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

Thu Oct 26 22:32:28 EDT 2006

Bob,

I'd be interested in reading them.  The young man seemed very articulate and
wrote well.  If you don't want to post to the list and wouldnt mind, I'd
appreciate a copy off list.

Thanks,

Hank

On 10/26/06, Bob Keller <r22yankeeclipper at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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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