Busy Bees

I will be unable to write anymore entries into my blog a week or two. However, When I am in Iraq, I will resume working on my blog. So, unfortunately, you will have to keep visiting my site every now and then to check up on it.

Humble Thoughts

Recently I received news of a buddy of mine just passed away while in Iraq. It is depressing, but there will be a time later on to feel bad. Right now, it's important to focus on the mission at hand and to make sure the new guys (rookies or cherries) come home safe and sound. I don't necessarily worry about my own safety, because now as a senior member of the group, it is my job to look out for these guys. We have a really good leadership, so I take comfort in that we are all in good hands. There isn't anyone in our unit that I would say I don't want to go to combat with. It is definitely differently not as bad as it was the last time we were there, however, I feel we are as ready if not more than any other unit in the Army. Alot of us have already been there, so it shouldn't be too hard to re-adapt to the environment in Iraq. I get to see my family one more time before I go home, I am sure it is going to be very difficult for my parents to say good-bye to me. There is nothing I can say to ease their minds about me going back to Iraq. My mother recently asked me a question if I was nervous, because she was nervous. My answer was I didn't have time to worry about myself, I have to watch out for the other guys. It's not about me, it's about them. Many people don't agree with this war, however, we are there now, and have a job to do. I'm definitely NOT eager to go, but I am ready to go and will do my job as an American soldier. I haven't been religious in a long time, but I am seriously thinking about getting back into it when I go to Iraq. I think religion helps alot in difficult situations like that where sometimes bad things happen that is out of your control. We all know that during the elections, the fighting will be at it's worst, so many guys are hoping for us to arrive after the elections. I don't think the USA needs to be in Iraq anymore after the elections. We've accomplished EVERYONE we wanted, to free the Iraqi people, captured Saddam, killed his murderous sons and have finally come to democratic elections. Everyone is done, they even have a military bigger then our Coalition forces in Iraq and many Police. They have everything they need for success. We can't carry the weight of this by ourselves. We can hardly carry our own weight as a nation. We have our own problems.

Flip-Flopping Al-Jazeera?

It's come to my attention or at least it would appear that Al-Jazeera, whom I equate as the Arab version of the Fox News Channel. All they do is spread filthy propaganda and promote violence in my opinion. They interview only people that would say stuff like the US is an empire taking over the world. That type of statement is outrageous. The only land the USA has under it's control is herself and many islands. Sovereign authority has been given to the Iraqi government, even if it is an interim government, the USA is not calling the shots on whether it can conduct military operations without that government's consent. I also don't see the Armies of the United States moving across the Eastern hemisphere conquering nations as we go. These beliefs are just caused by people disagreeing with US policy and take things way out of text and make outrageous statements like this. Besides all this with Al-Jazeera calling Americans imperialists. Now, they have completely done a flip flop and have said there should be elections but they need to be delayed. I find it funny how someone equating the USA to a fascist regime and making claims like we will never make democracy are the ones that say we should wait for it to be peaceful. If the Sunni want to have a part, like they seem they do, why the hell wont they put their guns down and be apart of this instead withdrawing from the elections because they say it's too violent in the region when it is THEM who are the ones causing the problems. While at work today, while we were doing processing for leaving for Iraq, in line one of my buddies started making some funny jokes about Al-Jazeera. Making fun of all the Arab conspiracy theories, he said "Now Al-Jazeera say we knew about the Tsunami but didn't warn them because we wanted the Muslims to be punished." It's frustrating being a soldier who has gone to war in Iraq and knows in which way the United States military conducts itself, which it does not do what many Arabs and anti-war people would have people believe. Being just a normal American it disturbs me to see the view people have of the US military and the US in general, but being an American soldier it's a direct attack on me. Everyone likes to pick on the big guy because it makes them feel better about themselves.

Tsunami Is NOT a 9/11

I'm tired of hearing on the news. "This is our 9/11." This horrific act of nature is nothing like 9/11. It has caused far more sorrow then 9/11. 9/11 was an attack on America. This Tsunami is caused by nature, the attacks on September 11 were man made. I gets really anoyying when people try to compare this to September 11. They are like comparing apples to oranges. Completely different, but both tragic. I also see the 100,000+ lives that have been lost was unfortunate and sad, but 3,000 deaths from September was not just unfortunate, it was murder. I also have been in chat rooms discussing politics with people. I notice all the ignorance of these people who live over seas that 9/11 wasn't that bad and that we have outrageous laws for being allowed in the country. They will never know what it was like to be an American that day. It wasn't a tsunami, it wasn't a hurricane, it wasn't a Tornado, it was an attack on America. Today, despite moving on, the wounds are still very deep from 9/11 and for those of us who remember it, we will never be the same. I wish the rest of the world could grasp this fact. Another thing that upset me was all the criticisms of America not putting enough money into this tragedy when it was 30+ million dollars, which it has now increased 10 fold. Unlike anyone else, we had aircraft carriers with helicopters and everything else that is going to help the people there. We have alot of other military assets going into this. With just those military assets, we are probably spending upwards of just 100 million dollars a month in support of the relief effort. When it all comes down to it. America will be spending the most in the relief effort of any other foreign nation.