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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A Powerful NBC Story About The Troops

Here are some sentiments from the battlefield the media doesn’t often let us see or hear. Ones Jim Webb and his fellow Democrats don’t want us to believe.

Quote from one soldier: “If they’re gonna support us, support us all the way.”

The reporter ends on this line: “[The Apache Company] worries their country may be abandoning the mission they died for.”

I can’t even imagine how that must feel.

Comments

Avatar for WOOF

Tennyson: Charge of the Light Brigade

Was there a man dismay’d ?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Some one had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Kipling: The Last of the Light Brigade

There were thirty million English who talked of England’s might,
There were twenty broken troopers who lacked a bed for the night.
They had neither food nor money, they had neither service nor trade;
They were only shiftless soldiers, the last of the Light Brigade.

They felt that life was fleeting; they knew not that art was long,
That though they were dying of famine, they lived in deathless song.
They asked for a little money to keep the wolf from the door;
And the thirty million English sent twenty pounds and four!

WOOF on January 30, 2007 at 09:03 am

That is a good post Rob. I believe that this will never be really picked up by the MSM. I would imagine the reporter that reported this story will be slapped and told to go out and find something more negative to report.


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goon on January 30, 2007 at 02:17 pm
Avatar for calm down, USA

Woof, is your post a satirical one? The poem of course refers to the shambolic and tragic farce in October 1854, which arose from muddled orders from an incompetent upper-class elite, and resulted in the pointless deaths of 157 unquestioning soldiers, who knew what was going on but were bound to silence.

If I had protested that war and successfully campaigned for their return home before that event took place, would I have been said to be supporting the troops or not, in wishing their lives to be spared? Surely the answer is Yes. Hence the banner slogan we see today: “Support the Troops: bring them home”.

As the poem itself points out, soldiers cannot pick and choose which cause to follow: they follow orders, end of story. But this is not true of civilians, who are free, and some would say duty-bound, to let their voice, positive or negative, be heard.

Most of you think this war a moral one. What if the US engaged in a conflict you deemed immoral? What would you do then? Would you not say: “Support the Troops: Bring them home”?

About the bias of the media,there should be more reports on successes that occur there too. And American soldiers should not be criticised en masse -I’m sure that most of the bad stuff that’s happening there has nothing to do with their conduct. But no-one should be guilt-tripped into supporting a war against their conscience, in order to boost morale.

calm down, USA on January 31, 2007 at 09:15 am
Avatar for HG

But no-one should be guilt-tripped into supporting a war against their conscience, in order to boost morale.

cdUSA,

Your anti-war tirades aren’t getting the troops home any quicker.  We’re increasing the number of troops by 21,500.  It appears your effort have failed.  It appears your efforts have done nothing to support the troops at all.  Your efforts have encouraged the enemy.  Your efforts have discoraged our troops.  Your efforst are dividing our civilian population at a time when our unity is important.  Your efforts have proven immoral along with your arguments.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 09:37 am
Avatar for HG

follow up:  Don’t you liberals think it is time you end your war against the war since you have clearly lost (21,500 troop increase)?  Isn’t it time to bring your anti-war troops in from the battlefield?  Come on, take your own advice ye hypocrites.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 09:42 am

HA!  That was a great post, HG!

Paulie B on January 31, 2007 at 09:49 am
Avatar for Puzzlefeet

No, HG, it’s not time!

Puzzlefeet on January 31, 2007 at 09:50 am
Avatar for HG

Puzzle,

Well then if you’re not willing to take your own advice, then Shut up.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 10:03 am
Avatar for Puzzlefeet

Sorry, HG, we’re not gonna shut up either, see that’s how a democracy works.  You can say what you want to and I can say what I want.  Ain’t democracy grand!

