Fallen soldier's family stands behind Bush

Nearly two months have passed since Saddam Hussein's capture, yet American soldiers still are dying at a rate of more than one a day. As of Monday, the total number of soldiers killed in the conflict in Iraq is 530 men and women and well over 3,000 have been injured.

Sunday on NBC's Meet The Press with Tim Russert, President Bush was asked if Hussien's capture and the lack of finding weapons of mass destruction justified the loss of American lives.

His response was, "It's essential that I explain this properly to the parents of those who lost their lives. Saddam Hussein was dangerous and I'm not going to leave him in power and trust a madman. He's a dangerous man. He had the ability to make weapons at the very minimum. For the parents of the soldiers who have fallen who are listening, David Kay, the weapons inspector, came back and said, "In many ways Iraq was more dangerous than we thought." It's we are in a war against these terrorists who will bring great harm to America, and I've asked these young ones to sacrifice for that."

Loren and Deb Meyer of South Bend know all too well about the sacrifices hundreds of American servicemen have made. Loren's son and Deb's step-son, 23-year-old Army Private Jason Meyer, died April 8 in Baghdad. His death came just about one month into the war and only eight days after his first wedding anniversary.

The Meyer family believes President Bush went to war for all the right reasons. The military parents say they're upset with the United Nations for not backing our troops and they're also upset with people who express a lot of anger over the war.

"If anyone should be angry it should be us. We've lost someone. But we're not angry. I stand behind the president," says Deb.

Her husband Loren echoed her sentiment. "We support him 100%. I know he cares about us."

During Bush's interview with Russert, he very pointedly said, "Every life is precious…..Every person that is willing to sacrifice for this country deserves our praise."

Deb says, "I'm really tired of all of the people complaining about the uselessness of this war. To be making the comments they're making is minimizing their deaths."

Critics bash President Bush for relying on intelligence that he now calls inaccurate. "I feel like anyone that's doing this is saying that Jason died needlessly. Maybe he did, but again, he believed in what he was doing," says his stepmother.

The Meyers say the war won't change their vote in November. They're sticking with and standing behind President Bush in honor of their fallen soldier

Exactly. What the Dems are doing in condemning Bush and the worthiness of this war is really diminishing the sacrifice of those who lost their lives. This is reprehensible and I hope it backfires on them.

Great article, great family, and great post!

I have always supported President Bush and the War against Terror. I believe that the fundamentalist radical Muslims must be stopped at all costs, and that it is important that we bring the war to them in order that more innocent Americans and others do not perish as a result of their murderous and iniquitous methods of engagement.

When my own son was in Iraq on the very front line, there were indeed moments when he was in great peril of his life. Much of the news from the front distressed me greatly, and still to this day I am deeply troubled when I read of each and every case where one of our Troops is hurt in any fashion.

I know that I would never be unable to support the president in this endeavor to protect our way of life. I cannot say with sincerity that if it were my son who was killed or wounded over there that I would be shouting from the rooftops or anywhere else my opinions concerning the war. Likely I would not.

It is more likely that I would just move on into my own private space and grieve on my own. Expressing myself during times of personal crisis is not something that I have ever been very proficient at.

The parents and loved ones who would enunciate their support of the right thing even as they are experiencing their personal traumas are in my view powerfully strong people, and I admire them greatly. God willing, I might ever be able to demonstrate such strength.

The parents and loved ones who would enunciate their support of the right thing even as they are experiencing their personal traumas are in my view powerfully strong people, and I admire them greatly. God willing, I might ever be able to demonstrate such strength.

You honor their son with your words, Radix.

Thank you for helping us understand a little better the high price paid by the parents of our Soldiers.

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