[Rhodes22-list] Off to Iraq

[Brad Haslett]

Bob,

Thanks for the post.  There are letters like this quite often on the
milblogs I frequent.  Also, I have a co-worker with a Marine son in Iraq who
forwards updates from time to time.  This may be a SHOCK to the lefties in
the world but our military is all volunteer and for the most part very
motivated.  The reaction you got on the list was predictable and  not unlike
the reactions from the usual suspects anytime something that doesn't fit
their perceptions gets published.  They get the New York times version of
reality everyday from someone who's never been out of the Green Zone and
believe that, but gawd forbid they listen to the wisdom of a common
foot-soldier. No one likes this war, or any war for that matter, but this
kid in the letter pretty much nailed it.  We fight them there now or here
later.  Did you see on the news this evening that youths are burning buses
in France?  Nope?  What kind of youths?  Of course the French can't say
it.  Radical Islamists!  Keep your head in the sand folks.  This ain't goin'
away anytime soon.  We can argue about the methods or the chosen battlefield
but the war declared by them a long time ago.  What was our first
reaction?  Wear sweaters!

Here's what really pisses me off.  Where are the new ideas?  All I hear this
election cycle is let's tuck tail and run, then hope for the best.  Is this
a strategy? Criticism and disagreement is one thing - attempting dialogue
with, or worse, ignoring enemies who want to cut your head off is stupid. Oh
I forget, cutting off heads is only for old time's sake, until they can get
their WMD programs running again.


Brad

On 10/23/06, Bob Keller <r22yankeeclipper at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Got this from my brother and wanted to pass it on.
> Bob
>
> This is from a co-worker at HP who's son left for Iraq today. This comes
to
> me directly from his Dad. I will be getting periodic updates from him and
> will forward. I will take the last name off so as to protect his privacy,
> but forward on, because these brave troops need our continued support and
> prayers.
>
> Bill
>
> Everyone,
>
>
> Well after months and months of yakking about it the day is finally
> here…well almost here, just have to go to sleep tonight (we'll see about
> that) and it'll be here tomorrow.  I'm sure pretty much everyone is
> wondering what I'm thinking right now, what are my feelings, and all that
> other stuff…I guess I'm going to be super-cool and spill it for you, just
> because I'm that awesome.  :c)
>
> I'm ready to get going, and I have been ready since my last visit to
> Colorado…sitting around here this last week or so is just awful, waiting
is
> never fun…gives you too much time to think, and a lot of the time thinking
> gets you in trouble.  I am ready to wage this war against militant-Islam,
> because it is something that absolutely has to be done.  Some look at Iraq
> and just see Saddam and WMD and that MY BOSS was wrong to go in there (btw
> we found enough WMD to kill everyone in Baghdad, but I guess you didn't
hear
> or read about that anywhere, ask me if you really want details…oh, and
> Saddam really was a horrible asshole…pardon my language to both my
> grandmothers…), but it is well past that point…Iraq is the line in the
sand
> between civilized nations and Islamic fascism, because whether you want to
> believe it or not, there are a large group of people out there who want
you
> and everyone else dead unless you convert to their way of thinking.  The
> great thing about Iraq is that all these idiots have decided it is a lot
> easier to fight us there than it is to come to the United States and fight
> you…which I am fine with, because I'm going to be so horribly well armed
and
> armored that I welcome their best shot at destroying everything I have
> dedicated my life to defend.
>
> While I'm gone I encourage all of you to live it up for me…I can't do it,
so
> you all should do it double for me…take those extra few days off of work,
> take that trip, try for that double on your dirt bike, fish that run one
> more time, let your kid stay up that extra 15 minutes, stay in the
> duck-blind 15 more minutes after you think the birds have stopped flying,
> drink that extra drink…I think you get the idea…everyone has that area in
> their life where they can indulge, so I encourage you all to do it for me.
> The only thing that I am worried about going into Iraq is letting my guys
> down, letting all of you down, and letting my country down; and I can tell
> you with all of my heart that it is NOT in my intention to do any of those
> things.  I promise you all that I will be careful, but at the same time I
> promise that I will kick the ever-living CRAP out of anyone that presents
a
> threat to me or you...they WILL die, and they'll do it before I do.  This
> war is the most important war that has been fought since WW2, easily, if
not
> more so.  The things that we do tomorrow and in the next five years will
> shape the world as we know it for centuries to come…if we leave Iraq
before
> we win the fight then all of the western world is in danger, just remember
> that…and I will elaborate on that fact in the future.  So happy trails to
> all of you, and I will frequently be in touch, just say a 'lil prayer for
me
> and I'll do alright.
>
> God Bless and Love,
>
> Matt
>
> Matthew
>
> 1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood TX
>
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