I am on my way over there for the first time in a couple weeks. Also i have to agree with -Xino. It is weird to me when people come up to me and thank me when I am in uniform. I never signed up for the thanks. I signed up because i wanted to defend what i believed in, my country and my flag. So to those of you that thank service members, don't be upset if you thank one and he is kinda speechless. Also THANK YOU for showing your respect to all of our service members. It means alot to us to see that people might not support the war but they still support us.

That's what it's about. It doesn't matter where our people are fighting, or who they are fighting, what matters is, when they were called to fight, they fought.

I don't know how to load a link or picture yet. Got to learn. But if you go to
WWW Link You will find out how I am supporting the troops. I am a Consultant for SUZANNE Products. One of my many hats. But least I figured out how to insert the link. Yaaaaaa.........   yes

AzDude, please teach me how to insert images and so on in my post.
Thanks

Bump

Bickity, boppity, BUMP! Still revlevant today.

My Brother was in nam, I was only very young and too this day I can still see the horror on my brothers face when he was boarding the plane, I can still hear myself scream as I didn't want him to go, I just thank him every time I see him and I tell him I love him, and that I am glad he is home. He said to me once, that there is no place like home, but when you are fighting for your country and for what you believe in. It leaves you feeling sad and angry for the loss of a mate that he said HURTS ...

My grandfather was in WWII and Korea. He was in the Army Corp of Engineers. He drank a lot, and spent a large portion of his time quiet and alone. My grandmother said it was because of the things he saw and the frinds he lost in those two wars. He died when I was 19....

My father was in Vietnam. He didn't get drafted....he enlisted. Straight out of high school. He wouldn't talk to his kids about the war. He came home to a country full of people who hated the servicemen. I guess he never really got over what he saw over there. He struggled with depression and alcohol for years, but eventually he had no fight left in him. He committed suicide Jan. 13, 2002...

I have the upmost respect for our servicemen/women. I will always be thankful for what they have done and continue to do for this country. And I try to let them know that whenever possible.

And to the servicemen/women who read this.......

Thank you...for everything.

Recently I talked to an ex-Marine who spent 6 months in the brig and then got kicked out of the Corp because he wouldn't go along with the program. He refused to go to Iraq. I asked him why. I knew that he had to have taken a lot of shit about it. He said that the drill instructor told the guys that the only thing that they should feel when they they shoot an Iraqi kid is the recoil of their weapon. I asked him if the drill was really serious about that. He said that is how the Marines are training our guys. This isn't about politics and it is happening. More people need to say enough is enough. Our fighting men and women shouldn't be put in a situation where they are used for the wrong reasons. It is wrong and we should put an end to this type of training and thinking or we will become the bad guys ourselves. We must stand up for what is right even if it means going against what we are being told. Fighting against an enemy is one thing but killing without conscience is another. I wonder how people over here would feel if our country was invaded by another. Would we resist? Wouldn't we hail the people who resisted? Men, women and children. "You don't know who is the enemy. Dude you have got to figure they all are! You can't trust anyone." This is the new war. It's not against another army it's against another way of life. We don't defend our country anymore but use our military to go over seas and dominate the way other people live. Unfortunately these people aren't going along with the program. Saddam isn't there anymore and still the Iraqis resist and make no mistake it isn't just terrorists. 5 years now and still they don't want us there. To sum it all up I want to say that I am not thankful to a military that is being used in the wrong way. If more of our people where willing to spend time in the brig then maybe this madness would end.

Chasbo,

I respect your opinion. But this thread really isn't about the war or any war in general. It's about the men and women who serve. Not how they are being used, but that they are willing to serve, willing to put their lives in danger. Not just Americans either, but all Servicemembers.   

Oil=Freedom. Sorry I didn't get it at first.



From The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition:
You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
The things people want are often incompatible. This proverb is easier to grasp if it is understood to mean “You can’t eat your cake and have it too."

Iraq's energy reserves are an incredibly rich prize. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, "Iraq contains 112 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the second largest in the world (behind Saudi Arabia), along with roughly 220 billion barrels of probable and possible resources. Iraq's true potential may be far greater than this, however, as the country is relatively unexplored due to years of war and sanctions." For perspective, the Saudis have 260 billion barrels of proven reserves.

Thanks for giving me the freedom to go to Walmart and White Castle? If some innocent Iraqis get in the way and die than that's just too bad now isn't it? I'd rather ride my bike than have that on my conscience.

Chasbo - you're now disrespecting the spirit of the thread and it's not okay. You should start another thread if you wish to discuss the politics of war.

Chasbo - you have a lot of nerve disrespecting our servicemen and women while you sit in comfort and safety behind your computer. I don't see you putting your life on the line.

I may not like this war either, Chasbo..... but I will always, ALWAYS respect the people who serve in our armed forces......

Correct. If you'd like to engage in that line of thinking Chasbo, please start your own thread about it. This thread isn't about any of what you are talking about. It's about the troops, not the motive behind using them. And your story about the Marine in the brig for not wanting to go to war is worthy of a bullshit flag raising. "I don't want to kill children" sounds more honorable that what he most likely really did to get his but thrown in the brig...but that's not what this thread is about either.

I won't entertain any more of your comments here Chasbo because it is clear you only wish to get people stirred up, which is fine, but do it on your own thread. Thank you.