Posted on 02/18/2003 7:26:58 AM PST by BOBTHENAILER
Some see America’s patriotic mood waning.
Campujairi, Kuwait – The peace protesters might as well be marching right under the tank barrels.
U.S. troops amassed in the Kuwaiti desert couldn’t avoid news of anti-war protests that swept the globe over the weekend, and it is making some angry, defensive, fired-up and anxious.
They see scattered news reports of opposition to a possible war against Iraq, but the hardest-hitting bulletins come in phone calls home to worried wives and loved ones, said Sgt. 1st Class Victor Oravec, 41, of Fort Knox, Ky., of the U.S. Army’s 3-7 Cavalry.
“They’re saying, ‘Why are we over here when everyone’s over here saying we shouldn’t be?’” Oravec said.
“They hear it. They bring it up to me, and I squash it by keeping them busy, reminding them why they’re here,” Oravec said, just before leading his tank maintenance unit in an all-night training exercise across the Kuwaiti desert.
Many of the soldiers who might be called to fight against Iraq were too young to remember the emotional protests that marked the end of the Vietnam War. Many had not even been born.
Still, some say they take the anti-war protests personally – questioning the jobs they do and their boss, President Bush.
“They get down,” said Oravec, a veteran of the 1991 war against Iraq. “That’s when I come around, try to get them work to do. That’s the only thing I can think of to keep their minds off home and what their wives are telling them.”
Capt. John Turner, 26, of Colonial Heights, Va., whose father was a med-evac pilot for the Army in Vietnam, said soldiers are not decision-makers and can’t afford to get distracted from their training.
“I’m not in this line of work for political reasons. I didn’t come here to be a politician,” Turner said.
Still, he’s especially angry about opposition at the United Nations from France, a NATO ally.
“How would they feel if it was the Eiffel Tower that got hit into (on Sept. 11)?” he asked.
The troops see a possible war against Iraq as part of the ongoing war on terrorism, as the Bush administration targets alleged weapons of mass destruction that could fall into the hands of terrorists.
Protesters call that an unfounded or unproven claim being used to justify a war to control more of the Middle East’s vast oil reserves.
The “No blood for oil” slogan was used in opposition to the 1991 war, too. But back then, in the war to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi invaders, the protests did not seem as widespread and the troops did not take them so personally, Gulf War veterans said.
“That’s their right to protest as long as they know that’s their opinion, not ours,” said 1st Sgt. Stephen Edgerton, 36, a Gulf War veteran from Blackshear, Ga.
“When you’re younger, you’re a little more eager to go out and pick a fight with somebody,” Edgerton said. “With age, you’re not as quick to jump into things without thinking them out first.”
But for soldiers, he said, the bottom line is simple: “I support my Commander in Chief. That’s my job.”
Pvt. Wesley Carr, 23, of Virginia Beach, Va., said soldiers are the last ones who want to rush into unnecessary wars.
“I can understand why they want to protest, because they don’t want any harm to come to us. But a lot of them don’t understand,” Carr said. “I hope, like everyone else, that it does end peacefully. But if it doesn’t and we have to go to war, we have to think of the safety of the United States and all these people here.”
Privately, some soldiers wonder if the patriotic mood and pro-military spirit in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks has evaporated.
With all its soldiers and high-tech war fighting machines, the U.S. military would not have had all its recent success if the soldiers didn’t get so much support from the public, Edgerton said.
“They don’t have to support what’s happening,” he said, “but at least support the soldiers”
Iraq Update
1st U-2 Mission: Iraq reported the first flight by an American U-2 surveillance plane Monday in support of the U.N. inspection mission, marking another concession by the Baghdad government in hopes of staving off a U.S. –led attack. The flight lasted four hours.
Turkey Delays:
Turkey’s prime minister on Monday ruled out a parliamentary vote to allow tens of thousands of U.S. combat troops on its territory until Turkish and U.S. officials agree on the conditions of the deployment.
You got it. I'll be as active as I can be thru that time, and if all goes well I should be able to travel. I'll go where I can be most effective.
I admire your restraint at the gates of the SD Naval base. Very hard to do with these scum.
I fully support the rights of free people to express themselves in a little "reasoned debate". I've always admired the different ways principled people have of displaying theri ideals.
Both alleged incidents occurred in areas of high Leftism...New England and Washington state. The South, bless 'em, has been relatively free of such nonsense.
I fully expect it to get worse as the liberation of Iraq grows near. The skinwasters will stop at nothing, now. Please, folks, keep an eye on those at base gates if youy can...they also shout and throw things at SPOUSES.
We in uniform appreciate it GREATLY when someone watches our backs, especially when we deploy away from home.
The skinwasters are getting ever bolder...it's only a matter of time, IMHO, until the tomatoes and eggs come out, and the verbal attacks in the streets begin. In a lot of locations, we are even now discouraged from wearing our uniforms offbase.
Stay vigilant, America. Else it WILL happen again...the same people are behind it.
Much as it might pain you, Travis, when that happens, remember SERE school and KEEP YOUR HANDS AT YOUR SIDE. Provocation of servicemen and vets is an old tactic of the 'wasters. They'd LOVE to be able to take your money, house, and property and have YOU thrown in the clink, whilst getting all kinds of sympathetic media attention.
Remember, it's all part of their game.
I could go on but my fingers are getting tired. The troops need to be informed about the identity of the organizations who are sponsoring all of these so-called popular peace protests. They will find that it is our old adversaries, good old-fashioned communists, fascist and dictators.
It's not a stretch at all. As a matter of fact, its the truth.
How many condemnations have you heard from ANY democRAT about the protests helping Saddam, hurting Iraqis or undermining support for GW's efforts and out troops?
I'll answer my own question: NONE
I could easily see Clinton egging on his French, German & Belgian philosophical soulmates in their resistance to this.
I could easily see Terry MacAuliffe calling up Tariq Aziz and saying: "Just keep stalling Tari, if we can pospone the war with a little Iraqi cooperation, we'll win in 2004, we'll lift the sanctions and you guys will be home free. After all, look how ol Kim Jong Il is helping out. Hang in there Tari baby, we'll save your a$$ yet. It will all cost you, but you already agreed to the price right?"
Good for you and thanks..
Amen to that LC!
I am assured the Troops will not listen to this crap and stay focused on doing their job. They will receive correct information from their leaders I am sure of this.
The city where I live is LEFT. They proudly hold Anti War and Anti President Bush rallies. I am surrounded by the enemy here.
They are skinwasters and will stop at nothing, now!!!!
Pi$$ me off they do!
God bless them and keep them safe.
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