November 2, 2006
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Thought I'd share some Iraq stuff with you today. The following is from the son of a WW2 Navy vet. His son Matt is currently serving in the US Army in Iraq. Matt has an interesting front-line view of the war on terror, a take on things we don't often get from our media.
Hello All,
I hope all of you are doing well. I am doing fine and things are getting easier, as I have been here over two months now and have developed a routine.The chow is decent and my trailer is looking more lived in now that I have lots of artwork provided by all the kids. Plus several pictures from this summer on the beach in Hawaii.
There is something I would like to pass on to all of you. I think we have all been troubled by the amount of soldiers we have lost here in Iraq. There is no doubt that these are Magnificent Patriots that have truly given their life for their brother. It is because of this fact that it troubles me to see the media reduce them to simple statistics. Each one of these Soldiers, Sailors,Marines, and Airmen deserve to be called by their name and if their family chooses, to have their stories told. I personally will turn off any show, or fold up any newspaper that only wants to talk the numbers. I also am turning off any news source that will only broadcast this war in a negative light.
Can you imagine how WWII would have went if the news stories stopped at how many soldiers had died on any particular day, No mention of progress made, No mention of the good that happened, No mention of the support we have. Three years now we have gotten: "more dead today", "Why don't you tell us all the Battle Plan", and "How much longer?". Did we tell Hitler when D Day was. Did the news move on to another story as soon as they finished telling you about the number killed in France or the Philippines.
Look at what is considered news these days. What is the bigger story that one Lieutenant didn't show up for his deployment, or that 4000 from the same place did. Look back to earlier this year when the enemy held the four hostages. The first one was killed and it was the big headline for over a week. Then a few weeks later the other three were rescued and you could find a small paragraph on page six.
In March of this year I was privileged to go to Phoenix and ride in a huge rally there called the "Ride For the Troops". (I was loaned a very nice motorcycle from Chandler Harley Davidson) So they shut down 17 miles of road through the center of Phoenix with Sheriff's, Police, and Volunteers at every corner. Over 2500 motorcycles of all kinds. With thousands of people and guess how many channels carried it. Try and do an Internet search for it and you would think it didn't happen. Then you just need five protesters with signs on an overpass and all the major networks will carry it.
If you cant tell I am a little tired of the complete black out of any story that shows things in a positive light. Since I seem to be the only one thinking this way. I have come up with "Ten Things I Would Like Friends and Family To Know About the Global War On Terrorism
10. Re-enlistment goals are being met in many deployed units
9. Terrorists have not stopped either elections held in Iraq
8. Iraq has a Constitution
7. Soon the courts here will release the verdict on the Saddam Trial
6. The Army made its Recruiting Goal early this year
5. Our Country has NEVER fought a war this long with an "All Volunteer Force"
4. We will get rid of "All the Terrorists" the same time we get rid of all the "Gangs" in every big city in the US
3. Three years later the City of Dallas still turns out to meet every flight of Soldiers that pass through there
2. If the terrorist hate them I like them. If the Terrorist like them then I probably hate them.Apply this to other things like our leaders, other countries, and Pork (I Love Bacon)
1. I would rather hear "Happy Hunting" instead of "Hurry Home". Yellow ribbons are great but we have work to do
Now I do not want this to turn in to one of those chain emails. You know the one where if you have to send it to your entire address book if you want to get one more terrorist killed. Really this is a war, people die and that is the bottom line. Each and every one is a great American. They deserve our respect and using them as a statistic to push an agenda is beyond words. Our military is the greatest in the world because we have the finest soldiers in the world. Know that these hero's are making me proud every day
Very respectfully
Matt.
Also, if you'd like to hear about some good things that are happening in Iraq, don't even try watching the news....Go here instead: www.glennbeck.com/realstory/iraq-video.shtml
You kids have a lovely evening ~ You know I will!
Comments (3)
I forwarded this letter to many on my list. Hope that is okay. So much stuff doesn't get out to the public and most of the public is so ignorant or whatever that they follow news channels like CNN, MSN, and the local media etc. and take what they say as gosspel truth. We watched CNN for awhile when we were in motel last time and we both got so upset it almost made us sick. At least FOX isn't as bias and you tend to get both sides of the story. We don't have access to FOX on our antenna so only get it when we are in motels etc.
I was just watching about the retaking of Guam on the history channel today, 6000 killed and wounded in a week. We would have a fit in this country if we lost 60 of our service people in a week. I almost think there is to much media in our country any more, they sure don't seem to give a rip about our people in uniform.
It's so very important that we know the progress that has been made. Unfortunately the main stream media is just an arm of the democratic party and we don't get the real truth about what's happening. I think if the media of today had the media (hollywood also) that we had during wwII, our nation would have an entirely different view of things.
I heard Tony Snow on FoxNews telling of all the fantastic accomplishments here and abroad by this administration and...he was so articulate and convincing documenting everything. I just wish that Bush were more of a salesman and was more articulate but....even if he were, the msm wouldn't report it as they don't report anything positive. Because too many people watch them, we are in danger of having Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the house and a lot of real jerks in charge of important committees. I dread the results of Tuesday but I will be praying for our country and for wisdom.
Fox is going to carry a good movie(Obsession) about the Islamofascists. If people would watch that, perhaps they wouldn't want to vote for nincompoops that don't care a flying fig about our safety ...
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