Posted on 02/23/2007 6:47:37 AM PST by pabianice
"I'm Tired"
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.
I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I'm tired:
I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican, who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.
I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.
I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they 'Support the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved.
I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.
I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.
I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution, and soon a permanent Parliament.
I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.
I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters, is beyond shameful.
I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom/Vietnam generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory.
I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.
I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.
Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.
Sincerely,
Joe Repya, Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army, 101st Airborne Division
Joe is THE MAN!!
Joe's going to be looking for a job soon.
Minnesota ping list ping......
Thank you for your service. I'm tired of it all too.
Amen! I had to listen to the local radio news puke gush this morning about how the Senate was going to vote today to 'revoke' their authorization for going to war in Iraq! Sickening.
Read it twice ... powerful.
Should be read to Congress.
Beautifully said, Lt. Col!
I bet he'll find a good one, very quickly.
THIS is why Bush's poll numbers are so low. People are tired of fighting a politically correct war. The politicians need to shut up, and let the military get the job done.
woohoo!
Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel!!!
God Bless You!!!
Joe has always been pretty outspoken....http://media.www.universitychronicle.com/media/storage/paper231/news/2007/02/08/News/Veteran.Talks.On.Conflict-2706852.shtml
Why would they care? They're too busy buying votes.
This should be read once an hour on every TV and radio station in the country. The American people need to hear it. The Republican politicians certainly aren't getting the message across.
Well put. A copy of this should be put on every democrat's desk and taped to their walls.
Excellent and powerful letter.
"I bet he'll find a good one, very quickly."
I'll bet Fox News could use another military analyst that's not afraid to tell it like it is.
Many people, some of whom unfortunately occupy positions of power, see Vietnam as a great victory. They put an end to that "immoral" war. That's why they're anxious to repeat the same mistakes.
Please pass this along to all your email lists and on all the blogs you frequent.
There is a site that has an Appeal For Redress for military members in support of our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
The site is here:
http://www.appealforcourage.org
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