I'm Really Pissed Off!

I’m going to break my own rule in this post because I am about as pissed off as I’ve been in a LONG time!  I’m probably going to use some profanity in this post.

As I sit here waiting to find out which unit or units were involved in the devastating attack on one of our Outposts and one of our Firebases in Kunar Province, Afghanistan my blood pressure just keeps rising.  Why?  There are many reasons and I’m not sure I can put them in any particular order.

For well over a year now several friends of mine and I have been jumping up and down trying to get people to realize that we have Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors in Afghanistan in DANGER!  Men and women who have suffered through extreme weather conditions, thousands of fire fights, IEDs, ambushes, etc.  Men and women who have spent weeks at a time with no contact with family and friends; who have been wounded, gone without sleep, cooked meals, showers, electricity for WEEKS at a time; often engaged in multiple fire fights in one day.

We’ve been supporting troops in Iraq as well.  And I’ve listened to the egg heads in Washington and the media blabber and blubber on about “the surge” in Iraq – how it wasn’t working.  I’ve listened to those I was supporting in Iraq and others serving there that I wasn’t supporting report the successes and the frustrations.  I’ve watched grown men and women – elected officials – show total disrespect for our fighting Warriors and their leaders.  And I’ve wondered what nation I live in and what planet I live on.

Yesterday (Sunday July 13, 2008) nine American Soldiers gave their lives in Kunar Province the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan.  Where?  Huh?  I didn’t know Iraq had mountains.  I thought Iraq was desert.  OMG if I hear that ONE MORE TIME I’m probably NOT going to be able to physically control myself.  AFGHANISTAN – you know the “OTHER” war?  The “Forgotten War.”  Tell all the men and women who have served in Afghanistan that you have forgotten them.  I dare you!  Tell the nine families of the American Soldiers who died yesterday that.  Go ahead – tell them!  Tell all of the families whose son’s and daughters, husbands and wives, moms and dads have died in Afghanistan that you just “forgot” about them.

And for you “politicians” and so called “leaders” of our nation.  HOW DARE YOU?  To Senator Obama – WTF do you mean by calling for a surge in Afghanistan?  You couldn’t even spell surge when it was needed and when it WORKED in Iraq.  Scumbag.  So now you’re gonna take troops away from Iraq and send them to Afghanistan?  BRILLIANT! How many votes from the lemmings will that score for you?  To Sec Def Gates – you begrudgingly sent Marines into southern Afghanistan earlier this year.  You told us in no uncertain terms that it was a one time shot.  Now not only has their need been seen but you’ve extended them for 30 days.  Imagine that!  Just imagine!  Marines doing what Marines are trained to you.  But only a few Marines and only to southern Afghanistan.  We continue to send Marines to places in Iraq where they report they are bored shitless.   HELLO!  I’m a civilian; no military intelligence and I’ve been SCREAMING for both large numbers of Marines and more military PERIOD in Afghanistan.  Go figure.  BRILLIANT Mr. Gates.  Just Brilliant.  To President Bush – uh, has anyone briefed you lately about the Taliban and al Qaeda hiding out and operating from the Tribal regions of northwestern Pakistan?  The area that borders northeastern Afghanistan.  You know – Kunar, Nuristan…provinces in Afghanistan?  JUST curious.  In case you aren’t aware the Taliban and al Qaeda are using that ungoverned area to hide out and to plan attacks on OUR military personnel just across the border.  They are shelling at our military from just across the border.  HELLO!!!!

To the media.  You absolutely SUCK!  How inane of you to report “More Soldiers killed in Afghanistan in one day than in the entire month in Iraq.”  Bastards!  It’s all about numbers to you isn’t it?  Always has been.  Always will be.  You’re not worthy to have known ANY of the men who gave their lives on Sunday,  You just can’t stand it that you don’t have numbers fodder from Iraq so NOW you turn your disgusting “attention” to Afghanistan.  GO THE HELL AWAY!

And to John McCain – knock, knock.  Anyone home in there???

Nine brave and selfless Americans laid down their lives for us; for our country yesterday.  Nine men with NAMES; with families; with dreams of their lives for years to come.  Nine families will get the news that their loved one won’t come home the way they had planned.  And the best our “leaders” can do is to flap their jaws.  God help us!

So we wait.  We wait to find out which unit gave so much.  We wait to be able to say prayers in the names of those who perished.  And those of us who NEVER forgot those Soldiers and NEVER will forget WHO they were and what they did pray.  We pray thanks for who they were.  We pray for their souls.  We pray for comfort for their families.  And we thank God for men like them.