Another wasted life

Hey there;
They laid this Marine to rest today.
LCpl Terry Wright, only 21.
His funeral went right past our home, accompanied
by at least 200 motorcycles. In my mind his life was wasted in another senseless war. Exactly what will we have gained, after all the killing stops ?!!
Bob
God Bless

The futility of it doesn't really hit you until it happens to a promising young person that you know personally,does it? It's easy to wrap yourself in the flag when it's a stranger or somebody elses family. Sorry as I can be about the loss.

While I'm going to sound like I'm wraped in the flag I don't mean to. The young man was 11 when 9-11 happened. When he joined as a volunteer he knew full well the possibility of serving in the Mid East. I would say that it is a good life lost. I would NEVER say that a young soldier who volunteers and gives their life for this country wasted their life. The cause might not be worth it in your eyes, but that young man felt that this country was still worth defending-even after 10 years of politics and war. For that, he and his family have my utmost respect.
AaronSEIA

And while he was dying to save this country, we have elected a host of morons who are bent on giving it away.

I'm sure he appreciates you saying he wasted his life.

Well said.

I'm sure Old Timer meant "another life wasted", not a wasted life.

And I agree. We're never going to get those folks to embrace democracy, so now that we've taken out the baddest of the bad guys (including Al Alwalki, last night), its time to clear out.

Oldtimer IF you cant stand behind our troops YOU are welcome to stand in front of them I for one do not think it was a wasted life I Thank all the veterans for my FREEDOM Thanks Brad Metcalf

The killing never stops. That is the fallacy of your thinking. There are always aggressors. Thankfully for us there are still those good and brave who willingly take on the challenge.
Of course the politics involved turns our stomachs. But that does not diminish the cost of the ultimate sacrifice.

Oldtimer, you're right. The loss of a soldiers life is a waste. I support the troops, but not the Iraq war or the way Afghanistan has been handled. I'm the father of two Iraq veterans, and proud of them. For nine months they were there at the same time. Both are sill alive and have all their limbs, but they are both have life long disabilities from their tours. At least we don't have to visit a grave to talk to them. Have the 'pseudo patriots' ever attended a fallen soldier's service and given condolences to their parents? I have and it's not easy.

The gung ho flag (Chinese made) waving patriots don't have a clue what it's about. Why haven't they volunteered for a combat role. While they're exposing their ignorance, they wear clothing or carry a purse that resembles the US flag. DISGRACE!

Sorry, it's a sensitive subject to me.

Thought and intent is what counts. Fix the grammar next time. This is a serious moment. Ex.Navy and almost Vietnam Vet. Dave

Wise up!! You know exactly what he meant. Don't post a "stupid." He's standing behind our troops 100%, just commenting on the fact that the rag heads aren't worth one single American life.

old timer--

I know exactly what you meant. Don't worry about some of these guys below. They know what you meant too and you are correct. They must be PMS'ing today.

Yes Old Timer I agree that the loss of this young man is indeed tragic to say the least, but I would not say it was a "life wasted". He died a valiant, honorable death protecting all of our rights as Americans.

His parents also would not like to think of the loss of their son as "a wasted life".

When you sign up for the military life, you do in a sense sign your life away...

I would much rather mourn the loss of a military person, than to witness another plane fly into one of our civilian crowded buildings. Tragic either way, but you're going to have one or the other... Which would you pick?
8)

Lance, I agree with you, tragic yes, wasted NO! Hero YES!
George

Every injured and lost life is a tragedy. But, after 10 years in Afghanistan we have marginal control of 19 of over 100 provinces. It will take 50 years at this rate and how many of our young soldiers dying before it ends. Now that I am retired, it hurts me inside when I hear of a young soldier giving his life before he has a chance to live it.

Well said, and we all know what you mean despite some posts. We can all stand behind our flag, and shed the next guys blood.

After old age sets in, I realize we are trying to kill another soilder (son or father) who was sent by HIS leaders. We need to go after ...only ...his leaders. Like wise, our enemies need to go after our leaders...not civilians who are by no means the problem.

It is like a couple of us getting in to a argument, and then sending our kids to kill each other to prove we are right.

We all sit back in our easy chairs, and support our troops, but how many of us send letters, or care packages to the soilders? Heck, a simple letter can brighten a soilders day, for sure if he knows you. Better yet, have your daughters send them a letter....that sparks alot of hope, and good feelings in a soilder.

As a old DI told us, the only person that cares a darn about you, (not his exact words) is your mother, and she is lying to you!

