An Iraq Tale Vol. 11: ( Five Years Ago)

I don't know how to express my gratitude for your unselfish service to your country. I pray that you return safely from your mission there.

My only grandson is serving his first tour in Iraq and is a Cav Scout. He is currently home on R&R, and although I tried so hard to talk him out of joining the service, since he was only 18, and the only son and grandson, I now realize that no matter what happens, I could never be prouder of him that I am right now. I am proud of all of the soldiers, and even though I was against this war in Iraq, I am totally 150% for the brave men and women who so gallantly serve there and other places, so that us here at home in America have the right to express our opinions and enjoy the freedoms we all take for granted. I was saddened to hear that only 1% of Ameriicans join the military. I am an old woman and it was automatic when I was growing up for the young men to join the military. If more people would serve, then our soldiers would not have to continue to be redeployed there. I still believe that all young people should serve at least 2 years for their country. My granddaughter is married to a soldier who is stationed in Germany, having served in Iraq too. Both of my grandchildren are far away and I thank God that we are able to stay in touch via the Internet.

I hope this war ends soon. Do not listen to all the negative comments from those who are able to sleep at night or party the night away, knowing that you are on that wall. Keep your chin up and know that win or lose, we are here for all of you. I pray that my country will not treat the soldiers like they did the Vietnam veterans and all those others who fought for the oppressed.

God Bless You.

Granny of Soldier

And pray for a better day for Iraq and the U.S.

From your lips to God's ears. You add a priceless dimension to Iraq and life's tough calls too.

We are so proud of you! We're not vets, we have no family over there, but we are Americans and we support you 100%. We are proud of how good you guys are at what you do, and that you are honorable. We know it's not easy, you guys are amazing.

It's a complicated world, but you are keeping good perspective; the fact that you can still care about Iraq's people is representative of what America's values are all about - humanity has worth, and people have the right to live freely.

I find it so ironic that the Christian values our country was based upon are responsible for freeing an Islamic country from tyranny and tribal wars...If we did not believe in the God-given freedoms and sanctity of human life America is founded upon, we would just have bombed Iraq into the ground after 9/11 instead of trying to help them get rid of the deranged idiot Al Quaida.....all they care about is killing people, they are depraved and you have to stop them because they will stop at nothing until they have consumed the whole world if they were allowed to.

We're sending lots of care packages to keep you all encouraged. We don't know how long it will last, but we do know that you are doing the right thing - terrorists must be stopped or there will be nothing left worth living for .... You ROCK!!!

Joe

So well written it doesn't sound real. Did some one plant this? Or do we have professional writers on the front lines.

While I am not very proud of our leaders presently, our military gives us plenty of reason to be proud. They perform magnificently every day under very difficult conditions. My son returns to Fallujah this week with the marines. He couldn't be among finer men and women anywhere.

what you say is 100% true. if we don't fight them there, we will fight them here.

Hi Rob,
Just want to thank you & every America serving our country @ home & abroad. I am the mother of an only son serving in Baghdad. I also have a daughter & son-in-law serving in the Air Force who will be deployed within a few months. I am not in agreement with the reasons we ended up in this war, but I do believe in our military men & women and support them with my whole heart. Everyday that goes by that I wait to hear from my son is like an eternity. I pray everyday that everyone in the military is safe & comes home whole, physically & mentally. I am so glad I just happened onto your blog today. It's encouraging to me as a mother, to hear from someone who is there. The news on TV is very depressing & discouraging. Every time an American is killed Itry not to be afraid that its my own, and my heart breaks for the families who have lost loved ones. I had never experienced any loss due to war until this one. A friend of my son & daughter was one of the first from our hometown to go to Iraq, and was killed less than 4 wks after arriving there. It was devastating. My daughter has not been the same since. I was so surprised when she decided to join the military, but I think it was her way of dealing with the loss and the need to support our military & our country, that her friend was fighting for. It has made a world of difference in her attitude and her outlook on life. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am every time I think about our military, and the sacrifices they make. My son spent 2 yrs in Germany and couldn't wait to go to Iraq to serve. I worry, but I have faith that God is with him no matter what. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart and I will continue to pray everyday for your safety. Be safe & God bless you all...."Until you all come home!"

