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An Open Letter to FR from Iraq
91b ^ | August 18, 2005 | 91b

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.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: cindysheehan; iraq; keepupthefight; military; personalaccount; staythecourse
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To: 91B

Bump


181 posted on 08/20/2005 10:38:09 AM PDT by mercy (never again a patsy for Bill Gates - spyware and viri free for over TWO YEARS now)
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To: 91B
I haven't been online in a few days, and nearly missed this post...

I know it makes you feel uncomfortable, but thank you and ALL of our service men and women for holding the line between freedom and tyranny in all it's forms. Without our military, we would not have the freedom to protest, like Cindy Sheehan (if her brain cells ever kick start, she just might realize her son died in part to protect HER freedom to call him a Nazi) nor would we have the right to write open letters in support of the war on terror.

In the last world war, WWII, politicians, the media and our soldiers questioned our reasons for being where we were, the wisdom of our actions, the mistakes made and whether we would ultimately win. In fact, Lincoln had his own antiwar crowd to face. Hopefully, it'll help to remember that ever war, no matter how just, has it's doubters and it's fifth columnists trying to drag defeat out of the jaws of victory.

182 posted on 08/20/2005 1:22:31 PM PDT by cake_crumb (Leftist Credo: "One Wing to Rule Them all and to the Dark Side Bind Them")
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To: 91B

If you ever (God Forbid) come to Walter Reed stop by and see us on Friday night.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1465323/posts


183 posted on 08/20/2005 2:34:22 PM PDT by bmwcyle (We broke Pink's code and found a terrorist message.)
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To: 91B

I don't know about the rest of modern day Americans and their stomach for war.

I am a career fire fighter and 8 year veteran of the Army.

Your sentiments about duty and your validation for the war mirror mine to a Tee.

Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless you and keep you.

I'd also like to add that to die with honor and freedom is far more palletable for me than to die as a man without conviction and a sense of duty for my country and the generations to follow.


184 posted on 08/20/2005 8:10:00 PM PDT by FFforFreedom
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To: carolinacrazy

ping


185 posted on 08/20/2005 8:40:13 PM PDT by teenyelliott (Soylent green should be made outta liberals...)
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To: 91B

Your humility is honorable but, some of us don't have the right to shine your boots. You may like this:

How bad would it be to wake up every day in a Country you Hate?? How miserable would your life be to know that you are going go through your day talking to people who think your nuts?? How bad would it be knowing that there are hundreds of millions around the World that would gladly trade places with you in a nano second? To know that over 60 million Americans voted for the man you most despise in the World and would vote for him again if given another chance. To know that you will be living in the Country that you hate for the rest of your life. In other words, how would it be to be a member of the Same Stream Press?

Liberals have been lecturing us for the past 50 years about how wrong America is and how many crimes we have committed against humanity, yet they ignore all that we do right. We have a Country though far from perfect, has become the greatest experiment of human freedom in the history of mankind. We pride ourselves on giving the most vile hate filled numbskull a stage to spew their braindead drivel as an example for our love of Freedom.

The perfect example is Camp Hate Bush down at Crawford. This female who raised a hero has every right to spew whatever hatred she desires. The Stone Age Press has the same right to attempt to turn this into the club of the month to beat President Bush and the Troops. They have the right to ignore our soldiers who agree with the President if ever given the chance to speak. We have the same right to label them as raging anti-American terrorist supporters.

To go through life living in a Country full of people that you hate has got to be as depressing a life imaginable. To live in a Country as great as America and hate her has to be double jeopardy. Where you going to move, Cuba, Canada, France or some other Turd World Country? Of course not, so your going to stay here in your cushy job that pays 100 times the World average, driving your Oil for Blood guzzler and going home to your oversized house to moan about BushCo and Big Oil masking your own guilt. Can there be a worse self imposed prison sentence?? Wouldn’t a self imposed Death Sentence be far more humane?

How difficult is it be to root for America every once in a while to ease the pain. We Conservatives may not like everything about this gummit or the ex-perv’s, but we love our Country, it’s opportunities and Americans. We look forward to getting up every morning knowing that we are living in the Greatest Country and economy in histoir! We love the invisible hand of Capitalism with all the freedoms it allows.

We understand the absolute morality of this War and the freeing of another 50 million slaves from tyranny. We know Freedom has a cost. We understand that Cindy’s son gave his life so that a child in Iraq will grow up to enjoy the same Freedom as Casey’s mother. That this boy may have a chance to grow up and become President of his Country. That this boy will not become a Terrorist if he has a future. That this boy will change the Middle East and the World for Peace.

Iraq already enjoys a far more open and varied press than we have. All we have are Yellow Dog Democrats who would Vote for Jesus if he had “Dem” next to his name, revising our news. Well maybe not Jesus, but anyone else.

