A few comments that I received by Private e-mail.. I have omitted the names/e-mail address for their privacy...
I have not actually read what was posted in the Tallahassee Democrat, but I understand it was an “excerpt”.
I have not taken the time to respond to each reaction individually but I have decided to respond to yours. I will post this response on the above mentioned threads, I will omit your name and e-mail address for your privacy.
We need to act in the world in such a way that Al Queda recruitment goes down, not up, and eventually dies out
That sounds great, but exactly how do you propose doing this? I know we can pay them all off and give them exactly what they want… and Islamic state of America.. we can ALL convert to Islam, and all American women can walk around wearing the hijab.. and of course we will bow down to the wishes of the Islamic religions leaders without the need to vote on anything that’s just a big waste of time
Ok sarcasm off now…
I for one do not want to negotiate with folks that blow themselves up in a crowded restaurant or market place, and if we as a nation do it “your way” we deserve all the things I mentioned sarcastically.
Thanks for taking the time to write to me, let’s just pray that the majority of Americans see things my way, and I will continue to fight to defend for your right to see things “your way” without fear of being blow up, just respectfully disagreed with.
David
________________________________________
From: "BILL"
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 3:38 PM
To: david.osborne1@us.army.mil
Subject: your letter
David,
I appreciate your feelings and hope that you come out of this unharmed, but I don't agree with your views.
In Iran right now, the religious police are arresting women (over 300 so far) for not wearing full veils. In Iraq, wherever the Sadr types are in control, oppression reigns--the doctor beat up for attending to female patients, college kids beat up for attending a mixed gender campus function, women forced to wear veils. You can see where Iraq is headed.
We are fighting for peace and democracy in Iraq, which means a government dominated by the conservative Shiites, who comprise two-thirds of the Iraq population. Who will dominate the Shiites? Most likely people like Sadr, who is already the strongest military and political force among the them, or someone he approves of (Malaki got into office only because of Sadr's support). Sadr hates America, hates Israel, and aligns himself with Iran. Can you see why some citizens back home, like me, don't think that this is a fight worth a single American life?
We who oppose the war in Iraq are not against democracy in the Middle East, but we think our nation should be smarter than the Bush administration has been about where and how we make our efforts. It would be dumb, for example, to overthrow Mubarak and sacrifice thousands of U.S. lives to establish a democracy in Egypt at this moment in history, because the government that would result would be dominated by religious extremists and we'd end up with another enemy, while Egyptians would end up with a more oppressive government. We won't beat the Islamic extremists by being dumb.
As for this idea of "fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here," it makes no sense. England was fighting in Iraq when it got hit with a series of bombings, so fighting them "over there" didn't work for that country. In Iraq we have simply given the extremists a target they didn't have before--U.S. soldiers. There's a big ocean between us and them and they'd much rather we came to them, which sadly is what we are doing. Our own CIA has concluded that Iraq has been a great recruiting tool for Al Queda, so in the end we will have more of them to fight. Again, that's dumb. This conflict has no military solution. We need to act in the world in such a way that Al Queda recruitment goes down, not up, and eventually dies out, while pressuring their finances and pursuing their leaders. That is how the West has defeated terrorist groups in the past.
--Bill
Tallahassee
>>>> And one from "TOM"
If you are really David Osborne serving in Iraq (and not some "Free Republic" blogger posing as a soldier -- there's another "David Osborne out there, but the bloggers gebnerally don't go in for wearing uniforms and serving in the military), then I can understand, as a former field artillery sergeant, I know you are heartfelt about what you are doing. But you have also been lied to by the president, and fed a line about how we got into Iraq.
I agree we are fighting an evil ideology. But we are doing it in the wrong place, the wrong way. Remember: On September 11th of 2001 we were attacked by a murderous conspiracy carried out by a group of Saudis, accompanied by several other people from the Gulf states. So how did we wind up after that attacking Iraq?
Before September 11th, Saudi fanatics bombed U.S. Air Force installations to make us leave their so-called "holy soil." Saudi Arabia has never been held to account for what role its fanatics played in the September 11th attacks. The Saudi princes are still welcome guests at the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas. And Osama bin Laden is still free, reportedly living in Pakistan -- one of the dictatorships we call "our friend."
Sure, Iraq was a dictatorship -- just like Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other countries we laughingly call "our friends." That dictatorship, though, kept Muslim fanatics under thumb. Even the Christian minority in Iraq supported Saddam Hussein ( ! ) because he kept the Muslims off their backs. Now we changed all that, and plunged the area in a vacuum of chaos.
Osama bin Laden was hiding in Afghanistan in Septemebr of 2001. He got away. And then we invaded Iraq. The president and his buddies keep moving the goalposts for the reason. "he's got nuclear weapons" or "He's got biological weapons" or "He gassed his own people (true -- he did that in the late 1980s -- and we looked the other way when he did it)."
Bottom line: Our soldiers have been lied to. They were lied to by a president who, during Vietnam, bought his way into a "Sorry, we're full" National Guard unit, and then walked away from even that committment! Talk about "cut and run."
--- Tom, former Field Artillery sergeant, Tallahassee, FL
Another Private E-mail I received:
I read your letter to the editor in the Tallahasssee Democrat a free minutes ago. I whole heartedly agree with you. All I seem to be able to do is pray for the service personal and the leaders of the USA as well as for the people of Iraq. If you need anything else give me an email and I will do my best. Thanks for writing to the Democrat. Many over hear need the true news and not what some TV and newspapers feed us. Take care of yourself and remember the Lord above answers prayers.
