A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS WISH!

Another Christmas is bearing down on us like a speeding freight train.
Before we know it, it will be over.
I'm not sure I will have the time to post again before Tuesday.
I'm not really certain that I have the time now.
But I'm going to, because I feel it necessary to wish all of my online friends a Merry Christmas.
I wish I could invite all of you over for a glass of cheer, and some of Karin's home made raisin stuffed cookies.. (From her grandmother’s recipe). God how I enjoy some traditions!!!
It would be a logistical nightmare to get everyone here, and you wouldn't all fit into our humble abode.

As I mentioned a few posts ago, I'm flying a flag for our troops.
Regardless of etiquette, it is not coming down until our combat troops are out of Iraq.
It serves several purposes, a few of which are, to call attention to the troops. In protest of the mandate restricting them from flying our flag in Iraq. And in support of all they do.

Here it is.

This flag was given to my wife by an elderly woman that she use to clean and do errands for. It was presented to her at her husbands funeral. He was a veteran of WWII, and she had no next of kin to pass it on to.
I hope he would be honored o know the purpose it now serves.

I can't wait until the day I can take it down and bring it to my Legion Post for proper disposal.

For those who may not be aware, most American Legion and VFW posts hold ceremonies a couple of times a year to properly dispose of worn and unseviceable flags. They are more than happy to take your flags for this purpose. In most cases they will send someone to pick your flag up, if you are unable to get to the post.

I have an acquaintance that retired form the Navy a few years back. He and I are members of our local American Legion, and his wife works for
Webber Energy, in the office that I manage. I hate to say that people work for me!! We all work for the company. I just manage the operation. I am blessed with a great group of dedicated individuals to work with..
Anyway, this retired Navy Vet. writes a weekly column for the local newspaper. The Sentinel "Calling All Veterans".

He does a great job of providing information about benefits for local veterans, and passes along stories from vets, and from his own experience in the service.
Well this week he posted a poem that he found a few years back.
He writes that it is much circulated via email on Christmas eve, but I have never seen it.
I was so moved by it that I thought I would share it with you here.
Maybe everyone has already seen it.
I hope someone finds it as touching as I did.
Especially the last paragraph.
It was written in December 2000 by a Michael Marks.
I pass it on, as did my friend, in honor of my son, and all the sons and daughters deployed not only to Iraq, but everywhere on earth,who won't be home for Christmas.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed around the room and I cherished the sight.
My was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out hear!
"Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
"You should be at home on a cold Christmas eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts
To the window that danced with a warm fires light
Then he sighed and he said "it's really alright."

"I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
"That separates you from the darkest of times.
"No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
"I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My gramps died at Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas Gram always remembers,
“My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘Nam’,
“And now it’s my turn and so, here I am.
“I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
“But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.”

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.
“I can live through the cold and the being alone,
“Away from my family, my house and my home.
“I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
“I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
“I can carry the weight of killing another,
“Or lay down my life with my sister and brother
“Who stand at the front against any and all,
“To ensure for all time that this flag sill not fall.
“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
“Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”

“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
“It seems all to little for all that you’ve done,
“For being away from your wife and your son.”

Then his eye weld a tear that held no regret,
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget
“To fight for our rights back home while we’re gone,
“To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
“For when we come home, either standing or dead,
“To know you remember we fought and we bled
“Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
“That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”

The final verse is what really hits home, and what I’m trying to say by flying the flag 24/7.

Amazingly enough Matt called while I was writing, just as I finished the last verse.
He is fine.
Things have been considerably quieter for the last few days.
Let’s hope it stays that way.

My deepest and most sincere wishes for a calm, quiet Christmas day for all of our troops where ever they may be.
And to all of my friends on line, may you be blessed with all the good that this season brings, and the warmth and comfort of dear friends and family.

God Bless you all.

I WAS THINKING,AGAIN!!

