Category — Iraq

A nice reminder of history from Investors Business Daily.

No one likes war.

War is a horrific affair, bloody and expensive.  Sending our men and women into battle to perhaps die or be maimed is an unconscionable thought. 

Yet some wars need to be waged, and someone needs to lead. The citizenry and Congress are often ambivalent or largely opposed to any given war. It’s up to our leader to convince them. That’s why we call the leader "Commander-in-Chief."

George W.’s war was no different. There was lots of resistance to it. Many in Congress were vehemently against the idea. The Commander-in-Chief had to lobby for legislative approval.  Along with supporters, George W. used the force of his convictions, the power of his title and every ounce of moral suasion he could muster to rally support. He had to assure Congress and the public that the war was morally justified, winnable and affordable.

Congress eventually came around and voted overwhelmingly to wage war.  George W. then lobbied foreign governments for support. But in the end, only one European nation helped us. The rest of the world sat on its hands and watched. 

After a few quick victories, things started to go bad.  There were many dark days when all the news was discouraging. Casualties began to mount. It became obvious that our forces were too small. Congress began to drag its feet about funding the effort.  Many who had voted to support the war just a few years earlier were beginning to speak against it and accuse the Commander-in-Chief of misleading them. Many critics began to call him incompetent, an idiot and even a liar. Journalists joined the negative chorus with a vengeance.

As the war entered its fourth year, the public began to grow weary of the conflict and the casualties. George W.’s popularity plummeted. Yet through it all, he stood firm, supporting the troops and endorsing the struggle.  Without his unwavering support, the war would have surely ended, then and there, in overwhelming and total defeat. 

At this darkest of times, he began to make some changes. More troops were added and trained. Some advisers were shuffled, and new generals installed.  Then, unexpectedly and gradually, things began to improve. Now it was the enemy that appeared to be growing weary of the lengthy conflict and losing support. Victories began to come, and hope returned. 

Many critics in Congress and the press said the improvements were just George W.’s good luck. The progress, they said, would be temporary. He knew, however, that in warfare good fortune counts. 

Then, in the unlikeliest of circumstances and perhaps the most historic example of military luck, the enemy blundered and was resoundingly defeated. After six long years of war, the Commander-in-Chief basked in a most hard-fought victory.  So on that historic day, Oct. 19, 1781, in a place called Yorktown, a satisfied George Washington sat upon his beautiful white horse and accepted the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, effectively ending the Revolutionary War.

History, George W, Economics, War

I purchased the movie Flags of Our Fathers a while ago and I’ve been waiting for a good time to watch it. I knew it would be tough to watch, but movies like this are always worth it.

I say “tough” without really meaning that. “Tough” was what those soldiers went through.

We need movies like this to remind us of the frailty of our situation and of the sacrifices that were made by people that we will never know. The movie’s last point was something along the lines of, “These men might have gone to war for their country, but they were fighting for their friends. They did it for their buddies. The guy behind them, and the one up ahead.”

I’d imagine that is very true. I could easily see myself simply wanting to crawl into the safest place I could find, curl up and pretend I was dead. Then when it was all over, get up and go home. The only thing that could push me forward was knowing that my brother was out there and needed my help. I couldn’t hide knowing that he needed me. I just couldn’t. Or, so I think now, warm and safe in my house.

I can’t imagine anything else that could push someone forward against horrible odds and almost certain death. Only the love of another person and the strength that camaraderie can provide.

Our soldiers do that for each other and they do that for us.

My daughter is only three years old. At this age, she really believes that her Papa can save her from anything. In fact, with her hand in mine, she will face the world without a single shred of fear crossing her mind. This is the same luxury that our soldiers have given to us - a true sense of security and peace that allows each and every one of us to wake in the morning and to go to sleep at night without ever having given a single thought to the possibility of being slaughtered by our enemies, simply because we are Americans.

After a movie like this one, or even after hearing a soldier’s story, I’m vividly reminded of those last lines in Saving Private Ryan where, with his last breath, Tom Hanks looks up at Matt Damon and says “Earn this James… Earn this.” He truly gave his life for another and he wanted it to count for something - something good.

