JACK ARMY, scanning my sector!
Hooah Sarge!
You've got my total support Sarg. God Bless you and those who serve with you. My son has been there too and saw first hand the need and what the lack-there-of would breed.
Thanks for stopping by my site - be sure to link up any time you want in my open posts.
What a great post! You so eloquently said everything I try so hard to and fail at. Can I link this post on my blog sometime?
Roger ALL that, Sarge!
I have been trying to figure out how to get your true feelings on the subject. I know how I feel about us being over there, and I couldn't agree more. But that is different from some one who is actually over there giving his opinion. Thank you once again for all you do, and keep up the good work. I couldn't be more proud of the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces than I am right now. You are making history, even if the general population and most of the media are too numb to realize it now.
Good point because I believe I have read where back in the Clinton era, before there were troops in Iraq or Afghanistan... the Security people came to Clinton and said they were training terrosists in Afghanistan. The terrorists are always hating us, no matter what military actions we are taking or not taking. Ignoring it will not work.
Thank you.
Couldn't agree with you more. Well Done! Be Safe!
USAF Ret
Wonderful post. You all have my support. I could not agree with you more Jack Army. It is a shame that more folks don't feel like you and I do on this subject. Stay safe and be careful.
Excellent post! Bless ya all!!
Thank you so much for your service and this post.
Excellent post, Sarge!
Stay safe...
Quoting Jack Army: "And Americans want us to stop fighting that enemy? Why? So they can rest, recover, rearm, re-equip, retrain, re-infiltrate, and attack us at home... again?"
Why don't more people understand this? Clinton ignored them for 8 years and they attacked us at home. So, how is leaving when we are in the middle of helping them going to make things better? They've already shown us that they will come here.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It really does mean more coming from someone who is there!
Sarge,
I agree with your sentiments and fully support the US military's effort to fight the terroists on their soil, but you need to advocate fighting "smart". Fighting foreign insurgents and militias in cities where they can hide among supporting civilians is not smart. There is an unlimited supply of these guys, you can kill them for next 10 years, they won't give up. Running our vehicles over IEDs that have caused 85% of the casualties is not smart. We need to play on a playing field of our choosing. Don't forget that the American Press is part of the enemy.
Ultimately it is the support of the American people that will decide whether you stay there or not.
Use of military force must consider all these factors, especially the will of the American people in order to win. Some people accuse the poor American people support on weakness. But they only see the waco demonstrators and CNN reports of casualties. The real reason the American support is erroding is they want you to win and win quickly.
If you want to stay in Iraq you need to advocate changing you mission. Advocating putting American troops in a guerrilla killing zone will get you home quicker. Better to move North and South and train the Kurds and Shiites to fight in Persian Iran. The Iraqi Kurds will support the Iranian Kurds. The Iraqi Shiites will support the Arab Shiites in Western Iran just across the Gulf. Both are being severely persecuted by the Iranian Persians. Fighting rabble in Iraq accomplishes very little. Iran is a much bigger enemy. Destabilizing them through surragates can accomplish much and would eliminate American body bags and allow you to stay and perform a valuable military objective.
God keep you safe,
LibertorDeath
You are so right! Many Americans are more focused on furthering their own interests than winning this war.
Pulling out now would be a betrayal for those who have given their lives.
If we don't settle the issue of radical Islam now we'll be fighting them for the next 100 years.
Yo Bro!
Happy Thanksgiving! And Thank You and your family for service to country. I will email my congressman. If we don't do it now, When? It will come back to us (again!)and the MSM will say it's our fault that we let them..get away/breed them...etc. God Bless & Be safe.
David, I agree with what you write but for the Iraq Shites can you trust them?
Outstanding post. God bless you for your first-hand wisdom and your service. I will print this out and mail it to my Congress people, luckily I live in Texas and only one of them doesn't get it-but it's one too many.
We also believe in the Iraqi people, they just need a chance and a little more time.
You guys on the ground are the best judge of this-not the politicians or the press.
Hang in there, you are doing heroes work.
outstanding, Sgt.
I don't think that many Americans want us to abandon the mission (it IS a good mission)... and I think that many (maybe even MOST) Americans understand what "failure" would mean... on the other hand, I believe a lot of what is perceived as "lack of resolve" on the part of the public is because they see a lack of resolve by the Iraqis to stand up and fight for themselves -- resolve shown again and again by the Americans warriors fighting for them. (I admit is often one of my frustrations)... and I believe of many others.
