Final Post

Due to the end of the semester, this will be my final entry.

I have posted alot of comments and views on the War in Iraq, though you may not agree with my views, I have enjoyed your comments.

I would like to remember all of the fallen soldiers who have fought for us and our country and just say, thank you.

Soldiers' Angels

Soldiers' Angels is a 501 c 3 non-profit organization to thousands of American Service Members stationed wherever we raise our Country's Flag and the number is growing daily. Soldiers' Angels are dedicated in supporting our military during and after their deployment.
It was started by an ordinary mother in 2003 who had a son serving our country in Iraq.

"Our mission is to provide aid and comfort to the military and its families, provide immediate response to hard situations, and make sure no soldier feels unloved.We start with letters, care pacakges, and comfort items to our deployed. We also help their families here at home as requested."

http://soldiersangels.org/

I believe this is a wonderful organization and it is comforting for the soldiers.
-There is an "adopt a soldier," which is a committment to sending a card or letter a week and AT LEAST 1 or 2 care packages a month. This is important to help bring home a healthy hero. The duration of adoption is usually 6 to 8 months.

Help comfort out troops for a healthy return home!

Failing the Troops

Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Larry Korb discussed in front of a panel that included retired generals and academics, his view on the current and future state of the military.

“Not since the aftermath of the Vietnam War has the U.S. Army been so depleted,”

“The simple fact is that the United States currently does not have enough troops who are ready and available for potential contingency missions in Iran, North Korea, or anywhere else.”

General Barry R. McCaffrey stated:

“I’m offended when I hear the Army is in trouble. It’s not the Army. It’s the American people."

“We wrecked the Army coming out of Vietnam; it took 10 years to recover. We are not going to get 10 years with this war.”

“If you had a draft right now, you would no longer be in Iraq. The American people would say no,” Korb warned. “If the people are not willing to send their sons and daughters, we have to think very carefully about what we’re doing.”

I believe Korb brought up a good point, if there was a draft today...how many people would support it? There is definatly somthing wrong when the American people do not believe in what we are still fighting for and are not willing to support or follow through with a draft.

Don't get me wrong, I support our country and our troops...but is this more a political war? Too many people have given up their lives due to this war and we still are uncertain if this outcome will ever become positive. Like McCaffrey stated, we are never going to get 10 years out of this war.

Soldiers Speak

I have seen alot of comments on my last post and how it was leaned to one point of view of the family, so I want to post some of the viewpoints of the soldiers.
Mind you, I am aware that these soldiers signed up for the war, but now they are really uncertain of what they are still fighting for...

Here are some of their comments...

"We move up to Scandia, a way-station on the way to Baghdad, We have a tent but that's about it. Since we never have anything to do we become tourists befriending Iraqis and seeing the local sights. Rumors of going home fly fast, each day were "supposed" to go home comes and goes with no news."

"We find out why it's taking so long, the Army didn't know we were out here we weren't in the computers, they forgot about us.
To say we're pissed off now is the understatement of the year."

"I honestly think the president lied to all of us. After seeing first hand what was in most parts of Iraq, my whole company could not fathom a threat of any means. I love America, and will defend her when called upon, but in this case there was not a real threat."

"Actually, Iraq is more dangerous now to its people than it was when Bush gave us the call. I don’t speak for everyone I am sure, because some guys join the service just to fire weapons. But almost every soldier we talked to while in Iraq wanted to be home, and thought that Bush made a grave mistake. A town called Tikrit in Iraq is a hotbed of anti-American action."

"President Bush said on TV today that Americans are welcomed??? He must be on another planet. A few small towns south of Baghdad may be somewhat safe to sleep in the truck, but most of that country is more anti-American than what Bush is telling everyone."

"I think in my own opinion that we invaded a country that was super-poor and might not have even had a decent slingshot. This in my opinion was a political war, and I am glad to be back in Texas. I have a feeling Bush will be back soon also."

I'm sure some soldiers support the war and want to fight for our country, but many don't even know what we are fighting for anymore. For soldiers to be uncertain why they are still over there is a problem.


http://asoldiersview.com/Calendar.htm
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/feb2004/sold-f10.shtml

Families Speak

I found some articles and letters from soldier's families concerning the War on Iraq from "Military Families Speak Out" www.mfso.org

Here are some of their thoughts:

--"Joyce and Kevin Lucey are members of Military Families Speak Out and Gold Star Families for Peace. Their son, Cpl. Jeffrey Lucey, served in the Marine Reserves in Iraq in 2003. He came home neither safe nor sound. He suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and took his own life on June 22, 2004. His name is not in the Department of Defenses' roster of those who died in this war; yet Cpl. Lucey is a casualty of this war as much as any who has lost his or her life on the battlefield." This is their thoughts after watching President speak at Fort Bragg on June 28, 2005.......

