[Rhodes22-list] Political:Off to Iraq-reply to Bill E

Thu Oct 26 22:21:56 EDT 2006

Bill,
I am probably wasting my time with this, but I started this string by 
posting the
letter home from that soldier (Matt) from Texas.  You told me to "cut the 
crap" and said that it was a made-up political post.  So I checked on that 
to be sure.  This is not a generic letter posted and circulated on the web.  
It is an email to my brother from a colleague he knows and works with and 
sees regularly.  Matt is this guy's son.

I have follow-up letters that you would probably believe because they're not 
political (last one describes a sand storm).  I was going to post, but will 
not bother.

Unbelievable.
Bob

>
>>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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