[sg1987]

"I'm Tired"

Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of
duty in Iraq, I was
forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury
I sustained prior to
my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to
finish my tour.

I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication
that we are winning, to
return to a demoralized country much like the one I
returned to in 1971
after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn
60 years old in just
four months, but I'm tired:

I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and
Republican who lack
the courage, fortitude, and character to see these
difficult tasks through.

I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to
rewrite history when
the going gets tough.

I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that
claim they 'Support the
Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before
victory is achieved.

I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on
car bombs and
casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave
the safety of their
hotels to report on the courage and success our brave
men and women are
having on the battlefield.

I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild
a dictatorship into a
democracy over night.

I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi
people to go to the
voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon
a permanent
Parliament.

I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs
this war by giving aid
and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the
Vietnam War.

I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the
funerals of our fallen
soldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in
a just and noble
cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day
by cowardly
protesters is beyond shameful.

I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom -- Vietnam
generation, who have
such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing
the difficult tasks
through to victory.

I'm tired that some are more concerned about the
treatment of captives than
they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens
and allies.

I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom
reported by the press,
but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.

Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation
didn't learn from
history that there is no substitute for Victory.

Sincerely,
Joe Repya,
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division