As I have posted before, As a soilder, I thought I was defending my country, .......but it turns out???????? Maybe I was not on target with my thoughts, perhaps I was TOLD I was defending my country, to make others richer, or more powerful.

Will we ever learn? I will send my sons, and grandchildren to defend my country, but will protest sending them over seas to do so.

I hope the family of this young lad, can somehow see the sun shine some day. I can not imagine how they feel.

Bin Laden didn't care much about Afghanistan. His real goal was to take over Pakistan, because that would give him a couple of dozen nukes to play with. He's gone but there are still plenty of others with the same goals. I doubt we'll ever stop them completely but we can keep them from doing what they would really like to do. Unfortunately it will cost some lives.

I understand where you're coming from.

My son enlisted in the Army Reserve, and did a tour in Iraq. He wasn't exactly political, but he went because he knew that was part of the bargain...right or wrong. I have relatives who forwarded to me EVERY "Support Our Troops" email there ever was...even though THEIR "precious" kids were "too important" to put their lives on hold and put on a uniform. But they sure "Supported Our Troops"...as long as it's not one of THEIR kids who has to put on that uniform and put their lives on the line.

There have been a lot of times I've wanted to get nose-to-nose with them, as the DI's in the movies do, and tell them that, while THEY allegedly "Support Our Troops," I actually "gave at the office," and supported my own SON as he went to serve. They had no "blood" on the line, while it was my ONLY son who was serving in the military so their kids could sit at home, drawing their salaries and watching their big-screen TV's, "Supporting" Our Troops.

I still get worked up over it...but I understand where you're coming from.

Hey there;
PLEASE forgive my "phraseology", I guess after watching the funeral pass by, I wasn't posting correctly. NEVER would I make such a disparaging remark to ANY who serve in the military. I just think Any life lost in Afghanistan is a GREAT waste!! Though I'm 78 I served my turn in the 52 "police" action. They sent me to Ft Bliss, to be cadre, never saw combat, but ran into "basic" buddies who did. They said I should be glad didn't go over there.
Bob
God Bless

What on earth does dieing in sandland have to do with your freedom... or mine or anyone else's for that matter?
Has anyone ever stoped to consider for a moment that the democracy of my country, your country and every other one that has one... has been formed through the internal struggles and efforts of the people OF that country? I don't believe that democracy has ever been successfully imposed on a sovern nation as of yet.
Might be time to weigh that out, cut yer losses and leave sand land to it's native inhabitants and let them kill each other instead of us.

Rod

Old the problem with whats going on is that the nnalert terrorist will keep coming after us. The want to change the way we live. The want us to die or convert, no other option is available. They will not negotiate! This has become a them or us.

I very sure that Bin Laden never thought that the attack on 9/11 would result in our invasion of not one but 2 countries. A wise person once said "those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it". He should have read about 7 Dec 41. Not I'm not going to blow smoke at you about Iraq. We had no real reason to invade and I don't thing we should have. We also have no right to tell them what kind of government they should have.

The politicians have made 2 grave errors. One was cutting the military like they did in the 90's calling it the peace dividen. Back in your day an infantry division was about 12,000 with 8,000 being combat soldiers (infantry, armor and artillery). Today thats same division is close to 30,000 with 8,000 combat soldiers. So we don't have the man power to secure Afganistan. We will not have it until the politicians admit they made an error and are willing to correct it. The 2nd error was thinking that just because we said you are free that they would understand it and thank us.

Unfortunately we are now between a rock and a hard place. If we withdraw they will claim it as a great victory (their perspective) and be able to gain a lot of fresh recruits very willing to strap on a bomb or pilot and air craft into another building. They will keep coming! And we don't have the backing of the people to increase the size of the military and or the intestinal fortitude to keep sending our young people to continue the fight. Basically if we withdraw now we will have to go back....sooner I think rather than later.

I served from 74 to 96, Armor! 2 of my sons have served with one still being in the Army Guard (Infantry) and one of my daughters was Air Force. Her husban is Air Guard and currently deployed. I've got a little more at stake than most people.

Rick

Old men start wars. Young men fight them.

I"m sure when the next election comes, we will elect the same tribe of Morons to start more wars. I had my turn. 101st Airborne, Vietnam, 1970. No I wasn"t a cook, or a clerk in the rear.

So do want to fight them there or just want another 911. I guess we shouldnt have fought Germanyin WW11

There been War and killing as far back as the Bible reads, and if you read the Bible, there will be war and killing until God comes to clean it up.. God Bless,,,

(quoted from post at 21:34:55 09/30/11) Old the problem with whats going on is that the nnalert terrorist will keep coming after us. The want to change the way we live. The want us to die or convert, no other option is available. They will not negotiate! This has become a them or us.

