Last week after reading a post by PlainFoolish about Anysoldier.com I decided to send some of our troops some candy bars that are sold by Soldier Fuel. In attempting to purchase the candy bars for the soldiers I made a mistake and refreshed the browser resulting in a double order. I’m writing tonight to commend the owner of Soldier Fuel who picked up on my mistake and called me to avoid a double charge to my credit card. I want to commend, Mark D’Andrea one of the owners who made sure that I was properly credited. I told Mark how much I appreciated his honesty and what he and his company is doing to help our troops in the field. I highly recommend that you purchase these energy bars for our troops. I’m not nor will I be a supporter of this war, but I do honor the tremendous sacrifice made each day by our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Please pray for their safety and pray also for the owners of Soldier Fuel who are doing a great service to our nation and it citizens.
Thoughts on Bush visit to Iraq
George Bush visited Iraq today. He landed at Al-Asad airbase in Western Iraq. That’s 120 miles from Baghdad. I’ll bet he didn’t want to receive the same type of welcome that US Lawmakers recently received when their plane became the target of insurgents. Unfortunately for American soldiers on the ground and Iraqis nothing substantive will emerge from today’s meeting. It’s all a photo opportunity for the crown prince of photo-ops. No more “Mission Accomplished.” Instead its all about how Mr. Bush can save face and at the same time preserve the flow of oil from the Middle East. How many dead and wounded American soldiers is a gallon of gasoline worth? How much longer can our all volunteer military be extended without a return to conscription? How will the pundits spin this? Will King George get his surge extended? In the last three months over 1700 Iraqi citizens have died each month. The only items that appear to be surging in Iraq is civilian death, US military deaths, stop loss extensions and propaganda. There has been no surge in diplomacy, nor intelligent discourse about a way forward. Only another photo opportunity for the President.
Give peace a chance..
The surge in baloney has not ended. George Bush, who managed to get into the Alabama National Guard at the height of Vietnam stood in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention and gave a speech drawing parallels between Iraq and Vietnam. Continue reading “Give peace a chance..”
The surge is working?
I spent a few minutes watching Mike Barnicke sitting in for Chris Matthews on Hardball. Today’s topic among others on the pr ogram was, “Is the Surge Working?” Mike interviewed some arm-chair general who is a paid consultant for MSNBC. I can’t remember the general’s name and that’s not important. What is important is the surge is working. Today, our newest Republican candidate for President, Hillary Clinton Continue reading “The surge is working?”
All are welcome
Today as I made my way to Mt. Irenaeus for Mass I could not shut out the specter of war and an overall feeling of helplessness from my mind. Saber rattling by the Bush Administration both in Iraq and lately Iran, along with news that Russia has put its long range bomber fleet back into the air for the first time since 1992. As the father of two draft age children I cringe at the thought of a return to conscription. Continue reading “All are welcome”
Probable defeat
A young friend of mine and a reader of this blog sent me an email today about some comments made by Senator Joe Biden about occupying Iraq and continuing the fight there. I’m indebted to Andrew Sullivan’s blog for the following short Youtube clip of Brent Scowcroft. He was and is a voice of reason.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsJ3WLK0YuQ]
Conscientious objector
Thirty-five years ago I volunteered for the United States Navy. I volunteered for the Hospital Corps because like this man I didn’t think I could kill people. It ain’t in me. No amount of training can overcome my most basic instincts and core values. Agustin Aguayo deserves a medal, but he’ll likely get jail time and maybe even a less than honorable discharge. Agustin’s got real guts. I’m praying for him. There are hundreds or perhaps thousands else like him. We decry the violence at places like Virginia Tech and imprison people like Agustin. We have deep problems here man, deep problems.
“When I hear my sergeants talking about slashing people’s throats,” he said, crying openly, “if I’m not a conscientious objector, what am I when I’m feeling all this pain when people talk about violence?” –Agustín Aguayo.
Interesting interview
Contrast this interview with Dick Cheney in 1994 with what we’ve witnessed in the last three years before and after invading Iraq. I wonder what changed his mind. Was it all September 11th or was there some other scenario?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BEsZMvrq-I]
Endless war
As a veteran of the Vietnam era and a dedicated peace worker I’m always skeptical of the government’s rationale for war. War’s only profiteers are the workers and owners of the military armaments production facilities. Continue reading “Endless war”
Ohio
This song became the anthem of a generation that opposed the war in Vietnam. There is no question that Iraq is not quite as bad as Vietnam, but if you’re the relative of someone serving there numbers are not important. The life and health of your family member is the only important thing.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iPBm_cES94]
Working Assets’, Working for Change campaign to pressure pro-war Congressmen and women recalled to my mind the pressure that we had to exert back then to end the war. The lyrics and melody of this song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young still cause the hair on my arm to stand. I have not forgotten Vietnam nor its lessons. Human life is precious and war will never bring peace or security. War only brings more of itself.
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?Gotta get down to it