I know it is not as direct as that, but I often wonder if I am earning the sacrifice of our soldiers, past and present. Is my life worthy of their suffering? Without those men and women I wouldn’t be - no, couldn’t be - a free man.

We owe them our lives - the lives of our sons and the lives of our daughters. Will I be able to raise my daughter to be worthy of that sacrifice? To the depths of my heart, I hope so.

The one thing I do know is this: our soldiers will protect us anyway.

And for that, I ask that God bless and protect them until they are safe at home with their sons and daughters as well.

Soldiers, US Military, Flags of our Fathers

Regardless of your opinion of the war in Iraq, if you haven’t heard this song, do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

Listen to it here.  More info here.

Letters From War, Iraq, Soldiers, Support Our Troops

This may be old news, but it sure did touch my heart…

-A

From a buddy of mine:

Three Things to Think About

1. COWS
2. THE CONSTITUTION, and
3. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.

THE CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don’t we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it’s worked for over 200 years and we’re not using it anymore.

TEN COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can’t have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse……..You cannot post “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery” and “Thou Shall Not Lie” in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians –it creates a hostile work environment

My brother recently asked on his blog, “Where is the love?” Referring to how America seems to be emotionally quagmired - much as we were pre-9/11.

A very nice Brit named John responded in the comments saying that Mikey was being too hard on the US, and that something good is always around the corner.

While I certainly agree with John that things ebb and flow, I have to say that it doesn’t surprise me that the “spirit” of the nation is faltering.

Unfortunately (or fortunately…) we are ill-used to problems and discord. Our gas prices go up, and despite the fact that we still pay much less than the majority of the rest of the world, we feel persecuted. People spend hours bitching and complaining about a war that hasn’t impacted 90% of people’s lives here in the US. Yes, many have given the ultimate sacrifice – but they did so willingly, even if some vocal members of their families don’t believe in the cause. Maybe these members should have paid more attention to changing opinions BEFORE their loved ones decided to join the military… Remember, there has been no draft - everyone in the Military is there by their own choosing. And I say, “Thank God” for them, because it is by their blood that we are free to complain.

We have no food rations, no metal rations, no gas rations – in fact, we are largely an overweight populace with a penchant for huge, gas guzzling SUV’s, which last time I checked were largely made of metal. We have a little more debt (that pales in comparison to what we will be spending each year for Medicare and prescription drugs), and people play the martyr as if Bush is single handedly sending the country to hell in a hand basket. How much do you think the Democrats would have spent on all this? Oh, that’s right, they wouldn’t have STARTED the war. And then we’d still be the UN and Saddam’s monkey, Iran would still be developing nuclear weapons, gas prices would still be high, AND Al Qaeda would be at our doorsteps instead of us at their’s. Bin Laden stated on multiple occasions that he was going to provoke us until he had a war with America – now he’s got one, but it isn’t HERE. Even the MSM agrees that the problem in Iraq is Al Qaeda, not some band of stupid Saddam-ites. Face it, we are going to have to fight these sumbitches someplace… I’m quite OK with the choice of arena.

If Bush is an imbecile, then I think it’s really a sad reflection on us – because he is the BEST that our country produced in its greatest hour of need since World War II. I’m no rosy-eyed fanboy, but I’m also not a hypocrite (usually). Exactly when has anyone in government done everything “right” all of the time, let alone done it in a way that pleased everybody? Bush is no more of an imbecile than that great American President to which John referred to in his comments.
And, frankly, the only way out of this “slump” is for Democrats, Republicans and the rest of the world to heed what are probably this man’s greatest words:

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.

Now, THAT’S something to ponder, because THERE IS THE LOVE. It is in working towards a higher purpose, with a sense of personal responsibility and the rejection of an expectation of entitlement.

I just hope it doesn’t take another 9/11 for us to remember that we weren’t going to forget.

morale, gas prices, 9-11, Iraq, war, Bush

Love our troops? Love to grill?

Then get this book!

All proceeds from the sale of the book go to charities that support wounded or killed U.S. Marines and their families.

Marines, support our troops, grilling