Orangekite1’s Weblog

I heard Michael Savage, a radio talk show host talking about the 1978 movie, THE DEER HUNTER on his show a week or so ago and decided to rent it. I have not seen it since I saw it for the first and only time years ago, and all I recalled was they played Russian Roulette. Well, I watched the whole long thing a few nights ago, and was thinking about it the last couple of days.

I am not really sure how it related to the war in Iraq or Afghanistan. I really don’t know what to think about it other than it shows the tragedy some of our troops face when they come home from war. You’d have to watch it yourself and maybe post a comment.

Some were saying it had relevance in light of today’s never-ending war in Afghanistan. Or, seemingly never ending war. It does seem that the Iraq War is winding down for Americans with a commander in the last couple of days saying the U.S. should declare victory and pull out. That sounds good to me, but sounds like we should do this in Afghanistan too after their election on Aug. 20, 2009.

I have already written my Representative in Congress and my two Senators to get the ball rolling on having all who are active duty now or honorably discharged and have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom need to have an IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL awarded to them, they earned it. This might also be a morale boost to troops going to Afghanistan or who are fighting toward victory in Afghanistan now and upon victory, should also earn an AFGHANISTAN VICTORY MEDAL.

I suggest anyone who wants the IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL issued to contact President Obama, and their Congressman and Senators. Our troops earned it, now let’s work to get it issued!

Please remember to pray for all our troops and say a special prayer for those injured, and those fighting today in Afghanistan to earn the AFGHANISTAN VICTORY MEDAL. Do not let our troops DIE FOR DEFEAT!

Various stories from around the Global War on Terror, the GWOT: If the link doesn’t work cut and past into your browser.

1.) American Army colonel says the US should declare victory and leave Iraq. I have been writing my reps and asking for them to make sure our troops who served honorably or are still active duty receive an IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL-they earned it. Link:

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/warzone/2009/07/its-time-for-the-us-to-declare.html

2.) Medical evacuations by helicopter in Afghanistan. Excellent video and story:

http://www.frontier-africa.tv/film/Medevac-Afghanistan/

3.) Protection racket: Private Social Worker and Major Psychologist needed in Afghanistan:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/209599

4.) Deadly attack at outpost in Afghanistan, a story not to miss from Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009572620_wanat31m.html

5.) Dyn Corps takes Afghanistan:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/30/dyncorp-kbr-afghanistan-business-logistics-dyncorp_print.html

Now word comes out that Iran is closer to a nuke than we thought. Imagine that, our intelligence being off again! God bless our 17,000 troops going to Afghanistan for the troop surge. Pray for our 8,000 U.S. Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina deploying for battle in the Global War on Terrorism, back to the GWOT hot spot-Afghanistan. Links from around the GWOT:

1.) The Taliban are “civilians” as they don’t wear uniforms! They are the ones endangering civilians if they go into their homes and start shooting at US troops. God bless the USA and the US troops. Link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-afghan-civilians_barkerfeb18,0,3871580.story

2.) U.S. troop buildup defining moment for Pres. Obama:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0219/p01s01-usfp.html#

3.)  Fallen Marine’s funeral, died from wounds suffered when he hit an illegal landmine in Afghanistan. Link:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/easton/news/x82781647/-It-is-overwhelming-Hundreds-attend-funeral-for-fallen-Marine-in-Bridgewater

4.)  BBC on the Afghan troop surge:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7897761.stm

5.)  “Taking Chance”, HBO films movie about a Marine officer taking a fallen Marine home. Link:

http://www.hbo.com/films/takingchance/

6.)  Iwo Jima: 65 years ago this week, now if the leaders in today’s Marine Corps would just untie their hands and let them fight and win the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Link:

http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/1235135711292160.xml&coll=1

7.)  Afghanistan commander welcomes additional troops. The president should call him in and fire him for not fighting and not winning. The rules of engagement he put in place make the war in Afghanistan unfightable and thus unwinnable. Air strikes should continue to be used rather than sending in these new troops on the ground to have their legs blown off or killed by illegal landmines. I don’t know why the UN isn’t out there sweeping for landmines and filing charges against those who set them, against international law? Link:

http://www.centcom.mil/en/news/afghanistan-commander-welcomes-additional-troops.html

8.)  US receives eviction notice from base crucial for supply route into Afghanistan:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/02/20/2009-02-20_kyrgyzstan_issues_eviction_notice_to_key.html

9.)  First 3,000 troops sent for Afghanistan surge in battle already:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/02/17/2009-02-17_start_of_afghanistan_surge_newest_us_tro.html

10.)  Main character in “Taking Chance” crunched numbers at Quantico rather than go to war. I believe Quantico and the Command College should be located FORWARD and signs put on their doors: OUT TO WAR. What better place to learn about war than on the battlefield?

Link:

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/02/marine_takingchance_022009w/

11.) Taliban at our door:

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Feb212009/netmail20090220119727.asp

12.)  No habeas rights at Bagram:

http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/us-no-habeas-rights-at-bagram/

13.)  NY Times will now spell Marines with a capital “M”:

http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/when-every-letter-counts/

14.) Hamas slipped note to Obama via Sen. John Kerry! Link:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/20/kerry.letter/index.html

15.) Iran closer to nuke than thought:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/20/iran.nuclear/index.html