The war on terror?

[coachklm]

do I get an Opinion?
ok first ..... my epeirience with this war......
7 months in iraq
--4 months protecting ar- ramadi... 1close friend lost
-- 3 months trying to stay alive in fallujah... 3 friends lost
-- 3 months in hospital getting complete nerve reconstruction surgery in dominant right arm after roadside bomb blew my truck 5ft up and 20 ft off the road.
--- lifetime trying to adapt to no use of right arm.
I have been There ... I have done that.... I would do it again... I know through personal EXPIERIENCE that the small thing we do there make a huge difference for the better.
when you get there and your shooting a .50 cal automatic machine gun directly over the head of civilians and they dont even flinch or pay atention to you (that should tell you something) but you get out a stick and they run like deer...
torture was prevalant before we got there .. many welcomed bieng shot over bieng hit with a stick.
I'm glad that many Americans have opinions on this matter... thats what makes this country great.... but many opinions are not two sided... many opinions (no offence intended) are based around the biased news channels... if you want to form an opinion and expres it thats fine but get a true understanding of whats going on... not media reports. <end rant>

 

[37g joe]

Coach thank you for your service you are a true Hero.

 

[nigerbang]

hmmm intresting thread...I have to agree with 37 and KLM...I have had many friends go to Iraq and fight....They all do it as an honor to the US....so far we have had around 3000 fallen american....vietnam was like 50,000...Everyone that I know that has been there has said the ppl there (not the insurgents, just everyday ppl) love them and great them and offer them everything they have for helping them....Imagine a place where you cant get medicine for your sick child....b/c the insurgents blew up the supply truck...or you cant get milk or food or water to drink b/c it has been confiscated...The US sounds great to me....There was a quote from Einstien (this is not accurate..cant remember verbatium)"Peace can be achived without force"..This coming from the person who invented the Atom Bomb.....

 

[coachklm]

and for the people that say its a war about oil....lol if you go over there you will see the lines to any gas station are 2 days long. (i'm not kidding) people over there end up pushing there car 4-5 miles to get gas.. they sleep in there cars at night and then push some more until its there turn. many of the taxi cabs have gas tanks modified so the tank is bigger then the cab is the bottom of the rear end sits 4 ft off the groung...lol

i wanted to join since i was 15... i left for boot camp june 25 of 98.. 20days after graduating (i was 17)and had my parents sign for me. for my country and honor.

 

[phixer]

Originally Posted by 37g Joe
Well thats your opinion I would say the majority of people I know in the miliitary are not in it just for the oppertunities it gives they are thier because of honor and devotion to duty. To protect this countrie to protect you and your family and every other american. but I guess your results can be skewed by the type of people you suround yourself with. Your Comments Dishonor The Men and Women who fight every day for your freedoms.
37g Joe, Im a veteran who retired after 24 years of active duty, I have served through 2 foreign wars and have participated in dozens of excercises. Please allow me to give a brief summary to put your comments into the proper context.
You were born in 1981, In 1981 while you were wearing diapers my squadron was in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. When you were in Grade school my squadron was bombing radar sites in Libya. When you were in HS I was in Iraq and Tel-Aviv . You might have read about some of this stuff in Homeroom. You see Joe Ive stood the watch during your entire life... so please dont lecture me about patroitism because Ive worn the badges of patriotism on my chest longer than you have been on earth and have flushed more salt water than you will ever sail on.
Please dont be so quick to judge others until you learn the facts.

 

[coachklm]

Originally Posted by Phixer
Joe, Im a veteran who retired after 24 years active duty,
Best Regards

i wish i could have

and i still fought to stay in after injury.

 

[phixer]

What happend to you coach? When were you on active duty. Ive always tried to PT when I can which has helped tremendously.

 

[phixer]

Originally Posted by 37g Joe
Well thats your opinion I would say the majority of people I know in the miliitary are not in it just for the oppertunities it gives they are thier because of honor and devotion to duty. To protect this countrie to protect you and your family and every other american. but I guess your results can be skewed by the type of people you suround yourself with. Your Comments Dishonor The Men and Women who fight every day for your freedoms.
37g Joe, Im a veteran who retired after 24 years of active duty, I have served through 2 foreign wars and have participated in dozens of excercises. Please allow me to give a brief summary to put your unbalanced perspective into the proper context.
In 1981 while you were wearing diapers my squadron was in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. When you were in Grade school my squadron was bombing radar sites in Libya. When you were in HS I was in Iraq and Tel-Aviv . You might have read about some of this stuff in Homeroom. You see Joe Ive stood the watch during your entire life... so please dont lecture me about patroitism because Ive worn the badges of patriotism on my chest longer than you have been on earth and have flushed more salt water than you will ever sail on.
Please dont be so quick to judge others until you learn the facts.

