As a Military Mom--I do thank you....and all your fellow warriors!
Posted on 08/17/2005 11:39:47 PM PDT by 91B
I am writing this in response to all the attention that Cindy Sheehan and her protests are getting. I am a deployed soldier with 2nd Squadron, 278th RCT at FOB Bernstein near Tuz Khurmatu, Iraq.
This is my second deployment. The first was from April 2003 to April 2004 and it was spent mostly in Qatar, but I also spent some time at Camp Cedar II just outside An Nasiriyah, Iraq. I volunteered to return with the 278th and I do not regret my decision at all.
Obviously, I believe in and support the war for a variety of reasons. I think that the invasion and liberation of Iraq demonstrated to those regimes that might be inclined to support terrorism that we were serious about our commitment to taking the fight to our enemies. I also believe that a democratic Iraq will serve as a positive influence over the rest of the region. At the same time, having a force in Iraq allows to us put direct pressure on Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia-all supporters of terrorism in one way or another-and draws prospective jihadis into this country where they can be dealt with militarily.
That is why I am so angry about Ms. Sheehan's media circus. I do not question her grief and anger over the death of her son and I do not begrudge her the right to protest. However, I do not see where her actions serve any useful purpose other than to embolden our enemies and weaken the resolve that is necessary to carry forward the fight to a victorious conclusion.
I admit that there are some soldiers here who have mixed feelings about the war and whether or not we are successful. They wonder how we will be able to define victory and what American soldiers are being sacrificed for. I try to answer that we should not expect the defeat of tyranny and fanaticism to be easy. That victory may not come for years and that we may not know it for years after that. I try to point out that we did not defeat Communist totalitarianism except after a long struggle, and that we were not able to carry the fight directly to its' most important strongholds even then. I also reply that those nations that we have helped to become democratic-South Korea, Japan, Germany-did not become so overnight.
I know that modern Americans are perhaps impatient and that they are perhaps not willing to bear sacrifice for long without some clear indication of success. However, I do not hear any alternative strategy put forth other than capitulation and that is not acceptable. Freepers, and other conservatives, will have to carry forward an important part of the fight. You will have to stand resolute in the face of the attempted emotional manipulation by the media of the Cindy Sheehan's of the world.
This will be difficult as the opposition will claim the high ground, but you must constantly remind the public of the price of defeat. A world in which our enemies can prey on our weakness will never be safe from bombings, hijackings or decapitation. The publicity battle is an important front in this struggle and Freepers have an important role to play.
Thanks, Mojo. Are these letters getting into any newspapers? I never see it in Mass.
BTTT!!!!!!
Can you ping some people?
Me too - thanks to all of you and God bless and keep you safe.
I received an email with a suggestion that Fridays be "wear Red day" in honor of our troops. Hopefully if all mail out to email lists, the trend will have America red tinted on Fridays (I know, I know - people are too uncordinated for any sustained effort - but I wore red today along with my husband). I also noticed several flags flying as I was driving home - either some occasion I don't remember or others doing what they can to support our country.
From History we also understand that these words apply equally today
We also know our mutual enemy in this
It's eerie how much this enemy propaganda from six decades ago resembles the New York Times op-ed page:
JAPANESE WWII PROPAGANDA
"Farewell, American Soldiers!" leaflet:
Your politicians are among those who survive and are enjoying life comfortably at home. General Marshall and General MacArthur can enjoy their reputation as heroes only because they are alive. But you... you continue to march westwards to sure death, to keep your rendezvous with the grave.
NEW YORK TIMES OP-ED
Bob Herbert, No End in Sight in Iraq 8/10/05:
The president is on vacation. He's down at the ranch riding his bicycle and clearing brush. The death toll for Americans has streaked past the 1,800 mark. ... But if Mr. Bush has experienced any regret about the carnage he set in motion when he launched the war, he's not showing it.
Asking Divine Protection for Those In Service
O God, I beseech You, watch over those exposed to the horror of war, and the spiritual dangers of a soldier’s or sailor’s life.
Give them such a strong faith that no human respect may ever lead them to deny it, nor fear ever to practice it. By Your grace, O God, fortify them against the contagion of bad example, that being preserved from vice, and serving You faithfully, they may be ready to meet you face to face when they are so called: through our Lord.
Amen
SandRat
MAJ, US Army (Ret.)
BTTT
You're absolutely right. The battle on the home front is as important as that going on in Iraq. We're fighting liberals who want to see the US defeated...simple as that, and they don't care how many Americans die in the process. If they can turn this into Vietnam Redux, they will. That's the game plan, and it won't work. Stay safe.
Thanks for the post. I pray for you guys every day.
Bumping your great post Sandrat and this great thread.
Bump!
Bump!
Bump!
Bump!
Why and How We Must Win the War in Iraq
1 - Why?. Able Danger again highlights what is now solid information: There was an Iraq/Al Qaeda connection. Iraq was giving aid and comfort to terrorists. Specifically, Able Danger adds credibility to the Czechoslovakian report that Iraq aided the 9/11 terrorists.
2. Why? Newt Gingrich puts it extremely well. “Which strategy will result in the least number of American casualties?” The Clinton strategy of “arresting” terrorists who happen to get caught resulted in 3000 dead on 9/11. The Bush strategy of direct war has resulted in 1800 dead soldiers. Then there is the strategy of just "leaving Iraq" and stopping the fight. If we leave Iraq and stop our war on terrorists, does anyone really believe the terrorists will stop killing Americans? Remember: just one mass casualty took 3000 lives. How many more Americans will the next WMD atrocity kill?
2. - How? United is the way the war will be won. The one thing the terrorists and the liberal anti-war socialists fear is a united United States. Their entire propaganda campaign from IEDs to Cindy Sheehan is designed to divide the country.
3. - How? By helping the new leadership in Iraq to get invested in their own authority. When the new leadership sees that it could actually hold and keep power, then the common human inclination toward self-interest will take over.
4. - How? By helping the new followership, the citizens of Iraq, to see that the new leadership is the group in charge....their mayors, governors, members of parliament, prime minister, AND constitution. This will result in the people developing an unthinking assumption that this is the system and the leaders of their country under which they operate. They will resent the terrorists for their destroying the daily peace, and they will turn them in and fight against them.
Okay. When you get to this post please make sure that you and all your buddies over there know that we are 100% behind you here at FR. And...
YOU DA MAN!
Sorry. I had to.
Please don't be discouraged. The reason she is getting attention is because of your hard work. If you weren't taking on the terrorists over there, our country would be full of the awful bloody stories that the media revels in. Instead, it's a peaceful summer in the US and they're stuck in Crawford following the President and they are having their version of a hissy fit while their ratings tank...wishing that they were the lucky ones who were sent to Aruba instead.
We know the hard work and sacrifice that soldiers like you have volunteered to do in Iraq, and we are seeing the fruits of it.
I am proud that you guys are flying our flag and wearing our uniform over there. This is the only response I have for Ms. Sheehan. "Some of us think freedom is worth sacrifice. Your son did."
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