> >>
> >> 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
> >> New Roman, Times" size=3>