I had to shovel off my roof yesterday.
18"s of snow in the last three weeks, and the threat of rain scared me into action.
Shovelling give a person time to think.
When Matt was home a couple of weeks ago we had a discussion about the proper treatment of the flag.
He had been to the police station in a neighboring town, and noticed how their flag was worn and tattered.
He mentioned that it was a disgrace, and they should know better.
Then he got after me.
We have a flag flying outside of our home.
He said it was worn, and he noticed we didn't bring it in at night.
The flag is not supposed to be flown at night, without being illuminated.
I explained.
I put the flag up shortly after he was deployed to Iraq, and vowed to not take it down until he was home for good.
Then shortly after making this pledge I read that there is a mandate in Iraq, by our leaders, that we are not to fly the flag anywhere in the country.
Seems we don't want to give the impression that we are a conquering country.
I'd like to know who the dumb m-fer is that came up with that idea.
If we don't want to be considered a conquering country, why the hell don't we get out.
after all we did invade their country, didn't we?
George Bush himself has said " we will not leave until the war is won".
If we don't want to be a conquering country, why are we fighting a war?
The flag will stay up until our combat troops come home, and I don't give a big rats ass who likes it and who doesn't!!
If the men can't show their patriotism over there, I will damn sure show it for them here.

As I mentioned in my last post, there are a lot of people who are of the mind that one can not support the troops and not support the war.
What a stupid notion.
I damn sure support the troops, and I am as against the war as a person can be.
If you clarify the statement by saying that you can't support the troops, and not support the funding for the war.
You may have a point.
While I am against the war, I am in favor of doing whatever is necessary to keep our men and women safe, while it goes on.
I am against the public protests, and acts of civil disobedience in the name of protesting.
Most of the folks involved in the latter are misguided individuals looking for a cause. Some place to belong.
I will show my support for the soldiers, and my lack of support for the war, by voting for the candidate for presidency that has a clear and concise plan for ending the war.
George Bush says we must win the war, or send a message to terrorists all over the world that America is weak, and can be brought down.
I think we've proven that false.
Our problem in Iraq is that the soldiers aren't allowed to take the necessary actions to end the war.
There is no clear picture of what winning the war is.
See previous post.
What is the war?As I see it we accomplished the tasks set forth when we first invaded Iraq more than a year ago.
They were, 1) Eradicate Weapons of Mass Destruction. There were none.
2) Remove Saddam Hussein from power. Check, Done.
3) Allow the Iraqis to hold an election and form their own government. They have. Mission accomplished, our job is done, the war is won.
Now it's time to remove our combat troops, and let their government succeed or fail.

Here's a picture of Matt expressing my feelings for George Bush's war.

Need I say more?

HAPPY T-DAY WISH

Just a short note to wish all a happy Thanksgiving.
And to remind all to take a little time to reflect on all the things we should be thankful for.

Also a few minutes to reflect on those who are less fortunate than us.

Remember, they aren't homless because they want to be.
If you can spare a dollar, or a little time to volunteer at a food kitchen. Give it a try and see how good you feel.

And say a little prayer for those who are in harms way, who won't have a holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving, may god bless you all.

DEPRESSION

I have been struggling with a bit of depression and anxiety over my situation resulting in my lack of posting lately.
I apologize.
It is'nt that I don’t want to communicate.
I appreciate all the comments, and the emails from my many readers (all eleven of you if Technorati isn't wrong?) CHECK IT OUT., inquiring as to my well being.
I suspect that due to multiple personality issue one of you is three or maybe four?
But that's fine with me.
If you see Sybil, give her my regards.

I seem to immerse myself in my work as it keeps my mind busy on things that I like to think about, rather than those that I would rather not.

I can’t recall ever being scared by anything.
I am sure scared now.
Those of you who have children know that when your children are hurt or bothered by something you want to fix it.
You check the closet and under the bed to assure them that the boogieman is not there.
You want to find a way to comfort them, and make their troubles go away?
I can’t fix this.
I can't chase this boogieman off.
I can't hug my son and tell him everything will be ok.
And that scares the bejeepers out of me.
I feel like I’m letting Matt down because I can’t be there to help him.
I worry about him being hurt, or scared, and alone. Without his mother, brothers and I there to support him.
I feel that I’m letting the whole family down because I can’t bring Matt home safe and sound.
It’s a helpless feeling.

No, I'm not suicidal. I have never run from a battle, I have rarely quit anything that I started. And I am not about to quit life.
Besides, I live in a ranch house.
No attic.
I don't have a garage.
While I collect pocket knives, and we certainly have a great assortment of cutlery in the kitchen.
I have no desire to cut myself.
Preferring to slice a nice juicy roast or steak, and the occasional turkey at certain times of the year.
My apologies to the vegans amongst my readers.