Proud Military Mom

I SUPPORT ALL OF OUR MILITARY. MY SON WAS IN THE ARMY RESERVES FOR 8 YEARS BUT WAS NOT CALLED TO GO TO IRAQ. HE WANTED TO GO AND BE WITH HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS. I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE THERE BUT AS MY SON HAS SAID "WE HAVE BEEN CALLED BY OUR COMMANDER AND CHIEF TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY AND THIS IS WHAT WE WILL DO" BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR SOLDIERS WHEN THEY COME BACK. THEY ARE NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF THE WAY THEY SHOULD. I GET MAIL ALL THE TIME ASKING FOR A DONATION FOR A SOLDIER TO HELP PAY HIS OR HER LIGHT BILL,GAS BILL,ETC. AND I SEND WHAT I CAN. SEEMS LIKE ONCE THEY GET BACK THEY ARE FORGOTTEN. THESE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE PUT THIER LIFE ON THE LINE FOR ALL OF US, MOST COMING BACK WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS, SOME COMING BACK WITH LIMBS MISSING AND SOME COMING BACK IN A CASKET. THEY STEPPED FORWARD WHEN THEY WERE CALLED TO DUTY, NOW THE MILITARY SHOULD STEP FORWARD AND TAKE CARE OF THEM. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR SOLDIERS ALWAYS

This war is morally wrong. I can recall the days at camp Udari in Kuwait. I was sitting and waiting for the invasion. I am just and old man who got recalled because of my language skills. I was in the IRR not knowing being in the bottom of the barrel I would be recalled. I was embedded the 3rd division. I never saw such brutality on the part of the United States. Daisy cutter, cluster bombs and thousand of innocent Iraqi died because the Zionist Necons and George Hitler Bush want the rich oil of Iraq.

I recall being at the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) where thousand of innocent Iraqi got beaten and brutalized under torture. When I complaint to Col. Keller SOC CENT commander I was told to shut up. The next day I was transferred to Mosul.

This war made few rich and many of my fellow soldiers dead or maimed. This war in was based on lies and is not justifiable. George Bush and his entire administration should be put on trial for war crimes against Humanity. After 4 years of service, I got sick and the VA refuse to even offer me simple compensation for my wounds. I will leave it at that.

After 4 years of service, I got sick and the VA refuse to even offer me simple compensation for my wounds. I will leave it at that.

I respect your views, you were there. The issue I would like to address is you not getting compensation for your wounds. I retired from the Navy and receive partial disability for Agent Orange and other problems. The DOD used a different formula for computing disability and was really screwed up. A lot of members got messed over. The VA used a different formula and disability was more fairly distributed. Congress just recently passed legislation that made the DOD use the same standards for assessment as the VA uses. You should reapply through the VA and see if the new legislation applies to you. Dig up you DD214 and give it a shot. Good Luck

Thank you for writing what I think every soldier feels but never finds the right way to word it. I appreciate everything that you do and continue to do. Thank you for your service.

Jnick, Thank you for the information. I am a Vietnam era Veteran. At the time I was enlisted 17 year old E-2 from 1973 to 1976. I left the army and stayed in the reserve in the hope I would retire from the ready reserve. I was recalled to the first Persian Gulf War 1991 to 1993. What I saw was sufficient to convince me to leave the Army. I saw thousand of Iraqi soldiers before my eyes lay waste in the desert. When I came home we all got heroes welcome. I was sick for a year from unknown illness after my return. I plead with the VA, but they felt I was attempting to scam the system. I was exposed to Depleted Uranium. I spent thousand of my own money for hospitalization. Years later, I sent a letter resigning my commission. On January 2002 I received marching order from St. Louis activating me. I called them and told them that I resigned my commission many years ago. They said they have no record of it. I was told either report to the designated station or face a court martial.

Despite failing the PT test, despite high blood pressure, despite my objection to the war, I was sent to the front lines. I was an intelligence officer; I did what I supposed to do. I saw a man being killed by us in front of his children. I saw the family shrieking and wailing in terror, the scene left me angry with George Bush and Dick Cheney. The scene left an indelible hatred for war. The many scene of horror left me with nightmares. I wanted to hold these children and say I am sorry. The shooters who belonged to Delta force celebrated after we return to base camp at one of Saddam Palaces. They drank Turkish beer. To them, they just shot an Arab terrorist. When I told they just shot an innocent man, the shooter felt guilty, some did not care, and to them he is less one Arab scumbag.

