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Sunday, November 20, 2005
My mother has the privilege of working with soldiers on a day-to-day basis. She speaks to a number of them in Iraq including one that has just retired from the Army and now works with her. Having spent two tours in Iraq, he had a lot of experience to share with her. Her first question was, “If you had a choice, would you have gone?” He told her it was an honor to go and to serve his nation. His choice would have to gone, period. He pointed out to her, contrary to the perception in this country, nearly all in uniform believe they are doing the right thing and would not second guess their decision to serve. Like all things, there are some who don’t feel this way, but they are a very small minority one in which the media magnifies as the majority.
The retired the soldier that served in Iraq continued his conversation with her by telling of his heartbreak about the anti-war people. He called the demonstrations an “embarrassment” and couldn’t understand how those people say that they “support us” when they do that. He further grieved about what Congress, mainly the Democrats, have been doing in the past year and a half with their anti-Bush and anti-war musings. It’s them that make the soldiers in Iraq a “laughing stalk” is what he told my mother. Not Bush folks, the Democrats.
This soldiers major problem with the war was not why we went and not the insurgents blowing them up, it was those back at home not supporting them but saying that they were. That’s what he told my mother is the major problem. He told her he’s not the only one that feels this way as most serving their nation in honor in the hot desert of Iraq agree with what he was telling her. Only the renegades will talk to the media but more honorable — true military personnel — keep their mouth shut while in uniform. He was saddened that this was just another Vietnam but worse since this time the people keep saying that they support the troops but their actions really show the don’t. That’s called a hypocrite.
This account isn’t my opinion but that of a soldier that had two tours in Iraq. One that saw battle and one that saw what CNN displayed. Basically all I’ve been blogging in the last 18 months about this display of anti-war is hurting our soldiers. Now you’ve heard, but I’m sure you’ll continue to ignore and excuse your sad behavior and negate this mans duty in some sheepish argument.
November 20th, 2005 at 21:49
What, you don’t have any real arguments against my other comment, so you resort to saying I’m being rediculous, and point me to this 2nd hand tale of yours? It may be the opinion of some of our soldiers, but you are posting it here because this account is YOUR opinion. If you feel so strongly about the war, why haven’t you signed up for the military yourself? Who’s the hypocrite here?
As I’ve pointed out before, I live in a military town. I have a neighbor who served in Iraq who feel differently than you.
Paul Hacket served in Iraq, feels differently, and he’s running for Senate:
http://www.hackettforohio.com/
CINCINNATI, OH – Paul Hackett, candidate for U.S. Senate, today called on Sen. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s senior Republican in Washington, to join him in demanding that Rep. Jean Schmidt apologize to Rep. John Murtha (PA-12), a Viet Nam veteran, for calling him a coward on the floor of the House of Representatives.
“Congressman Murtha is a hero and deserves the respect he earned on the battlefield. This country is free because of men and women like him,” said Hackett.
He continued, “As Ohio’s senior Republican official in Washington, Sen. Mike DeWine should join me in calling on Jean Scmidt to apologize for ever questioning John Murtha’s honor.”
“It’s time for Sen. DeWine to show some leadership and help hold his colleagues in Washington accountable for their actions AND their words,” Hackett concluded.
November 20th, 2005 at 22:00
To repeat my earlier post: Congress did not have the same intelligence that Bush had. For the most part, they only had the intelligence that Bush gave them. Congress voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, yes. This was necessary to get Saddam to allow the weapons inspectors back in. Guess what it worked. Congress has NEVER voted to declare war on Iraq formally, as REQUIRED by the constitution. This is Bush’s war, PERIOD.
80% of Iraqis do not want our troops in their country. 45% of Iraqis think attacking our soldiers is justified. Our troops are experiencing DAILY terrorist attacks, not to mention terror attacks around the wold have gone up significantly since our invasion. Bush’s war on terror has most definately been a failure, by any reasonable standard. You think you are safe? I would like to think so, but our borders aren’t any more secure than since 9/11. If anything we are less safe.
Whether you think the war in Iraq was based on a lie or based on wrong intelligence, the war has been a mistake. You can search under every stone for some small silver lining to Bush’s many failures, but to me he is the worst president of our lifetime. The majority of americans think the war was a mistake, that Bush mislead us to go to war, and want the troops to come home, and no longer trust him. I suppose even Nixon had a few supporters to the bitter end, so you’ll no doubt have some company.
The rediculous ones are the ones still following Bush.
November 21st, 2005 at 7:57
Hehehe, JUST the response I expected from you.
If someone doesn’t agree with you, then there completely discounted. Only YOUR SIDE has the right opinion, I guess. Okay, that’s your right to believe. Enjoy your Starbucks…
November 21st, 2005 at 18:35
So what point are you actually making by this tale? Does it somehow bolster your version of current affairs more than mine? No.
My neighbor was a 20 year officer in the Marines, veteran of the Iraq war, and part of the initial invasion force that incredibly conquered Baghdad with few casualties. If your mother had met him, and he had a version of the Iraq war that did not agree with yours, would that somehow change your mind? No. Would you post his tale on your blog? No. Would you completely discount it? Yes.
There are actually a lot of veterans coming home from the Iraq war and running for office. As Democrats.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/11/153843/74
Does this somehow bolster MY opinion more than yours? No. Does it add anything at all to our debate over whether or not the war in Iraq is justified? Not really. While I have no doubt that there are a number of soldiers who might tell you the same thing, you’d probably find its close to the same percentage of civilians who might also agree with you: next to none. Most of our brave men and women fighting in Iraq believe in freedom of speech, and freedom to have express your own opinions in this country. That’s what they joined the military to fight for. Your post is pointless.
My argument stands. Our invasion of Iraq was a mistake. There are no WMDs in Iraq as we were told. Saddam was never a threat to our country, and in any case is no longer in power. We’ve successfully had elections. The majority of Iraqis don’t want our troops to occupy their country any longer. We have no justification for staying, so we should bring our troops home where they belong.
My prediction: you’ll respond by essentially [putting fingers in ears] “La la la la la! I can’t hear you! You are either with us, or you are with the terrorists! La la la la la!”
If you want to have an adult conversation about this subject, let me know.
November 21st, 2005 at 20:51
LOL, I’ve got to admit, TOS, that was fun to read. I’m glad you openly express your opinion.
You know, I would post such a man’s testimony if I heard it. That record with the service sounds of a respectful one and I’d be very keen to listen to what he says. I would enjoy hearing it from someone that was there…from the get go.
I am open to listening to what someone has to say. That’s the point of debate. I’m not here to win an argument but here to voice my opinion in this sea of liberal thought. I’m not right all the time or probably even most of the time. I’m human and am not perfect, hence the reason I need a Savior. If the war was wrong, and I was given enough proof of that, then I would admit to that. I don’t have a problem saying I was wrong. I’ve done it here before and will continue to do so.
My point with this post was that you don’t hear these stories. Just the doom and gloom on CNN. Every soldier I’ve spoken to tell me the Iraqi’s are happy we’re there. So maybe I’ve spoken to the wrong guys, but they’ve come from the Sunni Triangle area, so I don’t think I have. Since I am very weary of the media, I have a difficult time believing your side since my face-to-face conversations with soldiers that have been there always differ from the media. But I guess you live next to a guy that I have yet to meet.