As a person who was in Iraq for nearly 2 years, I am so glad to see that victory is in sight. This means our heros will be coming home soon and we will have another major ally in the Middle East.
While I was in Iraq, it was so sad to see the fear that these Iraqi's lived with. These people were so afraid of their own government, and for good reason. The government killed its own people with gases. Had killing, torture and rape rooms. For 25 years these poor people lived everyday in fear not knowing if their day to die at the hands of government was going to be that day or not. I can't imagine living in that kind of fear everyday of my life. Yes, while I was there my life too was in peril. But I had a light at the end of the tunnel that these people did not. One day I would be going back to the safety of my own country, These people were not afforded this luxury.
Has the war been a perfect war? Of course not. Has the country made mistakes along the way? Of course it has. Did all of the reason we went there turn out to be true? No. Is it sad that over 4,000 of our soldiers have died? Definetly. But with what is at stake, what we have already lost and with all the gains we have made, does it make sense to quit now? Absolutely not. But that is the attitude of many Americans these days. They want to cut, run and surrender. I find it ironic that many of these people who want us to leave before the job is done are also some of those people who were for the war in the beginning. Over 70% of this country was for the war when we went in. If only these people who want to cut, run and surrender could look into the eyes of an Iraqi and feel the joy of knowing that when we do leave, these people will get to live like normal people without the fear of being killed by its own government.
Whether people approve of the war or not, people have to understand that we are there. We have 2 choices since we are there. Finish what we started or leave prematurely. If we finish what we started, then Iraq will be able to run and defend itself and we will not have to go back. If we leave prematurely, we will leave the country in utter chaos that the likes of terrorist or Iran will take over and we will be forced to go back later anyways. You tell me which is the better option.
Then there is Barack Obama. A presidential candidate who is playing politics with this war. Barack Obama doesn't seem to care if we win the war or not, he just wants to get out. He wants a timeline for withdrawal. Can you imagine letting the enemy know what your plans are and telling them when you're going to leave? As a soldier I can't. Doesn't that give the advantage to the enemy when they know what you are planning to do? This is crazy to me. But what is even worse to me is the fact that Barack Obama voted to cut off funding for our troops while in combat. He wasn't the only one, there were a few other nutty senators. Just imagine you are a soldier during combat in a foreign country, and you hear that some of your government leaders have decided not to fund you or your equipment. You are putting your life on the line for your country and your country's leaders are playing politics with you. How would you feel? Angry? Sad? Barack Obama makes the claim that John McCain also voted to cut off funding, but John McCain only voted against the timeline which in my opinion as a soldier was a smart decision. But can you imagine someone claiming that John McCain, a former war hero and prisoner of war, that he would not have the best interest of the soldiers?
I do not respect Barack Obama for his actions toward my fellow soldiers. When you go to vote this year I hope you remember what actions Barack Obama took while our heros were in harms way. Someday it may be your children in that sitution and how would you feel if you heard your government was cutting off funding and supporting them while they were laying their lives on the line for their country. Better yet, how would they feel? This is not a democrat or republican thing, this is a doing what is right thing.
Whether you think the war was a good thing or not is your choice. I know it was a good thing. I would lay my life on the line for the freedom of others anytime. But since we are there and our heros are putting their lives on the line, we owe them do what is best for them and stop doing what is best for our political parties.
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Blogs by Defendersofthefaith:
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chatillion
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Oct 4 @ 12:51PM
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You said a lot here. I wish I had the time to comment in depth. I'll at least make a few comments to the many points you brought up... Naturally, this gives others who disagree with me, plenty of opportunity to take pot shots at me and the one comment per blog rule squelches any actions to clarify.