Puzzlefeet on January 31, 2007 at 10:09 am
Avatar for HG

Puzzle,

You can continue to rant, but don’t be suprised when none will listen because you don’t even follow your own advice.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 10:22 am
Avatar for HG

Puzzle,

Your in a lose-lose situation.  If you admit defeat and resign, you’re following your own demands.  If you don’t you’re a hypocrite that doesn’t deserve to be heard.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 10:24 am

puzzle, more and more troops are becoming angrier and angrier. Know who they are angry with? Ain’t Bush. It is you. You have spent your entire life shitting on them. Now they are going to pay you off in kind.


Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem

2Hotel9 on January 31, 2007 at 10:24 am

Oh, oh pick me 2Hotel9, its the troops that are upset with the protesters. I pissed at them too for briging out these stupid hollywood leftiest like Hanoi Jane.


check out Goon’s World

http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/

Goon’s North Dakota Red Neck

http://redneckndgoon.blogspot.com/

goon on January 31, 2007 at 10:37 am
Avatar for HG

HA!  That was a great post, HG!

Thank you, Paulie B.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 10:49 am
Avatar for Don Myers

puzzle, more and more troops are becoming angrier and angrier. Know who they are angry with? Ain’t Bush.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Motherfuckin’ Fire

Don Myers on January 31, 2007 at 10:57 am

HG spake thus:

Don’t you liberals think it is time you end your war against the war...?

Point of order.  ‘Liberals’ as they have been so charitably labelled (by themselves), and who are in reality, domestic versions of socialists or communists, DON’T wage war against ALL wars the US fights… only the ones that are in our national interest.

Recall under the Klinton administration (history’s most highly placed spy and turncoat) nearly bled the US armed forces white, between massive defense cuts, matched with more meals-on-wheels deployments in his time than all the presidents in the preceding 30 years. 

Under the cover of MSM darkness, Klinton broke all precedents and attacked Serbia, who was not a member of Nato, was not attacking a member of Nato and whose actions were in no manner threatening US or allied interests.  Through unchecked immigration, Muslim Albanians had swamped the historically-Serb province of Kosovo and and were using terrorism to lay their claim to the area.  Their terrorist organization UCK, known to the western press as KLA, had ties to Al-Quaeda and Bin Laden.  Klinton came down heavily on the side of the Muslim terrorists in that war, that the MSM championed by heavily skewing press coverage on events in that area.

In contrast, Saddam’s plan to to oust the USA from the region, terrorizing the local oil producers to kow-tow to his will and align the Middle East against the West, using the twin weapons of oil-denial and WMDs (and believe me, he was busily arming himself to the teeth and had already used ChemWar against the Kurds and Iranians).  Going into Iraq was not just protecting a vital US interest, it was in the interest of the entire region AND the Western world.  Only it turns out, as is often the case, that the heavy lifting was left to the US and some coalition troops, while the Rooskies, French and Germans were doing their level best to screw up US plans.

I can only conclude that the function of the US-based Left is to carry out the National Interests of some foreign country—because they sure as hell are bent at snatching defeat from the jaws of any American victory.


...for great justice

Move_Zig on January 31, 2007 at 11:21 am

puzzle, more and more troops are becoming angrier and angrier. Know who they are angry with? Ain’t Bush.

Preach it, 2H9.  This recently separated troop sure didn’t choose to get out because of conservatives.  Quite the opposite, actually.

Paulie B on January 31, 2007 at 11:29 am
Avatar for HG

Sorry, HG, we’re not gonna shut up either

Puzzle,

When faced with such a lose-lose situation, you can admit you’ve lost, acknowledge your mistakes, get on the right side of the issue, and support our nations military and their efforts, or, you can pretend the situation doesn’t exist and slowly fade into obscurity.  If you are going to remain a liberal, please choose the latter as the prior will only lend you some level of credibility.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 12:14 pm

Sorry hg, not gonna happen, in a democracy all sides get to be heard.  The prez put these soldiers in harms way and made aggregious blunders.  So it is our duty as Ameicans to speak out.  So you and guttermouth will just have to live with it.

