Command Sgt Major gives us the "ground truth" on Iraq

[itsbob (Premo)]

All I can say is I LIKE Sergeants Major.. If you've ever seen the movie "We were soldiers once... and Young". the actor that portrayed the BN CSM nailed it. The character was exactly like all the SGM and CSM I've served with.


"Have a nice day? Who the hell are you to tell me what kind of day to have?"

Of course living with one wasn't such a pleasurable experience, but working with them was pretty cool.

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by forestal

I'm practicing my "Shock and Awe" campaign....

If we left today, do you think peace would return to Iraq?


Personally I believe if we left today, what would happen there would make the killing fields of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam look like an episode of "The Romper Room"..


Or do you really not care what would happen to the children in the pictures you use to support your cause?

Have you ever thought that we MIGHT be the only thing between total and complete genocide within Iraq?

[2ndAmendment (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Nucklesack

You are not on ignore, I just mainly ignore you. You have, at least on occasion, posted something that makes sense and is not just a dig. Midnight rarely posts anything that is not a dig, so for the few times it does post something that might be worthy of reading, I can afford to miss it.

[itsbob (Premo)]

And speaking of "We were Soldiers once.. "

A story of one of the Lt's in the 1st Cav that day, that was in the midst of the battle, he later gave his life trying to save others..

A PETITION TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH TO AWARD THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM TO C.R.”RICK” RESCORLA FOR HEROISM AND GALLANTRY BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY ON SEPTEMBER 11,2001.



MR. RESCORLA CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AS AN IMMIGRANT TO BECOME AN OFFICER IN THE ARMY. MR RESCORLA SERVED WITH SUCH DISTINCTION AS AN OFFICER IN VIET NAM THAT ALL WHO SERVED WITH HIM CONSIDER HIM THE BRAVEST MAN WE HAVE EVER KNOWN. HE WAS HIGHLY DECORATED FOR HIS BRAVERY AND LEADERSHIP IN COMBAT. HE BECAME A US CITIZEN AND SOUGHT A HIGHER EDUCATION OBTAINING A BACHELOR AND MASTERS DEGREE AT UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA AND FURTHER OBTAINING A LAW DEGREE BEFORE SERVING A AS TEACHER AT USC LAW SCHOOL BEFORE BEING LURED TO THE WORLD OF COMMERCIAL BANKING. MR. RESCORLA’S SPECIALTY WAS SECURITY AND SECURITY LAW. IN 1993 HE WAS THE LAST MAN OUT OF THE TRADE TOWERS AFTER EVACUATING EVERYONE. ON SEPT.11TH IN SPITE OF BEING TOLD HIS BUILDING WAS NOT IN DANGER, HE IMPLEMENTED THE EVACUATION PLAN HE HAD DEVELOPED FOR HIS FIRM, MORGAN STANLEY. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF HIS EFFORTS THAT DAY AND HIS QUICK ACTION, OVER 2600 EMPLOYEES WERE SAVED. MR RESCORLA WAS LAST SEEN GOING UP TO RESCUE PEOPLE WHO WERE UNABLE TO GET DOWN. HIS ACTIONS REFLECT THE VERY BEST ABOUT AMERICA, ITS CITIZENS AND ITS DREAMS.


THE UNDERSIGNED URGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE MR RESCORLA BY BESTOWING THIS HIGHEST HONOR TO THIS MOST DESERVING MAN.

[Nucklesack]

Originally Posted by itsbob

All I can say is I LIKE Sergeants Major.. If you've ever seen the movie "We were soldiers once... and Young". the actor that portrayed the BN CSM nailed it. The character was exactly like all the SGM and CSM I've served with.


"Have a nice day? Who the hell are you to tell me what kind of day to have?"

Of course living with one wasn't such a pleasurable experience, but working with them was pretty cool.

Have you read the book?

Theres a book by Larry Gwin, called Baptism that takes place before Moore started up the Air Cavalry (Gwin mentions Moore in his book).

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Nucklesack

Have you read the book?

Theres a book by Larry Gwin, called Baptism that takes place before Moore started up the Air Cavalry (Gwin mentions Moore in his book).

Yes I have, and I also can get a first hand account of a lot of it from my dad.

He was 1st Cav in Vietnam in a gun battery, he can tell you what soviet 7.62 rounds sound like hitting the side of a Huey, and what one sounds like when it zips through the pasenger compartment of the same (the same reason none of the in country hueys had doors), why they sat on their steel pots instead of wearing them in flight.. and many other stories that will curl your toes.

