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True Heroes Place Themselves at Risk for Benefit of Others

katrina

Well-known member
On Friday afternoon, 16 February, when Sgt. Joshua Frazier, USMC, was laid to rest in the soil of his native Virginia, his comrades in arms from the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines were fighting terrorists on the mean streets of Ramadi, in Iraq’s bloody Al Anbar Province. As Sgt. Frazier’s grieving mother was being presented with a carefully folded American flag, the Congress of the United States was debating a meaningless “non-binding resolution” attacking the commander in chief.

Heroes aren’t athletes who set new sports records or Hollywood actors who make “daring” films, or politicians who make bold promises. Heroes are people who place themselves at risk for the benefit of others. Joshua Frazier was certainly such a man. Unfortunately, there are far too few members of Congress who fit the definition.

At Joshua’s funeral, I gave his parents photographs of their son that had been taken a few weeks ago while I was embedded with his unit in Iraq. We had just returned from a patrol to a newly re-opened school where little Iraqi girls were being taught arithmetic. Standing around us are the Sunni police officers and Shia soldiers who had accompanied us on the mission. Sweat stains from his 40-pound flak jacket are still evident on his uniform and he is smiling through exhaustion into the lens. He and his squad of Marines had been up for more than 24 hours chasing down an enemy sniper. His is one of more than two dozen Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard units to be extended in Iraq in order to increase U.S. troop levels by 21,500. These are the young Americans who will bear the brunt of what Congress is doing
Marine Sergeant Joshua Frazier is one of 2,507 U.S. military personnel killed in action in Iraq. Speaker Nancy Pelosi claims that the resolution being debated by the House of Representatives is a measure that "will continue to support and protect" U.S. military personnel. Yet, she also says it shows "Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq." How this does anything but damage U.S. and Iraqi morale and embolden America’s adversaries is beyond comprehension.

“The American people have lost faith in President Bush's course of action in Iraq,” Pelosi said Tuesday, as the resolution was introduced. She said the president’s plan "is based on the judgment that the way out of Iraq lies in sending more troops in," adding, "Our experience has proven just the opposite.”

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, “Our experience,” in Ms. Pelosi’s words, has proven that pulling U.S. forces out of a fight before the war is won is a formula for disaster. In Korea, the decision to withdraw UN troops to the 38th parallel resulted in stalemate and today’s despotic, nuclear-armed regime in Pyongyang. In Vietnam, the Congressional cut-off of funds in December 1974 precipitated the North Vietnamese Communist takeover of the entire country less than five months later. The combined losses in both wars – more than 108,000 Americans killed in action — should be an object lesson for this Congress. Pulling out, holding back, withdrawing support, “de-funding” the war — whatever it’s called — is tantamount to squandering lives.

Is that where this Congress is heading? Are the lives of courageous young American volunteers like Joshua Frazier worth so little to our Congress that they would ignore our peril for perverse personal political profit?

If the morale of America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines doesn’t have meaning to our legislators then perhaps they should look at what America’s enemies are doing. While Congress debates hollow, but ultimately damaging legislation, there is new assertiveness in Iran — on everything from acquiring nuclear arms to supplying terror cells in Iraq with advanced weaponry. Tehran’s radical Islamic theocracy headed by Grand Ayatollah Khamenei doesn’t have to worry about “resolutions of non-support” — but they are very adept at measuring American ambivalence and uncertainty.

This week’s “show and tell” of captured Iranian sniper rifles, surface-to-air missiles, mortar rounds, sophisticated “explosively formed penetrators” and evidence of Iranian complicity in killing more than 170 Americans elicited nary a peep from the new Congressional leadership. They were more concerned with their pet resolution — and getting Speaker Pelosi a bigger military airplane for her commute between Washington and San Francisco. That’s a telling signal to Tehran that our Congress is backing away from protecting our vital interests — and our troops.

