THANK YOU, VETERANS
Posted by Rusty Lopez under Military at 6:00 am.
Update: please take the time to read Joe Carter’s post Happy Birthday Marines.
Commemorating Doolittle’s Raiders.
Marines at Iwo Jima.
A United States soldier, cradles an Iraqi girl, victim of a terrorist suicide bombing. Read Michael Yon’s entire account.
November 11th, 2006 at 8:29 am
Pictures say so much more than words. I really hope with all the down to earth talk by our president and Speaker Pelosi that a way will be made for the soldiers to come home and yet leave Iraq with a semblance of peace. I fear there is little hope for that poor country.
November 11th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Russ:
I’m with you. I too am skeptical that both can be achieved, but I would be thrilled to be proven wrong.
November 11th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
Rusty: Beautiful picture of our flag. You have a great gift. Thanks for reminding us of how wonderfully God has blessed us.
November 12th, 2006 at 10:26 am
Hi Russ,
I’m not with you at all. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a picture, a snapshot in time, never tells a complete story.
In Sudan, there really is no hope because in Sudan there is no willingness to resist persecution and because there is no outside country willing to sacrifice money and lives to stop and prevent genocide.
However, in Iraq, there is plenty of hope, and there will continue to be plenty of hope as long as citizens of Iraq are willing to resist persecution and as long as there is an outside country willing to assist. In Iraq, there will continue to be hope as long as in America there are considerable numbers of citizens and a President willing to make sacrifices and do the right thing.
One of the clear lessons throughout history is the need for both peace makers and strong armies. Evil has prevailed and flourished during periods of history when the balance between the two was lost. The renewal of the Democratic Party has been very encouraging so far. I pray that America will continue to do what it takes for as long as it takes to keep hope in Iraq alive.
November 13th, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Hi David,
I think we may agree more than you think. One thing though, I do wonder a little, what would exactly happen if we scaled down our presence in Iraq. My logic is that from what I have read, the al queda types are pouring in from surrounding Arab countries because they consider it a holy duty to expel the infidel. We do have some luck here because the Sunnis who they have taken in with pretty much abhor them. I will say, a Marine, like you and others, have more first hand wisdom than an armchair, me, person looking at it. Thanks for your service by the way.
November 14th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Hi Russ,
Thanks, but my Marine Corps service was during a period of military decay and discouragement. My understanding of military specifics in Iraq now is limited to what I read, but I do know for sure that I don’t ever want our military to reach such a low point as was reached after Viet Nam. We need to always be cautious, but ready, to use an appropriate amount of force to stop tyrants and their regimes.
I’m not sure it would be better for Iraq or the world if the United States would withdraw from Iraq in order to alleviate terrorism there and then disperse Al Qaeda throughout the rest of the world. Fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq is less of a problem than fighting Al Qaeda in Afghanistan or Pakistan because, unlike Iraq, in those two countries it is impossible to differentiate between terrorists and citizens. Also, it is much preferable to have Al Qaeda fighting against our trained military in Iraq than fighting against our untrained and innocent civilians in the United States and other parts of the world.
When a volcano simmers, it is less likely to explode because pressure is being relieved a little at a time. Perhaps an extended period of simmering in Iraq will prevent an all out war between radical Islam and the West. I can respect your view, but I don’t think withdrawing from Iraq will end the threat. I think withdrawing from Iraq will postpone and then ultimately increase the threat of radical Islam against the West. We need to be just as patient and just as persistent in long term strategy as our enemy or we will lose more than the country of Iraq.