We are behind you all 110%. We support you AND your mission. I AM PRO-VICTORY.
Hi Jack Army! Happy Thanksgiving and thank you so much for the work you've been doing in Iraq. Your commentary is great, and I'll let my congressman and senators know that you and me believe we should finish what we've started in Iraq and Afghanistan. I think it's a good sign that Murtha got stomped by Democrats and that Lieberman won. I know the whiners are noisy and some of them even say stuff to me in person. Silly moonbats. It's like arguing with a granite wall trying to convince me that the USA should ever cut and run. Sergeant, I'm just one voter, but you have my total support in your desire to finish this very difficult job. It is worth the doing. I hope you saw what happened in Lebanon today, with people protesting against Syria again. Iran and Syria will mess up and our Coalition will win. One way or another, we're going to see this through. I truly believe that this is a war for the survival of our western civilization, and that Europe is already in a very dangerous situation with their non-assimilating Muslim populations who even after 3 generations are not becoming Europeans in their hearts.
Stay safe, Sir, and please know that for all the public noise, there are many millions of us who support our military and the amazing good work you are doing.
Come home? I wish I could come join you! (I'm way past enlistment age, damn.) Piss on the Dinosaur media. REMF's! Hang tough. Shoot to kill. Fight to win. Hooah!
In total agreement with you Dear Soldier and I will so advise my Congress. I must admit, the way things are in Congress as of now, I'm afraid. I don't have much confidence my government will do right by you. I desperately do not want us to leave without victory, for the sake of our soldiers who have already given their all and for no less than for the sake of the people who (also) risked their lives to vote (the sight of those purple fingers made me cry, literally, with joy). Dang, I almost felt ashamed of us over here... I remembered thinking that at least the Iraqi people who voted, those who actually carted their 80 year old grandfather in a wheel-barrow no less, they understood at least that much. I noticed and I am deeply grateful to you. I want us to get out of your way and let you do what you are supremely trained and qualified to do: win. All I want to hear is what you need us to do for you in order to accomplish that and I want the rest of us to shut up and deliver. God Bless You Dear Soldier, forever.
Hey, who thought some Army guy could speak so eloquently? I thought we were all just poor idiots that barely squeaked through our nation's education system and chose military service ahead of the fry station at Mickey D's. I agree with your points exactly, so far that I risked retirement preparation for a chance at promotion and to serve a second tour with a bunch of (SF and SEAL) SnakeEater types who needed their one Marine to remind them that red meat is still better. The media deliberately has attempted to defeat the administration in Iraq. We would watch the news in Iraq and laugh at how wrong it was, and now I sit in another theater of the GWOT and realize just how poorly informed our fellow citizens truly are. The press doesn't report what we have going on in South East Asia, unless it involves Westerners...and then only barely. The press reports the story of 6 Imams getting dragged off a plane in Minneapolis as a Civil Rights issue, without taking to account that the Civil Rights of the other Americans on that flight to travel securely in their nation were violated. Nobody questions that 6 muslims acting up could not have been a plan to galvanize the American muslim community. To create the same outrage that we see everywhere the muslims are cloistered in their own non-inclusive communities. Asymetric Warfare, no borders, just wide open, total warfare. Jack continue to soldier on brother, take care of your warriors and make sure they are better, faster and luckier than the enemy...Semper Fidelis and Happy Thanksgiving...MSgt D/USMC/
III MEF
Dear Sgt Army,
God bless you and keep you safe!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for your service, Jack, and for your so very well expressed comments in this piece. It is a damn shame that so few (relatively) of our citizens "get it", or even care about getting it. I only wish that the politicians, including especially Bush, would untie your hands and let you do what must be done. We have been fighting this war since at least 1979 and still the public doesn't want to get it. I wish that I was of an age that I could return to the military and help the cause. Maybe you could sit me somewhere up high with a sniper rifle, I ain't lost my eye and my trigger finger still works pretty well, and I would love to try the new 50 cal sniper rifle.
Semper fi, Sarge, keep your head down and your weapon clean and loaded.
Great post Sarge. Keep telling people about the war. They need to hear it. I do disagree with one of your commentors. He/she felt we needed to get out of the city. We don't choose the battleground. The enemy has chosen the field of battle.
