Below is a soldiers words on "Mr. and Mrs. America".
These are more posts from our American Soldiers and their views on the war in Iraq.
This first one is again Boots in Baghdad and here is his profile:
Mark Partridge Miner is a National Guard Infantryman who returned from twelve months in Baghdad on September 17, 2005. He is a light infantry soldier who conducted foot patrols in the streets of Iraq as a member of Task Force Baghdad. He served there with the 256 BCT, Louisiana National Guard after volunteering from his home unit in the Florida National Guard. He shared his experiences in an effort to portray to anyone interested what life is like in Iraq for American soldiers. Please keep in mind that the views and opinions shared here do not represent any military unit, the National Guard, the United States Army, the Department of Defense or any other governmental agency within or affiliated with the United States.
Here is his words to "Mr.and Mrs. America" : Read them and ask yourself, is this ME he is talking about? Is this how he views ME by my actions and my words? If the answer is yes.... SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!
Mr. and Mrs. America
The criticism of the Iraq war is at an all time high. As politicians fight for their jobs, the complexities of our mission in Iraq are condensed into a few political sound bites to accompany the evening news.So, after reading his words... is this you? Are you Mr. and Mrs. America? If you are one of those people....again I say... SHAME ON YOU!!!!!
I have never met an opponent of the war in Iraq who could grasp the magnitude of what is at stake. It continues to amaze me. I was watching CNN last night. CNN is hands down the largest cause of Americas misunderstanding and over simplification of the War in Iraq and the War on Terrorism. Last night CNN was able to explain in less than three minutes the structure and philosophy of our enemies in Iraq. I wish I had the transcript.
According to CNN, our enemies in Iraq consist of two main groups, Nationalists and Islamists. The Nationalists are fighting for their country and the Islamists are fighting for their religion. Sure, there are terrorists there, but they make up only a small portion of our enemy force (according to CNN). CNN closes their short segment by saying the longer the U.S. is in Iraq, the more likely the Nationalists will align themselves with terrorists there and the more likely the Islamists will align themselves with Iran, making the implication that the sooner America leaves Iraq the sooner all problems are solved.
CNN was able to explain to the American people in three minutes the solution to Iraq. Amazing.
Is that objective journalism? Or, is objective journalism CNN showing a video of American soldiers getting shot by snipers? Because I am sure every mother whose son has been KIA in Iraq due to a sniper’s bullet appreciated that one. I’m sure they wish they could see that over and over. I’m sure every family member of every soldier who is over there just loves to see that. And, I bet no American’s knew that in war people die until they saw that footage. Thank God for CNN!
As much as I sympathize with those mothers and families, that isn’t where I see the larger problem at hand. I focus on CNN because they are the front runners in the race to destroy America’s efforts in Iraq. Don’t misunderstand. There are plenty of others in that race as well.
I blame in large the American populace. Mr. and Mrs. America who go about their business and for thirty minutes in the morning or the evening or whenever, they flip on the news or read the newspaper and absorb these sound bites and CNN condensed versions of some of the most complex socioeconomic variables in one of the most mercurial and important conflicts that the United States has ever been a part of.
We are talking about a region of the world that has numerous tribes and sects of religion. We are talking about schools of thought that have no consistency. Islam is not like Catholicism in that there are consistent interpretations and standards widespread. This Shia Mosque and this Shia Imam in Khadimiya may have this interpretation of the Koran while across the Tigris River that Shia Mosque and that Shia Imam have a different interpretation. But, next door in Shulla that Sunni Mosque and that Sunni Imam have the same outlook as the Shia Mosque and Imam in Khadimiya.
Then there are all of the non religious and outside factors that are thrown into the mix. Iran’s funding and foreign fighters, Syria’s funding, Al Qeida, the Ba’ath Party, Al Sadr, etc., etc., etc.; all of the additional political factors and parties who want this or don’t want that. It is endless. Every province, every city and every neighborhood has different groups with different ideologies and objectives fighting the Coalition forces.
And don’t think that these outside sources aren’t manipulating these groups, sects and tribes to assist them in accomplishing their overall objectives. For CNN to try and categorize all these conflicting groups into two ideologies is flat out ignorance. Some jackass journalist who can’t distinguish between objective and anti-American and some jackass news anchor who is trying to get ratings.
Worse yet, Mr. and Mrs. America watch it over dinner and accept it as fact. Hell, why wouldn’t they? It’s not like the media would ever misinform them.
And don’t you worry about our enemies in Iraq running out of fighters! Anderson Cooper is going to make sure their recruiting videos make prime time throughout the world!
What a deal for Mr. and Mrs. America! They are now experts on American foreign policy in the Middle East and it is obvious to them America is losing the war because they get to watch America’s soldiers getting shot.
Never mind the fact that in over three years the U.S. has had less KIA then a bad day in WWII or a bad week in Vietnam. Never mind the fact that in over three years of intense combat we have sustained less KIA’s than we did in one day back in 2001. Na, none of that matters. That was a long time ago. This is now.
So, Mr. and Mrs. America, make sure you run to the polls and vote for whoever is going to end the war! That way, America can pull out and let the bad guys fight it out! That way, our enemies can be left alone to wage war on our homeland. Great! Then, when that happens, we can blame someone else and ask what we did to deserve this!
Why should we stay and get things done the right way when the whole world and all of our enemies are counting on America’s weak population to vote us out of Iraq? Come on, let’s quit! If we do what they want us to do, they’ll like us again!
Well said Mr. Miner and thank you for saying what I have been trying to, only MUCH more elequently than I could have ever hoped to.
Here is his website, please, look around it and maybe, just maybe, start listening to our soldiers, who know a little more than any of us, what it is about in Iraq.
Please notice what he has on the bottom of his website:
The war we fight today is more than a military conflict; it is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. On one side are those who believe in the values of freedom and moderation -- the right of all people to speak, and worship, and live in liberty. And on the other side are those driven by the values of tyranny and extremism -- the right of a self-appointed few to impose their fanatical views on all the rest. As veterans, you have seen this kind of enemy before. They're successors to Fascists, to Nazis, to Communists, and other totalitarians of the 20th century. And history shows what the outcome will be: This war will be difficult; this war will be long; and this war will end in the defeat of the terrorists and totalitarians, and a victory for the cause of freedom and liberty.
President George Bush, at the American Legion National Convention in Salt Lake City, UT (August 31, 2006)
Here is the first post called "The soldiers speak out- LOUDLY"
I will follow up with more from the soldiers shortly. There will be a series of them coming today. So keep checking back for more.
"The Soldiers Speak out--LOUDLY" , "Another Soldier Speaks" and "American Soldier Speaks to Anti-War Protesters".are related articles.
Open Trackback:
Conservative Cat.
Right Truth has an excellent take on "Get a Rope! Saddam Guilty!"
Check out Pirate's Cove and Bullwinkle.
Hot Air and Stop the ACLU has the latest on polls. Things are looking up.
[UPDATE] 11/06/06- Townhall's Hugh Hewitt makes the same point today.
As I wrote last week: If you purport to support the troops and admire the military and the job its members are doing, you have to listen to them and include their opinion.
To claim you know more than the soldiers on the ground, than the military, simply because you watch CNN, is arrogant and a slap in the face to these soldiers you so "claim" to support.
Y.A.C.R.W.B. also talks about no one listening to our troops.