"Yes, you see -- you see it on TV, and that's the power of an enemy that is willing to kill innocent people. But there's also an unbelievable will and resiliency by the Iraqi people.... I like to tell people when the final history is written on Iraq, it will look like just a comma because there is -- my point is, there's a strong will for democracy." George W. Bush to Wolf Blitzer, CNN
Emphasis mine.
2,703
dead American
commas, 19,910
wounded and
maimed American
commas, 35 - 40,000
dead Iraqi commas.
- What do you think it feels like to be a soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq?
- What do you think it feels like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq without the proper body armor to protect you?
- What do you think it feels like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq without the proper armored vehicles to protect you?
- What do you think it feels like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq on your third tour and to not know when you'll go home to your family because you've been involuntarily extended....again?
- What do you think it feels like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq on your third tour and 24 hours before you're suppose to go home you find out you've been involuntarily extended....again?
- What do you think if feels like to be a soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq and know that fully two thirds of American combat units are not combat ready?
- What do you think it feels like to be and American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq knowing that the Chief of Staff of your Army withheld submitting the budget to fund you and your equipment because the Secretary of Defense slashed $25 billion off of your budget?
- What do you think it feels like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq knowing that the National Guard back at home doesn't have the equipment it needs to train to replace you and to help your family when another Katrina strikes?
- What do you think it feels like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq knowing that your President wants to modify the Geneva Conventions and jeopardize your life and treatment and those of your comrades who follow you so that his administration can torture other people?
- What do you think it feels like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq knowing that the Taliban are coming back in Afghanistan as strong as or stronger than ever taking large swaths of country your comrades bled and died for?
- Now.....What do you think it feels like to be an American soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq on your third tour and to not know when you'll go home to your family because you've been involuntarily extended....again and your Commander in Chief has just referred to you and what you are doing in Iraq as a COMMA?
- What do you think it feels like to be a mother, father, husband, wife, brother, sister, son, or daughter of an American soldier killed, maimed, or wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq and your President referred to your mother, father, husband, wife, brother, sister, son, or daughter as a COMMA?
For nearly three decades I was that soldier and today many of the soldiers I trained are those American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq and I will say this for myself and if I maybe so bold for those soldiers.
Mr. President I'm no damn COMMA!!
I am an American soldier and if you have no more respect for me than that, then I say to you sir that your words and indeed your deeds can only lead me to believe you are ignorant at best and a coward at worst and certainly not deserving of my respect and since you are in fact the President of the United States I must say I tend to believe you must be the later.
Those Are The Sergeant Majors Thoughts On That.