a beautiful photo....in honor of dtb,neverteasit and the other vets on the board...

[gardenweasel]

and certainly,marine.....my bad for forgetting you...

http://www.strategypage.com/gallery/articles/military_photos_200691613140.asp

 

[danmurphy jr]

There should be soon a tribute for an Army reservist. A Sgt. 1st Class(SFC) killed by an IED early in Sept.
She was a 52 year old grandmother. Let me repeat that for my fellow Americans. A 52 year old grandmother! . Why? I gotta hear this one, besides the fact that more Nannas die in car accidents. That is just not faiir

 

[gardenweasel]

very sad,danny...very sad.....

the photo wasn`t intended as a political statement...

just a tip of the hat to guys like dtb and never teaseit....

 

[neverteaseit]

Nice photo gw appreciate it.

murph no - one forced her to join the military. while her loss is unfortunate it is one of many who volunteered. bottom line is she was soldier and sometimes we pay with the ultimate sacrifice. not like vietnam and wars before were people were taken without having a say-so. which many have forgotten about by the way.

I am sometimes dumbfounded by people complaining. I guess when we join the military today we are not supposed to be deployed when the leaders see fit. But it is your primary obligation to defend your country when called to duty whether it is national guard, reserves, active etc. you dont get a timeout card or a stay at home chip because you disagree with the political aspects of it.

 

[smurphy]

the photo wasn`t intended as a political statement...
....

then why is the first thing you see when you click the link an anti-hillary clinton t-shirt?

 

[The Sponge]

Nice photo gw appreciate it.

murph no - one forced her to join the military. while her loss is unfortunate it is one of many who volunteered. bottom line is she was soldier and sometimes we pay with the ultimate sacrifice. not like vietnam and wars before were people were taken without having a say-so. which many have forgotten about by the way.

I am sometimes dumbfounded by people complaining. I guess when we join the military today we are not supposed to be deployed when the leaders see fit. But it is your primary obligation to defend your country when called to duty whether it is national guard, reserves, active etc. you dont get a timeout card or a stay at home chip because you disagree with the political aspects of it.

i just totally dont agree with this. Yes its all volunteer but these kids and this grandmother are fighting for a bunch of bullshit lies. Where does it say when you sign up that you have to fight when your leader is misleading you? Now if she got killed in Afganstan where we should be in full force i can agree with you but this bullshit in Iraq is just that bullshit. Just another waste of a life.

 

[The Sponge]

by the way Dan good luck at the other site. I loved Michigan on Saturday and when i saw you picked it i said to myself "only two to go"

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

That GW Nice photo--

To add to what Neverteaseit said Smurphy--
A: I doubt she was walking point
B: I ponder what makes someone highlight 52 yer old grandmother. What would make her any diff from anyone else? Personally if someone was going to get it would opt for her over 19 year old mother/grandmother to be--and you can bet your ass the grandmother would also.
Something hard for some people to understand is others that make sacrifices for others.
As I said before when the shit hits the fan everyone runs some to help others to save their own ass.The firemen on 911 are classic example..

 

[smurphy]

don't confuse danmurphy with me. i never even heard about this grandma soldier.

 

[neverteaseit]

well it says it right on the dam line you sign. I swear to PROTECT AND SERVE MY COUNTRY AT ALL COST this is where most unless you have served will ever understand. You are bringing the political aspect into it.

And this is why the military is no longer what it used to be. When u are tucked away all nice and cozy and getting paid no - one minds but when it come time to possibly put your life on the line some no longer want to be in this position. ABout like most people while at work who sit and chat on the computer all day long, complain about their crappy job all the while they maybe put in 15 hours of actual work in a 40 hour week.

I am just glad our forefathers and others made the sacrifices years ago for freedom. I could have cared less about the political apects of what you talk about. I had a job to do. I lost no one under my leadership, I came back home with all my limbs and I am proud of what I did. As is most who are over there now. Many have done things beyond the call of duty. Some which I doubt many in this country would ever do. You did it for someone you don't even know or knew briefly. You did it because it is what you are trained to do.

I will never see what u see because I can seperate the politics from the war. Her loss while sad , in my eyes it will never take a front page to any of the 100's of thousands who have died for this country.

 

[smurphy]

i just totally dont agree with this. Yes its all volunteer but these kids and this grandmother are fighting for a bunch of bullshit lies. Where does it say when you sign up that you have to fight when your leader is misleading you? Now if she got killed in Afganstan where we should be in full force i can agree with you but this bullshit in Iraq is just that bullshit. Just another waste of a life.

I halfway agree with this. The main difference being that once you sign up you essentially agree to not question what duties you are called to perform. Being told the truth or being misled is irrelevant.

HOWEVER, it's up to our leadership to use this incredible resource carefully - only when absolutely necessary. And why the National Guard is in Iraq at all is completely baffling. This was never intended to be the use of that branch of service - and it shows.

So, yeah - Bush et al have completely mismanaged the military. I agree that Afghanistan was the real battlefield - and we never sent the forces we should have there. Iraq is ludicrous, but it's not up to a soldier to decide this. They sign up and basically pledge allegiance to any and all directions from above - no matter how illogical. Too bad the commander/chief is such a fool.

