Stateline Parents of US Soldiers Have Mixed Reviews Over Bush Plan

Rockford, IL - "I`d like to see the troops come home," says Connie Ruggero. Ruggero wants to see her son Sam, a sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division in Baghdad, come home. Even though its his lifelong dream to serve, she believes this ones a losing battle. "I`m not sure the Iraqis will ever be able to hold it against the terrorists and the insurgents, and all of them that are tearing it apart," says Ruggero. "They`re tearing it apart quicker than we can even build it." Ruggero watched Bushs address Wednesday night in which he said he wants to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq over the next few months. "I think he`s wrong," says Ruggero. "I think he needs to listen to the people." Davide Petsche, who served in Vietnam and whos son was a marine, disagrees. "He`s the commander-in-chief and I support him," says Petsche. "If you`d served in the military you`d know what that means. You answer to one person. He has the final decision." Petsches son, Lance Corporal Neil Petsche, died while serving in Iraq two years ago at the age of 21. Petsche says his son believed in the cause and that the troops were making a difference. He says they just need time. "The problem is right now the Iraqi people have to step up, but they need the support and the backing to do it," says Petsche. "Democracy is not cheap. Can I put a value on my son`s life? No. But he was doing what he believed in doing and he said we need more troops over there because it is too big and too rough." Ruggero says its too big and too rough for her to watch anymore. "Everyday I don`t have news is good news to me," says Ruggero. "When I see him online, it`s just a joy to talk to him." Since the invasion, more than 3,000 U.S. soldiers have died, including seven from the Stateline.