[ManginiIsMyHero]

Wow, this is some DEEP Shit.....I have left this alone for some time, but I will now rant....

Why do we care what Mr. Bush did in the National Guard?  We didnt give a crap with Mr. Clinton?  He took his sorry ass to Canada.  Has any of you folks served this country?  If you haven't, why do you care about Iraq?  It is like everything in America, If it doesn't affect you, who the hell cares.  Bottom line is the president doesnt have 100% of the power....

I have served for 11 years now in the US Army, I have missed the last 4 Christmas's and the birth of my twins, along with countless significant family events.  I have served in 4 different combat zones.  I was just injured during my 2nd tour in Iraq.  I see the news on TV and all that is ever talked about is the negative things.  Soldiers killing injured Iraqis' soldiers doing this, that.  All negative.    There are never stories of the positive things that are going on. 

Maybe Iraq was a bad idea...I mean Sadam was as peacefull innocent man..he never wanted to hurt anyone....If you think that he had/has no weopons of mass destruction over there, your are on some good stuff....You should pull convoy security with me for an hour....you will change your mind... ...
In this day in age we have to understand a few things...there is alot of things that go on that everyday civilians could not fathom..
..but if my service in Iraq, Afganistan, Bosnia and Africa mean that our country will not have a repeat of 9-11-2001.....I will do it all over again....and I don't want any 'Thank You's'....Just make sure it never happens again....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You're right about the Thank You's... You deserve better. Sounds to me like you're a great man and I support everything you just said. I'm doing my part out here in Central PA and part of that was working on the Bush Campaign. Once I get out of school I plan on joining the military and becoming an officer (It's not combat, but I have to use my skills to best help). I can't wait.

[bobzero11]

Satan isn't real. Hell is just a made up place to make people act good because if they know about hell they know if they do bad they go to there.

Do you have any evidence of this? No. I for the most part agree with this and George Carlin has such a great way of debunking religion, i recommend his comedy before any of this babble (albeit semi-interesting) Live long and prosper my friends... PEACE

[Chadforpresidentin08]

I do Bobzero, and that's the real world. There is no second person that is a soul, it's seriously common sense. The Bible is a good way to reach out to people of all ages to teach a moral. It's a great way to make people act good so the World will be good. There are really made up stories to me except that Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, the three kings, and that ruler who wanted Jesus is real. But if you were to dig up some dead person their body would be there and always will be unless it's moved by something.

[bobzero11]

I understand what you are saying and keep in mind that you are 12 and at the same time dont really wanna get into a whole religious/philosophical/existential debate... i just want to say that hell is a possibilty and you are absolutely correct that the bible is used as a tool to scare people and control behavior but we should not denounce it just because it is based on something that may not always make sense to us... i think faith is a great thing and in the end the only thing that matters is how you live your llife... there is a possibilty of an after life and if there isnt that would just be kind of sad... who knows? none of us... this is why i tend to avoid the subject as interesting as it could be... im sure you will have many years to shape and mold your opinions on this my young jets friend but always try to keep an open mind... you dont have to be a liberal, but dont forget there are many things beyond our grasp that are possible... thats all from me for now PEACE

[Chadforpresidentin08]

Now seriously, who is in hell? What is in hell? Are there souls of the dead there, yeah right. Bobzero you're a favorite of mine here too but I disagree on this hell thing. But either way lets stop, we can't really change each others ideas since it is all about faith, and I have no faith in the fact a heaven or hell exists. I also know you have some faith in the fact a heaven or hell exists and I respect your decision. PEACE too you too and hope to see you around sometime soon buddy. And the Home of the Jets.

[bobzero11]

actually you misread me... my point is i don't know whether anything past what i can see exists, all i am saying is you should be open to the possibility that it does... just be open minded, im not asking you to change your opinion i am just saying science isnt always the answer and neither is invisible men

[Chadforpresidentin08]

Sorry about that, I'm not very good reading between the lines. I should be opended minded to what is out there, but hell is a little akward too me. Really this was kind of stupid of me to post my second post because we're going back to that one question is the Draft Chat subject where you said "What should I put on the grill at 5:00 A.M. while I'm tailgating, pancakes or ribs" and I said "How about sausage" and you went on about that being a rhetoric question which those questions I asked you were. PEACE (Yeah I'm copying this off you my friend.) And the Home of the Jets.

