~nb
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was
forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior
to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.
I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning,
to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in
1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years
old in just four months, but I'm tired:
I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who
lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks
through.
I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history
when the going gets tough.
I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they
'Support the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is
achieved.
I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and
casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of
their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and
women are having on the battlefield.
I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship
into a democracy over night.
I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to
the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent
Parliament.
I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by
giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the
Vietnam War.
I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our
fallen soldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in a just
and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by
cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.
I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom -- Vietnam generation, who
have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult
tasks through to victory.
I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives
than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.
I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the
press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.
Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn
from history that there is no substitute for Victory.
Sincerely,
Joe Repya,
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne
5 comments:
I'm tired of chain letters from supposed soldiers who think they can instruct the rest of us on what to think of Iraq. For OR against.
My brother is fighting in Iraq right now. I think it's a problem if our only source of information is through the American media. (Does anyone honestly believe that the media actually gives a fair and accurate portrayal of what is going on over there?) So therefore, from what other sources except firsthand accounts can we use to draw our own conclusions?
Gavin,
"Supposed soldier?" Just go and Google Lt. Col. Repya's name and see the sites that come up. Granted, he wrote that note 4 years ago, but is his message not relevant today? Look on the Power Line blog for the letter he recently wrote to Star Tribune columnist Nick Coleman. Also read the stuff posted by the Coast Guard Lightship Sailors when they presented Lt. Col. Repya with an award and honorary membership for the message I posted, which was just an e-mail he wrote home. One of my Brother Knights here at the Cathedral is currently serving his 2nd or 3rd tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Marines. He sends similar e-mail back to us in the Council when he can, that if they (the active duty soldiers) don't write home, the real stories never get told. If I post Alex's next e-mail to the Knights, will you also just label his words as some "supposed soldier"?
~nb
Frankly, the "support the troops" = "support the war" is a false dichotomy. Rush's propaganda to the contrary, Americans are intelligent enough to support troops (I personally know 3 who are/have been there, one in Special Forces...) without "supporting" whatever GWB's goal is this week.
We WON the friggin' war against Saddam. Now GWB seems to want us to keep the US Army there until there's a Starbucks on every corner.
Search "Ryan" on my blog to see what a genuine Conservative Republican congressman has to say about the effort.
LETS GET TO THE REAL ISSUE FOR BOTH VIETNAM AND IRAQ:
Politicians make no difference.
We have bought into the Military Industrial Complex (MIC).
Through a combination of public apathy and threats by the MIC we have let the SYSTEM get too large. It is now a SYSTEMIC problem and the SYSTEM is out of control.
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.
There is no conspiracy. The SYSTEM has gotten so big that those who make it up and run it day to day in industry and government simply are perpetuating their existance.
The politicians rely on them for details and recommendations because they cannot possibly grasp the nuances of the environment and the BIG SYSTEM.
So, the system has to go bust and then be re-scaled, fixed and re-designed to run efficiently and prudently, just like any other big machine that runs poorly or becomes obsolete or dangerous.
This situation will right itself through trauma. I see a government ENRON on the horizon, with an associated house cleaning.
The next president will come and go along with his appointees and politicos. The event to watch is the collapse of the MIC.
For more details see:
http://www.rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com
Post a Comment