To Liberals America’s glass is always 100% empty. Their life is a penance waiting for their Communist Utopia. No matter what this Country does it will always be criminal to these people and they will always make excuses for Communist atrocities. The bulk of these people are aging Granola Grinders who refuse to admit that they were wrong about Communism. If these people are so smart, how come they can’t invent a new chant every decade or two? Hey hey ho ho, whoever we hate’s gotta go! How boring dull and tired just like the “peace” sign.....yawn!

They grew old believing PravdABDNC and look at America as the military industrial complex of evil. Now they are just old and bitter, pining for America back on her knees wearing a baby blue beret. America has passed them by and we are looking at these angry old hate-filled protestors in the rearview mirror. It shows their political grandstanding on piles of uniform dead soldiers that are used for their stage props . We see the heroic courage and selfless sacrifice that our Troops freely give to the innocent Iraqis passing through the looking-glass of history.

How bad would it be to wake up every day in a Country you Hate?

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters


186 posted on 08/20/2005 8:45:02 PM PDT by bray (Pray for the Freedom of the Iraqis from Islam)
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To: 91B

Thanks for your great post.

I will be using it to answer the trolls and pseudo conservatives who hate what your and your peers are doing for us and the world in Iraq.

God bless and stay safe.

Thank you for what you are doing for our families, us and our country.


187 posted on 08/21/2005 7:56:55 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (The civilized world must win WW IV/the Final Crusade and destroy Jihadism!)
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To: 91B
I also hate that the preview function for a post does not include spellcheck.

Copy the entire body of your post and paste it into your word processor. Do the spell check there. Copy and paste back, if there are corrections made. (You might need to add a couple of steps if the post contains HTML tags.)

188 posted on 08/21/2005 8:02:00 AM PDT by savedbygrace ("No Monday morning quarterback has ever led a team to victory" GW Bush)
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To: 91B

IMO, Sheehan is mad at Casey for enlisting (and for getting killed, but I realize that part is flamebait-worthy, so I won't defend it.)


189 posted on 08/21/2005 8:03:56 AM PDT by savedbygrace ("No Monday morning quarterback has ever led a team to victory" GW Bush)
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To: 91B
Thank you so much for your post! I know you don't want to hear Thanks. So, I won't post how forever Grateful we are for all of you Heroes, who sacrifice to defend and protect America :)


Thank You Brave Defenders and Protectors of Freedom Image hosted by Photobucket.com
So Far Away, Yet, So Close To Our Hearts!



190 posted on 08/21/2005 11:12:33 AM PDT by GodBlessUSA (US Troops, past, present and future, God Bless You and Thank You! Prayers said for our Heroes!)
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To: 91B
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.

WE relish the challenge, it's our supporting role.

FRee Republic is only a part of a growing blogosphere in which the MSM is now finding out that they no longer "control" what news people are getting.

P.S. don't believe the phony polls you may be hearing about, we are all in this together, whether or not some don't quite get it.

191 posted on 08/21/2005 4:22:11 PM PDT by Mister Baredog ((Minuteman at heart, couch potato in reality))
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To: 91B

May God bless and keep you safe.


192 posted on 08/21/2005 11:58:09 PM PDT by Rightfootforward
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To: 91B

Thanks for posting! Fact is, there are more supporters of Iraq than not, it's just that the "not" has the media behind them - bottom feeders, all! They believe freedom doesn't come with any responsibility.

On the one hand I think they should all be locked up, and on the other I feel sorry for them because they can't grow and change, or experience what the rest of us would call happiness. They're very unhappy people.

Stay safe!


193 posted on 08/22/2005 5:44:36 AM PDT by AmericanChef
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To: 91B
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-

I believe many, if not most rational thinking persons agree with this statement, here in FR and elsewhere.
However, unspoken in the discussion in the possibility of the oxymoronic "Democratic Shari'a" state. Around that 900-pound gorilla revolves success ---- or failure.

194 posted on 08/22/2005 5:49:57 AM PDT by Publius6961 (Liberal level playing field: If the Islamics win we are their slaves..if we win they are our equals.)
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To: 91B

Got your flank in ar-Ramadi, pardner...

Nicely done.


195 posted on 08/22/2005 6:54:38 PM PDT by Old Sarge (Follow Sarge on His Most Excellent Adventure - on Freerepublic.com!)
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To: 91B

God Speed, Frater. 24yr Retired Coastie sends...


196 posted on 08/23/2005 4:16:33 AM PDT by CGVet58 (God has granted us Liberty, and we owe Him Courage in return)
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To: Names Ash Housewares

bttt - ping with checkbook after work


197 posted on 08/23/2005 4:24:32 AM PDT by CGVet58 (God has granted us Liberty, and we owe Him Courage in return)
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To: 91B

My prayers and support.


198 posted on 09/10/2005 10:47:40 AM PDT by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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