I very sure that Bin Laden never thought that the attack on 9/11 would result in our invasion of not one but 2 countries. A wise person once said "those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it". He should have read about 7 Dec 41. Not I'm not going to blow smoke at you about Iraq. We had no real reason to invade and I don't thing we should have. We also have no right to tell them what kind of government they should have.

The politicians have made 2 grave errors. One was cutting the military like they did in the 90's calling it the peace dividen. Back in your day an infantry division was about 12,000 with 8,000 being combat soldiers (infantry, armor and artillery). Today thats same division is close to 30,000 with 8,000 combat soldiers. So we don't have the man power to secure Afganistan. We will not have it until the politicians admit they made an error and are willing to correct it. The 2nd error was thinking that just because we said you are free that they would understand it and thank us.

Unfortunately we are now between a rock and a hard place. If we withdraw they will claim it as a great victory (their perspective) and be able to gain a lot of fresh recruits very willing to strap on a bomb or pilot and air craft into another building. They will keep coming! And we don't have the backing of the people to increase the size of the military and or the intestinal fortitude to keep sending our young people to continue the fight. Basically if we withdraw now we will have to go back....sooner I think rather than later.

I served from 74 to 96, Armor! 2 of my sons have served with one still being in the Army Guard (Infantry) and one of my daughters was Air Force. Her husban is Air Guard and currently deployed. I've got a little more at stake than most people.

Rick

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I do not disagree with anything you said, but the problem is now the country is literally broke and can not afford to do what you suggest. We are borrowing money from China to fight two wars that are bankrupting the country. When do we stop? When do we stop being the worlds police force?

(quoted from post at 13:01:14 09/30/11) And while he was dying to save this country, we have elected a host of morons who are bent on giving it away.

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nd that about sums it up

So when you pack up in 2014, do they go away.?That's what makes it a waste, nothing achieved, same old thing until another gung-ho GWB comes in , starts another.leaves a mess, and the new bloke gets crucified for the whole thing.

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The country being broke is the fault of the politicians not the military. We have fewer people working which translates in to fewer tax payers, less corporate income and so on. We wouldn't be in the money mess we are if it were not for waste or stupid spending.

I wasn't suggesting we increase the size of the military, I was stating the simple fact that the only way we can stabilize Afghanistan is to put enough boots on the ground which would mean drastically increasing the size of the military. The math is simple. A division, at about 30,000 with 8,000 Combat Arms soldiers, in a conventional fight covers at a maximum a 10 mile front (divide that 10 mile front with the distance of the US/Mex border and you can undestand why using the US military to close off the border will not work Heck in a no combat situation you caould make that 30 miles per and the sized of the Army would be huge). Now place them in a situation like Viet Nam or Afghanistan where they have multiple base camps that have to have 360 degree security and you have really reduced the area they can cover. With only 8 active divisions you can understand why so many National Guard units have been deployed.

Federal spending is budgeted at $3.8 trillion for FY 2011, and includes four major functions. Defense,[b:91f04a9fb2] including foreign policy, veterans, and foreign aid, is 25 percent of spending[/b:91f04a9fb2];[i:91f04a9fb2] health care, principally Medicare and Medicaid, takes a 23 percent share; pensions, principally Social Security, takes a 21 percent share; and welfare takes 13 percent of spending[/i:91f04a9fb2]. All other spending, including interest on the national debt, takes 18 percent of federal spending.

So it seems that what is called military spending isn't just for the military. The foreign aid and policy should be stripped out of there! I think maybe our political masters should be a little more honest in how the present the figures. My thinking is they are hiding foreign aid/policy under military spending because so many people are getting mad at how much aid we give trying to buy freinds.....very unsuccessfully I might add.

I believe that we cannot subdue Afghanistan under current policy and we cannot afford to put enough soldiers on the ground. But if we just pull out we are going to create more problems than we solve.

Right now we have to stop wasteful spending by our politicians and get people back to work. Stop spending so much on welfare! Take care of our country first! Then maybe we can address our problems in Afghanistan.

Rick

(quoted from post at 22:27:37 10/01/11) So when you pack up in 2014, do they go away.?That's what makes it a waste, nothing achieved, same old thing until another gung-ho GWB comes in , starts another.leaves a mess, and the new bloke gets crucified for the whole thing.

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external_link ain't taking the heat for the war.....he's taking heat because he promised to get us out of the war. He found out that just packing em up and bringing em home isn't going to do anything but make a much larger mess.



Rick