Nero fiddled as Rome burned. Today, Congress diddles as Americans die. Tomorrow, we may all pay the price
 

sw

Well-known member
You don't realize how true that whole article is. I can't wait for the cat fight to break out between her highness MS Piglosi and Hitlery. The new troops are already there. The bad guys know they are in trouble now and they are running. Katrina, look at the USA as that room you slept in, with the Marines on the door, they will protect us no matter the cost, no matter the loss, that is what they do, and they will die trying to defend stupid people who claim to be American even though their political future depends on American DEFEAT.
 

nonothing

Well-known member
What is considered a defeat? also what is considered a victory? You all bash others who bash GWB,but I just want to know when it will be ok to withdrawn troops? Who decides victory,I have yet to even hear a mandate for victory from Mr.Bush....What is the goal now...No WMD,no sadam,none of sadams horrific leadrers are left,just what is the goal for all this death? How much longer,is that an unfair question to ask Mr.Bush?
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
Don't forget there are more branches of the service involved than just the Marines.....lots more.

Don't forget them. www.anysoldier.com


I can't say it enough

On anonther note...maybe another thread. What would you ( pro Bush/War folks) call a victory? I mean a victory that would mean our people could home?

I keep hearing victory talked about and we're almost there.. almost there....another few thousand will ' get'er done'....well what are the parameters or definition or rules that shall define and pronounce " it's over, lets go"?
 

jigs

Well-known member
untie the hands of our military, turn these boys loose all over Iraq. let them flush the terrorists like a covey of quail down some hedge row......give them 6 months of no Washington fools poking their noses in, and you will se what victory is....

we can not achieve the desired results playing by the rules, when the enemy is not playing by the rules.
 

CattleArmy

Well-known member
I've had such mixed feelings about the troops being deployed. I've had a cousin over there and friends. I've seen a child whose mother is over there for at least 18 months going on with life with mom gone. And in another sad aquaitance with a child that both parents are deployed right now. It seems to me a lot of Americans are just going on with life while yet so many families are missing a part of their family over there protecting you and I defending our nation. Or it can be viewed as a clean up effort. My uncle who is a veternan of vietnam feels strongly we must keep the troops over there if we give in they will just attack again. To which I can see his point. But my question is does anyone ever think they will capture all of those responsible for the attack on the U.S.? Are the troops truely over there defending our great nation? Or is it just a clean up effort?
 

jigs

Well-known member
it boils down quite simply to one thing.
we are committed.

we went in, and we got the ball rollin, now we can not just pick up our toys and go home, we have to stay and keep hitting them, hit hard, hit fast, and hit where it hurts!

any flinch, and reduction, and votes of no confidence from congress are all seen across the world as a weakness, and these bastards who think it is their religious goal to cleanse the world of you and me, will see this weakness and it will feed their fire, they will keep coming and coming. eventually they will be knocking on your door!
 

passin thru

Well-known member
But my question is does anyone ever think they will capture all of those responsible for the attack on the U.S.?

Capture or kill all responsible.............no. But you can make the survivors scared to cross us.

Remember we make good neighbors but worse enemies.

Oh and jiigs nailed it
untie the hands of our military, turn these boys loose all over Iraq. let them flush the terrorists like a covey of quail down some hedge row......give them 6 months of no Washington fools poking their noses in, and you will se what victory is....

we can not achieve the desired results playing by the rules, when the enemy is not playing by the rules.
 

memanpa

Well-known member
jigs said:
untie the hands of our military, turn these boys loose all over Iraq. let them flush the terrorists like a covey of quail down some hedge row......give them 6 months of no Washington fools poking their noses in, and you will se what victory is....

we can not achieve the desired results playing by the rules, when the enemy is not playing by the rules.

i totally agree.
we lost in nam because of having our hands tied, the enemy plays by a different set of rules, and we need adjust to playing by their rules and really kick butts!
of course the libbies would never go for a method that works, instead they continiue to tie the fighting guys hands.
 

passin thru

Well-known member
These libs, you gotta love their talkin out of both sides of their mouth
First they tell us we needed to send more troops.........
Second when Bush wants to send more troops.........nope can't do that
So what are they telling the troops.........sorry if you need help, we aren't gonna help you out
All they are doing is positioning themsaelves to say "see I told you so"
 

nonothing

Well-known member
Why can't any of you folks answer a simple question or two?I ask what is deemed a victory and what is deemed a deafeat?.So far jigs says it is like quail hunting but which of these terriosts need to be killed to call this invasion a victory.?

