Was it about the war or about politics
So I got this email this morning paid for by the DNC;
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden
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Sorry, Jonn. I didn’t have time to open my e-mail this weekend. I was too caught up in the Victory in Iraq (V-I) celebrations and parades and speeches, and the church bells were ringing and all the people were hugging and kissing in the streets. The ship’s horns and bells ranf throughout New York Harbor. Planes flew overhead in proud formation. So moving.
Our esteemed war-time President (still war-weary from his anguishing decision — also known as the ‘tough call’ –whether or not to kill the man responsible for killing 3,000 Americans on September 11th) rightfully took time out to go to Hawaii, site of the imfamous attacks that caused this great war. Oh, wait, that was another war. My bad.
Then there was the media coverage. Never before was I so elated to read a lower-screen crawler. I could barely hold back tears as the CNN crawler proudly proclaimed “Iraq War comes to end as troops leave.”
Flags were proudly dispayed, veterans were welcomed home for a job well done and, of course, the Peace Activists who proclaimed for 10 years that they support the soldier but not the war, greeted the soldiers and sailors and Marines with open arms.
What a proud day.
The missive isn’t incorrect. Both support and opposition to the war inspired people to become more politically active. It is and will continue to be used for political ends.
Nice job AP.
It was waritics or politar. Take your pick.
Is there anything left in gubmint that is not politically motivated?
Hey, anyone have an idea what will become of the Iraq Veterans Against the War now that the war is ended? Any guesses?
2-17 – they’ll keep their name and members and find some other left wing cause to support, just like moveon.org
@ #5 – The IVAW will most likely fade into the background a little more, yet remain active like their big sisters at the VVAW/VFP…The best research ever on the anti-war movement is Scott Swett’s Winter Soldier. Once fellow travelers, always fellow travelers.
To quote von clauswitz, “War is politics by other means.” By definition war is always about politics. However, with this war it has been about politics from the day the Shrub sent us on his fool’s errand and is now when the SOFA was used as a ploy from keeping us there.
Thanks, lefty. Very profound.
You said “sent us.” Maybe I was too hasty. Where and when did you serve on the fool’s errand?
“However, with this war it has been about politics from the day the Shrub sent us. . .”
This country was united when we decided to go into Iraq in both 1991 and 2003. Howard Dean, John Kerry and Ron Paul converted it into pure politics.
You know, for someone who you dismiss as a “Shrub,” he sure as hell fooled a hell of self-proclaimed geniuses.
IMHO, if we didn’t go to war with Iraq in 2003, we would have been at war them eventually by now.
2-17: What does it matter when I was in Iraq? I was there, I did my part as did my Marines. This war was a political cluster bump from day one. End of story.
AP: Sure, you can fool a hell of a lot of people if you scare the hell out of them. But you only have them until they aren’t scared anymore. Then you have a bunch of pissed of people.
There was no imminent threat from Iraq in 2003. There have been plenty of reports explaining this. This war was a political move from the beginning whether we say so or not. In that case, we might as well say so.
HM2, what political advantage did Bush hope to accomplish in 2003? Were the Democrats aligned with Saddam (I ask that rhetorically.)
In fact, he risked more politically than he stood to gain by going into Iraq.
As far as Iraq being an imminent threat, I won’t rehash the old arguments, but I will point out that no one in the Arab world (or in Iran, for that matter) is today pining for the days of Saddam.
No matter what the public decides…I actually enjoyed my year in Iraq…I worked with some of the best folks in the world! I had an adventure….so, call it what you like….as some of the Nam vets have been known to say:”If you weren’t there, shut the fuck up.”
CI: I agree whole heartedly. I would also point out that even those of us who were there may not agree with eachother. But a war is not about adventure. IT is a political tool that should accomplish national security aims of the nation. This one was a war that weakened our standing in the world and provided the enemy with a training ground to learn new skills. The war had no strategic aim for us and was thus a waste of intitive, materiel and lives.
Doc, we were in a low intensity conflict with Iraq after Desert Storm and leading up to OIF. The Bush administration made mistakes in Iraq and Afghanistan, but that happens in war. By the way, most Marines don’t like corpsmen referring to us as “my Marines” no matter how much we respect them.
Ron Landers GySgt(ret)
Desert Storm & OIF
AP: I get satire, but the way you said it just makes me want to find a bottle of Jack and crawl in.
@13: I do believe there were just as many Dems were shitning their pants before the war began. If anything most of the D’s in power were screaming for intervention. R’s tended to be confidant in victory, but did not really deal in fear.
Political move. . . so i suppose that probably not might be not telling the Russians to get the fuck out of Poland, or telling the Chinese to stay the Fuck out of Korea. Yes I am very familiar with political moves, and they are almost never on the side of strong action or words
Yat-Yas: No disrespect intended Gunny. Those Marines were entrusted into my care and I consider them mine to look out for. I did not mean to imply ownership. I have an affinity to the Marines I served with. I felt and still feel a protective affinity for them.