One morning for unknown reason on September 11 2004, I start vomiting and uncontrollable rectum bleeding; I went to the doctor and requested to be sent to the state. He refused. I asked for CAT scan or Colon testing. Finally after sending letters to my commander at CenCom did they allowed me to leave. I went to Fort Myer clinic, they took blood test and were told I have hemorrhoid. I plead for colon oscopy. They said my blood was normal. Finally I went to a private medical facility and paid over $3000 for CAT scan and PET scan. The result came positive for colon cancer. The army finally discharged me. The Veteran administration Granted me 0 disability. The cancer even spread to the liver. The VA refuses to pay any compensation claiming that Colon Cancer is curable. The cancer comes and goes, as of this post, the cancer is back to my abdomen. If they have a cure, I would like to have it. I don't want any money just give me the cure.

I am not upset with my fellow soldiers I admired their endurances. I know their pain and I know their loneliness. I know of the threat they face every day. I am worried when they return the VA will neglect them. We have a lawsuit pending against the VA on behalf of returning Veterans in San Francisco. I intend to file multi million-dollar lawsuit against the VA myself. I served in many wars; all I am asking is for a little help. I am unable to work. I am not asking for handouts, I am asking for medical help. I spent my $150,000 saving on medical bills. This is service-connected disability.

Mr. Rob, thank you for your confidence that this war will end the right way. Unfortunately, forgive me for disagreeing with you; this war will never end right. If it does, we just have created another oppressive regime like in Saudi Arabia who denies the god given right to women. It wills creates regimes like in Egypt and Jordan who denies their citizen the basic right to foment their inner feeling about the government and their corruptions. I challenge these oppressive regimes to hold organized and legitimate elections and see how long they will last. Ask the Bush administration about their regrettable mistake allowing free election in Palestine. Hamas won fare and square. The United States is not interested in free election and democracy. It is all about money and oil. Go back and look at our intervention in Latin America where the US Marine were sent to Nicaragua to protect the banana plantations supposedly own by the American companies. They used brutality beyond any imagination. This would hunt us years later when the Sandinista revolted against the US stool Samoza and his regime. Look at Iran; The CIA helped the overthrow the elected government of Mossadeq. We replaced him with the Shah of Iran. Today we have an Enemy rather then a friend. They are doing billion of dollars in Business with Europe and China. American Businessmen and the American public are the biggest looser from these lucrative contracts.

By the way, the New Iraqi puppet regime refused to sign boarder of understanding with Kuwait. Iraq still claims that Kuwait is part of Iraq and the 35th province of Iraq. The reason we are the Middle East is to protect that artificial state we created known as the Jewish State. I am sick of seeing American blood being spelled for others.

Rob, if you think there is democracy in United States, I urge you to ask the United States government to allow the Turkish film "the valley of the wolves" to be shown in this country. This movie is banned in the United States. The movie is anti American, but so what, we make movies that anti Japanese, Anti Vietnamese, anti, Arabs, Anti American Indians, Anita Germans and we demand these government allowed the movie to be shown in their country in the name of democracy. But yet, when it is an Anti American movie, it is different story. This is George Bush and Dick Cheney democracy.

It is nice you think your mission is righteous. Hell all of us hope that. As a parent who son and daughter in law served in Iraq (and whose daughter in law is being called out of inactive reserves to serve in Iraq again) I find your thoughts to be very soldier like - it is my duty. I go where the government sends me with little regard to who it is you are really serving. That is what you are trained to do. Consider this: Are you serving in the best interests of the American people? Are you serving in the best interests of the Iraqis? If not whose interests are you serving? Follow the money my friend and you will find that you are fighting a war for economic interests of a few and not for the American people or the Iraqis. Also consider Saddam killed 300,000 Iraqis over a period of twenty years. The American military has managed to be responsible for the deaths of 650,000 or more Iraqis over a period of 5 years and displaced millions. This war is waging economic destruction, not only on Iraq but the citizens of the United States. You can see what is going on in Iraq but I ask you to look at the bigger picture. The bigger picture is about greed. The issue I always ask people who think this is a righteous war consider this. I dislike Bush and I dislike our current government but as bad as it is it is better than having foreign tanks sitting on the corner of the street and foreign troops breaking into my house. You my friend are part of the foreign troops - good luck watch your backside.

The intention to enter Iraq was good, but the time has come for the Americans and the other countries to make a graceful exit. I think the Iraqi people are strong enough to take care of their own affairs and they don't need other countries meddling.
What is sad about the current situation is the continuing violence and destruction. Iraq has so much potential and it would be wonderful, if the country could be united under one flag and not other countries exploiting its weaknesses.