Puzzlefeet on January 31, 2007 at 03:49 pm
Avatar for HG

Puzzle,

Glad to see you chose the latter.  The fact that your’s and other liberal’s efforts have failed to bring one troop home, and actually has slowed progress so that 21,500 more troops are needed ought to force you to acknowledge your defeat, admit failure, and take your own advice to retreat.  But then again, no-one ever accused a liberal of being consistent.  So as far as I’m concerned, until you and yours take your own advice, you have nothing credible to say about the issue.  However, your always welcome to leave the dark side and join the right side.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 06:21 pm
Avatar for HG

Oh, and Puzzle, I believe that is check-mate—at least on this thread.

HG on January 31, 2007 at 06:23 pm

As far as credibility goes, not even the republicans are going to back the pres on his surge.  The prez and people like you have put our soldiers in harms way in a civil war when we should be fighting Al qaeda. But you keep thinking the 6th surge is going to work when this is a war for the Iraqis.  They need to determine whether they are going to be one Iraq or a religios theocracy. We can’t make them which is what the prez and you warmongers are trying to do.

Puzzlefeet on January 31, 2007 at 09:09 pm
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Puzzle, am I going to have to link back the comment where you yourself called for an increase in the number of troops deployed to Iraq?


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

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Rob on January 31, 2007 at 09:53 pm

...not even the republicans are going to back the pres on his surge.

This is part of the lefties’ Leninist divide and conquer strategy; they want to divide the American people from our President, by telling lies like “Bush’s War” and relentlessly attacking him, even for doing what they called for a few months ago.
The lefties can never win in a straight up fight, and so they have to rely on lies, half-truths and fabrication.


"If the good men are silent only the wicked are heard.” - Edmund Burke

robert108 on January 31, 2007 at 10:09 pm

Puzzle,

Same question for you as for Will:  Is a radical Iranian takeover of Iraq, and the inevitable slaughter of the Sunni and/or Kurdish population, an acceptable outcome to you?  Are you content to abandon the 13 million Iraqis who have already expressed their hopes by voting to the murderous minority who would impose their ideology by force?

Are you really so ethically ambivalent and doddered as to find that course of action morally acceptable?


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on January 31, 2007 at 10:09 pm

Puzzlefeet said, We can’t make them which is what the prez and you warmongers are trying to do.

So when you were calling for a “surge”, you were a “warmonger”?

Your rhetoric defeats you.

likwidshoe on February 1, 2007 at 01:00 am
Avatar for Puzzlefeet

Rob, you feel free to link back to my comment as long as you post the entire comment.  I was for putting in a final group, going in for one last cleanup of Bagdhad and then we’re outta there. I think I also said we’d need a large force.

As to the question asked by B1:  Is a radical Iranian takeover of Iraq, and the inevitable slaughter of the Sunni and/or Kurdish population, an acceptable outcome to you? Of Course not is my answer.

My question to you:  When will the Iraqi people stand up as a united people, those Iraqis that held up their purple fingers more than a year ago, not as religious sects and how long should the American people wait for that to occur?

Puzzlefeet on February 1, 2007 at 08:19 am
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I was for putting in a final group, going in for one last cleanup of Bagdhad and then we’re outta there. I think I also said we’d need a large force.

Right, and now that that is what the President is doing, you’re against it.

Typical liberal.  Who cares about sound foreign policy?  Just be against whatever the President is for.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

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Rob on February 1, 2007 at 08:59 am
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So Rob, you are now saying that this is the last surge and that the Prez is outta there after this.

Puzzlefeet on February 1, 2007 at 09:37 am
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No, those are caveats you’re making now to your previous comment.  You didn’t say anything about a “last stand” previously.

I don’t know what the President’s plans are for Iraq after the surge.  I suspect that depends on what the surge accomplishes.  I know that it would be the height of folly to tell our enemies in Iraq that “we’re going to try this tactic and if it doesn’t work we’re giving up.”

