USO Canteen FReeper Style ~ Pancakes on Wednesday ~ 30 July 2003

Canteen FRiends ~ Radix

[beachn4fun]

You know EG, I have a feeling we are at the beginning of fall instead of the middle of summer. Our temps here have been in mostly the 80s this summer. It has been a long time since we've had a summer with this low of temps. Plus, I notice it is darker in the morning when I leave for work. It was getting light out when I left, but I now have to turn my headlights on in the morning.

[Fiddlstix]

Good Morning Everybody.

You Know The Drill
Click the Pics J

Coffee & Donuts J

[E.G.C.]

Yeah, the days are getting shorter now. We've passed the midway point of this year so now we're going to have a minute more of darkness each day until about this time next year.

[armymarinemom]

Good Morning everyone and God Bless our Troops

Nix on getting all the kids home for Christmas. It looks like one will be in the sand box still and another at the Stan.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning. Have we said to you and the "kids" lately?

[yoe]

Good Morning to you all! I want to share a letter that just came and ask you to use it where the media and pundits remain biased and untruthful. I have removed the authors name for obvious reasons - Hillary and other detractors are on the Armed Services Committee and this is not what they or the media want to hear. Enjoy!

Subject: Report from Baghdad

Here is a fresh report from Baghdad (emailed today after the elimination of Saddam's two sons).

Here is an up-close perspective from a reserve JAG officer, XXXX, on active duty in Iraq. It's always interesting to read firsthand accounts that are not presented by, and filtered through, the media. You may read many things about the recent deaths of Sadaam's two sons here in Iraq. Let me tell you, as an eye witness, what occurred here in Baghdad.

About 2130 hours (9:30 p.m. for you civilians) last night, about six of us were huddled around a DVD player watching a movie. Sustained, small arms gun fire was heard outside. We all put on our flak vests and helmets, grabbed our weapons, and headed outside. What we saw was amazing.

The entire down town Baghdad area skies was full of red and yellow tracer gun fire. It looked like the 4th of July celebration we had all missed a few weeks ago. The use of weapons in this manner, for the Iraqis, is an expression of celebration. The level of this celebration was obviously intense for they had just heard the news that the two sons were dead and their reign of terror was over, for good. The celebration lasted well into the night.

As mayor of this installation near the Baghad International Airport, I employee about 18 local nationals to work on our electricity, plumbing and to do manual labor. This morning, they were obviously tired from no sleep, but very happy, they had been celebrating all night. They offered their supervisors extra locally made bread and several kinds of fruit, their way of saying thank you from them and their families.

In one short day, the atmosphere and attitude of those locals around us has changed, for the positive. For those of you or your colleagues who still question why we are here, they should have the opportunity, like I have, to look into the eyes of a people who were truly repressed and now sense that their liberation is really at hand. In the last war, the U.S. let them down by not ousting the dictator. In this war, they did not trust us because their tormentors were still at large and they were not sure that the military would close the deal. Yesterday, the military proved that this liberation is for real.

If you are asked why we are still here, yesterday's action is the reason. We are still here because the mission that we started is not over, but it will be soon. If you think our presence here is not warranted, you have the misfortune of not being able to see the faces of a liberated people. I have complained about our presence here, I am going to stop doing that now because last night gave me renewed hope that our actions are having a tangible affect on the lives the Iraqi people. I am not naive enough to believe that the violence is over and that the resistance is dead. Instead, every American fighting in this country has seen with their own eyes the fruits of their sacrifice. And for that, I am proud to be here.

Take care and I hope by Christmas to be e-mailing from home. XXXXX

[beachn4fun]

HEY YOE..... FOR SHARING THE STORY.

[SouthernHawk]

Great Post! THANKS!

[MoJo2001]

Good morning! Woohoo! Pancakes are in the house!! Thanks for the great thread, Radix!! Good morning, Goddess!!

POI! Wow!

[Kathy in Alaska]

[MoJo2001]

Wow! That is awesome, yoe!

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Ma! How are you today? Did you love the animals at the zoo last night?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Duty ~ Honor ~ Country

Click above to visit "A Day in the Life of President Bush"

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Kathy in Alaska. How are things going there?

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Mr.Tonkin! I love your pancake graphic!Hehehe!

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Bro! How are you today?? *HUGS*

[MoJo2001]

That is so sweet Goddess! We do miss ya, Aeronaut. Um, I wondering if he wants his "Other" plane when he gets home. I've gotta get Tomkow to find it first. Hehehe

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, SouthernHawk!! How are you today?? Where's the Diva been? I'm sure she's busy! Please let her know that we miss her. We can't wait to see her again! *HUGS* to you both!

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, Beach! How are you today? Your "WELCOME" Gorilla is so adorable!! Thank you for all you do for our new friends and troops!

[MoJo2001]

Good morning, E.G.C! How are you today?