[Chadforpresidentin08]

Sorry Hermismyhero I never answered your question, but now I will. If there is a God and the Pearly Gates and all, I have nothing better to tell St. Peter other than the truth. I'll tell him I never belived in a God, a Satan, a Heaven, or a Hell. There is nothing more I could tell. I'd say I was badly mistaken and they were right. From there I'd tell them now I believe but my life is now in their hands and they have the right to toss me where ever. What else could I say, I mean isn't telling the truth what the Bible says? That is what I'm supposed to do and I have faith in doing so, so then I'll sure as hell do so. PEACE. And the Home of the Jets.

[bobzero11]

basically "nominee" said it pretty well, we just gotta live life the best we can and whatever happens when we die is gonna happen, we cant change that so we gotta live life to a point where we arent ashamed of the lfie we lead and hopefully go past that and a live a life we can be proud of PEACE

[Chadforpresidentin08]

I think Bobzero said it right, and that is where we can finally rest this topic. PEACE. And the Home of the Jets.

[gmany3k]

USAF 1977-1986. DID ONE TOUR REMOTE IN KOREA.SEE WORLDWAR3.COM

[JSOTF]

Did 1 tour in Korea, Camp Red Cloud, 2ID 1996-97
'SECOND TO NONE'

a1elbow,
I agree with some things you have said, you are very well spoken.
My point about Mr. Bush's service record was not to say that we need a president that has seen combat, or has served honorably...just arguing the point because people are making it an issue when they didn't for Mr. Clintion.. ..it would be nice if we could have a president that did not have personal issues that he would use the US Military to support. As you are aware since you are an educated man, I being an active service member cannot bad mouth my Commander in Chief....But I will say to you, that there is a presence of Al Queda in Iraq....They attack soldiers on a daily, if not hourly basis....I do respect your views and I do appreciate the mature intelligent conversation that you bring to the table.....

[ManginiIsMyHero]

a1elbow I respect your opinions I really do...

But I know people in the Marines and the Army and my best friend's parents are both Marines. His mother is in Iraq and is the head of coroner affairs. I've heard her tell me things that simply make your arguments (that Al-Queda had no connections with Saddam) simply futile. When dead Al-Queda member show up from the very beggining in Iraq then I think that it disproves that argument. My point is not to make you look like you are stupid or very wrong, that's not it at all. My point is to show you that certain things the American public is simply not told, and what ever your sources are I'm sure that there is a certain degree of bias in whatever they say to you.

I don't know how to say certain things without making them seem condescending. Before you, or if you, respond to my post, remember that I tried to be as nice as possible about this and if anything came off bad to you then I apologize ahead of time. Also I should that I don't base everything I believe in on the word of a woman in the Marines, that's only an example.

[JSOTF]

Look what I started....

Has anyone ever been to the middle east? borders over there are pourous, and people come and go from country to country, some good, some bad.

Mentioned earlier was North Korea....do you know what our soldiers on South Korea are called? Speed Bumps, why? Because if North Korea were to decide to attack, they would overwhelm US and South Korean troops almost instantly.....they only have about 1 billion soldiers.....

I sit here and I know the things that I have seen in Iraq and the war on terror, most I cannot discuss....what you see on the news....is watered down bullshit....it doesn't matter what program you watch, there are no programs that discuss the positive things that happen becuase of our commitments...only the stories of soldiers beating prisoners; marines shooting injured people....you dont hear about the soldiers that save lives, deliver babies, build schools....beleive me, it happens every day......i have been on missions in other countries that are poor and you would not believe the masses coming out of thier homes wanting a MRE or some of our water.....it becomes so hazardous for us because we obviously don't want to run anyone over or hurt anyone, but these people really appreciate the things that all soldiers and marines are doing...we are making a difference....

But I am so tired of trying do defend my actions and Americas Policies.....i enlisted in the Army because I had ablsolutly no idea what to do with myself....I have stayed in the Army out of my fear of not being able to contribute to civilian lifestyle....Deep down, I wish I never had to fire a round on combat, I wish I never had went to Iraq, I wish WE didnt go to Iraq, we would still have 1500 soldiers alive today... but I am a soldier and I dont question my orders....

[ManginiIsMyHero]

Not many people WANT to go to or start WARS. a1elbow it's natural for me to feel as if you are misinformed becuase I feel so strongly opposite of you. The things I read about/see is so compelling for me and not so compelling to you and that is obviously disconcerning to me. But as I said I respect your opinions and wont ever tell you you are wrong. Glad to see we can agree to disagree.

JSOTF I understand about your comment that the real stories are never told in America. As I said before the conversations I have had with quite a few Marines and other military personel were amazing and personally humbling. God Bless man.

One last question I have for my own personal use in a small survey I'm conducting for my own uses. Does anyone know how many Iraqi's have been killed since the War began? After I get a few responces I will explain why I asked the question.