That’d just be handing them hope, and they don’t need any more hope right now.  The Dems (and a few Republicans) in Congress are doing enough of that already.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

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Rob on February 1, 2007 at 09:54 am
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So Rob, when do we get to discuss what is happening in Iraq?  When does the Congress get to review what is happening in Iraq?  When do the American people get to ask questions about what is happening in Iraq?

And why the hell do we care what the terrorists think about our discussions here in this country? All this screaming about “emboldening” the enemy is bunk.  “What the hell does “emboldened” look like if it doesn’t look like what’s going on now in Iraq?” (and what has been happening for the last three years) (stolen from the Rude Pundit also Biden and Brownback).

Puzzlefeet on February 1, 2007 at 01:11 pm
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So Rob, when do we get to discuss what is happening in Iraq?  When does the Congress get to review what is happening in Iraq?  When do the American people get to ask questions about what is happening in Iraq?

Those things aren’t happening now?

I suspect your real question is “When can we declare Bush’s new policy in Iraq a failure?” And the answer is, you’re going to have to at least wait until after it’s been implemented.  At least to be taken seriously anyway.

But don’t let that stop you.

And why the hell do we care what the terrorists think about our discussions here in this country? All this screaming about “emboldening” the enemy is bunk.

It is?  Puzzle, do you listen to what our enemies say when they talk?  Do you know that they consider us “paper tigers” without the will to finish out a campaign against them?  Do you know that after our cut-and-run from Somalia after we suffered some much-hyped troop casualties (but tactically won the conflict) Osama bin Laden pointed to it as an example of how the U.S. could be embarrassed, thus giving the extremists a victory?

If you think fighting the enemy emboldens them, you’re dead wrong.  It may have a flypaper effect of attracting more zealots to the conflict, but what’s wrong with that?  Fewer zealots to crash planes into buildings here in the U.S.

That you don’t get this things is astonishing, but I suspect you do get them and are ignoring these points becuase it helps your side of the political aisle if you do.

Which goes beyond astonishing to disgusting.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

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Rob on February 1, 2007 at 01:24 pm

poooor puz.  plaintively asking to be taken as serious.  Sorry, puz, you’re at the wrong blog.  Try dailykos.


Being liberal is never having to admit you’re wrong

docdave on February 1, 2007 at 01:30 pm

Puzzlefeet asked, So Rob, when do we get to discuss what is happening in Iraq?  When does the Congress get to review what is happening in Iraq?  When do the American people get to ask questions about what is happening in Iraq?

Where have you been? That has been going on for the last four years.

And why the hell do we care what the terrorists think about our discussions here in this country? All this screaming about “emboldening” the enemy is bunk.

Is that why they’ve been quoting and supporting the election of Democrats?

Think about that, our enemy supports your positions and quotes those positions to bolster support. Of course you would think that that is not important, for it makes you look bad.

likwidshoe on February 1, 2007 at 01:38 pm
Avatar for Puzzlefeet

So DD, I thought this was Say Anything, or is it now “Say Anything as Long as You Agree with Us Rightwing Wacks”. Oh I get it now.

Puzzlefeet on February 1, 2007 at 02:45 pm

So DD, I thought this was Say Anything, or is it now “Say Anything as Long as You Agree with Us Rightwing Wacks”. Oh I get it now.

The poor union thug believes that we shouldn’t challenge her views.

likwidshoe on February 1, 2007 at 03:02 pm
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Puzzle, I think Doc was just saying that your views would probably be accepted unquestioningly among the nutters at Daily Kos.

Just the way you like it.

I actually admire that you come here every day and act as a contrarian.  I don’t agree with much of what you say, but at least you’re determined.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on February 1, 2007 at 03:04 pm
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the interesting thing about the Iraq debate is it is far from partisan now.  When the Ds and Rs are agreeing on the resolution, it’s now more than political as you all believe.  It’s not about getting the Prez, which you all believe.  The vote will be bipartisan.  I hardly think that Sen. John Warner is a RINO or a traitor or is emboldening the enemy. I believe that they are doing their jobs as an equal branch of the government.