Kim Il Jong bit his last bite of kim chee.
No parades, no bold type headlines, no church bells, nothing but a second page or bottom of first page story. Chalk that up to an all volunteer force consisting of a few hundred thousand individual “Great Americans” that served their country without a draft. Who knew what they had to do and when to do it. Thanks to every service member that answered the call when they did not have to and thanks to all of you that keep the info comming, real time and in truth. It may not mean anything to the Press but it means something to us and our families. – George
Doc, I know you did not mean ownership. You might think of using the “the Marines I served with” vice “my Marines.” The best corpsmen I served with always thought of themselves as just another member of the platoon.
I wish I could have been just another member of the platoon, but more often than not I was apart, partially because I had a divided command (had to answer to the Med Platoon every time I turned around, but also because there were certain things I HAD to do. I couldn’t take any time off, no rotations, and after people started dying, I kept my distance for a reason. It really sucks when your friends die.
As an HM in a Marine Unit, it is often made very clear that you are not “just another member of the platoon,” or in my case, “just another member of the company.” Moreover, as I said earlier, they were entrusted into my care and at that point became mine and will continue to be mine until one of us no longer draws breath.
That’s the way it is. You don’t have to like it.
Gee. Nice attitude there! Were I one of “your” Marines, I would likely knock your lights out for referring to me in such a condescending way. But hey, that’s just me. You don’t have to like it.
Charlie Anderson.
I find it interesting since no one can actually debate the topic on facts, we come down to ways to make me seem disingenuous.
OWB: SUch a cyber bad ass! I am so scared, quaking in boots.
I don’t know how accepting personal responsibility for the health and overall well being of an individual or group of individuals is condescending etc. I think we should all consider someone special to be “ours,” Not in a sense of being controlling or posessive, but in a sense of being accountable for something greater than yourself. Is this any different from “our” battle buddies. Those of us who have been in leadership roles were told repeatedly to look out for the well being of “our” people. Not that we are better than they are. Many of those I served with in all branches of the military we legions beyond me in many ways. I have the utmost respect for all of them. Or was military leadership such that you weren’t supposed to care about the people assigned to you?
2-17: Is placing my name in numerous places on this blog supposed to do something or mean something? Am I supposed to be scared now that my “secret” is out? I have spent my adult life caring for others at the expense of myself and things that were personally important to me. I have spoken in a variety of mediums to thousands of people. I am not afraid to be “out there.” There are certain aspects of my job that don’t need to be connected to political things. However, anyone who knows me already knows how I feel about Iraq and the direction of our foreign policy. So, if this is supposed to be some sort of knock out blow, keep trying. It didn’t work. Perhaps, we should start over, try to be civil and discuss real issues instead of just sniping irrelevant crap. What do you say?
I forgot something very important in my last statement. I don’t apologize for feeling responsible for the Marines who were under my care. I further, have nothing but the utmost respect and admitation for them. They did an impossible job, with little outside support and did it very well. The term “My Marines” when applied to three specific units from a specific time, only reflects the personal, almost spiritual, responsibility for their health and well being. I don’t how this devolved into a personal attack on me. However, I feel the way I do about these special men. I regret only that a few of you cannot understand this bond.
Well, thanks, Charlie. Last time I asked if you were he, you danced around in circles. It’s about time you came clean. Now we know who we are dealing with here. As for whatever else you wrote in 27 and 28, I didn’t read it and, unless some regular here advises me to do so, I won’t.
Uh, you never asked me anything. You threw out some unrelated BS with my name, which has been common knowledge to regulars here for two years. SO I showed you mine, show me yours. who are you and what is your background?
Don’t bother, AC. Just another example of PC’ness applying only in one direction.
Lovely day here. How’s it out your way?
You can go straight to hell, Charlie. Your stuff stank from the first I read a comment of yours here. You gave me nothing–not intentionally, anyway, and I have no respect for you whatsoever. So, if you want to learn something about me, piece it together bud. I have a small mountain of comments in the archives for you to sift through. And, just to be clear, I say again, you can go straight to hell.
@31. OWB: Not this time. Grab some popcorn, go to YouTube and watch the IVAW hero. I especially enjoyed the raised, clenched fist salute that he greeted his fellow travelers with after he was introduced by the beautiful and talented Ann Wright. Let me know if you need the links.
Sometimes ya just gotta do whacha gotta do.
Like: So, (were I actually assigned as a Marine in this clown’s sphere of influence) I am supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy about being condescendingly referred to as one of “his Marines?” From the same mouth that would most likely hand us a shovel full of shit if any of us referred to any group of folks as “those people?”
(I’ve got more. Should we put it out there piecemeal or all at once?)
Been around a long enough to know for a fact that…not all Marines like corpsman…even the one they serve with….if fact that may be puttinbg it mildly