The man is to be admired but like so many military serving in Iraq and adjacent area, he does not know that the primary reason for invading Iraq was to get rid of Saddam who was adamant about allowing western oil companies access to the rich oil field. Remember the initial missile attacks that were aimed directly at places where Saddam was reported to be. What a colossal error because here we are and we still do not have unfettered access to Iraqi oil.

Throughout history the average man has stepped up to become a protector of those less fortunate and suffering unjustness. These men have put forth their beliefs,courage and valor in the name of what they hold dear. Be it Family,friends,spiritual beliefs,Honor or the duty to protect their fellow Soldier.
The reason has nothing to do with the policies set forth by the leaders of Country's and corporations!Rich and powerful men are always at the center of conflict but the Mothers son,the Sisters Brother the Fathers Son is the one to answer the call to give the ultimate sacrifice if called upon. To uphold the honor of their Country Right or Wrong!
These Men and yes Women we call Soldiers,these we also call Heroes !Our thoughts and Prayers will continue to be with you throughout your moments of doubt and during the relief and elation a new day can bring. I am Honored to have you in the service of our Country right or wrong! Godspeed

Throughout history the average man has stepped up to become a protector of those less fortunate and suffering unjustness. These men have put forth their beliefs,courage and valor in the name of what they hold dear. Be it Family,friends,spiritual beliefs,Honor or the duty to protect their fellow Soldier.
The reason has nothing to do with the policies set forth by the leaders of Country's and corporations!Rich and powerful men are always at the center of conflict but the Mothers son,the Sisters Brother the Fathers Son is the one to answer the call to give the ultimate sacrifice if called upon. To uphold the honor of their Country Right or Wrong!
These Men and yes Women we call Soldiers,these we also call Heroes !Our thoughts and Prayers will continue to be with you throughout your moments of doubt and during the relief and elation a new day can bring.
I am Honored to have you in the service of our Country right or wrong!
Godspeed

Throughout history the average man has stepped up to become a protector of those less fortunate and suffering unjustness. These men have put forth their beliefs,courage and valor in the name of what they hold dear. Be it Family,friends,spiritual beliefs,Honor or the duty to protect their fellow Soldier.
The reason has nothing to do with the policies set forth by the leaders of Country's and corporations!Rich and powerful men are always at the center of conflict but the Mothers son,the Sisters Brother the Fathers Son is the one to answer the call to give the ultimate sacrifice if called upon. To uphold the honor of their Country Right or Wrong!
These Men and yes Women we call Soldiers,these we also call Heroes !Our thoughts and Prayers will continue to be with you throughout your moments of doubt and during the relief and elation a new day can bring. I am Honored to have you in the service of our Country right or wrong! Godspeed

Sorry with multiple postings had a glitch with posting.

These people with dual Israel-American citizens who hold US government positions declared war on Iraq. I got this list from the Internet to show those who argues that we declared war on Saddam to free the oppressed. America is the greatest country on this earth. This country needs to apply and follow the constitution of the United States. Every politician who serves in this honorable country must serve the interest of those soldiers who took an oath to defend and protect the interest of the United States. These below individuals should be hold accountable for every American soldier death.

Michael Mukasey
Recently appointed as US Attorney General. Mukasey also was the judge in the litigation between developer Larry Silverstein and several insurance companies arising from the destruction of the World Trade Center. Michael Chertoff
Former Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, at the Justice Department; now head of Homeland Security.

Richard Perle
One of Bush's foreign policy advisors, he is the chairman of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board. A very likely Israeli government agent, Perle was expelled from Senator Henry Jackson's office in the 1970's after the National Security Agency (NSA) caught him passing Highly-Classified (National Security) documents to the Israeli Embassy. He later worked for the Israeli weapons firm, Soltam. Perle came from one the above mentioned pro-Israel thinktanks, the AEI. Perle is one of the leading pro-Israeli fanatics leading this Iraq war mongering within the administration and now in the media.

Paul Wolfowitz
Former Deputy Defense Secretary, and member of Perle's Defense Policy Board, in the Pentagon. Wolfowitz is a close associate of Perle, and reportedly has close ties to the Israeli military. His sister lives in Israel. Wolfowitz came from the above mentioned Jewish thinktank, JINSA. Wolfowitz was the number two leader within the administration behind this Iraq war mongering. He later was appointed head of the World Bank but resigned under pressure from World Bank members over a scandal involving his misuse of power.

