Democrats shift focus because of success in Iraq

clipped from www.nytimes.com As violence declines in Baghdad, the leading Democratic presidential candidates are undertaking a new and challenging balancing act on Iraq: acknowledging that success, trying to shift the focus to the lack of political progress there, and highlighting more domestic concerns like health care and the economy.

Do you think they get the message now? But, this will not stop their attacks on the Bush administration. They still argue that casualties are too high and think the only way to stop this is to have a full withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

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Technorati Tags: Iraq, Democrats, War, Baghdad

Soldier urges media to shift news to successes in Iraq

Blackhawk helicopter pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Jim Funk, from Iowa, recently sent family and friends back here in the United States a letter. He discussed how things were going in Iraq. And, he feels tired and disgusted.

When they watch the news there, they never see the successes that they are having there in Iraq. It is always what has gone wrong, how many soldiers have been killed, etc, but never about what has gone right. In other words, they keep up their own morale. It's not because they are encouraged by the news they hear from home. He says how can the public and media be supporting the troops, if they are not supporting the missions they are on.

Here is part of the letter that found it's way to the journalist who reported this:

"Hello media, do you know you indirectly kill American soldiers every day? You inspire and report the enemy's objective every day. You are the enemy's greatest weapon. The enemy cannot beat us on the battlefield so all he does is try to wreak enough havoc and have you report it every day. With you and the enemy using each other, you continually break the will of the American public and American government.

"We go out daily and bust and kill the enemy, uncover and destroy huge weapons caches and continue to establish infrastructure. So daily we put a whoopin on the enemy, but all the enemy has to do is turn on the TV and get re-inspired. He gets to see his daily roadside bomb, truck bomb, suicide bomber or mortar attack. He doesn't see any accomplishments of the U.S. military (FOX, you're not exempt, you suck also).

Funk says:

"We, the soldiers, keep breaking the back of the enemy. You, the media, keep rejuvenating the enemy.

I don't blame this soldier and many like him who are disgusted with the news shown on the television every single day. I have always felt this is a one-sided love affair, so to speak. The media loves to give the public the news, but only one side - their side. Why not try and build up the morale of those soldiers who are fighting this war, who are giving their lives for our country? Why show all the destruction caused by the insurgents? Instead, show the good our military has done and is doing every day there? Why not show the pictures on the news of the soldiers befriending the Iraqi's, and the Iraqi's who are happy to have our military over there? Stop enabling the enemy!

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Technorati Tags: Iraq, News, Military, Soldiers, Success, Media, Enemy, Americans, Troops

1,000 Christmas trees shipped to soldiers in Iraq

Soldiers in Iraq may not be able to be home for this Christmas, but trees are being shipped to them in order for them to have a 'little of home' on Christmas day.

For the second year, DHL and the March Authority kicked off its Trees for the Troops program Friday at the shipping facility at March Air Reserve Base. A shipment of 250 Christmas trees was loaded onto a cargo plane bound for Baghdad -- along with 750 more trees that will be picked up in New York City. In three days, the trees will be distributed to troops stationed throughout Iraq.

Rosalie and Manuel Arganda have one son, David, in Iraq and another one to be deployed next month. But, they are used to being away from them at Christmas. So, this year, they are also sending boxes with coffee, pens, papers, and his favorite Tootsie roll pop candy. And, his cousins added cookies and DVD's.

David's mother said that, before he left, he told them not to worry, because if he didn't come back, he would see them in heaven. Rosalie wears a pin with both her sons pictures. She says she trusts God that all will be alright.

On Friday, a governor's representative, local elected officials, March Air Reserve officers and DHL executives thanked the troops serving in the Middle East and said this holiday shipment would help the military remember their home while serving in dangerous conditions

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Technorati Tags: Christmas Trees, Soldiers, Iraq

Marine Corporal given highest honor

The highest honor that can be paid a fallen hero was given to Cpl. Jason Dunham to Scio, NY. He would have been 25 years old yesterday - the 231st birthday of the Marine Corps.

The Medal of Honor will go posthumously to Cpl. Jason Dunham of Scio, N.Y., who would have been 25 years old yesterday - the 231st birthday of the Marine Corps.

"You might say that he was born to be a Marine," Bush said in announcing the award at the dedication of the new National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va.

Dunham was searching a car when the guy took him by the throat. When Dunham kneed him, the guy dropped the grenade. Cpl. Dunham took his helmet and placed it over a thrown grenade and then threw his own body over the helmet to shield his own buddies from the impact of the explosion. He died 10 days later at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

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Technorati Tags: Marines, Marine Corps, Medal of Honor

Our of the abundance of the heart...

The mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34). I believe we often say things that we should not say. But, let's be honest; don't say that is not what you mean, after you have said it.

Case in point: that of a US Senior diplomat, who should have known better. Alberto Fernandez, US State Department director of public diplomacy in the Near Eastern Affairs bureau, had an interview with Al-Jazeera in which he said the US had shown arrogance and stupidity with the situation in Iraq. After reading the transcript, he says that is not what he or the State Department believes; he just 'misspoke'.

I'm not a 'heart reader', so I can't pass judgement on him. But, I do believe our mouth usually bears out what we really believe.

On Saturday Mr Fernandez gave an interview to Al-Jazeera television in which he said, speaking in Arabic, that "there have been many mistakes in the (US) foreign policy in Iraq".

