Sorry so long, but it has to be said.
flyingunz,
Thank you for putting the human touch back onto this matter. Many (most) people have no idea what happened over there. I personally wasn't there, being only 16 at the time, but I have served with many who were. Like your friend, they have some horrific stories to tell. There is much debate within this country about an "impending" war with Iraq, but I think that the debate is misplaced. The debate now is whether or not to send our soldiers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers into harms way. Let us not forget the other price that would be paid. The price of not going. Of being so self centered as to keep our soldiers from harms way. How many innocent lives will be lost? How many of those lives do we now protect in the northern and southern No-Fly zones in Iraq?
Aaron,
There is no cold war. That is gone. Our battle now is with Terrorism and Rogue Terrorist States. That was not decided by 9-11. Kosovo, Somalia, Bosnia. Any of these ring a bell? Our military mission has changed long ago. Our military mission was just defined on 9-11.
Last Mark,
To set the record straight, we did not had Saddam in a 1/2 nelson in '91. He was standing in front of an execution squad, bound and gagged. But the international community came running to his aid. You see, the UN resolutin passed for the Gulf War was simply to remove Saddam from Kuwait. Not remove him from power. We were on the outskirts of Bagdad, but were forced to halt because of our agreements to the UN. Our objective was accomplished. A victory was declared.
flyingunz,
I applaud you for serving our Country. I too am a service member. I have served now for six years. I remember the 2 hour recall alerts that began in early November and did not stand down until after January. Most people have no idea that this occurred every year. And it was always in response to Saddam's games. We did not finish the job in '91. I'm not for rushing back in there, but I'd rather have the world a safer place. All of you who have not served your Country think for a moment. It may be easy to say, "Let's go kick his @ss!" But you really have no idea what it takes. Just like on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon watching football on TV. It's really easy to 'know the right thing to do' so long as you don't have to get up from the Lay-z-Boy. I ask you to remember those who have sacrificed all. And pray for those who choose to put their lives on the line for everyone else. The price of war is high. Higher than most might think. You have to be willing to send those you love into harms way, before you can say, "Let's go to war!" You brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and anyone else who is important to you. Even yourself. You have to be willing to do this, before you can say whether we should go to war or not. There is a price to pay. I, for one, am willing to pay that price. And I believe that, if we do go to war, those who decide it have thought long and hard about it. I am ready, are you?
flyingunz, maybe I'll see you over the great pond in the big sand box. Take care of yourself over there.