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.

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.

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.

-A

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

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.

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.

Even better, you can get this on a shirt.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be true. *SIGH*

As I was watching it, I was thinking, “Wow, this lady seems to be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome…”  The more she talked, the more I thought that it was really weird.  Was this the same woman who so upset in that other video?  Wow, they fed her, let her use the bathroom… Hmm, never hit her either, well that’s a relief…  The food was good – yeah, she kinda looks like she’s gained some weight.    Ah, even the furniture was nice…

WHAT?  THE FURNITURE WAS NICE?

Anyway, I dismissed it as just the ravings of a tired person…  Then I sat down to peruse a few blogs before heading off to bed.  Turns out I’m not the only one who thinks that this is WEIRD.  I guess I was slow on the uptake.  The blogosphere is awash with people crying foul.  To what end, I don’t know, but something doesn’t seem to add up.

Could this be a ruse?  Could it be that this freelance journalist staged the whole thing to draw attention to herself?  Did she then decide it was best to end the whole thing now, given the recent hostage rescue?  Coalition Special Forces kicking in the door could seriously derail any rise-to-fame plan that was in the works.

Read the full translation of the “interview” supposedly taped before her release.

Anyway, the best commentary I heard on this whole thing actually came from someone supposedly quoting Jill’s mother: “let us hope that all the families of the Iraqi people who are kidnapped on a daily basis can have the same happy reunion”.  Unfortunately, this is more often NOT the case.  I heard it reported that nearly 40 people are kidnapped daily, usually for a cash ransom.  Most end up dead.

God be with these poor people and their families.

I don’t know what all this means – if anything.  Maybe it is Stockholm Syndrome; maybe it’s a ruse, or maybe it’s the truth - sometimes that’s way more weird than any story we could ever dream up.

Man, this is NOT what we need right now. I knew that the French, Germans and Russians were in bed with Hussein before the war, but this is simply outrageous.

One would like to think that this (if true) is just the actions of a single person and not reflective of government policy, but who knows? Could this be the signs of a new “cold” war? *SIGH*

UPDATE:

And again?

Saddam General: Newsweek Translation of Saddam Tapes Wrong

Who knows about this information, but bet a load of this:

[Former Iraqi Air Force Gen. Georges] Sada also says that chemical or biological weapons were flown to Syria in 56 flights, but was unable to confirm it.

General Sada’s allegations are confirmed by others. A Pentagon official, John A. Shaw, who was responsible for keeping track of Iraq’s weapons programs, claims that special Russian troops in civilian clothes supervised the transfer of Saddam’s WMDs into Syria. An Israeli general, Moshe Yaalon, has made a similar claim. The general in charge of Pentagon spy satellites has admitted observing large truck convoys from Iraq to Syria before the war began.

Yikes.  I know that there has been certain information about this kind of stuff before, but I hadn’t heard anything about the Russians being involved.

In the mean time, read something that is infinitely better than I could ever write anyway.

Don’t complain about how long it is, or say you aren’t interested, or think that it doesn’t matter…

I’m not even saying that you have to agree with it (though I’d really like to see an equally thought out point/counter-point if you don’t), but you have to read it.

Your future, my daughter’s future – they may well depend upon us seeing these truths. Maybe you’ll disagree – but read it, understand it, and think on it. Chew it up – spit it out if you are able – but don’t ignore it.

Most importantly, pass it on – even to people who won’t agree. Even if you don’t agree. A person who can’t listen to a point from “the other side” is a person of weak conviction – and none of us want to be like that.

What the heck am I talking about? This…

This is an awesome cause that helps Americans send School Supply Kits to Iraqi children. I can’t think of something better to show the true spirit of America while planting seeds that will last a lifetime.

Look at these kids – so happy with so little… God bless them! Its this kind of spirit that is the true hope for Iraq’s future.

And God bless OiC founders Gary Sinise and Laura Hillenbrand! What a great idea…

Give today for tomorrow’s sake…

Yon is now selling an iconic photo from his tour in Iraq, and has made them available directly from his blog. I think the picture speaks for itself. People can argue politics up one side and down the other, but they can’t deny that heroes fill the ranks of our armed forces.

Read the full story of the picture here.

I hope Yon doesn’t mind that I’ve posted his work here, and I hope you support him by buying a picture – I’m certainly going to. Even more though, I hope you give this picture to a Veteran to let them know how much you appreciate the sacrifice that was made for your freedom and protection.

God bless them, every one…

These people are amazing Americans. Shame on anyone who says anything to make them doubt the value of the job that they are doing.

I’ll continue to post links to blogs that I’m reading, but the ones listed below are a good place to start. There are views I agree with, and some I don’t – but the overwhelming sense from these people who are in a MUCH better position than me to know, is that a lot of good is being done in Iraq.

Thanks again to these wonderful people for their strength, dedication and sacrifice.

• 365 and a Wakeup
• A Soldier’s Perspective
• Blackfive
• Dude, Where’s the Beach?
• Intel Dump
• Major K
• The Cabarfeidh Pages
• The Officer’s Club
• Andi’s World
• Froggy Ruminations
• Counter Column
• Argghhh!
• One Marine’s View
• Euphoric Reality
• Sgt. Hook