"Our military realizes that it can trump its brilliant victories in removing the Taliban and Saddam Hussein by birthing democracy in Iraq — or risk losing that impressive reputation by having a new Lebanon blow up in its face. China, Japan, India, Russia, Korea, Iran, and other key countries are all watching Iraq — ready to calibrate American deterrence by the efficacy of the U.S. military in the Sunni Triangle. Our armed forces have already accomplished what the British and the Soviets could never do in Afghanistan; what the Russians failed to accomplish in Chechnya; and what we came so close to finishing in Vietnam. They won’t falter now when they are so close to winning an almost impossibly difficult war, one that will be recognized by friends and enemies as beyond the capability of any other military in the world."
When I read this paragraph I felt myself choke up.
I have a friend who is a soldier.
He was at church on sunday visiting his mother for thansgiving. He has served in Iraq twice now, and is going back for a third time on December 27th. The rock hard determination and clarity of this person, his willingness to put himself in harms way and the courage you can feel pulsing out from him is an amazing thing to behold.
I gave him the biggest hug possible and thanked him for his service. He knows what he believes. He knows what is important. He knows when a cause is worth fighting for, and it is an honor for me to call him my friend.
Jenny
When I read this paragraph I felt myself choke up.
I have a friend who is a soldier.
He was at church on sunday visiting his mother for thansgiving. He has served in Iraq twice now, and is going back for a third time on December 27th. The rock hard determination and clarity of this person, his willingness to put himself in harms way and the courage you can feel pulsing out from him is an amazing thing to behold.
I gave him the biggest hug possible and thanked him for his service. He knows what he believes. He knows what is important. He knows when a cause is worth fighting for, and it is an honor for me to call him my friend.
Jenny
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I agree with you 100%. What a remarkible age we live in that we have a voluntary force of so many Living, Walking, and Talking heroes in our midst. When I saw a similiar VDH post earlier, I left my computer and distributed USO $25 care package sign-ups (Christmas calling cards and sundries) to all of my staff, telling them I would match them dollar for dollar in their name. Every single person generously gave (of course w/ the exception of the one Leftist -- how perfect that was). These people will be the role models for generation X (me) and Y (them) when they return home. I cannot think of any better way to spread the meaning of Christmas, than by giving to comfort these Heroes while abroad, and hugging them when they return. And when these folks return from abroad, they may very well tip the balance with their moral clarity and we may yet save America.
What will the Marxists do when all of the "malaise" and fantasies of failure from Vietnam are finally squashed like a over-ripe melon, and our homeland is infused with 150K living heroes? They don't know themselves, but are frightened enough to do anything to prevent victory. Sorry Charlie, but the gig is up.
People like him give me optimism for our country.