Posted on 02/16/2007 4:53:57 AM PST by Albion Wilde
Edited on 02/22/2007 9:26:09 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Washington, DC, February 9, 2007— The DC Chapter of Free Republic has lately added an Australian flag to its array of troop-honoring Coalition colors at our Friday evening rally at the gates of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Aussie flag joins the British Union Jack in honor of two of our loyal partner nations in the War on Terror. Australian flags were given by two FReepers, Dinah Lord and Jimmy Valentine's Brother, who read of a donation to our Walter Reed rally by a supportive Australian passerby a few weeks ago.
We like those windy Friday evenings, even the cold ones like this one, the better to hear that pleasant flapping behind the MOAB. Kristinn (center) and Cindy-True-Supporter (right).
Passing federal consultants decry Pinko "bigotry"
Tonight's FReep was visited by two well-dressed men from the Southwest who were in DC on business with a cabinet-level agency. They had seen on the Internet that protestors were at Walter Reed on Friday nights, and had strolled by the Pinko Zone down the street to check them out. They soon saw us up at the main gates, as well, and came up to look around.
Their manner was a bit hesitant, a reaction we perceive in visitors from time to time – wariness about any demonstration outside a military hospital. I asked them for their impression of our pro-troops display. "Well, it's better than the point of view of those people down the street," said one of them.
"What about the point of view of those people down the street?" I asked the businessmen.
"I guess you could say it's misguided," he continued, as the other one nodded in agreement. "Hateful. People who don't support this effort," he continued, referring to the War on Terror, "in some ways it's a bigoted point of view."
"Bigoted?" I asked, never having heard that word before to describe the anti-war protestors. "How so?"
"You've got mass graves over there," he went on. "Millions of them. Some of them mothers holding babies in their arms, with bullet holes through the babies' heads. It's as if to say that Iraqi lives are not as valuable as American lives."
Now that he had declared their negative opinion of the anti-war position, I explained, "In some ways the demonstrators are a blessing. Yeah, they should be at the Capitol or the White House, not harassing the wounded. But if they hadn't come here, we might not have come here to show our appreciation for the troops for the past 95 weeks. And the soldiers love seeing us – they need to hear that Americans support them." I explained that CodePink had started a "vigil" directly at the gates for the first 40 weeks, with disgusting anti-military signs, until the DC Chapter expelled them. We have occupied all four corners ever since, to shield the main gates, and the pressure from us has made them tame their signs to the tepid appeasement stance of bringing the troops home without bothering to win the peace they so desperately claim to want.
"It's not enough," the businessman replied, "for the families to have a loved one wounded. But then to have to pass this," he concluded, nodding down the street to the handful of die-hards, again this week mostly men – the Pinko womyn, since we ousted them, having abandoned being there to look like the losers they truly are. We sent the two visitors off with thanks, and recommendations for some good Italian restaurants.
Bus! Buuuuuussss!
Searching oncoming traffic for the bus bringing troops back from a dinner downtown is a familiar routine, although we sometimes get a cellphone call from one of the families on the bus to let us know it's en route back to Walter Reed, and this night was no exception. The excitement builds and everyone grabs a sign, a flag and a good position to wave to them as they arrive. As soon as someone spots the bus in the distance, the shout goes up, "Bus! Bus! Bus!" across the six lanes of Georgia Avenue until all four corners of FReepers are alerted.
Tonight's Honor Roll included FReepers BufordP, Cindy-True-Supporter, Fraxinus, Jimmy Valentine's Brother, Just A Nobody, Kristinn, PleaDeal, Sensei Ern, TFroatz, Tolerance Sucks Rocks, Tom the Redhunter, [Mr & Mrs] Trooprally, VAFlagWaver and myself, Albion Wilde. Lurkers included Bill from MD, Freedom Advocate, and George & Ethel.
