kmilyun – Page 185 – Bifurcate In The Road

I Support the Untied States Troops – am I a Wuss?

January 30, 2006 by kmilyun

I have purposely avoided the Support the Troops topic. It has become a complex subject for many of us. If you are anti-war the statement is translated into bring them home If you are pro-war then you support the mission. It is assumed that if you support the troops you support George Bush, if you do not support George Bush and his policies then you of course, do not support the troops. Confused? I am.

If I were born in Iraq perhaps the lady sitting at her keyboard in America would be my enemy. The fact is I was born in the United States, live in the Untied States, and believe it is a great Nation. I am grateful that I live in this country and can sit here typing on my computer keypad reasonably assured that a foreign weapon will not fall from the sky and blow me into pieces. If given the opportunity, I am sure that I would choose someone elses country getting blow up over mine. Not a nice sentiment but if I am honest it is a truthful analysis of my own reality.

Our troops are men and women, citizens of this country that make a decision freely to join the armed services and regardless of their philosophical ideals, protect us. They have a duty to follow the orders of our elected Commander in Chief. They have the duty of pulling the trigger to defend citizens, fellow soldiers, and themselves. All this because of a little thing called The Constitution of the United States you know -the chain of command, the distribution of powers, all that stuff you with a bit of luck learned in school.
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If I believe the war in Iraq is an unwise choice, that the present administrations civil rights policies suck, it does not mean that I think our soldiers suck. When I see articles like this one:

Warriors and wusses by Joel Stien

I DON’T SUPPORT our troops. This is a particularly difficult opinion to have, especially if you are the kind of person who likes to put bumper stickers on his car. Supporting the troops is a position that even Calvin is unwilling to urinate on. . . .

And being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken . . .

“. . . it irritates me. Of course, the author has the right not to support the troops but to say that the soldiers were tricked, that they hang out in Germany . . .”

Augh! . . . go read the article yourself.

Anyway, here it is, I support the troops, I love my country, I think our present administration is whittling away at my rights, the very same rights our soldiers defend. I do not pretend to understand what living as an Iraqi citizen is like, I do not think that war is a good thing but consider the idea that sometimes it is necessary. I was (and still am ) angry that our(my) country was attacked. I cry when I watch videos of the Trade Center. I cry looking at Iraqi citizens blown up lying wounded and dead in the streets. I cry when viewing the memorials to our fallen (read dead) and pray for our wounded soldiers and their families.

It could happen – Coming attractions . . .

January 28, 2006 by kmilyun

What do you mean I cannot say that? Do I not have the right as an American Citizen to speak my mind. Eh? OH, I understand the packet sniffer objects to the use of the word Reich within ten words of the use of the name Bush. But, but, why after checking out what I said have you blocked my site from showing up in goggle searches? NO, I am not a terrorist. No, I have never done anything violent. I did not realize that I had to get approval to write about our Executive branch. Yes that is my address. No, I don’t own any guns. Could you hold on for a minuet? There seems to someone knocking at my door. . .

Rex finally gets to be with Dana!

January 28, 2006 by kmilyun

Catfish wanted me to post this story:

Bomb-sniffing dog reunited with handler for keeps
By Donna St. George
The Washington Post

An Air Force bomb-dog handler who was severely injured in Iraq adopted her closest comrade in war an 80-pound German shepherd named Rex in a small ceremony Friday at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

The much-awaited moment for Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana, 27, came 6 months after she was nearly killed when a bomb exploded beneath the Humvee in which she and Rex were riding. Rex had minor injuries.

Dana was critically injured with collapsed lungs, a broken pelvis, a fractured spine and in her last moment of consciousness that day pleaded to know the fate of her dog. Where’s Rex? she asked, grabbing a medic’s arm.

Weeks later, as Dana slowly recovered from her wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, she began asking about adopting the animal. At first, the Air Force said no. Rex was 5 years old, not nearly the retirement age of 10 to 14.

This fall, there was a change of heart. Air Force officials said they supported the adoption and worked with Congress on a measure that would allow special exceptions to working-dog adoption rules.

The measure became part of a defense bill signed Dec. 30 by President Bush.

Friday, Dana was handed Rex’s leash and an adoption certificate in a ceremony attended by her Air Force husband, her friends, her commanding officers and other Air Force personnel. Rex lay quietly near his handler through most of the speeches.

Dana is working an Air Force desk job, awaiting word on her possible retirement. She has served since 1997, just after high school graduation.

He’s mine, Dana said. I’m kind of relieved, happy, a little bit of everything.

Copyright 2006 The Seattle Times Company

dana and rex