At any rate, that's what I've been dealing with.
Up until yesterday that is.
One last bit of news, while I’m on the bad stuff.
My 77 year old mom fell and broke her hip yesterday.
She was getting some laundry in, and slipped and fell.
The bone was broken in four places.
Luckily the paper man came along, she lives on a country road with only two neighbors, and she got his attention and he called for help.
I have been leaving her to take care of herself independently so as to insure that she did'nt become dependant on others in order to keep her sharp. I have seen so many older people just give up and let others do everything for them.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m always more than willing to help, when she needs it, but she’s been in such remarkable health, and so adamant about taking care of herself, that I haven’t had much to do.
That all changed yesterday.
The doctor put a plate and screws in to reattach the bones to her hip socket, and expect her to make a good recovery.
But I don’t think she’ll be able to live in her house.
Too many stairs.
We have been discussing selling her house, so she could buy one with everything on one floor.
She has'nt been vary receptive to that plan.
The doctor broke the news to her that she would probably have to spend some time in assisted care living for proper rehabilitation and she seemed to take it in stride.
We’ll see.
She has always been sincere about not being a burden on us.
I think she will have to change that attitude a bit.

I'm certain that brighter days are coming.

.

I'll close with the little prayer I use to help get me by,
God Bless our young men and women in harms-way.
Keep them safe.
Instill in them the knowledge that those who love them are there
beside them in spirit, suffering their losses and celebrating their
success.
Give them the courage to complete the task before them and bring them
all home to their loved ones soon.
Amen.

TRUELY BLESSED

Over the last few months this blog has brought a few new people into my life.
Some through a common bond of having a loved one serving in the military, in a combat unit, in Iraq, and others who just want to wish us well.
The out pouring of well wishes, offers of prayers, and positive comments are appreciated more than any of you will ever know.
I usually answer comments by commenting on them in the comments section.
This time I decided to return the favor in a post.
First there is Suzy.
Suzy Soro.

Suzy started reading my blog because I use to bash George Bush, and she shared my disdain for his politics. Actually, she hates him.
I don't do that anymore.
This one's for you Suzy.

Suzy helps me by correcting my grammar and punctuation from time to time.
Seems she doesn't want the readers to think that I'm an idiot.
Yeah. Well good luck with that.
Then there's,
MightyMom.

I call her M&M, because I like M&Ms, and her, and her family.
You've got to check out her blog. It's a great perspective on living in Texas, and bringing up three children, and a retired sink boater.
Thank you Sarah for reading my blog, and your well wishes. You will never know how much it means to read your wonderful comments.
Then there's Mark.
Mark doesn't have a blog, but has a son in Iraq also.
We have communicated about our sons on numerous occasions and share many of the same concerns. Hopefully he will share some pictures of Mark from Iraq one of these days.

His son will be home in October, or early November.
I pray daily that he makes it out of there safely, and never goes back.

This message came from a new reader, who follows Suzy's blog.
"Hey Infantry Dad, My husband and I are also infantry parents. Our feelings mirror yours. Everything you said about waiting to hear from them, have they moved, has he been on his MySpace account is so true.
Also, the part about friends not asking how he is or if we have heard anything. I often wished people would ask. Now that he is preparing for his second deployment, I don't want people to ask anymore. I don't want to talk about it. I am in denial mode I think. If I don't think about it, it isn't happening, AGAIN. He will be deployed 15 months this time, a very very long time IMO. My son's name is Cpl. Calvin Anderson". I hope you don't mind my quoting you Lori? I think it's important that people know that they can ask, and that it is appreciated. And that there are many of us in this together.
I'm sorry that Calvin is being re-deployed, and certainly hope that all goes well. He will be in my thoughts and prayers.
It is important that we all talk to our elected officials and let them know that they need to insure that the home time between deployments is extended to a minimum of a year.

Martha Jane, thank you for your thoughts. I've read your posts to Suzy's blogs and always find them witty and interesting. I have tried a couple of the drinks.

I almost forgot;
The Chief
.
His latest comment,

"Seems like our news media concentrates more on reporting how many dead in Minnesota's bridge collapse, or how many possibly dead in Utah mine disaster, but they hardly report on Iraq casualties... I wonder what makes some deaths more important than others?

Hope your boy stays safe".

Thank you Chief. I am confident that Matt will return home safely as you did from Vietnam.
(Thank you for your service to our country.)
As far as one death being more important than another, I think it's more a matter of what the hot new topic du jour is.
That and the government putting pressure on the press to down-play the violence in Iraq, so the administration can report that the surge is working.
The truth is that our troops are still grossly under staffed, and over worked.
Matt's unit is going out on thirty six to forty eight hour missions, coming in for six to eight hour rests, and going back out again.
It's no wonder so many mistakes are being made. Sleep deprivation is a terrible thing.