Douglas Feith
Under Secretary of Defense and Policy Advisor at the Pentagon. He is a close associate of Perle and served as his Special Counsel. Like Perle and the others, Feith is a pro-Israel extremist, who has advocated anti-Arab policies in the past. He is closely associated with the extremist group, the Zionist Organization of America, which even attacks Jews that don't agree with its extremist views. Feith frequently speaks at ZOA conferences. Feith runs a small law firm, Feith and Zell, which only has one International office, in Israel. The majority of their legal work is representing Israeli interests. His firm's own website stated, prior to his appointment, that Feith "represents Israeli Armaments Manufacturer." Feith basically represents the Israeli War Machine. Feith also came from the Jewish thinktank JINSA. Feith, like Perle and Wolfowitz, are campaigning hard for this Israeli proxy war against Iraq.

Lawrence (Larry) Franklin
The former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst with expertise in Iranian policy issues who worked in the office of Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith and reported directly to Feith's deputy, William Luti, was sentenced January 20, 2006, "to more than 12 years in prison for giving classified information to an Israeli diplomat" and members of the pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Franklin will "remain free while the government continues with the wider case" and his "prison time could be sharply reduced in return for his help in prosecuting" former AIPAC members Steven J. Rosen and Keith Weissman, [who] are scheduled to go on trial in April [2006]. Franklin admitted that he met periodically with Rosen and Weissman between 2002 and 2004 and discussed classified information, including information about potential attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq. Rosen and Weissman would later share what they learned with reporters and Israeli officials." (source: sourcewatch.com).

Edward Luttwak
Member of the National Security Study Group of the Department of Defence at the Pentagon. Luttwak is reportedly an Israeli citizen and has taught in Israel. He frequently writes for Israeli and pro-Israeli newspapers and journals. Luttwak is an Israeli extremist whose main theme in many of his articles is the necessity of the U.S. waging war against Iraq and Iran.

Henry Kissinger
One of many Pentagon Advisors, Kissinger sits on the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board under Perle. For detailed information about Kissinger's evil past, read Seymour Hersch's book (Price of Power: Kissinger in the Nixon White House). Kissinger likely had a part in the Watergate crimes, Southeast Asia mass murders (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos), Installing Chilean mass murdering dictator Pinochet, Operation Condor's mass killings in South America, and more recently served as Serbia's Ex-Dictator Slobodan Milosevic's Advisor. He consistently advocated going to war against Iraq. Kissinger is the Ariel Sharon of the U.S. Unfortunately, President Bush nominated Kissinger as chairman of the September 11 investigating commission. It's like picking a bank robber to investigate a fraud scandal. He later declined this job under enormous protests.

Dov Zakheim
Dov Zakheim is an ordained rabbi and reportedly holds Israeli citizenship. Zakheim attended Jew's College in London and became an ordained Orthodox Jewish Rabbi in 1973. He was adjunct professor at New York's Jewish Yeshiva University. Zakheim is close to the Israeli lobby. Dov Zakheim is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and in 2000 a co-author of the Project for the New American Century's position paper, Rebuilding America's Defenses, advocating the necessity for a Pearl-Harbor-like incident to mobilize the country into war with its enemies, mostly Middle Eastern Muslim nations. He was appointed by Bush as Pentagon Comptroller from May 4, 2001 to March 10, 2004. At that time he was unable to explain the disappearance of $1 trillion dollars. Actually, nearly three years earlier, Donald Rumsfeld announced on September 10, 2001 that an audit discovered $2.3 trillion was also missing from the Pentagon books. That story, as mentioned, was buried under 9-11's rubble. The two sums disappeared on Zakheim's watch. We can only guess where that cash went. Despite these suspicions, on May 6, 2004, Zakheim took a lucrative position at Booz Allen Hamilton, one of the most prestigious strategy consulting firms in the world. One of its clients then was Blessed Relief, a charity said to be a front for Osama bin Laden. Booz, Allen & Hamilton then also worked closely with DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which is the research arm of the Department of Defense. Judicial Inc's bio of Dov tells us Zakheim is a dual Israeli/American citizen and has been tracking the halls of US government for 25 years, casting defense policy and influence on Presidents Reagan, Clinton, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. Judicial Inc points out that most of Israel's armaments were gotten thanks to him. Squads of US F-16 and F-15 were classified military surplus and sold to Israel at a fraction of their value.

