Posted on 01/04/2002 9:07:52 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
First MILITARY Personnel Killed by
Hostile Fire in Afghanistan
That is all they really said. More to follow per FOX News Anchor. . .
We had better darned well look like we've all got ice water in our veins if we want to win this war. Weakness invites attack; strength deters it. Our enemy is watching to see how we react to such events. He's looking to see if we can take a punch. Al Qaeda's "game plan" was to draw the US into a fight where we'd take casualties. They were betting that we'd cut and run, as we did in Somalia, after a few deaths. Up until now, we haven't had any deaths in open combat so their plan hasn't had a chance to work. If we all chose to hold a national day of mourning over this one man, then we will be playing into that game plan. Rather than causing them to slink back under their rocks, we will cause them to tweak their plans so that we can't use air power the way we did. Rather than detering further terrorist attacks, we will cause more.
Franks said he would not release the trooper's name because his family had not yet been notified. He said no other U.S. military were hurt during the incident.
Franks said the dead man was ``part of a team ... to facilitate co-operation between our forces in the region and the local tribal elements in that region ... The specifics of the incident that caused the loss of life have not been fully developed.''
This death is the sixth U.S. casualty in the region since the war on terror began Oct. 7.
We aren't a weak people in this great nation. The terrorist attacks have caused us to become more united and sure of our freedoms.
To express emotion over war fatalities is a good thing...it offers release...and resolve of our true objective. We aren't wallowing in distress. Emotion is what makes one human.
The military aren't robots. They're humans willingly performing a dangerous mission to ensure the freedoms enjoyed by US. They have parents, spouses, children, and other loved ones.
I suppose it's too much to ask a person such as yourself to show some humanity. So sad.
When I heard about this casualty my heart sank, we have friends and relatives serving their now, but it doesn't effect you because he's just a name to you....to his/her family it's teir whole life.
I mourn each and every one, there by the grace of God goes my husband and son.
Redcloak, did you see this one???? Do you care?
We wept for them. And guess what? We didn't run, we didn't hide..and we never would have. Their life, though grieved gave us all strength to go on. Thank GOD there are a lot of brave men and women in the military and other branches of our Government who are BRAVE and willing to lay down their lives for us. And yep.. even so un-appreciative idiots like you can be so cowardly and yet post freely. Even if my post gets deleted, I feel better saying this to you. A commrade in arms died today,.. and you spit on his life with your comments.
You don't understand strength at all. But would be like those who celebrate death for Allah (never cry for a lost life.. bull crap!) What nonsense!! Your comments are the most sickening kind I've witnessed here at FR. Extremely inappropriate in light of this thread.
You are not unlike our enemy who thinks we are weak, and how dare you say that about our military!!. But I would remind you of who is hiding and running away in fear... the true cowards thats who. And People like you.
Good Grief.. to think you would desecrate this thread this way. You should be ashamed! The only reason I will even argue with you, is because someone gave his life for us today. Otherwise your posts would be ignored by me as another fanatical worthless wierdo's post. I don't expect you to "get" anything I just said. You are paranoid and know nothing about our fighting forces if you think mourning one of our own, is a sign of weakness. I highly suggest you get a life.. at least you still have yours!!
Your nation is not saying that it cannot tolerate combat deaths. If it did, there would be an overwhelming majority demanding your guys be bought home.
One can still feel sympathy and empathy for the loss, but it has only served to steel the resolve. I see no talk here of turning tail and running. Just quiet respect.
As yes, even though I am not an American. I mourn your loss.
The enemy already knew your answer to the second question. What we need him to know, however, is your answer to the first. He must understand that we are willing to sacrifice to protect our freedoms. Making national headlines out of single casualties causes us to look like we aren't willing to make those sacrifices. That will invite further attacks and, in turn, cause more deaths among our soldiers, the enemy, and innocent civilians. (I guess that I'm just not as cold and calculating as some of the other posters on this thread. I don't see those "extra" deaths as a good thing; especially if they can be avoided.)
Wrong. It shows how much we, Americans, value a single human life. Our battlefield actions will show our enemy that we are NOT afraid to strike back, because we certainly DO strike. And a single trooper's death is news, because unlike our recent enemies, we VALUE life.
As yes, even though I am not an American. I mourn your loss
Again.. Thank you!
Take a deep breath. Take it easy. The only one coming unglued here is you. Relax. Switch to decaf. Pause and think about the fact that a man died today for you and he didn't even know you.
We ought to behave in a manner that causes the enemy to fear us rather think us soft.
Don't you think three months of dropping bombs, missiles and rockets relentlessly makes a pretty harsh statement? If Osama bint Laden and crew had any talent for estimating the American psyche they wouldn't have attacked us in the first place. If they were using CNN to judge our collective mindset before 9/11 I doubt that they will switch to Free Republic now.
"Do you care?"
I think that they will on deaf ears (eyes) with Redcloak? No offense, Redcloak, but what would you know about caring whether anyone else might be offended??? You haven't shown any sense of sensitivity yet on this thread. . .
That's just forum guidelines, we keep the inital post on a story to keep from cluttering up the forum.
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