Jen Martinez has a wonderful letter from one of our troops in Iraq – in fact, a fellow South Dakotan:
It has been interesting to follow the news reports from the Republican National Convention, to include the protests in New York by 10s of thousands of people. I am all for standing up for what you believe, which should include voicing your opinions against wars and against presidents, if that is your calling.
But, it really makes me mad when I see people with signs that say things like, “Bring our Boys Home!” There have been several pictures published of protesters carrying flag-draped coffins, and carrying these types of signs.
I have news for you
The soldiers in Iraq, and Afghanistan do not want your sentiment, or your voice that would have the lives of those already lost dishonored by not finishing the job.
Regardless of how you feel about why we went to war, America made a commitment. It’s time we see the job through to fruition. Lack of resolve by many U.S. citizens is the main reason for a lack of trust on the part of those being liberated.
Iraqi citizens are waiting for our resolve to crumble, and see us depart before adequate Iraqi security is established. Al Qaida does not have to beat America in a fight in order to win, they just have to get us to go home.
Ask yourself, what would happen to Iraq, if America were to take your misguided advice and went home before finishing the job?
So, put down your coffin … put down your sign, and have some American resolve to finish the job we started. We have brought the fight to those who wish to bring the fight to American soil, and we are making great progress.
Security is not yet established, and we all hope to come home when a free, safe, and productive Iraq has been established.
I sincerely thank all of you who have supported the soldiers and have recognized that Americans are not the only people on this planet that are entitled to a safe place to live, a good school for boys and girls, or even a clean water supply.
The mainstream people of Iraq truly do appreciate America, and hope we stick around until the job is finished. Their lives depend on it! Thank you for all of your continued support!
Captain Ron Hayes
2nd BN 147th FA
South Dakota Army National Guard
Cedar II, Iraq
Captain Hayes, we’re behind you 100%. Not only that, but when you get home, drop me a line. I want to buy you a beer.
Sounds eerily familiar to something a Nixon supporter may have said in 1972. I’m torn on whether we should continue with this quagmire out of sheer nationalistic stubborness or bail now before the body count reaches Vietnam status or before the country becomes embroiled in a bloody civil war which seems inevitable at this point. Six months ago, I would have never bought into the cut and run Kucinich doctrine. Now, I’m leaning further in the direction that a pullout from Iraq is inevitable, particularly if the lack of manpower and ensuing backdoor draft crushes soldier morale, or certainly if an actual draft begins and the sons of flag-waving, suburban chickenhawks suddenly have to worry about getting a “your friends and neighbors have selected you” letter in the mail.
Waging war against Iraq will go down as one of the biggest foreign policy mistakes this country has ever made. Whoever wins the election this November, I suspect history will reflect poorly on whatever choice they make in terms of “staying the course” and expanding the number of American dead to five digits, or waving the white flag upon recognizing the futility of the mission. Construction of schools and hospitals can only go so far in passing for progress in a country that creates new infrastructural holes for itself with every new insurgent attack. It seems for every step forward, we’re taking at least one and a half steps backward, with precious little reason to suspect a Hail Mary turnaround.
Nixon won a landslide victory in 1972 on a platform of losing the Vietnam War less quickly than McGovern would. Whether we recognize it or not, this year’s candidates are silently engaged in the same sort of race to the bottom.
Yes, Iraq is just like Vietnam. Only a Vietnam were we’d already crushed the North Vietnamese, liberated Hanoi, arrested Ho Chi Minh, and there’s no Soviet Union constantly supplying the enemy with arms.
Oh, and in a sandy desert without the benefit of clearings or coverage.
And where we have the most advanced military in world history and an all-volunteer force.
And where we have the support of a wildly popular local government.
In fact, the only apt comparison with Vietnam is that once again an anti-American media is trying to spin every victory into a defeat. But unlike the days where the media turned the US’ decisive victory in the destroying the NVA after the Tet Offensive, the networks no longer have the stranglehold on the flow of information.
the networks no longer have the stranglehold on the flow of information.
So you say, but the only information I ever see on your blog is stuff that came from news sources.
Where’s all this “blog reporting” you keep talking about? How much reporting have you done on any of the issues? How many government sources have you ever spoken to? How many Freedom of Information Act requests have you ever filed?