[forestal]

Really now. "Follow us home"? Most of these folks don't have the means, nor would they care to come to America to kill Americans. They simply want us out of Iraq. They love their country and it sickens them to the point of sacrificing themselves to kick us out.

You and the rest who have kept this war running much further past the point it should have ended bear part of the responsibility for each and every dead or injured American soldier.

In the end you will secretly admit to yourself that you were wrong, even if you won't do it publically.

Originally Posted by TheRightMiller

I'm neither shocked nor in awe. I'm also not a "chicken hawk." My grandfather, my father and I all wore the uniform of our country, so I speak as a veteran who listens to and trusts my friends and fellow veterans currently serving in Iraq. Their stories are remarkably similar to the one recounted by the CSM. They tell me about all the good they're doing over there and how frustrating it is to see none of it reported in the mainstream press. The CSM's comments addressed the good and the bad, and I trust him and the ones risking life and limb over there before I trust the mainstream press.

For all the focus on the current situation in Iraq, an assessment that no one is willing to accept is this: what happens after we leave will be worse. The commentary at the following link is sobering but truthful (at least in my view):

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion...513/21edit.htm

Finally, note the similarity in the statements of Mr. Zuckerman, a senior member of the American press establishment, and the CSM:

"This is an enemy who will strive to follow America home." - Mortimer B. Zuckerman

"I believe if we don't finish this, it will follow us home." - Command Sgt. Major Neil Ciotola, U.S. Army

Now there's a truth that "...people don't want to hear."

Regards,

Ron

[Dork]

Originally Posted by forestal

Really now. "Follow us home"? Most of these folks don't have the means, nor would they care to come to America to kill Americans. They simply want us out of Iraq. They love their country and it sickens them to the point of sacrificing themselves to kick us out.

You and the rest who have kept this war running much further past the point it should have ended bear part of the responsibility for each and every dead or injured American soldier.

In the end you will secretly admit to yo
urself that you were wrong, even if you won't do it publically.

Don't you ever give up. Here's a saying for you. "It is better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool than to open your mouth and remove any doubt." You are just plain stupid!

I hate the fact that our young men are over there dying every day. It eats me up and I would like to see us out of there but there's a lot more going on that you would ever be able to understand.

[TheRightMiller]

I don't expect to change your mind on this topic, but "really now"? There's no need to be condescending. In case it's not apparent, neither I nor anyone else who states that the conflict will follow us home is referring to the Iraqi people. We're speaking of the transnational terrorists who have fanned the flames of discontent in Iraq and are largely responsible for the violence there.

Finally, please don't lecture me about bearing responsibility for the deaths and injuries of our soldiers, sailors and airmen. Unless you've taken the oath to give your life for your country if called upon, as I did when I served, you'll never understand the bond we veterans have with these brave young people. I do not diminish their sacrifice, and I grieve for them and their families. Yes, I would like to see the war end, but at what cost? I have no illusions about what will happen in that region if we leave, and neither do our fighting men and women. It's only the people back home who don't understand the persistence of our adversaries that want to believe there are no consequences whatsoever if we leave. It is wishful thinking to believe that a Middle East in chaos will not have an adverse and lasting effect on us here at home.

Regards,

Ron

[Bustem' Down]

Originally Posted by TheRightMiller

I don't expect to change your mind on this topic, but "really now"? There's no need to be condescending. In case it's not apparent, neither I nor anyone else who states that the conflict will follow us home is referring to the Iraqi people. We're speaking of the transnational terrorists who have fanned the flames of discontent in Iraq and are largely responsible for the violence there.

Finally, please don't lecture me about bearing responsibility for the deaths and injuries of our soldiers, sailors and airmen. Unless you've taken the oath to give your life for your country if called upon, as I did when I served, you'll never understand the bond we veterans have with these brave young people. I do not diminish their sacrifice, and I grieve for them and their families. Yes, I would like to see the war end, but at what cost? I have no illusions about what will happen in that region if we leave, and neither do our fighting men and women. It's only the people back home who don't understand the persistence of our adversaries that want to believe there are no consequences whatsoever if we leave. It is wishful thinking to believe that a Middle East in chaos will not have an adverse and lasting effect on us here at home.

Regards,

Ron

Don't bother with him, if a republican told him that the sun rose in the east, he would close his eyes and deny that truth just to spite them.