Most sincerely,
Lequita
ANOTHER REPLY BY PRIVATE E-MAIL
-——Original Message-——
From: STEVE
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 8:36 PM
To: david.osborne1@us.army.mil
Subject: Your Letter Today
Sgt. Osborne,
I grew up a military brat. I remember my daddy being gone a lot. I remember the sacrifices my mother made to stay with him and to raise me and my two siblings alone. My daddy was like you, a brave soldier who believed in the mission.
However, with all due respect to your sacrifice and bravery, I have to ask you: When did you start drinking the Kool-Aid? This cock-up of a “war” has nothing to do with “fighting them there so we don’t have to fight them here.” That idea, which comes directly out of the mouths of the politicians who sent you over there—the same ones who either had “better things to do” during Viet Nam, or spent that time pretending to learn how to fly airplanes in Texas while soldiers like my father were in harm’s way in SE Asia—has been long discredited. It’s a lie, and shame on you for trying to spread it further.
The Sunnis are fighting the Shias, and vice-versa, because the Sunnis have run the show under Saddam for years, and they are now looking at possible extermination under the Shia if they have control of Iraq. Saddam kept a lid on them for decades, and now the cork is out of the bottle. Whoever wins will then battle the Kurds for oil, aided and abetted by Iranian extremists. Meanwhile, Al Qaida—who weren’t even in Iraq in 2002—killed nine U.S. soldiers today, which brings the U.S. toll of dead soldiers to 3,334 and an estimated 23,000-100,00 casualties. They died for oil, not freedom, and for what many have called “the greatest single strategic mistake the U.S. has ever made.” The political class knows this, and the game now is to pin it on the other political party before the crap hits the fan.
This “war” is based on a pile of bright, shining lies. It was never about terrorism—the ideologies of Sunnis and Shias are united only in their desire to see us leave Iraq. We’d feel the same if a foreign army occupied America. This war isn’t about freedom either—it’s about oil and establishing a U.S. military presence on a foreign land at the point of a gun. It’s also about saving face, and you and your fellow soldiers are dying for that. I saw my father wrestle with that realization after coming home from Viet Nam, and it was not pretty. At some point in time, you’re going to have to wrestle with that realization, and I wish nothing but the best for you when that happens. It’s going to be tough, believe me.
I so very much want you and your brothers and sisters to come home, and let the Iraqis decide on their own future. I wholeheartedly support the Democratic plan to set timetables in this disasterous debacle that is bankrupting our country and its finances and credibility, and its military capabilities. Supporting the troops doesn’t mean we support Bush’s war. It’s time to come home...
Steve
Tallahassee, Florida
Hello Sergeant Osborne:
You are absolutely right! Freedom does not have a price tag! I have been in law enforcement for almost 33 years and have loved providing a public service to the many good people of Florida. I applaud you and those fighting by your side for your courage, integrity, and honor. You make us proud to be Americans!
Thank you for serving our country and having the courage to address those who do not understand the threat to our Nation. It pains me to hear of any loss of life, for all life is precious. However, freedom must be defended and we, as Americans must be patient. The defense of our freedom and American way of life is an on-going battle.
Again, I wish to thank you and the many men and women fighting by your side to defend our Nation. May good bless all of you and keep you safe. You, your family, and your brothers and sisters at arms will be in the thoughts and prayers of me and my family.
John
Tallahassee, FL
Sergeant Osborne:
I would like to thank you for your courage and your sacrifices that you make everyday as well as all of the US. forces.
I do support freedom and I am proud to be an American.I hope and pray that this battle can end soon and that many lives can be saved.
I agree with you that we have picked our battle ground and if our congress were to pull our troops out to soon it will not be a question of will the
USA become a battle ground but when and were. Please know that My families thoughts and prayers are with you and all
our forces every day. May GOD speed
Your friend
Van
P.S.My Sisters friend is the one that sent the note below.
I was born and raised in TALLAHASSEE, FL. but I now live in SC. Please fill free to write and
on day our paths may cross. Your Friend Van
I agree wholeheartedly and support you 100%. And occasionally catch he!! on Free Republic for it.
-From one of your "neighbors" in the Strange Land
With all due respect, I reiterate that THEY already chose the battleground on 9-11! Should they do that AGAIN, we MUST let them know that we're deadly serious about our security (despite the sieve-like southern border!). The VERY NEXT THING the nation(s) who harbored, armed, trained or supported them in ANY WAY should see is THIS:
Thanks for sharing with us right from Baghdad.
When I pray for our soldiers each day, I will include you by name in my prayers, along with some other soldiers, including Duncan Hunter’s son.
Stay safe.
God bless!!!
It’s hard to believe it has been almost 2 and half years since I posted this thread. I have been here in Qatar for the past several days on a 4-day pass and was just looking back on the last couple of years and ran across this post.
We have come a long way since I posted this, I am now on my 2nd tour to Iraq this time I am here as an advisor to an Iraqi Regional Training center. The staff of the RTC are doing a great job training their army from Basic Combat Training to Special Skills training, and even NCO Professional Development courses.
I appreciate my fellow FReepers and look forward to keeping up the REAL news via FR.
Hoooah
SpartanSixDelta - OUT
God Bless You
ping for reference