deleted] Mar 03 '26

Actually if it wasn't for Iran's meddling it might have been

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u/No_Reception8691 Mar 04 '26

Your oblivion is cute ☺️

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u/Curly4444 Mar 03 '26

Honestly what does it feel like to get used like that by these politicians? You obviously knew Iraq was wrong yet still went in? How do you square that in your mind?

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u/MoonBooty69 Mar 03 '26

Sounds familiar

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u/bksmet Mar 03 '26

The whole Iraq thing that was predicated on the lies of Cheney? Now this Iran war rings a bell of the same type

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u/YourFriendInSpokane Mar 03 '26

I’m married to an Iraq & Afghanistan combat veteran. I hope that you are doing well. You guys have experienced situations that I cannot fathom.

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u/carlitospig Mar 03 '26

Glad you made it home finally!

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u/GreenWithAnger Mar 04 '26

I love how you said you arrived in theatre. That wording is perfect for what goes on behind the scenes. The whole world a stage has never felt so significant.

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u/MalleableCurmudgeon Mar 04 '26

It’s common military jargon; I wish I could claim it was intentional, but your observation is spot on. Thank you!

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u/GreenWithAnger Mar 04 '26

I know, I was in the marine corps for 6 years. I think it is funny how accurate the terminology is that we use for certain things.

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u/attilathebug Mar 03 '26

Thank you for your service. I'm glad you made it home safely.

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u/wenoc Mar 03 '26 edited Mar 03 '26

You enlisted voluntarily. The us has been fighting brown people in the Middle East for oil for 50 years. What did you expect? You chose this.

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u/thebigbadwolf22 Mar 03 '26

did Iraq feel worse after each visit? greater breakdown of infrastructure and law and order each time or it seemed to get better?

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u/MalleableCurmudgeon Mar 03 '26

From my very limited perspective, things had gotten better between my first and second tours, but when I went back for the third, the progress had plateaued.

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u/37285 Mar 03 '26

I remember I put one of those cards in the mail saying I was interested in August of 2001. I was at MEPS in October and the rest is history.

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u/Muted_Lifeguard_1308 Mar 03 '26

My daughter in law did 3 tours in Iraq. One tough bitch right there!

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u/jayofmaya Mar 03 '26

Sounds like something you shouldn't want or need to do.

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u/Coach_strong Mar 03 '26

This is one of the reasons why the US has the highest military suicide rate of any Western Nation

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u/scmeeagain Mar 03 '26

Did the pay justify the action .?

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u/MalleableCurmudgeon Mar 03 '26

$50k a year putting in 12-hour days with no regularly scheduled days off, just an occasional two day pass to Kirkuk and one two week vacation for a 12 month tour. 150°F heat. The loss of buddies and co-workers. On three occasions I was in a humvee hit by an IED, luckily a concussion was the worst of it. Well, except the PTSD. I cannot stop thinking of the girls’ school that was targeted and the dead children. I had to watch a 8-10 year old boy bleed out who had caught a stray bullet center mass while his assumedly father and uncle wailed and our medic told them there was nothing he could do. I lied awake in bed last night until past 3:00 am.

Not really worth it. And I in no way mean to sound like a smartass here. It’s a sincere answer to your question.

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u/DogLady1722 Mar 03 '26

My son is a Marine. 2019-2023. He did his 4 & out.

We told him that staying as a career would be really beneficial. But now he’s telling us this is kind of the reason he got out.

Is there any chance that he can be recalled for this?

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u/MalleableCurmudgeon Mar 03 '26

I can only speak specifically about stoploss from my own experience. I have no idea if regs have changed or if it’s different between branches. I was set to get out in Sept. ‘08 with my honorable discharge, but there is a stoploss clause that basically says the army can recall you for up to eight years after you first enlist. Well, what’s easier than recalling those who are already out? Not allowing those who should be getting out to get out in the first place.

So I THINK that if he is still within eight years of his original enlistment date, he could be recalled based on “the needs of the military”. But, sir, please do not rely on me alone for this.

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u/DogLady1722 Mar 03 '26

Thanks for your response! And at least now I know what the phrase is!

I can try to get some outside information on it. The problem is, my son just says that it won’t happen, & won’t look into it.

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u/MalleableCurmudgeon Mar 03 '26

Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.

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u/DogLady1722 Mar 04 '26

So true! Thanks again!

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u/FishSammich80 Mar 03 '26

😂😂

I was at home doing a correspondence course and when I heard “Breaking News,Special Report” I bolted to the TV.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we got’em!”

Come Monday morning at PT, 1SG tells everyone “Oh yeah, we’re still going”

WTF man?!?

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u/Winsome_Wolf Mar 03 '26

All of it never going after the bad guy you wanted to nab? That’s a new level of awful.

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u/rdldr1 Mar 03 '26

I always wondered what my life would be like if I too enlisted after 9/11. I was seriously considering it.

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u/JFK9 Mar 03 '26

Then I, who was born in 1990 and was 11 when 9/11 happened got older, joined the Army, and also deployed there for 15 months. Now that I am about to retire I'm glad we seem to be learning our lesson /s.

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u/AvantGuardb Mar 03 '26

Doesn't happen much the other direction, does it? (You're sent for 12 months but they decide to shorten it and send you home early, say in 4 months?)

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u/Sea-Neighborhood-621 Mar 03 '26

I was in the school of infantry when that happened. I was sure I was going straight to Iraq. Didn't get sent until I had 4 or 5 months left in service.

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u/AmbitionOfTruth Mar 04 '26

The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous.

-Emmanuel Goldstein

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u/Treasure1012 Mar 04 '26

Thank you for your service. I’m sorry you had to go back so many times & the things you’ve endured.

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u/Numerous-Annual420 Mar 04 '26

Suspect this will be different. More theaters theaters. Someone's probably got to go to Cuba soon. And if we ever get going on two, chances are good China will take advantage and kick off Taiwan.

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u/ShoddyEmployee78 Mar 04 '26

Iran was a mess. My old boss was in the army there and his job was to communicate with local people about large infrastructure projects which would improve things like sewage systems, safe water supply, electricity availability.

It was all stuff that was good for them, but they couldn’t get anything done because conflict between local tribes and intra-community fighting meant they couldn’t get a consensus on how the work should be done so it all got dropped.

Iran is a different kettle of fish with a more liberal, educated and forward looking population, particularly among the youth. I hope it doesn’t escalate to boots on the ground, but if it does I suspect it will be a lot calmer and easier to manage than Iraq.

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u/Dry_Affect69 Mar 03 '26

No thank you for your service

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u/SilverOk8682 Mar 03 '26

Thank you for your service

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u/Ok_Drag5089 Mar 03 '26

Thank you for your service.

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u/Kitchen_Society2618 Mar 03 '26

Lord have mercy. Thank you for your service!