"We tried to do our best, but I believe that there is a great room for strong criticism, because - undoubtedly - there was arrogance and stupidity in US (dealing) with Iraq.''

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Technorati Tags: Alberto Fernandez, State Department, Iraq, Al-Jazeera

Doonesbury Creator Starts Military Blog

Garry Trudeau, creator of the comic strip "Doonesbury, has added "The Sandbox" to his blog. It is his version of a military blog. Trudeau has often been critical of the war in Iraq in his comic strip, but he wants others to have a chance at reading the unfiltered views of the servicemen themselves.

"This is GWOT-lit's forward position, offering those in-country a chance to share their experiences and reflections with the rest of us," Trudeau writes, using an acronym for the "Greater War on Terror."

Trudeau says he wants the public to see the every day happenings in the soldier's life, things they go through in deployment, and more. Many of these postings will have the link to that particular serviceman's blog.

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Technorati Tags: Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau, Military, War, Iraq

Conversations with a Special Services Soldier

This is an interview with a Special Services soldier by Amy Hess. It is divided into 3 parts.

1. Part I Iraqi Popular Support

2. Part II Winning the War in Iraq
   

3. Part III Futility of Appeasement

Technorati Tags: Iraq, Special Services, Soldier, Interview

T.F. Boggs interviews an Iraqi General

We hear so much bad coming from Iraq and nobody wants to believe any good things ever happen. Tonight, I ran across this interview linked at another site, so I went to Bogg's site to read the interview. He is hoping everyone will read this around the world, and know there are good men in Iraq, ready to take control of their country.

The interview is in two parts, so be sure to read them both.

H.T. Dr. Sanity

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Deserter or Dissenter? You decide

My husband was drafted into the Army in the '60's, but chose to go to the Air Force instead, for four years - 'his' choice. And, when it came time to go to Vietnam, he obeyed orders. We understood what the consequence could be, but we held on to faith that he would return. Never was there a thought of dereliction of duty!

So many men chose to skip their duty back then, and ran off to Canada, or deserted their base. But, the brave went to war, many of them lost their lives. And, today, we have an officer who is refusing to go to war in Iraq. But, one thing different here is the way he got into the service. First Lt. Ehren K. Watada wasn't drafted, but chose to join the military. He knew what lay ahead; yet, he chose to go. But, now, when confronted with time in Iraq, he's decided it's not for him. In fact, when Watada found out he might have to be deployed, he sent a letter to his commander, wanting to resign, but was refused the opportunity to do so.

There is also vehement disagreement. Rebecca Davis, cofounder of Military Families Voice of Victory, issued a statement saying that "as a mother of three sons who have served honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am demanding the Army prosecute Lt. Watada to the fullest extent under the Uniform Code of Military Justice."

Watada's refusal "will surely encourage al-Qaida in Iraq to continue terrorizing the Iraqi people and attacking U.S. and coalition forces," she said. Columnist Michelle Malkin called Watada a "deserter, not a dissenter," on her Web site.

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Hayes, with the Military Police Brigade at Schofield Barracks and a veteran of Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, said he "could not hold" his tongue any longer.

"(Some) individuals are attempting to lift Lt. Watada up as some kind of hero or martyr, which in reality he is not. ... He is a dishonorable man and should be court-martialed," said Hayes, who said he was speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the Army.

Watada's parents, attorney, supporters for him, and anti-war groups met in Hawaii's Capitol conference room. There were people who met to back him emotionally and vocally, but there were also those that did not uphold what he has done.

Watada's father said "we have to bring our troops home". He is saying that Vietnam was occupied until "members of the military stood up and said they were not going to fight any longer." But, his son's next step will be to refuse to board a plane when his troops are sent to Iraq. And, when he does, he will face a court-martial, and possible years in prison. Is it worth it?

Hal, over at The Bullwinkle Blog, has some great suggestions for Watada, since his father said he was 'very noble'.

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Technorati Tags: Deserter, Dissenter, Iraq War, Lt. Watada

Investigating Haditha

What has happened to 'innocent until proven guilty'? You need all the facts before you can present a case in court. So, tell me how U.S. Rep. Murtha, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, can have all the facts, when the investigation isn't even over.

Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says "we'll get to the bottom of the investigation and take the appropriate action." In other words, they will take time to find out what really occurred on November 19, 2005, in Iraq, and then they will decide what needs to be done - whether some have covered up a massacre or not.

Pantano is upset specifically that a prominent war critic, U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) diagnosed Haditha last week as if he had all the facts: "Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Pantano's advice that Americans not join Murtha's rush to judgment is sound.

Facts need to be nailed down; passing premature judgment is not the way to do things. Nobody knows better than a former platoon commander named Ilario Pantano. He was charged with two counts of premeditated murder and other crimes during his stint in Iraq a year ago. He was painted as a monster by the prosecutors in the courtroom at Camp Lejeune, while his wife and Mother sat listening to it all. Then, their case was blown out of the water by the autopsy report, and all charges were dismissed. He suggests letting the courts decide whether these guys are guilty or not. Don't pass premature judgement on them.

Pace said Monday that if U.S. troops did kill innocents at Haditha, they "have not performed their duty the way that 99.9 percent of their fellow Marines have."

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Technorati Tags: Haditha, Investigation, Marines, Innocent, Guilty