The fifth column

We are two years into this phase of the Iraq front of the war on islamo-fascism.  The truth be told it is actually going quite well.  With the success of the elections, my section is getting bombarded with tips, calls and other forms of intelligence on where to find the bad guys.  My only time off is still spent blogging, sleeping or eating.  I long to get in a good workout at the gym or on the road around the FOB.  Meanwhile, a bunch of nitwits is still hoping that we lose.  The fact that they oppose the war isn't what bugs me as much as the psuedo-sympathy that they show for the troops.  They only give a rip about us as much as sympathy for us helps push their political agenda.  I'm not even bothered by the 'head in the clouds' genuine pacifists.  It is easy to think that pacifism works when you live behind the guns of the US Navy.  It is the ones that only hate war when their guy isn't waging it that bug me.  I hope they are absolutely infuriated by another one of the coalition's recent success stories.  Way to go, Kentucky boys!!  Chalk up 26 for the good guys.  I actually understand the real total to be a bit higher.  I also wonder if they noticed that the Iraqi's seem to like what the future holds after the invasion more than before.  This is true from my personal experience.  The bottom line is that it is working here.  It also seems to be rippling out to places like Libya, Lebanon and others.  Rome was not built in a day.  There will be pain, sacrifice and setbacks, but those are the temporary wages of worthy endeavors.  For an astute, even-tempered analysis, I highly recommend Karl Zinmeister.  Spot on, as usual.  Hat tip to my brother-in-law, Steve.

Comments

[Patrick Lasswell]

I just have this vision of some hillbilly cops from the Bluegrass State waking up yesterday morning:
"Hey Jethro...you know what I'm going to do today?"
"What, Jed?"
"First sumbitch takes a shot at the convoy, I'm just gonna rip his entire ass off!"
"Sounds good Jed, count me in."
"Let's see if we can get Cooter, Jim-Bob, and the L-T in on this."

Three hours later when the convoy was stopped by RPG attacks, a succession of hillbilly yells came from the MP protection element and a great ass-kicking did then commence.

"GITTEM, GITTEM!"

OK, they were probably models of citizen-soldier professionalism, but it makes a much better story this way...

[Curt]

Major K:

While they are still at it, the tone of the morons who can't see beyond their lattes is much more nuted these days. On the other hand, they have all run like vultures to attack the proper use of the Constitution by the Congress and the President. More hate mongering and mis-information. Maybe we can employ them if China takes us towards another Cold War like thing, but we'd have to use reverse psychology and feed them the real information, so when they reported it, it would be wrong...

Keep the morale up, the tide is turning daily and the death rattle of the oppressive Middle Eastern regimes coming in our life time.

[Curt]

make the a "muted"...I hate proof reading, because I can speel, I just can't type!

[Brian & Thomas R]

Aunt Sarah & Uncle Matt sent us your web site. We really enjoyed reading about how you are doing. We also liked reading about the Iraqi's that you met that were nice to you. It was cool that the people gave you candy, instead of you giving them candy.

We liked the story about the Humvee getting stuck in the mud because it rained.

Thank you for fighting in Iraq for the United States, and for helping the Iraqi's.

We can't wait until you come back home safely!

[Paul5388]

MAJ,

If I didn't already know the "recent success stories", I sure wouldn't have recognized it from the CNN (Crecent News Network) report!

[Some Soldier's Mom]

Major K: Seems the Iraqis feel as you (we) do... You ARE making a difference! From an Iraqi:

"To may outsiders, like those who protested last year, who will protest today. This was a fools errand, it brought nothing but death and destruction. I am sheltered in Iraq, but I know how the world feels, how people have come to either love or hate Bush, as though he is the emobdiement of this war. As though this war is part of Bush, they forget the over twenty million Iraqis, they forget the Middle Easterners, they forget the average person on the street, the average man with the average dream.

Ask him if it was worth it. Ask him what is different. Ask him if he would go through it again, go ahead ask him, ask me, many of you have.

Now I answer you, I answer you on behalf of myself, and my countrymen. I don't care what your news tells you, what your television and newspapers say, this is how we feel. Despite all that has happened. Despite all the hurt, the pain, blood, sweat and tears. These two years have given us hope we never had."

Read the rest at "Democracy in Iraq (is here!)" http://democracyiniraq.blogspot.com

[MJM]

Thank you for your service. You are a great American.

[namvet68]

Know this:

There are those keeping an eye on your 6.

http://hq.protestwarrior.com/index.php

and

http://www.lt-smash.us/

if ya have the time.

I wish we'd had bloggers back in the day. Your perspective is valuable.

And check out

http://www.livejournal.com/users/soldiergrrrl/

I think she might be in your AO. She, like yourself, offers some notion of what it is like to be in Iraq. The perspective is decidedly different, but no less important to us old vets in CONUS.

[Kevin Rentner LTC (Ret), MI]

Just visited your blog for the first time. Loved it and will bookmark it. I wish those commie pinkos in the MSM and those non-bathers in the protest rallies would pull their heads out of their fourth points of contact long enough to find out what is really going on. Keep up the good fight -- Always Out Front.
Regards, Kevin Rentner

[John]

Hi Major!
Yeah, The article in my hometown paper was at the very bottom of the page. "Kentucky unit ambushed in Iraq" was the headline. The fact that 26 militants were killed was attributed to the large number of attackers.(Associated Press)
It was two articles below the story about Michael Jackson being late for court again, trembling and weeping.
Excuse me while I go beat my head against the wall.....

[John]

Hi Major!
Yeah, The article in my hometown paper was at the very bottom of the page. "Kentucky unit ambushed in Iraq" was the headline. The fact that 26 militants were killed was attributed to the large number of attackers.(Associated Press)
It was two articles below the story about Michael Jackson being late for court again, trembling and weeping.
Excuse me while I go beat my head against the wall.....

[Mike]

We have got your back at home. Let the morons bitch, they can scream all they want. You will be treated propely when you get home, sans nitwits. I don't know if proper treatment means a beer or a job, but everyone here is looking forward to you guys getting home. Stay safe.

[pst314]

"the pseudo-sympathy that they show for the troops"

A pretense of concern for the troops is their desperate attempt to retain credibility as they gradually lose the war of public opinion, but their hypocrisy and love of tyrants has become more and more publicly obvious.

There were far, far fewer idiots protesting in Chicago than in previous years, and virtually nobody payed them any attention. Shoppers and theater-goers would briefly stop and look in bemusement and then continue on their way.

Thank you for your service. Your honor and dedication are deeply appreciated. Come home safe.