THEY HAVE CHOSEN THIS BATTLEFIELD BECAUSE THEY COULD NEVER FIGHT US OUT IN THE OPEN AND WIN.The enemy also knows how our American press censors our news coverage and manipulates our media.The media knows exactly who is behind the peace meovment and the "pullout now" crowd. Everytime a reporter brings up the truth it gets washed over.
Keep up the great job sarge. Our future is at stake, though I have no doubts you already know that. God bless you and your troops and all your families.
The only people who want to “bring you home” are your enemies (and their paid shills at CNN et al). I have four suggestions:
1) Don’t listen to CNN (or any of the MSM for that mater – they are in the enemy’s back pocket).
2) Don’t listen to the BS from the DU or Kos.
3) Seek and destroy as many bad guys as possible.
4) Repeat step #3.
Keep up the great work.
Terrific post; thank you for this and for your service.
And please know that there are truly MANY of us who still support you...unfortunately, it's just the obnoxious people who are the loudest. I should know -- I live in Los Angeles, where the obnoxious are not only loud, but also given a microphone and a video camera. Anyway, take heart. There are many who support and pray for you daily.
May God bless and keep you safe, and ultimately bring you home victorious. Happy Thanksgiving. 
What the politicians fail to realize is that if we decide to stop fighting them, that /will not/ end the war because they will not stop fighting us. The media and many politicians want the war to end; fine, I do too; but complete victory is the only way out, not withdrawal. Withdrawal will only delay the inevitable and pass an even greater struggle onto the next generation.
Take care and God bless.
Good day Sgt,
Perhaps a little reading from a previous unpopular war is in order. The problem at hand is that since that war the "dodger" and friends now hold the power and outnumber us considerably. And they fill the education system and the media so you aren't likely to be educated or informed about events that do not pass their "muster". http://screamingeagles-
327thviet...m_look_back.htm We are not what I would call an informed society and are not likely to be until the boomers are gone. Good luck.
Here's what I sent to my Congressman; I'll be sending something similar to Cornyn and Hutchinson:
Sir, I am deeply unhappy with how my government is handling the war in Iraq, but not in the way that is fashionable with the Democrats and the Unhinged Extreme Left. I want my government to get out of the way of my soldiers and let them win. Win. That means sending them reinforcements, letting them find and kill the enemy without fear that we're going to punish them for it. And the Iraqi civilians had better decide whose side their on. If they don't help, then they're with the enemy and it is time for them to face the music.
I know that Iraq is not represented in its whole or entirety in the sensationalistic, shallow, emotional and slanted reports filed by the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the likes of CNN or MSNBC. I know it is not as bad as they make it out to be. I also know that we could be finished and victorious by now, or at least in firm control, by now if we would stop hobbling our soldiers.
Please don't let the victory of the Democrats give you the idea that people like me want it their way. Quite the contrary. But I do want Congress to take action. Now.
If I may, I include the following poem, which I found at Blackfive.net, a very respected military blog:
A Different Christmas Poem
By Michael Marks
(which I will post in a separate comment in a few seconds, which I hope will be alright)
Thank Congressman Hall for your service to our country.
As I mentioned in my just previous post: H/T: Blackfive
Nope, haloscan won't give, so, here's the link:
http://iwvpa.net/marksm/a_soldie.php
Thank you again My Soldier.
I support what you are doing over there, and just linked this post to my blog - www.worth-it-all.blogspot.com.
Peace in the world might be a long ways away, but your part in making it happen a little quicker is more appreciated than you know. Be safe and Take care.
A lot of anti-war people understand that 'pulling out now' would leave the Iraqis in a bad situation. Our big anti-war protests were in February 2003, before the Iraq invasion, because we knew that once a war starts, its almost impossible to stop, and things get really complicated.
Now that you are there, and the terrorists have flocked there as well, a lot of anti-war people see it sort of like Yugoslavia in the 90s. Troops should be there to stop crime and prevent civil war, and the development of infrastructure and Iraqi police and government and economy should be of highest priority.
Yes we were against the Iraq invasion, that doesn't mean we love Saddam, want to appease terrorism, hate America, etc. The whole rise of nutjob leftwingers like Michael Moore is not because ordinary liberals like him, but because they feel so threatened by guys like Rush Limbaugh calling them traitors, communists, and America hating saddam lovers. The 'culture wars' are driving soccer moms into the arms of John Kerry, even though most liberals do not really like John Kerry.
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