 

[Happy Hippo]

Well, I don't know about all this bickering, but I think it's a really cool picture...

And thanks to all of you who have served our country or currently are

:toast:

 

[smurphy]

Well, I don't know about all this bickering, but I think it's a really cool picture...

And thanks to all of you who have served our country or currently are

:toast:

even kosar?

 

[neverteaseit]

smurphy u are correct the national guard was not intended to be used like this but when the cutbacks came in the 80's and 90's this is the evil monster it has produced.

U can throw the politics out, but the warplan that was given for Iraq has had terrible flaws in it. And the longer this continues to go on the more depleted the guard and reserves will become. I am curious as to what takes place in the next rotation during mid to late 07. This rotation now is mostly active duty. But I think the military is in dire straights come late 07.

 

[Happy Hippo]

even kosar?

Sure, why not...

:toast: :mj06: :thumb: for Kosar :thumb: :mj06: :toast:

 

[The Sponge]

well it says it right on the dam line you sign. I swear to PROTECT AND SERVE MY COUNTRY AT ALL COST this is where most unless you have served will ever understand. You are bringing the political aspect into it.

And this is why the military is no longer what it used to be. When u are tucked away all nice and cozy and getting paid no - one minds but when it come time to possibly put your life on the line some no longer want to be in this position. ABout like most people while at work who sit and chat on the computer all day long, complain about their crappy job all the while they maybe put in 15 hours of actual work in a 40 hour week.

I am just glad our forefathers and others made the sacrifices years ago for freedom. I could have cared less about the political apects of what you talk about. I had a job to do. I lost no one under my leadership, I came back home with all my limbs and I am proud of what I did. As is most who are over there now. Many have done things beyond the call of duty. Some which I doubt many in this country would ever do. You did it for someone you don't even know or knew briefly. You did it because it is what you are trained to do.

I will never see what u see because I can seperate the politics from the war. Her loss while sad , in my eyes it will never take a front page to any of the 100's of thousands who have died for this country.

I agree with a lot of stuff you say but not to educate yourself and just go over there like a pigeon is not my bag. I know id have a lot more pep in my step in afghanastan than i would have over in Iraq. If i was over in Afghanstan and they said go to Iraq id tell them to take me right to prison. Im not gonna fight a war for a bunch of scumbags who don't give two shits about those iraq's. There is a new documentary coming out about the war profiteers. I suggest you and everyone give this a look.

 

[The Sponge]

then why is the first thing you see when you click the link an anti-hillary clinton t-shirt?

now you know where he gets all his twisted veiws. I wonder if Rupert Murdoch owns that site. By the way smurph how did you pick out the anti hillary t shirt? i couldnt get past that girls pretty face.

 

[neverteaseit]

soldiers don't go over uneducated. u go thru several months of training prior to movement, u learn the customs and are taught what offends the islamic way. none of this occured during desert storm.

I have seen some of the profiteer stuff already. its like any documentary. cut and edited and u can make anything look like something else. water treatment issues and etc. contaminated water issues.

first off u drink bottled water. i never seen any running water while i was in iraq, nor did i drink any. the potable water is for showering etc. we dealt with the possibility of it being contaminated everyday. i think some forget this is not a club-med.

the moral issues regarding what civilians make compared to the military. well i just didnt see that while i was there. most of the civilian employees are ex-military. yes they make alot more. especially in the security field. but thats the way it goes.

is there fleeecing going on, you bet. just like back in the states, some profit off it also. but i am sure the documentary will never show any of the positives of iraq only the negative. there are 2 sides every story.

 

[smurphy]

now you know where he gets all his twisted veiws. I wonder if Rupert Murdoch owns that site. By the way smurph how did you pick out the anti hillary t shirt? i couldnt get past that girls pretty face.

I didnt spend long on the face.

 

[The Sponge]

soldiers don't go over uneducated. u go thru several months of training prior to movement, u learn the customs and are taught what offends the islamic way. none of this occured during desert storm.

I have seen some of the profiteer stuff already. its like any documentary. cut and edited and u can make anything look like something else. water treatment issues and etc. contaminated water issues.

first off u drink bottled water. i never seen any running water while i was in iraq, nor did i drink any. the potable water is for showering etc. we dealt with the possibility of it being contaminated everyday. i think some forget this is not a club-med.

the moral issues regarding what civilians make compared to the military. well i just didnt see that while i was there. most of the civilian employees are ex-military. yes they make alot more. especially in the security field. but thats the way it goes.

is there fleeecing going on, you bet. just like back in the states, some profit off it also. but i am sure the documentary will never show any of the positives of iraq only the negative. there are 2 sides every story.

The doc is only about war prrofiteering. Im pretty sure it doesn't touch on anything else. What i still find very shocking is just how non chalont you and most are about this. This isn't millions. This is billions. Its the single biggest legal extortion ring know to mankind. There was 15 billion missing about a year ago. I can't amagine how much is missing now. With all this stealing going on it has a trickle down affect in all our lives. From property taxes to health care ect.. when states go for grants there will be no more money so where do they get it? Right back in our pockets. I hope to hell there is some good over there. I hope they all have new homes and enjoy my money but unfortunately i know who is enjoying my money. A bunch of dirt bag profiteerers.