Thanksgiving in Iraq

This story is from last year. One year and thousands of deaths and maimings later…how many more families suffer this holiday season? This Thanksgiving, as Americans enjoy the comfort of their homes and families, it might be nice to think about the troops still stuck in Iraq because of our National Apathy. It is time for Americans to finally face the truth about the war in Iraq. I know that denial is a powerful thing. I know it doesn’t feel good when you find your trust has been abused, that you have been misled by an insane madman. But the truth will set us free.

To whomever feels that the troops want to stay and ‘finish the job’- It is time to explore the basic tenet of Christianity “Do unto others…”

How would you feel if you found out all your sacrifice for the last several years was for profit and corporate greed? How would you feel if you found out you lost your leg, your best friend, your spirit…all for money? How would you feel if you were forced to kill another human being, and you found out it was for Halliburton? You see, the facts aren’t going to change, whether we face it now or later. It is never going to get easier on these brave men and women to find out the war is based on lies, that their trust has been abused.

These brave soldiers signed up to protect our country, they put their lives on the line for US- how many more years will we let them rot in Iraq because people in denial can’t handle the truth? We owe the troops the truth, and to bring them home to safety. It is the least we can do!



http://benfrank.net/blog/f/informational/thanksgiving-troops.pdf">flyer for friends and family
http://benfrank.net/blog/

Thanksgiving visit

So the boss came to visit us on Thanksgiving, under wraps and under the American flag. Thanks for coming. Oh thank you, kind leader, merciful leader, for taking one day out of your busy schedule to visit us. The shepherd looking over his flock. Thanks for making the sacrifice. God knows we’re making one. Re-election is coming up, but that had nothing to do with it, now did it?

I remember your victorious landing on the ship. Oh how all those then alive, and now dead, would love to sit down next to you, cutting their families’ turkeys and filling the empty seats at the tables. Leader of the free world, be our guest at the head of our table. Or would you like to sit in one of the many empty seats left by the war? There’s plenty of room. Enough turkey and stuffing to go around. Fat and happy, delirious and exhausted. That’s how I feel.

In a hurry? Going so soon? Have time for questions? You sure do have time for compliments. Do you ever feel responsible? I’m tired of this. Go back home to the ranch and tell them how happy and fulfilling the trip made you feel.

Spc. Damian Torres
Iraq

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=18888&archive=true


Bush visit disrupted dining

As a soldier deployed in Iraq, I hear all the complaints from individuals who think they have it worse than the next guy. I’m lucky enough to be with soldiers who often complain among themselves, but all they expect are good leadership and three square meals a day.

As part of the main push during major combat, our battalion was scattered all over the battlefield. We supported other units and paved the way (and roads) that others would use to get to the front lines. Our D9 teams helped push units as famous as the 101st Airborne Division from Kuwait to as far as Mosul. We took mine blasts and got shot at as we breached obstacles and cleared roads. Again, all we asked for was leadership and three squares a day.

During the war, Meals, Ready to Eat were naturally the way to go. They were appreciated, even by the vegetarians who had only crackers and cheese after the veggie meals were gone. Now that we’re stationed at Baghdad International Airport almost 10 months later, my soldiers believe that several comforts have finally arrived for them, like the post exchange and dining facility. But imagine their dismay when they walked 15 minutes to the Bob Hope Dining Facility, only to find that they were turned away from their evening meal because they were in the wrong unit.

The one thing that they find a requirement was denied to them. They understand that President Bush ate there and that upgraded security was required. But why were only certain units turned away? Why wasn’t there a special meal for President Bush and that unit in the new dance hall adjoining the 1st Armored Division’s band building? And all of this happened on Thanksgiving, the best meal of the year when soldiers get a taste of home cooking.

Were the local national servers also kept out of the building because of security reasons? Regardless, my soldiers chose to complain among themselves and eat MREs, even after the chow hall was reopened for “usual business” at 9 p.m. As a leader myself, I’d guess that other measures could have been taken to allow for proper security and still let the soldiers have their meal.

Sgt. Loren Russell
Iraq

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=18886&archive=true

Surely they must have some feelings toward our own troops? Will anything get through to them? How can anyone think the troops want to stay in Iraq?