Military Families Speak Out

I joined this organization, due to my deep desire that my Son, and the sons and daughters, wives and husbands, of the troops, serving in Iraq, do not have to give a single ‘unnecessary’ life. But I am conflicted, as I am sure many patriots are as well. Not to say that those that who believe we should bring all of our troops home tomorrow, are not patriots. We all have different perceptions, but by virtue of the fact that this site is oriented towards Military families, we all have in common the facts that our loved ones volunteered, whether it be for personal or altruistic purposes.

Our country is founded on the basis of fair and equal treatment of all of our citizens. And when our country has inserted itself in other countries’ political and socio-economic battles, we have done so in a fair and honorable manor (at least we would like to think so). With that said, our own megalomaniac leader contributed to the overthrow of another megalomaniac leader. The only difference is that we like to think that our leader is benevolent, where we know that Saddam Hussein was anything but. The fact remains, though, that we did what we did, and cannot in fairness, walk away, with honor.

With the change in power of our legislature, to a democratic majority in both the house and senate, and the great likelihood that a democrat will occupy the White House after the next election, it is still unlikely that we will have an immediate and total withdrawal of all of our troops in the immediate future. With MFSO's mission statement in mind (A safe and orderly withdrawal of our troops), the key to orderly withdrawal is the definition of orderly; and the definition of safe is dependent on what we do to react to the terrorists that have inserted themselves, in the absence of secular rule that was deposed by our invasion of Iraq.

In previous posts I have tried to profile some of the issues that we face in order achieve an honorable end to the conflict we have inserted ourselves in. I have also shown battles, successes and failures, and talked about the options for long term strategic success for both our troops and the Iraqi people.

I want my son home, safely and uninjured. But, he enlisted, and re-enlisted, not for my expectations, or lack of. He has his own objectives. I only want the purpose to be just, honorable, and egalitarian. I support the goals of the MFSO organization, please support mine and allow opinions to flow freely as to how we achieve those goals.

The organization 'Military Families Speak Out', I feel, is a good forum. The problem is that the forum is quickly becoming a forum for those that feel that there is no resolution to the conflict other than an immediate and total withdrawal of all of our troops. This I feel, dishonors our country and the brave troops that have given their lives, and the troops that are still putting their lives on the line.

It is not our presences in Iraq that we have to have an immediate end to. It our presence without any goals and objectives or strategic planning that we have to end. That will only happen when the Bush Oligarchy is deposed and sounder minds are installed in the White House.

Get you opinions heard, join Military Families Speak Out (MFSO, and let them know how you feel.

Dennis