While I was in Iraq, it was so sad to see the fear that these Iraqi's lived with. These people were so afraid of their own government, and for good reason. The government killed its own people with gases. Had killing, torture and rape rooms. For 25 years these poor people lived everyday in fear not knowing if their day to die at the hands of government was going to be that day or not. I can't imagine living in that kind of fear everyday of my life. Yes, while I was there my life too was in peril. But I had a light at the end of the tunnel that these people did not. One day I would be going back to the safety of my own country,
America's military is gearing up for some domestic unrest. You know this... right? Expect people here to soon fear our own government and the changes we are receive. I hope I'm wrong, but indications seem to reflect I'm going to be right with this prediction. Keep your eyes open. The elected officials must follow a path by a controlling force greater than them. Sure, we could argue this all day long about the differences in political parties, but result is America is still headed on the same path.
I don't necessarily support Obama's policies, but I think his legal background would make him weigh more factors than McCain. Remember, McCain was a prisoner of war. He was tortured and broke down under pressure from the enemy. That unto itself says he is NOT always thinking level-headed, especially in times of high stressful situations. Think of all the other POW's you know and how much they cannot handle stress... regardless of their business success or personality. Why should McCain at his age and his physical handicaps be so different?
Then there is Barack Obama. A presidential candidate who is playing politics with this war. Barack Obama doesn't seem to care if we win the war or not, he just wants to get out. He wants a timeline for withdrawal. Can you imagine letting the enemy know what your plans are and telling them when you're going to leave? As a soldier I can't.
Unless you're profiting from this war...who actually wants to stay in it?
Barack's only mimicking the sentiment of the American people. How many more billion must we invest here? Every successful military plan has a time line... realistic or not, it still needs a timeline. If you are requesting a budget for spending to support a war, you must provide a timeline. Who does this timeline come from???????? Well, it's NOT generated by the president. It comes from the military. In the interest of the country you have 'helped' to defend themselves, don't you think the military knows the enemy is seeking to return? These are NOT new thoughts and it's reviewed by the military, intellegence, diplomats, the (other) countries leaders. It's NOT going to be Barack's decision. So blaming the 'president hopeful' for those decisions is really pointing a finger in the wrong direction.
When the new president arrives in office, he's got months and months of living policies and decisions made by the previous president. You know this right? You simply cannot stop America on a dime and change it's direction on a whim.
As a soldier, you are a pawn. Yes? you don't make decisions. Decisions are made and you carry out orders. Hopefully, 'laying their life on the line for freedom' still has meaning. When I hear it's for reasons of control of oil, money, greed and power... I seem to think differently.
Gotta go... good luck with your blog. It should bring lots of supportive comments. Hopefully, it will bring more light into the subject that "whatever a president says" isn't necessarily what's possible to achieve.
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landbaron
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Oct 4 @ 1:48PM
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BONG BONG WRONG WRONG - is what you'll hear when you get to Soldiers heaven. You may be well advised to go to Bill Mahrs new movie about religion and then by the way, enjoy the cartoons as thats where you're living. Fantasyland. I guess thats why there are Democrats and Republicans. Both Parties believe the other one can't see or hear correctly, now go fourth young man, buy groceries, gas and a new home, and please don't get sick on the way as we just can't afford it. 
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Defendersofthefaith
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Oct 4 @ 2:18PM
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Landbaron - I must admit I have no idea what your comment is about. But thank you for commenting anyways.
chatillion - I pray that most Americans do not feel like you do. That you think our soldiers(to include me) are just pawns for politicians. Soldiers volunteer for duty. When we volunteer for duty we are doing so knowing that we could end up in a war and put our lives on the line.
I am really surprised that you would think that a person who goes to college would make a better Commander in Chief then a person who was actually in the military and fought in a war.
As far as a timeline goes. If there ever is a timeline, it is not said outloud. You never give your enemy any hints as to what your plans are. And you really don't make it a campaign issue. You said that it is the military that comes up with a timeline, so why then is Barack Obama campaigning that he will have troops out in 16 months? No one in the military is saying that and judging by your comment, presidents don't come up with timelines yet there he is making it one of his campaign policies.
