When I joined the Navy in 1987 I knew in the back of my mind that there
might be a chance that I could be involved in something. In 1991 when
Operation Desert Storm started I volunteered to go to the sands to help
Marines set up communications sites.
Even though I love my family == I was only 22 yrs old and single at that
time == I gave no regards to what could possibly happen. I didn't care.
Maybe it seems strange to some people but this was and still is my thinking
== I would gladly give up my life for my country in order to give back what
it gave me. My wife and friends know that I would have gladly traded place
with any of those soldiers who didn't want to be in Iraq. However, I am
passed the age of service. But if my country called on me I would do it.
I definitely don't expect everyone to have the same feelings and I won't
criticize those who don't. However, I strongly believe that in order to
secure your right to protest and disagree there has to be someone to make
sure that those rights are there.
I truly believe that every citizen of the world should have the same rights.
It is not the sole responsibility of the US and UK to remove from power any
government or individual that commits genocide and other atrocities against
their own people or others == it is the responsibility of the entire world.
There are regimes in Africa that remove the hands and feet of men, women and
children who don't take their side. These people need to be removed == ANY
WAY NECESSARY to ensure that those people can live without fear.
It seems to me that most of today's liberals, if they were alive during WW2,
would not support Roosevelt and Eisenhower for going after Hitler. It seems
that all that is important now is protecting everybody's rights regardless
of the consequences. Hussein killed his own. He should now suffer the
consequences not be given some sort of immunity because the left is
empathetic.
There are too many people that want us to pull out of Iraq but history has
taught us that we can't do that: On Armistice Day -- 11 Nov 1918 -- when the
surrender was signed for WW1 we pulled out of Germany without lending them a
hand in the rebuilding. That is ONE of the reasons that WW2 started. They
still felt the animosity for us not helping them. When WW2 ended we did the
opposite: We help those countries that were in the Axis to rebuild. That is
why we HAVE to stay in Iraq until that country is stable enough to work on
its own. Could you imagine the consequences if we left that country now in a
state of shambles? Sometimes thinking with our hearts is not the right way
to do things and we have to put our emotions aside and do what is necessary.
Sometimes doing what is necessary is not what we want to do but what we have
to do.
MHO
Jim Thompson said:
Well, before you sign up, do they give you any kind of indication
what you might be in for? Anybody who signs up for a 2-year hitch
and then whines and snivels because they can't fly back to Mommy's
lap on a moments notice doesn't deserve to have been sent on a road
trip at taxpayer expense in the first place.
Peace on Drugs!
Rich
[snip]
Do you claim to be an American? You certainly are a vicious animal
with no regard for our troops and their need for leave.
...Jim Thompson