I hope that I live long enough to see the end of our involvement in this terrible situation.

Thank you to all who stop by and take the time to pass along well wishes.

The last message I received from Matt was that he was in Qatar for five days R & R, but that he wasn't enjoying much. He was having anxiety attacks about the guy's in his unit still in country, and couldn't sleep because it was too quite.
I think it will be a long time be for that changes.

On a more joyful note Karen and I took the weekend and traveled to upstate Vermont then across into the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Here's a young fella we caught a look at around dusk last evening.

We interrupted his dinner.

This is a shot of Mt Killkenny. (not one of the more famous peaks). From the front deck of our motel room in Lancaster.

And one of yours truly headed to the office to take care of a little business.

For those of you who are familiar with New Hampshire, you know that our symbol is an image of the Old Man Of The Mountain.

The ledge to the upper left of the picture is where the Old Man use to reside. Looking from the to the south.
The picture of the Old man is looking to the north, from the other side.
That was the more desirable view.
A couple of years ago the old guy gave up and slid down the side of the mountain.
A couple of hikers camping in the area heard the rumble, but weren't aware of what had happened until they went to view him the next morning and he was gone.

For those who have never been to New Hampshire, I recommend a visit. It is a beautiful state, with lots to see and do.
So much for the bureau of tourism.

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

Thanks to my friend, MICKEY, I'm reminded that I haven't posted for 14 days.
I'VE BEEN BUSY!!
Well not that busy, but you know how it goes.
I might not have mentioned it before, but I manage a fairly good sized fuel oil and propane company.
This is the time of year when customers get antsy about locking in their price for the coming winter. So I have to study the market and calculate usage, and bicker about why the company across town is four cents lower then us.
And usually the person worrying about the four cents uses seven to eight hundred gallons a year. So four cents a gallon on 800 gallons = $32.00.
Now if these were the customers who are unemployed, or working in McDonalds, I could handle it a lot better.
There not!!
They are the ones driving the SUV with the boat with the 225 horse Honda, the Harley, and snowmobiles, living in the 300,000 dollar and up houses, and making double and triple my salary.
They will spend an hour on the phone telling what a crook I am and how I don't appreciate their business, and how they're going to the competitor because they care more about their customers.
FOR $32.00!!
So what do I do???
I give them another two cents off,(if they haven't gotten personal and offended me),because I know most of them will either call or write the home office to tell them what a loser they have managing their Keene subsidiary and thus causing me a heap of explaining to my boss, when he and I and his boss all know I was justified, but there are board members, and owners and share holders and on and on that are aghast that we lost a customer.
All for $32.00.

Phew!! I sure feel better!!
If it wasn't 8:44 AM on this side of the world, I'd probably pop the top on a PBR, or Ballantine xXx ale, and take the edge off.
But it is 8:44 AM, and there are lawns to mow and weeds to whack, and sideing to be put on and a deck to build, and a window or two to be replaced, and, maybe I'll go fishing..

I'd like to get MICKEY and NIGEL, and THE CHIEF On the SS Minnow for a three hour fishing tour.
What a treat that would be.

My circle of blogging friends continues to grow.
I try to spend a little time each time I'm on line to search through others blogs, and when I find one that I like, or that moves me in one direction or another, I comment.. I always welcome the comments of others who read my blog, regardless of whether they agree with, or are contradictory to my opinions.
Even those that simply say "hi, how ya doin.
And those who correct my grammar, and spelling, or scold me for my prodding or berating of others, SUZY, and LUIN.

Last week I was privileged to have, MIGHTY MOM, stop by.
She's got her hands full with three little ones, and a husband who is a Navy vet, having served on submarines. I imagine he operates well in confined and well defined spaces, but how does he do out in the wide open spaces? Mom?? (Thank Subvet for his service to our grand country for me!!!)
I will certainly keep your cousin, SPC Baker, (first name?)in my thoughts, and prayers.
If you know, could you pass along which unit he's in?

I'd also like names and addresses of relatives of all my friends here who are serving in Iraq, or Afghanistan..
I have an associate that organizes a mass mailing of care packages too the troops around Thanksgiving, and she would be happy to add names to the list.

