“War alone brings up to its highest tension all human
energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the peoples who have the courage to face it.” - Benito Mussolini -
Positioned in front of my Arizona home are three palm trees, one of which is decorated
with the American flag. Most days theflag flutters in the gentle breeze, however, on days when a hot wind blows
across the desert floor the flag gets twisted around its pole. To me that flag symbolizes the current conflict
between those who favor our involvement in Iraq and those who have taken to the streets to exercise their Constitutional
right to protest.
Not long ago one of my With Regards was devoted to the subject of making a difference. One of the
features within it in was a young man by the name of Pat Tillman and how he gave up a lucrative career as
a pro football player to join the army. The reasons that this young man wanted to become an Army Ranger were left
unclear, however, the challenges to be met were difficult. The following is a quote from With Regard to Making
a Difference
"Mental toughness separates those that drive on," said retired Ranger Capt. Todd Bearden. "It's
being able to get up at 0-dark-30 every morning, doing what needs to be done, then getting up and doing it again.
When you take away somebody's sleep and somebody's food and push them to the limit, it changes the dynamics of
everything."
Over the last several days U.S. led Coalition forces have been stretched out over 400 miles as they advance
toward Baghdad. This movement has considerably stretched their supply lines. Not to mention the cramped
living space that a Bradley M2A3 provides for its 3-member crew. I guess these are some of the dynamics, which
effect everything.
As the conflict continues many will remember the comments made at the 2003 Academy Awards by Oscar winner
Michael Moore and few will remember the comments of 5-year-old Cameron Hudson when, while watching TV at a friend’s
house, observed her father Army SPC. Joseph Hudson being paraded before the al-Jazeer network as one of
the first POW’s.
New to this conflict are the in-field news conferences and the ‘imbedded’ reporters. While we had similar
news conferences during Desert Storm, this time many of the questions or have been reminiscent of the Monday-morning-quarterback
variety. ‘General, NBQ reporter Tom Smartee who is with the 96th Mobil Division currently making its way slowly
toward Bickup reported that the column was actually driving 25 yards on either side of the paved road. Don’t you
think that this decision by command will cause additional delays in achieving the objective and why do you think
Tom and the others are required to endure the unnecessary rough terrain rather than the smooth one awaiting them
if they traveled by the road?’
“General Tank, Sally Jetson of The DeBonk Chronicle. Our editorial board back in DeBonk, who by the way is
comprised of three ex-Marine Officers and 4 PFC’s, unanimously agree with me that dropping hundreds of bombs on
the former Republican Guard fortress at Pigwallow and killing more innocent civilians was unnecessary. We should
have just surrounded the fortification and allowed those inside to lay down their guns and put on clean garments
so that they could regain some dignity. What intelligence did you have that those firing from the fort were actually
combatants rather that civilians?”
Next year I expect that Fox will have “imbedded” reporters inside the huddle at NFL Football Games and
reports such as: ‘Tom, the Blazer quarterback has just called a screen pass into the left flat with the designated
receiver being All-Pro fullback Slap Happy, let me just ask (prior to the snap) substitute quarterback Justin Time
why he called the screen pass when it’s obvious that the Spiders are going to blitz again.” “Justin, did you call
this play or was it sent in from the sideline by Coach McFoolish?’
Final Thought
The purpose of this column is not to assume a position on the Iraq conflict but to suggest that what appears
on TV or in Print is more about coverage than courage. Some of it is about media names giving interviews to the
opposing forces or drawing battle plans in the sand.
It is my purpose to remind every American that those people wearing camouflage uniforms are our young men and
women and they are risking their lives. They are not over there to advance their media careers but are attempting
to bring freedom to the Iraqi people. They are there because they swore an oath to uphold and defend our constitution
prior to putting on those uniforms for the first time. They are not ‘warmongers’ or ‘peaceniks’, they are by and
large 19 and 20 year-old kids going where they are ordered to go and doing what they are ordered to do. No one
is giving them orders to kill noncombatants or to take off their uniforms and pose as civilians.
I remember the images of American servicemen arriving home from Vietnam walking a gauntlet of other Americans
who opposed that conflict and jeered or spit upon the servicemen. Our enlisted members of the armed forces
deserved better then and they deserve better now.
Whether or not you support the effort to achieve Iraqi Freedom is not the issue. The issue is can you
find the courage to put aside personal feelings and support those who are doing their duty.