So let me get this straight...It started out as WMD's,then it was to liberate the people of Iraq,then it was kill sadam,then it was kill his strongest supporters,and now the reason is to hunt the terriosts like quails?.What is the next reason to send more troops in? Why does the mandate keep changing? do you people not notice this trend?
 

memanpa

Well-known member
nonothing said:
Why can't any of you folks answer a simple question or two?I ask what is deemed a victory and what is deemed a deafeat?.So far jigs says it is like quail hunting but which of these terriosts need to be killed to call this invasion a victory.?

So let me get this straight...It started out as WMD's,then it was to liberate the people of Iraq,then it was kill sadam,then it was kill his strongest supporters,and now the reason is to hunt the terriosts like quails?.What is the next reason to send more troops in? Why does the mandate keep changing? do you people not notice this trend?

to kill more quail :D a simple answer to your simple question :D
 

loomixguy

Well-known member
I have a nephew who was a 1st LT in the 82D Airborne stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC. He did 10 months in Afghanistan, came home for 2 months, and then did 8 months in Iraq. He has now separated from the Army and is working for a drug company in New Jersey.

In Afghanistan, they persued AQ and the Taliban right up to the Paki border. Hadji, upon crossing the border, would throw down his gear and light up a smoke, then laugh at our forces. However, the 504th of the 82D made sure that as many Hadji's as possible were not allowed to cross into Paki, for eternity.

In Iraq, it was all politics and BS. Too many "dignitaries" from Washington were visiting and causing precious manpower to be spent ensuring their safety rather than our boys going out amongst them (the insurgents) and doing right.

The British can thank their lucky stars Winston Churchill was PM during WWII. Had Neville Chamberlain prevailed, the UK would now be speaking German.

If the Dims prevail here in the US, we may not end up speaking Arabic or Farsi, but we WILL be hit to the extent that 9/11 looks like a Sunday School picnic.
 

memanpa

Well-known member
loomixguy said:
I have a nephew who was a 1st LT in the 82D Airborne stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC. He did 10 months in Afghanistan, came home for 2 months, and then did 8 months in Iraq. He has now separated from the Army and is working for a drug company in New Jersey.

In Afghanistan, they persued AQ and the Taliban right up to the Paki border. Hadji, upon crossing the border, would throw down his gear and light up a smoke, then laugh at our forces. However, the 504th of the 82D made sure that as many Hadji's as possible were not allowed to cross into Paki, for eternity.

In Iraq, it was all politics and BS. Too many "dignitaries" from Washington were visiting and causing precious manpower to be spent ensuring their safety rather than our boys going out amongst them (the insurgents) and doing right.

The British can thank their lucky stars Winston Churchill was PM during WWII. Had Neville Chamberlain prevailed, the UK would now be speaking German.

If the Dims prevail here in the US, we may not end up speaking Arabic or Farsi, but we WILL be hit to the extent that 9/11 looks like a Sunday School picnic.

careful what you say about this, whsh, kaka and nono will jump all over your case about being a rep!! only reader2 has anything intelligent to offer from the liberal sidelol lol
 

loomixguy

Well-known member
For those who may need their memory refreshed, the movie "Black Hawk Down" is about the happenings in Somalia in the early 90's. The main warlord, Mohammed Farah Aidid was AL QUEDA! Supported by OBL!

When the crap hit the fan in Mogadishu, Clinton cut and ran. This is what gave OBL the idea for 9/11. He knew the US did not have the guts to fight a real war. Far safer for Slick Willie to bomb aspirin factories in Bosnia.

Those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it.
 

nonothing

Well-known member
loomixguy said:
For those who may need their memory refreshed, the movie "Black Hawk Down" is about the happenings in Somalia in the early 90's. The main warlord, Mohammed Farah Aidid was AL QUEDA! Supported by OBL!

When the crap hit the fan in Mogadishu, Clinton cut and ran. This is what gave OBL the idea for 9/11. He knew the US did not have the guts to fight a real war. Far safer for Slick Willie to bomb aspirin factories in Bosnia.

Those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it.

You seem to talk like your in the know,what are your credentials? Anyone can say anything on here...Prove your points and I will be more inclined to agree with you...So far all you have giving us is thoughts of someone who quit the armed forces after being there,and your own opinions...Why do people keep giving proof less opinions as threats...
 

nonothing

Well-known member
So I am still waiting to find out what you repubs consider a defeat and or a victory in Iraq?Its a simple question which none of you have answered,come on cal you always trash the dems...whats the answer please?
 
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