On another note, the list doesn't look to be getting any shorter any time soon.
In spite of the fact that our congress has gone through the charade of passing legislature that would initiate a well defined strategy for our safe withdrawal from Iraq, our wonderful, President has no intention of doing any such thing..
The bill doesn't call for an immediate wholesale withdrawal. Just a well defined exit strategy. A viable plan. Not vague lines in the sand, ( I think they call them benchmarks), that are easily changed when not met..
Even in the face of mounting pressure from his own party, GW stands fast and says, "when I'm old and living down there in Crawford, I will be able to say I looked in the mirror and made the correct decisions based on the facts."
I think he meant to say that he'll be able to look in the mirror and say he made the correct decisions, or does he have a magic mirror telling him what decisions to make?
I only hope that everyone is paying attention to what our government is doing, and when it comes time to vote in November of 08, that we send a clear and concise message to our leaders that we want our country run as a democracy where we the people have rights, and that the special interest groups no longer control the decision making. Disregard the amount of money a candidate earns to run his/her campaign, yet pay close attention to where that money came from.
Do your homework on each candidate, and decide which you feel will do the job with our best interests in mind, and then VOTE..
There, (he said, stepping down off the soap box), I feel better!!!

Mark? I trust that Mark made it back in country safely.
There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about him, and you, and hope and pray that he finishes his tour, and gets back to a normal life..

I pray that God will give them the strength, courage, and wisdom to complete their mission, and when completed that they will understand that they did what their leaders asked to the best of their ability, and that they should never look back in shame, but live in honor and with pride of their answer to the call to duty and service to their country.

I hope that all who read this blathering will take a minute to visit the Freeport Flag Ladies.

HEROES .
Take a minute to drop them a note and have them add you to their mailing list.
Elaine writes a few words of wisdom every Tuesday. I look forward to reading them.

Well, now I've written a blog of "Mohawk Chieftain" proportions.

I hope you're all happy!!

It will probably be another fifteen days or so before I get the chance to write again.
Here's a picture of what I imagine I would look like at the Chiefs bonfire.

Heh Heh.
RABSINEPO.

ALL IS WELL

Thanks to a gentle nudge from LUIN, I am posting an update against my better judgement.


I've been struggling with a bout of depression that has left me wanting to sleep all day, and hide out from everyone I know.



I'll come out of it, I always do.
It's not the suicidal kind of depression, just the debilitating kind.
But then I don't need to bare my soul to a bunch of voyeuristic bloggers. Those that stop by almost daily and don't bother to say hi.
Not a peep out of them.
Like the one from Murfreesboro Tenn. Stops by almost every day, sometimes twice a day, but doesn't bother to say a word.
Maybe I just haven't written anything worth commenting on.
What a pretty town though.
Murfreesboro.

Reminds me a lot of Keene NH.

So anyway, Luin dropped me a line saying, "how about an update? Let us know everything's ok."
Well dear friend, everything is ok.
Matt is doing well.
He had his first day off since he got to Baghdad, and emailed to let us know he was alright, but feeling remorse because the other guys in his detail were out and about, and he was worried about them.
He got the transfer he wanted, from TOC, to a PSD, (Personal Security Detachment). Well, almost the transfer he wanted. Actually he wanted to be on a Stryker rifle squad.

Like this one.

PSDs are like body guards.
His crew is assigned to the Brigade Commander, and Command Sargent Major, from what I can gather.
He's not very forthcoming with information.

Anytime the Commander wants to go out and about, and check up on things, they go along and get out and secure the area before he gets out of the Humvee.
Better a low grade NCO or private should get the shit blown out of them, than a Colonel.
That's just the way it is in the Military.

So thank you, Luin, for thinking of me.
I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately.
Hopefully I'll get back in the swing of things, soon.

Here's a pic of me and son #2 with his girlfriend at the Red Sox game.

We had green monster seats. (on top of the left field wall) for those who aren't familiar with Fenway Park.
In most ball parks these would be called left field bleachers.
At Fenway they are some of the most coveted seats in baseball.
Here's one at the Baseball Tavern, on the roof deck.

Gotta get in the mood, and at $4.50 a beer as opposed to $6.75 inside the park, I can get in a lot better mood.

OUR GREATEST FEARS

NEWS FROM IRAQ!!

