Soldiers are committed to our mission in Iraq [Iraqi Veteran & Silver Star Recipient Slams Murtha]

Buffalo News ^ | December 13, 2005 | DAVID BELLAVIA

[West Coast Conservative]

David Bellavia, of Batavia, earned the Silver Star in Iraq and has been recommended for the Medal of Honor.

As the debris continues to settle from the explosion detonated by the defeatist comments by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., I wonder how he expected his statements to be perceived. As an infantryman whose boots are still caked with blood and dust from Iraq, I am beyond confused by the insistence by Democratic Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Louise Slaughter that he preserve his title as a combat visionary. As rancor and hyperbole peak, we continue to be fed bastardized statistics and a complete denial that Iraq, according to al-Qaida intercepts, is indeed the front line in the war on terror.

When then-President Bill Clinton sent 15,000 troops into post-hostile Bosnia to get the job done, it was the equivalent of keeping 585,000 troops in Iraq post-invasion, when equating terrain and population. Tellingly, the silence from the left is deafening. To the leftists in America, Clinton understood war like no other: Pull out when the blood starts to flow (Somalia) and overcommit when there is no chance of loss (Kosovo and Bosnia).

I am no John Zogby, but I conclude 100 percent of Iraqis want us out - eventually. They very much want us there while Islamo-fascists continue to blow them up as they worship and apply to serve the cause of freedom. My peers are not appreciative of the elitists, like Sens. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, who daily attempt to uncover mistakes made by this administration while my brothers under fire bleed to death thousands of miles from home.

Iraqi veterans are without apologies for not finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Former administrations ignored the danger present in this region for years, and we in the trenches now pay the price for our past inability to confront our enemies. Each day, the enemy hopes that one more 10-plus death toll inflicted against the coalition via a roadside bomb will be the last straw of the American collective will.

Make no mistake. This is a middle- to lower-class war, fought by volunteers of the greatest generation of American warriors ever born. I have written more than 47 recommendations for Bronze Star valor awards for the members of my 34-man infantry platoon. That award, alarmingly, is growing more and more common during this fight. And yet my peers cannot use their awards as a platform to defend their noble struggle, because they are still deep in the fight.

Neither Murtha, who wears his Bronze Star as his badge of authority, nor any other congressional representative has held a position in a skirmish line under fire in Iraq, yet they pontificate to the masses from "their war" experience. Not one has borne witness to the extreme close-quarter nature of this fight or commented on the tearful thanks from a deserving and proud people who need us to stay the course.

Yet Murtha has the extreme audacity to call my peers "broken." Funny how a man like Murtha, who made his career on detailing his heroism under fire, is the first to chip away at my generation's valor.

Each day, the Iraqi war veteran grows closer to the embarrassing disrespect of the Vietnam warrior. Each day, legislators like Murtha move us closer to losing a winnable war and abandoning a worthy ally. Staying the course isn't a campaign slogan; it is a life support message to my peers. Like Vietnam, the American soldier cannot be defeated on the field of battle, only by the failure of the political class to stomach the hardships of combat.

[massgopguy]

John Kerry et al say that we cannot question Rep. Murtha on the War in Iraq because he was a War Hero. I was 14 years old in 1971 and I called people like Rep. Murtha "War Heroes" back then. What did John Kerry et al call him back then?

[Paloma_55]

Thank you for sending this out. I am sending it to everyone on my email distribution lists.

The story needs to get out. The white flag the Democrats are waving is not just cowardly, it is killing our troops as they fight for our security.

[SCALEMAN]

Like Vietnam, the American soldier cannot be defeated on the field of battle, only by the failure of the political class to stomach the hardships of combat.

Well said. I stand and applaud.

[SF Republican]

John Kerry et al say that we cannot question Rep. Murtha on the War in Iraq because he was a War Hero - what is it with these people? didn't we hear the same about Cindy Sheeain't being of absolute moral authority or some caca?

[Flavius]

someone has to figure out quickly, if we are fighting wars or political campaigns/media events...

this needs to be over,

if we tango with china this pc/msm c.ap will wipe us out

[silverleaf]

Whoo Hoo. Good article. I hope we see this guy in the US Senate someday.

[mylife]

Yet Murtha has the extreme audacity to call my peers "broken." Funny how a man like Murtha, who made his career on detailing his heroism under fire, is the first to chip away at my generation's valor.

I pray that this has been emailed to Murtha, Kerry and the rest

[rlmorel]

BTTT

[JeeperFreeper]

Great Post. Well done.

[firewalk]

.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Jhn Murtha is nothing but a Democrat traitor as well as a full fledged buffoon to boot. If I had the power to trade his life for one of our boys or girls that died in Iraq, I would trade him immediately. This idiot, as the entire Democrat party is guilty of treason, and should be treated accordingly!!!

[p. henry]

Wow. What an article.

[johnny7]

If you cannot make the correlation between the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan... with the onslaught of Islamo-fascism... then you are doomed to walk in confusion.

The Democrat party with Murtha in the lead are working for failure and hoping this pays benefits at the polls. They are placing their party above their nation. May they be damned!

[oh8eleven]

bttt

[Beckwith]

Well, with respect, stop praying an e-mail them yourself.

http://www.senate.gov

http://www.house.gov

[yooling]

Well said. Thanks for getting this one out for us to see.

I would add to the argument against pulling out, the worsening situation with Iran. I believe that in the event of a U.S. withdrawal the "insurgents" would be the least of the Iraqis concerns. How long do the lefties think that it would take for a nuclear Iran to move on such an easy coup?

[ClancyJ]

Funny how a man like Murtha, who made his career on detailing his heroism under fire, is the first to chip away at my generation's valor.

How very true. This should be the official reply to Murtha's continued rhetoric. Great report.

[Rocky]

A real hero speaks. Murtha, Pelosi, Kerry, et al, should shut up and listen.

[pgobrien]

It must have pained 'Pravda on the Lake' (Buffalo News) to publish this honest review of the war in Iraq.