[Rhodes22-list] Re: Commitment to war

[Deena]

Unfortunately it is the right choice.  My husband is a former US marine, and
currently a lieutenant colonel (Military Intelligence) in the US Army
stationed at US Central Command.  He was retired and called back shortly
after 911.  He is still on active duty and will do another 2 1/2 years.  He
did not have to go.   It was a declared war and there is not going to be a
draft, at least for sometime since we do have a volunteer army and a lot of
reservists thanks to Clintons draw down. We went from an army of 2 1/2
million to a little more than 400,000 active duty.  Big drop.   If we were
not over seas, there would be a lot more deaths here in the US.  You would
be surprised at what the US has already found and stopped here.   I have 2
boys, one who will be appearing in the movie the "New World" I wouldn't want
them to go on any political venture either.  But sometimes you have to make
a stand.  Deena
-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of stan
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 7:51 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Commitment to war

thanks for the rare sharing, Rummy.

Still waiting for Steve and friends to back up their bravado with enlisting
or Bush to let his daughters sign up.  Maybe war is exciting and glamorous
for some who stay home and hire others - but if it really, really, really is
the right thing to do, as several on the List seem to think, then it should
also be the right thing to declare war, have a fair draft for those asked to
serve and rationing for the fully committed home front.  I for one would
never allow my kids to be taken for any half hearted venture where the
politically correct back up is tax cutting and magnetic symbols.

stan, WW11


----- Original Message -----
From: <R22RumRunner at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 4:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Commitment to war


> Herb and all,
>
> Neither the body count or the number in country had anything to do  with
> our
> commitment or lack thereof in Vietnam. When a soldier is being fired  upon
> and
> has to radio for permission to return fire, that's a lack of  commitment.
> Remember, we didn't have cell phones in those days and military  radio's,
> as good
> as they were, often couldn't contact anyone. I was with an  armored unit
> in I
> Corps (DMZ area) from 1970 to 1971 and saw a lot of strange  stuff, but
> having to ask for permission to return fire is the one thing that  really
> burned my
> butt. Sometimes we just didn't ask for permission and pleaded  no radio
> contact when questioned after the fact. It was easier and saved our  butts
> on many
> an occasion.
> The one thing that concerns me when these discussions come up on the list
> is
> that I doubt that many people on either side of the issue know what
> happens
> to the human body when it is hit with a fifty caliber round or a grenade.
> Or,
> when a RPG hits a tank and burns through the armament and blows up inside
> the
> tank turning those bodies into chipped beef. War isn't pretty people. Part
> of my  duties while in Vietnam were to identify bodies at the morgue when
> they
> were  brought in from the field. I still have nightmares about my
> experiences,
> and  don't talk about them very often. The decision to go to war has to be
> taken very  seriously. People talking about body counts like your counting
> cord
> wood makes  me sick. Take a walk through a veterans hospital sometime and
> meet
> some of the  walking dead. Your thoughts on war will change, I guarantee
> it.
> War isn't good  for any living thing.
> Time to step off the soap box and mix a drink. Coke has a new Diet Coke
> made
> with Splenda. No more Nutrasweet poisoning. Yeah!
>
> Rummy
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>

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