Wounded Iraq Vet’s Moving On

Picture courtesy of Reuters

As we all read the latest and greatest news in the world of politics it was interesting to see Pat Robertson endorsing Rudi Giuliani for the Christian Conservatives. Talk about oil and water not mixing. Robertson sited that the people need someone that can deal with world terrorism and radical Islam for his decision to endorse Giuliani for President in 2008.

Republican’s seem to be running on the war against terror for President from a strength perspective and in some respects I agree with them but the world is a far different place than it was on September 11, 2001. Talking tough against terrorism and radical factions in the world is one thing but the cost for that kind of talk is paid in lives by our military. Military funerals are happening all across our nation every single day to the point that people can not comprehend anymore that the person in that hearse was someone’s baby that was being buried. Then you have the forgotten cost, the wounded military members that are sent back home to tend their wounds. That is what lead me to this amazing photo shoot over at Reuters. Please take the time to view the pictures on Reuters. My heart goes out to all of the people that help these soldiers to get back to some sense of normalcy as the world likes to see portrayed. No longer whole, these soldiers prove to the world that they are not done fighting. God bless them all.

IED’s are taking a serious toll on our troops in the field and the road back for many of these soldiers is a long one. The loss of one limb is extreme enough but many of these soldiers are suffering from multiple limb losses. Rehabilitation is brutal and hard on them personally, emotionally, and physically. Learning to walk again is not a simple task when you don’t have the legs you were born with. It’s easy to speak from courage in a political suit when you don’t have to face the results of that speech trying on a pair of prosthetic legs for the hundredth time in an effort to simply walk.

I’m not supporting any candidate that thinks that all of the possible avenues of diplomacy have been exhausted to end this war and that we need to send more American troops to Iraq or Afghanistan. I don’t think anyone in the Republican field of candidates truly understands that our military presence in Iraq now is no longer fighting terrorism as much as it is creating a new generation of terrorists. As far as the Democrat’s in the race for 2008, I believe only Senator Biden and Governor Richardson are advocating an exit plan that makes sense.

War is nothing glorious or moral, it is men killing one another because no other solution existed to stop the conflict. Our next election for President and the Congress should be a loud and clear voice that our American government has the ability to listen and talk to all peoples of the world without calling them a terrorist nation first. Military action comes with a very high price and using it as a first option simply because you can is not what this nation was ever about.

Papamoka

My personal thanks go out to Fisher House that provides local accommodation’s to wounded Military immediate family while our wounded men and woman in our military service fight back from what is a devastating circumstance for most families.

Technorati Tags:
USMC 1st Lieutenant Andrew Kinard, USMC Corporal Brad Walker, USMC Lance Corporal Kenny Lyons, Walter Reed, Veterans, Wounded Vets, Wheel Chair Veterans, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PSTD, Forgotten Hero, US Army, USN, USCG, US Air Force, Fisher House, Veterans Administration, Giuliani, Romney, Clinton, Richardson, Biden, Obama, Pat Robertson, Marine Corps, Disabled Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, Ron Paul, McCain, Edwards, Kucinich, Politics, Jimmy Carter, Israel and Egypt, Peace Accord, Diplomacy, Bush, Cheney, Improvised Explosive Device, Green Zone, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Military, Thank a Vet, Reuters