Combat Boots (revised)

i walk for miles, my boots are wearing thin
i dont know where im going, but i wont go back to where ive been
out in the desert, under the blazing sun
i though id found salvation, in the barrel of a gun
you swore to me, the my body you did need
for god and king and country, so that others might be free
what you meant was, to fill your coffers full
and the tax we paid, was out everlasting souls
late at night, as im lying in my bed
im forced to think of all the friends, ill never see again
why they had to die, i doubt ill ever know
but im done taking orders, from you generals and cos

ill march for miles what ill find i couldnt tell
but anything is better then your everlasting hell
ill walk forever till i find my way home
i dont know what ill find there but it wont be a dog and pony show
and ive said it so many times before
im not your soldier anymore
no im not your soldier anymore
i said im not,
your soldier anymore...

Take that Asshole!

Well in case any of you missed it or haven't heard about it by now a member of IVAW, Adam Kokesh, rocked the RNC during McCain's speech by shouting... well something, it was hard to hear, and raising a banner that read "McCain Votes Against Vets."

The mainstream media has been ignoring the massive protests going on outside the convention in St Paul but they sure as hell didn't ignore this one. Several of the news stations even zoomed in on him and clearly showed both the banner and his Iraq Veterans Against the War t-shirt.

According to an interview he gave shortly after being released by the police he said that a Ron Paul supporter was the one who gave him the guest pass.

Sweet...

Peace and Unity

Not a Serious Number

So I'm reading this article online today and a note at the top of the site says that the article have nothing to do with politics and are all about facts.

Right.

The first article I read starts off by saying that the people of Iraq are the most ruthless enemy America has ever faced and that this 'war' simply has to be won or they'll kill us all.

From there in goes into a discussion about how the loss of life is such a small percentage of life lost in other wars and to other factors and so it's really not a serious number.

Two things I have to say to you buddy.

If the people of Iraq are oh so hell bent on killing us all then why have they not tried in the past? I sure hope your not pulling the old "They attacked us on 9/11" routine because anyone left paying attention, even the pro side, knows that this is simply not true. The pentagon even said it's not true. Maybe you missed the major article that came out about the DOD finally admitted that before the war in Iraq there was no connection between Al Queda and Sadaam, Iraq, etc. Oh I wouldn't doubt that there is now. After all we lumbered in, told them that we were there to liberate them, and now refuse to leave and let them choose there own path. Preferring instead to make sure that the vote for the right people and that we kill off the ones that don't like us and others who happen to get in the way. Wow, we sure are keeping our nation safe by making more enemies. What logic would you call that? Oh yes, Republicanism.

Second thing I have to note on this. The number isn't small to the friends and family you jack ass. Having known some of those that have lost there lives and been injured, traumatized, etc. I can't help but think of some ugly ugly language I want to say about someone telling me that the number dead is small enough not to really matter in the long run. I know that more people die every year driving, and from cancer, and heart disease. You know what? Most of the people weren't forced into facing that death by commanding officers doing the president's bidding. (Well maybe certain medical cases but that's a whole other issue) So don't you tell me for one second that we shouldn't mind the loss of life because it's 'only' 4100+ of our side. Don't you ever fucking tell me that my friends lives were an acceptable loss because more of us didn't die with them.

You people love to say that you support the military and then you pull out some shit like that? Man I'd hate to see how you love your families. "Don't worry about your brother's death son, he was only 20% of the family." Come on now. Stop screaming from the soapboxes how much supporting the war is the only real way of supporting the troops while you demean and degrade those very men you say you're there for.

So many people can see past your nonsense. It leaves me hoping that you don't know how mixed up you are. I'm not even saying that from an emotional point of view. I just can't believe logically that anyone would say things like "I support the troops therefore I support them being killed" and "I support the troops but I think that the number lost is ok, cause it's not too high." Guess what? Behind all the gibberish about 'telling it like it is' that's what your saying.

Damn.

I'm done for now, I'm gonna give myself a fucking ulcer if I keep this rant up.

Assholes

Peace and Unity

I always feel like I can never say enough.

Like no matter how many times I raise my voice and yell and block traffic they will just keep doing what they're doing.

There has to be a better way.

Many who know me know that I am a huge fan of direct action. Having taken part in a protest in Olympia that effectively shut down a port shipping military equipment for hours a time and days on end I saw what effect these sorts of actions can truly have.

