March 23, 2006

StreetTalk

by Carol Rosen

This past weekend marked the third anniversary of the start of the Iraqi War. Based on the past three years and on current events, where do you see the war going? Do you know anyone serving or who has served in Iraq?
(Asked at Almaden Oaks Plaza)


“I don’t know anyone. I hope the war won’t continue but I think it will because it’s already been going on for so long.”

Jessica Rossi, 19
Almaden
Works at Albertsons


“Under the current president I see the war going nowhere. I don’t know anyone over there. ”

Pat Smith-Jones, 75
Almaden
Retired happily


“I’m hopeful it will have a positive outcome. It’s too late to pull out now, we’re in too far. There’s some military personnel that attend our church that are serving over there and we are all praying for them, but I don’t know them personally.”

Julie Valascuez, 42
Almaden
Homemaker


“It will be another 10 years before we get out of there because of the lack of reality in the administration and in the president in particular. I have an occasional acquaintance that had one tour over there and was signed up for a second tour. He was a Marine reservist.”

Robert Bellezzi, 75
Almaden
Executive director, The Corneal Dystrophy Foundation


“I know for sure that we will be staying there through the end of his term. It makes me sad. But I work out with a woman who served in Iraq in the reserves for a year and a half. She says she and other soldiers believe in the work they are doing there. I wish we could just have an exit strategy. There is such unrest there now and we are so committed, if we leave now it would be worse.”

Claudia Cherlin, 50
Almaden
Medical technician


“I don’t see peace over there for a long time. I spent two years, from 1951-1953 in the Royal Air Force in Basra and it’s still the same old mess, they just can’t get along with each other. No, I don’t know anyone serving over there, and I’m thankful that I don’t have any of mine over there.”

Harry Hudspith, 76
Almaden
Retired