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September 23, 2008 at 11:58:37
From an American Airman in Iraq by Jayne Lyn Stahl Page 1 of 2 page(s) |
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The below note was sent to writer Mike Palecek who has given permission to share it with you: Dear Mike: We have read your articles, and when I say we I mean myself with my fellow soldiers, and to be blunt, your (sic) pissing us off. You talk about war, the military, and government as if we're just screwin' the country and out for some laughs. First the thing about oil in Iraq, GET A FUCKING CLUE! We found 100% pure pesticide...know what that's used for? BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. They were moving the stuff out before we got there...well, most of it anyway. And a country that plans, encourages, or aids in any way to terrorism is a direct threat to the United States.
And on a positive note, the people over there are no longer under rule by a heartless dictator. Stop looking at the picture the liberals are trying to paint to everyone because they want the white house....people are happy over there...you drive around town and they still wave and smile at you saying thank you.
If only Americans were like those people...because they know how precious freedom is. And we are fighting for your freedom. We just happened to get in there before it became a larger threat...that's the way its done. If you think that what we are doing over there is nothing more than trying to get ourselves some oil, then I suggest that you put your boots on the line, gear up, and charge into the frontlines with us so you will then fully understand.
But that's the problem right there. Nobody can fully understand until they have been in our shoes and know what its like. I thought I knew but I was wrong. So all we ask is for your FULL support, a thankfull (sic) attitude, and your prayers for all the soldiers that are standing fast in the path of the enemy ready to kill for you.
Because of us you will never know what it is like to hold a weapon in your hand and have to kill for your freedom.
We don't enjoy killing, but we take great pride in why we are doing it. We are United States Soldiers (sic) and we defend your freedom wherever we go.
Airman Blake French
United States Air Force
Mike's response was:
"Blake, You and your fellow soldiers are murderers. Someone should have told you by now. Sorry to have to be the one. Mike"
My response to Mike and Airman French is...
You know it's funny (figuratively) how many of these air force guys enjoy their work. It's odd how the human mind is able to rationalize all kinds of things like why it's okay to look someone in the eye and shoot them, in Baghdad, and get a medal when putting a bullet through someone's skull in the South Bronx gets you a one way ticket to death row.
It's a kind of psychological boot camp that soldiers go through that makes the marrow in their senses harden, and calcify with no hope of detoxification when they return to home soil, but only more deeply entrenched pathology for which we all take responsibility. We, their teachers, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, classmates, pediatricians; we who replace the fillings in their teeth, and fill their childhoods with biblical axioms like "Thou Shalt Not Kill," we then turn them loose, and tell them anything goes in the name of protecting freedom; a freedom which has become yet another abstraction not unlike terror itself.
Guns and roses---no longer just a rock group, but a way of life, a mindset that eroticizes weaponry, and war, with a social infantilism that is as inescapable as it is chilling.
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| 4 comments |
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They wave at us???
I happen to be an avid watcher of Mosaic, and also DWTV on LinkTV (Dish Network and maybe Direct TV.) Mosaic especially, shows news from Iraq as well as the whole Middle East. This airman needs to check out these programs and then tell us what's really going on in Iraq, as well as countries that are sheltering their refugees. I saw this a.m. where some residents are returning, happily to their town. What does the airman think of the walls around neighborhoods, as well as a dismal infrastructure? There is very little electricity turned on for more than an hour or two a day, Very little potable water, some areas are having Cholera outbreaks because of contaminated water as their only water source. Don't try to tell me Airman of how great it is over there. Get your butt out of the Green Zone, and look around at the real situation. Go to the hospitals and see the maimed and injured children as well as adults. Go drink the water in those neighborhoods he thinks are doing so well. The Airman is pushing the wrong story far as I can see. by Pat Herrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 169 comments) on Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 at 2:34:42 PM  (0+)
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It is the wrong story
WE are the terorists. by jeff prager (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 188 comments) on Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 at 3:03:09 PM (0+)
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Reply: Indeed
We have become the enemy, we ARE the terrorists. Our way or no way, with us or against us, torture?? This is not my America. by Judy Ramsey (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 93 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 at 3:49:39 PM (0+)
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Huh?!!
"We found 100% pure pesticide...know what that's used for?" Killing pests. Good thing we don't make any of that stuff here in America, or we might be terrorists too! "And on a positive note, the people over there are no longer under rule by a heartless dictator." Now they're under the rule of a man appointed by someone over 8000 miles away from them. The very definition of freedom? "And we are fighting for your freedom." Not really. My freedom is more endangered by the actors in DC, than by any Iraqi. How many of those people waving to you could afford to hurt an American who wasn't sent to stand next to them? "Because of us you will never know what it is like to hold a weapon in your hand and have to kill for your freedom." That's what I thought about the kids in my family, when I was serving over there fifteen years ago. I was an Airman, and served two tours over there. I hoped that they would never have to do what I did - to travel to the other side of the world to fight in a war. Thanks for making sure you'll be the last one to have to defend us, with all your powers. Iraq has never had nukes. Russia still has thousands. Let's talk about the threat Iraq posed. After stunning the tiny country of Kuwait, their military was devastated by ours in 1991. What a threat they posed to us. by UncleSim (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 518 comments [83 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 at 9:01:30 PM (0+)
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