Kenneth Adelman
One of many Pentagon Advisors, Adelman also sits on the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board under Perle, and is another extremist pro-Israel advisor, who supported going to war against Iraq. Adelman frequently is a guest on Fox News, and often expresses extremist and often ridiculus anti-Arab and anti-Muslim views. Through his racism or ignorance, he actually called Arabs "anti-Semitic" on Fox News (11/28/2001), when he could have looked it up in the dictionary to find out that Arabs by definition are Semites.

I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby
Vice President Dick Cheney's ex-Chief of Staff. As chief pro-Israel Jewish advisor to Cheney, it helps explains why Cheney is so gun-ho to invade Iran. Libby is longtime associate of Wolfowitz. Libby was also a lawyer for convicted felon and Israeli spy Marc Rich, whom Clinton pardoned, in his last days as president. Libby was recently found guilty of lying to Federal investigators in the Valerie Plame affair, in which Plame, a covert CIA agent, was exposed for political revenge by the Bush administration following her husband's revelations about the lies leading to the Iraq War.

Robert Satloff
U.S. National Security Council Advisor, Satloff was the executive director of the Israeli lobby's "think tank," Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Many of the Israeli lobby's "experts" come from this front group, like Martin Indyk.

Elliott Abrams
National Security Council Advisor. He previously worked at Washington-based "Think Tank" Ethics and Public Policy Center. During the Reagan Adminstration, Abrams was the Assistant Secretary of State, handling, for the most part, Latin American affairs. He played an important role in the Iran-Contra Scandal, which involved illegally selling U.S. weapons to Iran to fight Iraq, and illegally funding the contra rebels fighting to overthrow Nicaragua's Sandinista government. He also actively deceived three congressional committees about his involvement and thereby faced felony charges based on his testimony. Abrams pled guilty in 1991 to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to a year's probation and 100 hours of community service. A year later, former President Bush (Senior) granted Abrams a full pardon. He was one of the more hawkish pro-Israel Jews in the Reagan Administration's State Department.

Marc Grossman
Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. He was Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources at the Department of State. Grossman is one of many of the pro-Israel Jewish officials from the Clinton Administration that Bush has promoted to higher posts.

Richard Haass
Director of Policy Planning at the State Department and Ambassador at large. He is also Director of National Security Programs and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He was one of the more hawkish pro-Israel Jews in the first Bush (Sr) Administration who sat on the National Security Council, and who consistently advocated going to war against Iraq. Haass is also a member of the Defense Department's National Security Study Group, at the Pentagon.

Robert Zoellick
U.S. Trade Representative, a cabinet-level position. He is also one of the more hawkish pro-Israel Jews in the Bush (Jr) Administration who advocated invading Iraq and occupying a portion of the country in order to set up a Vichy-style puppet government. He consistently advocates going to war against Iran.

Ari Fleischer
Ex- White House Spokesman for the Bush (Jr) Administration. Prominent in the Jewish community, some reports state that he holds Israeli citizenship. Fleischer is closely connected to the extremist Jewish group called the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidics, who follow the Qabala, and hold very extremist and insulting views of non-Jews. Fleischer was the co-president of Chabad's Capitol Jewish Forum. He received the Young Leadership Award from the American Friends of Lubavitch in October, 2001.

James Schlesinger
One of many Pentagon Advisors, Schlesinger also sits on the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board under Perle and is another extremist pro-Israel advisor, who supported going to war against Iraq. Schlesinger is also a commissioner of the Defense Department's National Security Study Group, at the Pentagon.

David Frum
White House speechwriter behind the "Axis of Evil" label. He lumped together all the lies and accusations against Iraq for Bush to justify the war. J
oshua Bolten
White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Bolten was previously a banker, former legislative aide, and prominent in the Jewish community.

John Bolton
Former UN Representative and Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Bolton is also a Senior Advisor to President Bush. Prior to this position, Bolton was Senior Vice President of the above mentioned pro-Israel thinktank, AEI. He recently (October 2002) accused Syria of having a nuclear program, so that they can attack Syria after Iraq. He must have forgotten that Israel has 400 nuclear warheads, some of which are thermonuclear weapons (according to a recent U.S. Air Force report).