Join us tonight
...or any Friday night for flag waving, sign holding, coffee, tea, hot chocolate (we order pizza when temperatures are above 30) and good company, at Georgia Avenue and Elder Streets NW. Parking in the northeast corner lot. The troops need us now more than ever.
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Seems your finger be frozen matey. Not much chance of a thaw today.
God bless you all and our troops. Thank you.
Another great report. Thanks. FR's finest supporting America's finest BUMP!
Thanks for your comments and bumps, folks!
BTTT
One may even think about adding the Polish and Spanish Flags amoung a number of other candidates. Some may tend to forget the Spanish had the third highest number of troops in Iraq whole actually where in place to fight before they pulled out, and the Poles have stayed the course. At any rate, a big salute to all the coalition partners that have in many ways contributed to the rebuilding of Iraq.
God Bless our Country and our brave military.
Indeed, donations for flags are a great idea (FReepmail before sending), altho in addition to budget limits we do have limited woman/manpower for putting them up and making the poles. Here's the current Coalition list, according to Wikipedia:
Coalition Troops as of January 2007:
United Kingdom - 7,200 troops in Iraq as of January 2007
Republic of Korea - 2,300 troops in Iraq
Australia - Approximately 1,400 military personnel in and around Iraq
Poland - 900 in the 'First Warsaw Division
Romania - 890 troops operated under British command
Denmark - 515 troops under UK command
El Salvador - 380 troops from the 'Cuscatlan Battalion' under Polish command
Georgia - 300 commandos under US command North of Baghdad
Bulgaria - Bulgaria withdrew its original contribution to MNF in 2005
Azerbaijan - 150 troops under US command in the far North of Iraq
Mongolia - 131 men under Polish command
Albania - 120 non-combat troops under US command near Mosul
Latvia - 125 troops under Polish command
Czech Republic - 96 police trainers under British command
Lithuania - 50 troops under Polish command
Armenia – 46 soldiers under Polish command
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 36 men to destroy explosives and mines as of June 2005
Estonia - 35 infantry troops under US command
Macedonia - 33 special forces soldiers under US command
Kazakhstan - 29 military engineers under Polish command
Hungary - Withdrew its 300 non-combat troops in 2004; redeployed 17 officers to help NATO's training mission.
Moldova - 12 de-mining specialists and medics.
Slovenia - In early 2006, Slovenia deployed 4 officers to aid the NATO mission
United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)
Georgia - 550 soldiers (separate from 300 Coalition troops).
Fiji - 168 Fijian troops protecting UN buildings/staff in and around Green Zone as of August 2006.
Romania - 130 men (separate from 890 Coalition troops).
Denmark - 35 troops (separate from 515 Coalition soldiers).
Withdrawals:
Slovakia
Canada
Japan
Italy
Portugal
Netherlands
Ukraine
Bulgaria
Nicaragua
Spain
Honduras
Dominican Republic
Norway
Philippines
Thailand
Singapore
Hungary
New Zealand
Tonga
Iceland
Buuump!
AB = AW
Sorry, thinking further out than I was typing.
[Mr] T
Great report and photos. See ya there soon
In the report, you say that if the pinkos demonstrated outside the white house we would never have rallied outside WR, and our wounded heroes would never see how thankful America is for their service. HOW TRUE!! I never thought of it that way.
As disgusting as the pinkos are, that is what brought people like myself to WR. The cold toes and aching knees are all worth while when you see the bus or hear one of the wounded heroes say thank you.
I talked to a few Azerbaijanis when I was in Iraq. Good guys and very professional. They were even multilingual. I met one who spoke 8 languages. We spoke poor Russian to each other. lol
Thanks for the Invite, and I have spent quite a bit of time in D.C. in my travels, it is a great place to visit.
Lol, they said it well!! Good job Albion and all who participated!! Thanks for pinging.
Once again, a great report. Just bumping through....
BUMP!!!
Hope it doesn't keep too many people away.
Awesome! I'm right there with you all in spirit.
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