 

[tangwhispr]

I think the majority of people need to learn who the terrorists are....they are right here in our country and have not only funded bin laden, but most other terrorists groups...its OUR government...People need to wise up, our government brought down the towers...they have gone to Iraq for Oil and Afghanastan for drugs....hell the CIA is the biggest drug cartel there is....I could write for days on this, but want to go play BF2 online, so feel free to comment and I will of course reply back Oh and some things for you to research
The Carlisle Group - Bush and Bin Ladens Business
Vince Fosters Death
Loose Change 2nd Edition DVD http://www.question911.com/
Why are more the 60% of the 911 supposed Hijackers still alive
Bill Clinton & Mena airport http://www.ncoic.com/clinton.htm
also
http://www.lizmichael.com/clintond.htm
The Federal Reserve, isn't Federalhttp://www.geocities.com/northstarzone/FED.html
Thats enough for now

 

[37g joe]

Originally Posted by Phixer
37g Joe, Im a veteran who retired after 24 years of active duty, I have served through 2 foreign wars and have participated in dozens of excercises. Please allow me to give a brief summary to put your unbalanced perspective into the proper context.
In 1981 while you were wearing diapers my squadron was in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. When you were in Grade school my squadron was bombing radar sites in Libya. When you were in HS I was in Iraq and Tel-Aviv . You might have read about some of this stuff in Homeroom. You see Joe Ive stood the watch during your entire life... so please dont lecture me about patroitism because Ive worn the badges of patriotism on my chest longer than you have been on earth and have flushed more salt water than you will ever sail on.
Please dont be so quick to judge others until you learn the facts.
first off I would Like to start off by thanking you for your Service and all you have done for this country.
You do offer a perspective of someone who has seen and been around many conflicts and around the Individuals (including yourself)who have fought in those conflicts. In no way or manner does that allow you to speak for them all. You do represent a portion of the people in the armed forces but I would not say the majority. You speak of honor and Courage so I assume your reason for staying in the military where those to protect this nation. Am I right? Now you might not agree with the current conflict that we are in now and not every one in the armed forces does but besides that I would say that the majority are in to protect and serve this Great county of ours even if they don't agree with this current conflict. Maybe I am wrong and just to much of an Idealist. But I believe their are still many men and women who go beyond what they well get out of it and are their to serve this Great nation and if the time comes lay their life down so others might have freedom.
As to what I have learned in school sadly they don't teach about courage and patriotic behavior nor do they teach about most of the current conflicts and the ones they do teach they offer a skewed teaching of. I had teachers who insisted that Russia was never a true threat. The only acts that they did describe as courages was those of the Draft dodgers. Now to what I have learned was on my own. I love reading books on foreign policy, politics, and history. I have also learned a lot form my wife who has her Degree in international relations and minor in political science. And has applied to the state department. Originally the degree I was getting in college before I married my wife was Cross cultural communications but when I finally decide to finish my degree I plan to switch it to Political science and a minor in history. I do have a lot more to learn but I know enough in order to speak intelligibly on these topics. As I assume you know enough to speak on conflicts and history before your time.
Now I would like to clear up I feel that those acts of heroism and courage performed by those in uniform who joined just for pay/benefits/opportunities are no less then those performed by ones who joined for the sense of duty. I felt that might have been lost in this conversation and I might have been miss understood.

 

[clown boy]

Bush does his job the best he can. The liberal media is always making him look bad very effectively, which is why a lot of people don't like him. I have seen many times when they report the bad things he does, and not the good things. Most of the times that they report a bad thing that he does, they twist the story

 

[coachklm]

***)

 

[mr. guitar]

TangWhispr, apparently you believe everything you read and hear. The United States Government is not a terrorist group and has never been for over 200 years. Oh and please give me a good reason why you think our government is to blame for the attack on September 11th. Plus, you might wanna wise up and know the facts not the gossip. Sorry if I'm a little rude but I like to debate on strong topics such as this one and stand up for what I believe in.

 

[mebanesox7]

Yea i agree with mr. guitar...how in the heck could the US be the cause of all this???
I think hes just saying that to be difficult???
or maybe not but o well...i think that idea is crazy
And thanks to evryone who has fought for our country.....
I'm hoping to koin the army when i get old enough....