On Friday the news came from Iraq that a patrol had been ambushed 20 miles south east of Baghdad.
Matt's mother and I waited anxiously, and searched the net for names, pictures, anything, as 20 miles south of Baghdad is where he is!
By Sunday morning he had signed on to his Myspace site, bringing great relief to us.
Then the guilt and sadness set in.
It wasn't Matt, but it was someone's son, father, brother!!
Those of us who are parents think we know how we would feel if we lost one of our children. I suppose that we can't possibly!
I hope that I never have to.
And yet as long as our sons and daughters are in harms way, that nagging terrible, worrying thought is always there. Imagine the first time your son or daughter misses curfew, how the minutes hang like hours until the car finally comes up the drive, then magnify that by a hundred, and you can begin to realize the feeling that haunts every quite moment that I have to myself to sit and think.
For the loved ones of Sgt. 1st Class James David Connell Jr., 40, of Lake City, Tenn.

And 19-year-old Pfc. Daniel Courneya, of Vermontville Mich.

That greatest of fears became reality.
My heart goes out to them.
I sit here typing through the tears, with fingers shaking, wishing that I could write something that would make a difference. Something that if their families, or those of any of the other heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq, should stumble onto my blog, would make it just a little better.
I know I can't.

News today brings information that the men involved were from the 10th Mountain Div.
Now the worrying begins again, as all the names aren't out, and a friend of Matt's from high school is in the 10th.
So we wait and hope and pray that it isn't him. Then the guilt of selfishness comes again.
Here is an AP article about the incident.
READ ALL ABOUT IT.
May god bless and keep all of our troops in harms way safe!

A MATTER OF CONCERN TO ME

I am a member of Military Families Speak Out.
I’ve not mentioned that prior to this post, for fear that those who read it will think that I’ve become involved because my son is in the Army and being deployed.
I was against this war before my son enlisted.
I came across the organization while searching military information web pages and blogs, for information on Iraq.
I am a veteran of the Vietnam era, so I am not someone who doesn’t understand war.
I am not a big fan of it. Yet I understand that wars are sometimes necessary to rid the world of evil, or help allied nations defend themselves against intruders.
The war in Iraq is neither at this point.
It has become a civil war, that will play out one way or another regardless of whether we are there or not.
Bush’s original claim was that Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. He didn’t.
Then we needed to take him out of power, because he was a ruthless dictator with little regard for human life.
Done.
Tried, found guilty, executed, our mission accomplished.
Yet we continue to send more troops to fight and die. For what?
Leaders of neighboring countries, Syria and Turkey for example have advised that we would better serve the Iraqi people by leaving. Our presence in the country is bringing radical extremist organizations in to attack us. And creating greater unrest.
Mean while the Taliban are gaining numbers and strength again in Afghanistan.
We still have troops there, and will need more before all is said and done, because we got sidetracked in Iraq, and didn’t finish the battle we started there.
The Taliban are more than glad to see us mired in Iraq, waisting our resources.

Here is a copy of my latest correspondence from FMSO.

Dear Members of Military Families Speak Out,

Today, as the Congressional leadership prepared to unveil their new plan to put pressure on President Bush to send well-trained, well-equipped and well-rested troops to fight and die in an illegal, immoral, unjustifiable war; Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace sent a letter to Senate and House leaders. The letter says, in part:

“We are asking that, as leaders in Congress, you exercise leadership. Your voice is needed now more than ever. Tell the American people the truth about President Bush's funding request. President Bush is not asking for more funds for the troops. He is asking for more funds to continue a war that should never have happened…..It is not too late for you to do the right thing. …[S]stand up and call for the de-funding of the Iraq War. Stand strong when you explain that de-funding the war is not de-funding or abandoning our troops. Let the American people know what we as military families and Veterans know -- that de-funding the war will not leave our troops without equipment or supplies. Stand strong when you explain that there are sufficient funds available to bring our troops home quickly and safely, and that if more funds are ever needed, Congress has the ability to re-program monies from the Department of Defense budget to use for this purpose. Stand strong and fight to bring our troops home . ..Stop telling us that you don't have the votes, and work with us to secure them. That is what leaders do.”

You can see and download the letter and the press release from our website http://www.mfso.org/.
The time is now to turn up the heat on your Senators and Member of Congress to support our troops by de-funding the war, bringing them home now and taking care of them when they get here! If you've already called them, call again! If you've met with them, ask for another meeting! If you've held a vigil or press conference in front of their office, do it agian! If you can go to their offices and do something to demonstrate the urgency of ending this war, do it! Your voice is powerful and needed!

In Peace and Solidarity,
Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson
for Military Families Speak Out
www.mfso.org .

If you support our troops, and are against this war, please speak out against it!!
Contact your Senators and voice your opposition.
If we’re going to fight a war, lets make sure it’s one worth fighting.
God bless our military personnel.
JRMD aka Heywould.