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

Thu Oct 26 22:02:41 EDT 2006

Bill,

The one guy that responded wasn't the only one reading the email.
Please, post the others!

Herb Parsons

S/V O'Jure
1976 O'Day 25
Lake Grapevine, N TX

S/V Reve de Papa
1971 Coronado 35
Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast 

>>> r22yankeeclipper at hotmail.com 10/26/2006 8:21:56 pm >>>
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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