David Wurmser
Special Assistant to John Bolton (above), the under-secretary for arms control and international security. Wurmser also worked at the AEI with Perle and Bolton. His wife, Meyrav Wurmser, along with Colonel Yigal Carmon, formerly of Israeli military intelligence, co-founded the Middle East Media Research Institute (Memri),a Washington-based Israeli outfit which distributes articles translated from Arabic newspapers portraying Arabs in a bad light.

Eliot Cohen
Member of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board under Perle and is another extremist pro-Israel advisor. Like Adelman, he often expresses extremist and often ridiculus anti-Arab and anti-Muslim views. More recently, he wrote an opinion article in the Wall Street Journal openly admitting his rascist hatred of Islam claiming that Islam should be the enemy, not terrorism.

Mel Sembler
President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. A Prominent Jewish Republican and Former National Finance Chairman of the Republican National Committee. The Export-Import Bank facilitates trade relationships between U.S. businesses and foreign countries, specifically those with financial problems.

Steve Goldsmith
Senior Advisor to the President, and Bush's Jewish domestic policy advisor. He also served as liaison in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (White House OFBCI) within the Executive Office of the President. He was the former mayor of Indianapolis. He is also friends with Israeli Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert and often visits Israel to coach mayors on privatization initiatives.

Adam Goldman
White House's Special Liaison to the Jewish Community.

Joseph Gildenhorn
Bush Campaign's Special Liaison to the Jewish Community. He was the DC finance chairman for the Bush campaign, as well as campaign coordinator, and former ambassador to Switzerland.

Christopher Gersten
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families at HHS. Gersten was the former Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Husband of Labor Secretary.

Mark Weinberger
Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Public Affairs. Samuel Bodman
Deputy Secretary of Commerce. He was the Chairman and CEO of Cabot Corporation in Boston, Massachusetts. Bonnie Cohen
Under Secretary of State for Management. Ruth Davis
Director of Foreign Service Institute, who reports to the Office of Under Secretary for Management. This Office is responsible for training all Department of State staff (including ambassadors). Daniel Kurtzer
Ambassador to Israel. Cliff Sobel
Ambassador to the Netherlands. Stuart Bernstein
Ambassador to Denmark. Nancy Brinker
Ambassador to Hungary Frank Lavin
Ambassador to Singapore. Ron Weiser
Ambassador to Slovakia. Mel Sembler
Ambassador to Italy. Martin Silverstein
Ambassador to Uruguay. Lincoln Bloomfield
Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs. Jay Lefkowitz
Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council. Ken Melman
White House Political Director. Brad Blakeman
White House Director of Scheduling.

I just wanted to say, "Thank You" for everything that you've done. Also that I am proud of all the brave troops. I myself am considering enlisting.

Rob, I am a Viet Nam Era vet, with two sons in the Army, one in Afghanistan, one sitting at Fort Irwin with the 11th Cav, on standby for deployment. I am proud of my boys, and I want you to know how proud I am of all our men and women who serve this country. Regardless of the validity of this cause, you and your breathern must know that we all support and honor you. Thanks for letting us into your day to day life. Stay safe until you PCS back to the world.

Rob, you are a true hero and one of a handful of "honest" Americans. After my fifth deployment I considered retiring from the Army. Between my father (31 year veteran -Korean War and three tours in Vietnam) my brother (36 year veteran - Haiti, Panama, Desert Storm) and my self (28 years - Haiti, Panama, Desert Storm, Afghanistan/3 and Iraq/2) I am just biased enough to believe that the only people's opinion that matters is the Selfless Soldier. Everyone else is uninformed, grandstanding, ignorant or selfish, whether they praise or decry this action. There are roughly one million serving, protecting, and willing to sacrifice for the 300 million that benefit from our actions. Keep your head up high, rest in knowing you define what it means to be a patriot, and care for your brothers and sisters in arms. It is a small fraternity that is growing smaller every day.

I HAVE A SON

I have a son, (a Sgt. in the Marine Corps.) yes, I have a son....one son...Who took it upon himself to join the Marines.............after two times in Iraq has come home to me.

He is not the same little boy who used to play with action figures of army dudes and tanks, and oh yes, his little tonka truck.

I have a son, one son, I love him.

He also did what he was ordered to do...........something or another.............I still have a son....

HOW MANY MOMS CAN'T SAY THAT?

I'm glad I'm not one of those moms....for if I were, I couldn't say...........

I HAVE A SON...ONE SON...AND I LOVE HIM.