A Measure of Respect
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A Must Read Letter from the 101st Airborne - I'm Tired
Discussion Board on this Respect item
"I'm Tired"
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in
Iraq, I was
forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained
prior
to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my
tour.
I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are
winning,
to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to
in
1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years
old
in just four months, but I'm tired:
I'm tired of spineless
politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack
the courage, fortitude,
and character to see these difficult tasks through.
I'm tired of the
hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when
the going gets
tough.
I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they
'Support
the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is
achieved.
I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car
bombs and
casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of
their
hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women
are
having on the battlefield.
I'm tired that so many Americans think
you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.
I'm tired that
so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to
the voting booth and
freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent
Parliament.
I'm tired
of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort
to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.
I'm tired of
antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family
who's loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly
tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond
shameful.
I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom - Vietnam
generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the
difficult tasks through to victory.
I'm tired that some are more
concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and
beheading of our citizens and allies.
I'm tired that when we find mass
graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is
front page news.
Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation
didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for
Victory.
Sincerely,
Joe Repya,
Lieutenant Colonel,
U. S. Army,
101st Airborne Division
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