-- Another Angry Mom --"I have been opposed to this war since the beginning, but as the mother of a soldier I was given no choice but to get on the roller coaster ride from HELL. As many times as I had wanted to voice my opinion, I held back because I felt I would be doing an injustice to my son and his courage, so I was torn between what was right, and the life I knew he was living. I knew that war was hell, but I never thought that hell could be made worse by the very people you are trying to protect".......

--"Yesterday afternoon I received a call from our daughter-in-law, Sarah, as I was finishing a meeting in New Hampshire. According to Sarah who had just talked to Ben, Ben and two other soldiers were manning a checkpoint, when Ben approached a white van to inspect it. Upon approaching it, a man jumped out of the van and started spraying the area with an AK-47. With bullets whining past his head, Ben had the presence of mind to grab his own revolver and shot the man. At that point, six others jumped out of the van, and a fire fight ensued. After it was over, Ben and his soldiers were OK except for helmets creased by bullets, a damaged 50mm machine gun, a burning white van, and violent shaking from the adrenaline and the stress of the fire fight. They had nearly been killed".......

---"Not long ago, $250,000 bought you a house, a car, started a college trust fund and still left you with enough for dinner at the Olive Garden. Today, $250,000 gets you a dead soldier".......

"My brother, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, was killed in action in Baghdad last month. Before he left, he took out the maximum Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance: $250,000. His wife gets that money and a folded flag. It should come with note: "Thanks for doing business with Uncle Sam. The medals are on us." What I'm left with is a dead brother, a fatherless nephew and a giant void where this giant man once stood".......

-- These are all very compelling stories, it doesn't really "hit home" to many of us because we may not have a loved one over in Iraq. Maybe these stories will actually have an effect people's thoughts of the war and acknowledge that there are people's sons, daughters, fathers, etc... serving our country.

My sympathy goes out to all who served and died over in Iraq and I support all of the troops still over there.

NEWS FLASH! Congress Fed Up!

-Congress and President Bush are at odds over the War in Iraq. Bush was pleading for patience earlier this week from Congress to give more time for his revised battle plan.

-"The new strategy will need more time to take effect" Bush stated. He also challenged Congress to send him a war funding bill "without strings and without delay."

-Nancy Pelosi replied to that by stating:

- "The American people have lost confidence in President Bush's plan for a war without end in Iraq"and "That failed approach has been rejected by the voters in our nation and it will be rejected by the Congress."

-The war has been going on for over four years and has already claimed the lives of over 3200 U.S troops, that is not including the many innocent casualties that have lost their lives in Iraq.

-In this News Flash article, Jennifer Loven stated:


-The public overwhelmingly opposes the war, and Bush's approval rating stands near his all-time low. Trying to halt spiraling sectarian bloodshed, Bush has ordered nearly 30,000 more combat and support troops to Iraq, mostly to stabilize Baghdad.

-The poll, by ABC News, USA Today, the BBC and ARD German TV, found only 18 percent of Iraqis have confidence in U.S. and coalition troops, 86 percent are concerned that someone in their household will be a victim of violence and 51 percent say violence against American forces is acceptable.

-It is a shame that 51% of Iraqis find it acceptable to commit violent acts against American forces. I am also saddened that 86% are scared for their lives and families that they might become a victim of violence.

-I can not imagine living in fear like that. There is something that should be done, aren't we are supposed to be protecting these people? Yet they are still living in fear.

Four Year Anniversary of the War in Iraq: Peaceful Protests

PROTEST

"Thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets this past weekend for the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The mostly peaceful demonstrations called for an end to funding for the Iraq War and withdrawal of troops."

Protestors marched from the National Mall to the Pentagon on March 17, 2007. The protest was organized by the Answer coalilation.

Many realize that protesting the war is one issue, but we also need to remember all of the troops who lost their lives fighting for our country.

Many veterans of previous wars were protesting and were remembering their fellow brothers who have fought and died.

"Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation!" echoed the streets of San Francisco while over 3000 protestors marched on Market Street.

On Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended the decision to go to war in Iraq but acknowledged an initial failure to send enough troops to handle the civil unrest after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

A World War II veteran, Harold Unsicker, protested in San Francisco along with 3000 other protestors on March 18 holding a sign stating: "IM 88, THE WAR IS A MISTAKE! WWII VET."

"Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation!" echoed the streets on Market Street in San Francisco.

Many feel the War in Iraq is a mistake. Its a shame that many veterans that fought for our country do not support the war and President Bush. Does that suggest anything...? Don't get me wrong, our country will always support our troops, but many believe too many casualties and troops are dieing.

I would enjoy hearing comments on this topic and if anyone else protests the war.