 

[phixer]

Originally Posted by 37g Joe
first off I would Like to start off by thanking you for your Service and all you have done for this country.
You do offer a perspective of someone who has seen and been around many conflicts and around the Individuals (including yourself) who have fought in those conflicts. In no way or manner does that allow you to speak for them all. You do represent a portion of the people in the armed forces but I would not say the majority. You speak of honor and Courage so I assume your reason for staying in the military where those to protect this nation. Am I right? Now you might not agree with the current conflict that we are in now and not every one in the armed forces does but besides that I would say that the majority are in to protect and serve this Great county of ours even if they don't agree with this current conflict. Maybe I am wrong and just to much of an Idealist. But I believe their are still many men and women who go beyond what they well get out of it and are their to serve this Great nation and if the time comes lay their life down so others might have freedom.
As to what I have learned in school sadly they don't teach about courage and patriotic behavior nor do they teach about most of the current conflicts and the ones they do teach they offer a skewed teaching of. I had teachers who insisted that Russia was never a true threat. The only acts that they did describe as courages was those of the Draft dodgers. Now to what I have learned was on my own. I love reading books on foreign policy, politics, and history. I have also learned a lot form my wife who has her Degree in international relations and minor in political science. And has applied to the state department. Originally the degree I was getting in college before I married my wife was Cross cultural communications but when I finally decide to finish my degree I plan to switch it to Political science and a minor in history. I do have a lot more to learn but I know enough in order to speak intelligibly on these topics. As I assume you know enough to speak on conflicts and history before your time.
Now I would like to clear up I feel that those acts of heroism and courage performed by those in uniform who joined just for pay/benefits/opportunities are no less then those performed by ones who joined for the sense of duty. I felt that might have been lost in this conversation and I might have been miss understood.

Your very welcome.

Has the political science training or liberalism caused you to loose grasp of reality and think this way? :hilarious Politicians are experts at twisting words and taking care of themseves and the other elite. Most politicians really do not care about the lowly infantry man or how the working class Soldier lives. They dont want to be bothered. What qualifies you to represent any portion of the armed forces? any portion? How many people have you cared for? or are you the spokesman for those serving but with no real experience of your own. Why would you make the assumption that I speak for everyone? more political science training.
I would like to hear your opinion after you complete basic training and talk to some of your fellow Sailors, Marines, Airman or Soldiers (which ever branch you are joining). Ask them privately why they joined, then you will hear a large number say that they joined because of the oppritunities the military can offer. Ive never heard any of my Sailors tell me they joined for the pay, some for the benefits (which are slowly vanishing) but most simply because they wanted an oppritunity for a better life. Normally a combination of these and yes some out of a sense of patriotism.
If or when you end up in the line of fire your classroom based opinons may change to real word ones and you will understand that there are some things that cannot be taught in a classroom and some opinions that can only be formed when your life is placed in the hands of another. This comerodery dosent happen in a University and cannot be taught in a classroom or conferred by any college degree. Its not something you read on a message board or in a chat room. Leadership based opinions are not political science. They are learned through experience and by taking care of your people. Your people make you a leader not your degree. IMO

 

[coachklm]

Originally Posted by Phixer
Your very welcome.
you will hear a large number say that they joined because of the oppritunities the military can offer. Ive never heard any of my Sailors tell me they joined for the pay, some for the benefits (which are slowly vanishing) but most simply because they wanted an oppritunity to have a better life. Normally a combination of these and yes some out of a sense of patriotism.
Your people make you a leader not your peers.
i'm still trying to figure out your last statement ....

what were you trying to express? .......the people i lead were a group of my peers .....
i think it seems like you too have the same view just not the same words. i could be wrong though..
well i know many people who joined for the pay and many for education benefits to pay school debts. these people are ussually weeded out after first term.

 

[phixer]

Originally Posted by coachKLM
i'm still trying to figure out your last statement ....

what were you trying to express? .......the people i lead were a group of my peers .....
i think it seems like you too have the same view just not the same words. i could be wrong though..
well i know many people who joined for the pay and many for education benefits to pay school debts. these people are ussually weeded out after first term.

I worded it wrong, why did you get out anyhow Coach, what kind of injury?

 

[coachklm]

shrapnel to the right axilla brachial plexus (took out my armpit basically severing all 3 nerves in my arm and the artery... 3 blood transfusions, 3 surgerys (artery repair with vien 6hrs , nerve reconstruction with nerve grafted from riight leg -10hr, and skin seal skin graft to close- 4 hrs. ) I cant shoot my weapon or march with a rucksac for 5miles so they retired me. and lifetime physical therapy.

 

[coachklm]

for the first time ever and only once i will post pictures.... of the vehicle i was in..if you have an imagination you wont need it .

 

[clown boy]

CoachKLM, In a way, those injuries are your medals. CoachKLM and Phixer, thank you for fighting for our freedoms.