11/11/2012 9:11 AM
(A note from my son written about six months ago. I edited it to create a PG version.)
I had someone thank me for my service yesterday, and for the first time it upset me. The military used to fight for your freedom, WW1, WW2, Korea. I just finished my 2nd Infantry deployment in Afghanistan. It has gotten worse over there, because you replace a bunch of trained Air Assault Soldiers from the 101st who train everyday all year physically. They run through scenario after scenario, until fighting is instinct, its natural and believe me we still had every inch of ground contested. We risked our lives, did as we're told while certain commanders hid for their lives. I'm "OK" with that, but don't replace them with some National Guard unit who trains ONCE A MONTH, AND DOESN'T TRAIN WITH ANY GEAR!! TRAIN AS YOU FIGHT!!! Now all the ground the 101st blood, sweat and shed tears to get is given right back to the TALIBAN. Does that sound like a war or winnable game plan???? THATS NOT SPECULATION I've seen it happen over there with my own eyes twice, AND IT MAKES ME MAD. I had a good friend, great man PFC Arturo Rodriguez who fought bravely and got killed for a hilltop that means nothing to any politician that got these brave men in this fight. Then the Army had the nerve to deny his parents the life insurance policy they okayed beforehand and he paid into because they ARE MEXICAN citizens. They take some poor brave "MEXICAN'S" money that gave his life for this country, and then not honor the deal. In mine and any other true loyal American's mind, The Rodriguez's are more American then the politicians that got us in this mess. george w, dick cheney! The closest these people got to being half the man Arturo Rodriguez was is when cheney shot his friend on a hunting trip. (Side note from Dad: I learned that if you shot one of your own soldiers they called that, "Pulling a Cheney".)
What about Iraq? Now that was genius! Take out the only military power that can check our sworn and soon to be NUCLEAR enemy. Genius!! You know what? I'm sure you guys could make a killing just selling nukes to Iran. That's the only way you could have made it easier. Look I love most of our REAL soldiers that are over there, but politics has no place in the war. You see politicians get us half baked into a war then sit back and get filthy rich off it. That's when there is a problem in my eyes. The saddest part is most guys in the Military are too brainwashed in being macho, that they loved Ga..Ga..Ga..george w because he put some $$ in the military. Look at the big picture? Was his best interest in America or himself? I've been to Afghanistan twice and killed people there that prior to them engaging me I had no problem with. Never once did I engage Osama or any of his 9/11 conspirators. I've met plenty of good Afghans. If someone invaded us would you not take up arms? I have no problem doing this country's dirty work but not for the politicians to get rich while the fighters are making peanuts. If I have to watch my friends get maimed, killed and mentally damaged, I'm not going to do it in vain. Lets have an end game, a standard for military combat units. Its a slap in our face to turn over a year's of hard fighting to a unit that you know is going to sit on the base and not do the at least the bare minimum to keep it. We don't fight for freedom or our way of life there, we fight for the guy next to us. If you disagree, please tell me what uniformed military could have stopped 9/11 or will ever stop a future one? All politicians are liars and crooks the Republicans are just a little better at it.