And Lik, I don’t mind the challenge, it’s not that much of a challenge with you; really even with your namecalling.

Puzzlefeet on February 1, 2007 at 03:13 pm

And Lik, I don’t mind the challenge, it’s not that much of a challenge with you; really even with your namecalling.

Is this from the same person who just called us “Rightwing Wacks”?

Puzzlefeet, no debate is much of a challenge for you because you have the luxury of denying reality.

likwidshoe on February 1, 2007 at 03:27 pm

Lik, what you don’t like being called a rightwing wack. I learned the namecalling from people like you. I thought it was acceptable behavior on this blog.

Puzzlefeet on February 1, 2007 at 05:36 pm
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the interesting thing about the Iraq debate is it is far from partisan now.  When the Ds and Rs are agreeing on the resolution, it’s now more than political as you all believe.

It may not be partisan, but it is certainly still political.  The cowards in Congress are hedging their bets.  That’s about all those resolutions are.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on February 1, 2007 at 05:41 pm

Puzzlefeet spews, I learned the namecalling from people like you.

Redistributing blame! I see that you never stray far from your liberal sensibilities.

In any regard Puzzlefeet - you learned the namecalling all by yourself and I never stoop as low as you do.

Case in point. There is a comment from you going on about the size of someone’s “pee-pee”. You said that before I ever talked with you, so you can take your comment and shove it right back up the ignorant mouth it came out of.

likwidshoe on February 1, 2007 at 05:51 pm

I learned the namecalling from people like you.
Does anybody here believe that?  Puz, if you truly believe that you would have vacated this blog long ago, but of course, this is just another of your lies.


Being liberal is never having to admit you’re wrong

docdave on February 1, 2007 at 06:14 pm

No really, just reading this blog you pick up all kinds of names.  Wow, you really want me to leave this blog.

Puzzlefeet on February 1, 2007 at 06:24 pm
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I’ll agree with Puzzle.  There’s a lot of name-calling on this blog.  Some people do it just to annoy, others do it because they lose their cool.

I’m guilty of the latter.

And I, for one, don’t want Puzzle to leave.  She is an aggravatingly blinkered partisan, but she does keep me on my toes.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

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Rob on February 1, 2007 at 06:34 pm

Aargh, rob, where did I tell puz to leave sayanything blog [she wouldn’t anyway if I did but I didn’t!!!!!] puz is always pissing and moaning about how bad we are treating her.  Me, I mostly ignore her mostly ignorable remarks so you should really direct this against someone else.


Being liberal is never having to admit you’re wrong

docdave on February 1, 2007 at 06:52 pm

And I, for one, don’t want Puzzle to leave.  She is an aggravatingly blinkered partisan, but she does keep me on my toes.

Not only that, but she’s fun to play with, she doesn’t chew on shoes or the furniture, and she appears to be housebroken, too.


“Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of the mind is irreparable.”

Bat One on February 1, 2007 at 06:55 pm
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And I, for one, don’t want Puzzle to leave.

I second that.

HG on February 1, 2007 at 07:01 pm
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Aargh, rob, where did I tell puz to leave sayanything blog

I didn’t mean to imply that you did, Doc.  I guess I should have made that more clear.

I think Puzzle’s got a persecution complex.  She always thinks everyone here is out to get her.  Just wanted to remind her that while we disagree with her, and sometimes get pissed at her, nobody is telling her to leave.


The war against illegal plunder has been fought since the beginning of the world. But how is… legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime. Then abolish this law without delay … If such a law is not abolished immediately it will spread, multiply and develop into a system.

Frédéric Bastiat, The Law

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on February 1, 2007 at 07:04 pm

Wow, I feel like I’m on American Idol.  Do I get to go to Hollywood guys?  I love you all too!

Puzzlefeet on February 1, 2007 at 07:19 pm
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