Here in Southern California where I currently reside I simply don't see these actions taking place. Many have argued that we just don't have the sort of support that one would need to truly have an impact in this way.

Well I say they're wrong. Building support by performing actions can be a wonderful way to attract people to contribute to a cause. There is no need to wait for them to come to you. Put your self out there and you just wait and see how many people come up to say that they want to help.

Some have also said that to perform such actions would present a bad face to the media or to the politicians. To hell with them both. They got me into this mess they are not going to get me out. Democrat, Republican, journalist, whatever. They have all shown a general disregard for truly stopping this brutal occupation. If they don't like what I'm doing, oh well. I'm not interested in making good headlines or connections. I'm interested in saving lives.

At some point everyone has to make a choice.

Do I care about "blank" enough to take my time and resources and so everything I can to stop it, start it, whatever.

If it takes until the day I die, I will help stop this war.

Short of violence and breaking various laws, this has to be what matters. This has to be what is on my mind, because this is my friends lives. This is other people's lives. This is a trio of nations whose health and welfare are at stake.

And I can't rest knowing that something can be done.

Peace and Unity

Barry Goldwater Jr.

So I had very interesting experience today. I met Barry Goldwater Jr. He came into the office to meat the owner of the company I work for. So I did some looking into the man. He is very very good at hiding is personal opinions from public view. However, he has chosen to publicly endorse Ron Paul for president and while I have some issues with that man's stances I still like a lot of what he has to say. It is my hopes then that Mr. Goldwater is an opponent of the war in Iraq. He would seem to be having decided to support an anti-war candidate.

Unfortunately I was working when I was with him so I couldn't really bring up the topic I wanted to. There wouldn't have been time anyways as billionaire's (like the owner of my company) don't like to be kept waiting and I'm sure that Mr. Goldwater was on a fairly busy schedule as well. Otherwise I was raring to talk to him about Iraq.

I think I will now make it a goal to contact this man (he lives in a neighboring state so not too far) and see what he has to say about Iraq and about IVAW. If nothing else he would be an amazing person to have this sort of conversation with, even if he is a Republican. Searches for news related to him did show me that hardcore conservatives don't like him, which is a plus as far as I'm concerned.

All in all what I did see of him he was a nice man, very polite and not at all degrading in how he spoke or acted around me even though I am just a lowly worker bee. So for now I'll go with he's not a bad guy.

Robin Long Deported

According to The Canadian Press Robin Long has been returned to US Soil after losing an appeal to remain in Canada seeking political asylum.

This is an outrage. Canada has violated there own terms regarding asylum by returning personnel who could potentially face death for there political opinions. (The top penalty for desertion in the US Military is the death sentence) While I will have more coming on this as thigns progress I urge people NOW to start demonstrating in support of Robin Long and the other 50+ service men and women still seeking refuge across the border.

Soldier's don't just have a right to refuse illegal war, it is an obligation. No soldier should be penalized for refusing to participate in this bloody and senseless occupation.

Peace and Unity

Terrorists and Other Such Fun

So I generally resist the urge to respond to pro-war bloggers and other such folks who have a tendency to get downright mean rather then pose thoughtful arguments to support there cause, but I have to say a little something about this one.

Anyone who thinks that 'support jobs' in the army don't involve potentially having to kill are delusional. One of the platoons I served in was a 'support' platoon and wound up doing convoy security in Iraq (without me, unfortunately). It would be a reach to say that those support soldier's never shot at anybody or killed anybody running those dangerous roads. This is not an uncommon situation. Sometimes (I have no data on how often) people with jobs that should not involve combat wind up doing it anyways. We all have to be trained in marksmanship and close combat for a reason.

Last thing I'll see here is that people who speak out against something there country is doing are not "fueling the fire's of the enemy" WOW. I think that everyone should have health care and food and shelter. Guess that means I love terrorism since our government doesn't support those things. I think that war should be a worst case scenario situation because I value ALL human life and not just American ones. Damn. I must be a terrorist. Seriously guys. I would suggest making the brain to mouth (or keyboard) connection but I'm betting that the brain is the problem here. I've never had this issue myself but maybe you should try looking for the 'on' switch. Try checking behind that bar code stamped on your scalp.

