Happy Furry Puppy Story Time with Norbizness

He Fought The Shame, and He Won

I see:

As for why my sorry a** isn't in the kill zone, lots of people think this is a searingly pertinent question. No answer I could give -- I'm 35 years old, my family couldn't afford the lost income, I have a baby daughter, my a** is, er, sorry, are a few -- ever seem to suffice.

Since January 1, 2005 (you'll notice a lot of reservists, who have left their jobs for up to two years, in the over-35 category):

-- Sgt. 1st Class Sean M. Cooley, 35, from Ocean Springs, Miss., died February 3 in Northern Babil Province, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Cooley was assigned to the 150th Engineer Battalion, 155th Armor Brigade, Lucedale, Miss.

-- Sgt. 1st Class Mark C. Warren, 44, from LaGrande, Ore., died January 31 at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq from non-combat related injuries. Warren was assigned to the 3d Battalion, 116th Armor Cavalry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team (Forward), LaGrande, Ore.

-- Lt. Cmdr Keith E. Taylor, 47, of Irvine, Calif., died Jan. 29, in a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Taylor was assigned to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command, Iraq Detachment. (widow and three daughters)

-- Sgt. Leonard W. Adams, 42, of Mooresville, N.C., died Jan. 24 in Camp Bucca, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. Adams was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 105th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, Asheville, N.C.

-- Staff Sgt. Jose C. Rangel, 43, of Saratoga, Calif., died Jan. 23 in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, of non-combat related injuries. Rangel was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1106th Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot, Fresno, Calif. (widow and 7-year-old son)

-- Sgt. 1st Class Brian A. Mack, 36, of Phoenix, Ariz., died Jan. 13 in Mosul, Iraq, when his military vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. Mack was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash. (widow and 17-year-old daughter)

-- Spc. Jimmy D. Buie, 44, of Floral, Ark. Buie was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Fordyce, Ark. (widow and two teenaged stepchildren)

As for the much-maligned "chickenhawk" label, I don't use it when criticizing the pro-war quadrant of the blogosophere (the preceding sentence is the first time the word has appeared on this site). I don't believe that only people who serve have the right to advocate for military action, although that fact generally adds to the credence with which I will evaluate one's opinion. To wit, if any of the family members of the preceding soldiers want to go on record in supporting the ongoing war, I will completely respect their right to do so, although I may vehemently disagree with the policy and the Administration that drafted the policy. Regardless of this disagreement, each of these deaths represents the end of service of somebody a lot more brave and honorable than myself.

However, as we all know, returning soldiers and families of slain soldiers who dare to question the Administration's shitty foreign policy are not immune from attack themselves by reactionary, armchair douchebags. Further, former high-ranking military officials who criticize the Administration's shitty foreign policy can apparently have their motives questioned. Finally, ordinary Iraqis terrorized by insurgents can also be turned into convenient targets when the shittiness of the Administration's foreign policy starts to manifest itself.

Despite all that, I still wouldn't want to see Mr. Goldberg's infant daughter join the nearly 1,000 children who have lost a parent in this war. But he may want to consider shutting the fuck up.

Posted by Norbizness at February 6, 2005 02:16 AM