Unless you're profiting from this war...who actually wants to stay in it?
What a foolish comment. I don't hear anyone saying they want to stay in for any other reason but to win it. No one wants war but sometimes it is necessary. And if you are engaged in a war and leave early, you are just setting yourself to come back later. Finish the job and then leave making sure we don't have any reason to come back.
Judging by your comment I can tell you have never been in the military. With that being said, it is ok to have your opinions about war. But while we are at war, might I suggest we leave all the decision makings to the military personnel that live this everyday of their lives instead of armchaired quarterbacks such as yourself.
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Etowah
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Oct 4 @ 2:29PM
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I have several friends, whose sons served in Iraq. All of them served multiple tours of duty. It has been a very different type of war. The days of the soldier are spent in mundane activities, and then suddenly a buddy of yours is killed in an ambush or improvised land mine.
What gripes me is that these young men and women are NOT being given the same benefits as those who served in earlier wars. I think the Department of Defense should guarantee that EVERY veteran either be able to get as much college education as he or she desires, or else technical training that would qualify them for a decent job.
Healthcare for many wounded veterans was horrific until recently. Things are getting better for the wounded veterans, but are far from ideal.
Post-discharge mental healthcare therapy should be mandatory. I had a fraternity brother, who fought in an earlier war. Four years after being in combat, he suddenly snapped, when reading an article on the My Lai massacre, and then walked over to a 10 story hotel and jumped off it.
Soldier, sailors and airmen do not make wars However, they pay virtually all the price of decisions made by politicians. The extraordinatry sacrifices they made, should result in extraordinary help from the American people to help the adapt back to civillian status.
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jamie63
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Oct 4 @ 2:36PM
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I have not been in the military, but my father was in the Navy during the Cold War. I also honor each and every one of the Veterans who have ever served and who are currently serving.
That being said, B. Obama scares me to no end because of his lack of support for the Iraq war and wanting to just pull out - giving the "heads up" as well as other issues and it's not because of his "race". In all honesty I would love it if Colin Powell were to run for President.
The comment about McCain not being able to stand up under stress because he broke under torture circumstances.....have you ever been tortured? You do not know what he went through and who are you to judge him? He withstood 5 years as a POW and by God he came home. For that we should all be thankful, just as we need to be thankful for all of the soldiers that will come home when the job is done.
What service to his country has Obama done other than being a career politician?
Yes, I'll take age and experience over book smarts any day.
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sloriver
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Oct 4 @ 3:53PM
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You made a couple of good points. One being the support Bush got when he went into Iraq. Most people think all it takes is a stronger military position to win. We were shown otherwise in Vietnam. 50000 of my Brothers in Arms lost thier lives and when we finally pulled out we had accomplished nothing but the deaths of at least that many innocent Vietnamese. The Vietnamese fought because it was their land and they wanted it back, just as we would fight if occupied by a foriegn power. This is the right of a soveriegn nation. You, and Bush are not the law in that nation. The People of Iraq are dying because of that fact. This is not a clean war. NO war is. In the final analysis, we have entered a war on the lies of a corrupt president and the foolish people who supported him. McCain was ans is one of them. As a combat Marine who was retired from the Corps for wounds received in battle, I want my country to prevail, but I do NOT want our young men to die for nothing the way they did in Vietnam. You are asking them to do just that. I applaud your service to your country and your heroism in serving honorably in a war zone. For that reason I will embrace you as a brother. I just don't agree with your politics. I won't give the life of one more of our young men for those camel jockeys, or their oil.
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goodcatch57
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Oct 4 @ 4:49PM
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chatillion - I pray that most Americans do not feel like you do. I'm afraid most Americans do. We support our brave people that go and serve...we DONT support the war. To most of us, this is a war that should never have happened and is all about control and nothing about freedom. We have no business being there, and all the while our country goes down the drain.
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