4th Brigade Comes Home

The unit that I was attached to through 2006 has recently returned from Iraq. That means I get to stop worrying about the friends that I have who still serve proudly under the sabers of 2/1 Cav 4/2 ID. The unit suffered 37 kia and over 400 wounded. Among them I knew 3 of those kia from that brigade and 3 wounded. I hope that I don't have to know anymore as more and more of my old friends continue there rotations into the sand.

Welcome Home Guys....

When Johnny Came Marching Home

Written in November 2007 by a soldier who had served with 2/1 Cav out of Ft Lewis.

I used to be a soldier in the second calvary
Until the army said that they no longer needed me
So I stayed home while my brothers went to war
And so far seven of my friends won't come home anymore
But some have come home wounded in body and in mind
And we all hurt together for leaving the rest behind

When Johnny came marching home it was on two wheels
And he never talks but always dreams of all his kills
And sometimes he dreams of Rhett's face as sometimes so do I
It hurts more folks then people think when a soldier dies

They were running a patrol when they hit an IED
The bomb exploded to the front and stole Johnny's sanity
Everything went quiet and Johnny found himself flying
He didn't have time to think or feel for he knew that Rhett was dying
What he didn't know was that both his legs were shattered
From striking at the armor plates inside his bones had parted
But he knew he must act fast or our brother wouldn't make it
So he gave it eveyrthing he had hopped up on adrenaline

Well Johnny jumped out into the sand
He tried to save the driver's life but found he could not stand
The captain said your useless boy pull guard go sit down
So Johnny crawled a few yards off and looked nervously around
After a moment or so they came and broke the news
Our brother had been killed in action there was nothing they could do

Now Johnny just sits around drinking jack and coke
Or sometimes just straight shots while he cracks another joke
And sometimes sporadicly he just breaks down and cries
Or plays with that damn toy gun shooting to the skies
A wheelchair bound soldier with a rifle must seem a sight
But you really should have seen him that one night

In a drunken stupor he rolled himself down the stairs
When he hit the bottom he flew out and just lay there
I rushed over to him and he looked up at me and said
God dammit man it didn't work I just wish I were dead
I picked Johnny up and put him back into his chair
Said I hate to tell you bro but war is never fair

Well I haven't seen Johnny now in months maybe three or four
They sent him home, he's no good to them anymore
People like he and I were just a liability
Messing with the VA and others I think who lie to me
Sometimes I think they just don't care about us now
Then I know it's true were just broken soldiers anyhow
Just another pair of hands they know that they don't need
What they don't know was that in me they laid the seed
It's not what they desired but in other people's eyes
It's while I was serving Uncle Sam that I was radicalized
I'll never stop I'll never sleep until it's all undone
Because I remember the day the Johnny came rolling home

- Fin

To my brothers in 2/1 Cav (4/2 cav back in the day) and to Spc Conners, Cpl Butler, Cpl Crouch, Cpl Craig, and Ssg Martin. Saber Pride

The Cost of War (Fun with Economics)

At an estimated cost of 533,821,000,000 dollars af of 15 May 08 around 2100 Pac time the budget for the war could have instead paid for....

almost all of the anticipated medical costs of every person in the country (15,600 per family based on streetinsider.com article)

food for every person in the country with over a hundred billion left over (700 per family per month based on amazon.com article)

tuition at a public four year college for 22,871,465 people for all four years of education (5,836 per year based on money.cnn.com article)

And that's just the tip of the ice berg. So as gas prices rise, food prices rise, medical costs rise, and tuition cost rise remember, you do have someone to blame for your poverty and that someone is our government.

Regime change starts at home...

Winter Soldier

Winter Soldier II: Iraq and Afghanistan took place a couple weeks back outsie Washintong D.C. At the event veterans and active duty personnel of the armed forces as well as family members and Iraqi nationals told of the horrors of war. They were not accusing people of war crimes or blaming the situation on the soldiers on the ground. They primarily blamed the situation on the generals and politicians who are benefiting from the deaths of men and women who agreed to serve there country. We were abused, we were misused, and it continues unabated as an apathetic America chooses to focus on the likes of Heath Ledger over the deaths of over a million iraqis and over 4000 American soldiers. Break the silence. Check out IVAW.org to view clips from Winter Soldier II and start some conversations.