Nathan · Love

A Friend Falls And I Loose Words to Describe the Pain I feel.
The Gravity.

SSG Justin "Dutch" Estes Falls In Iraq 07 March 2007

The Sun Sets But You Are Not Forgoten

This editorial will appear in the Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times on Monday under the headline “Time for Rumsfeld to go”:

"So long as our government requires the backing of an aroused and informed public opinion ... it is necessary to tell the hard bruising truth."

That statement was written by Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent Marguerite Higgins more than a half-century ago during the Korean War.

But until recently, the "hard bruising" truth about the Iraq war has been difficult to come by from leaders in Washington. One rosy reassurance after another has been handed down by President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld: "mission accomplished," the insurgency is "in its last throes," and "back off," we know what we're doing, are a few choice examples.

Military leaders generally toed the line, although a few retired generals eventually spoke out from the safety of the sidelines, inciting criticism equally from anti-war types, who thought they should have spoken out while still in uniform, and pro-war foes, who thought the generals should have kept their critiques behind closed doors.

Now, however, a new chorus of criticism is beginning to resonate. Active-duty military leaders are starting to voice misgivings about the war's planning, execution and dimming prospects for success.

Army Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S. Central Command, told a Senate Armed Services Committee in September: "I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I've seen it ... and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move towards civil war."

Last week, someone leaked to The New York Times a Central Command briefing slide showing an assessment that the civil conflict in Iraq now borders on "critical" and has been sliding toward "chaos" for most of the past year. The strategy in Iraq has been to train an Iraqi army and police force that could gradually take over for U.S. troops in providing for the security of their new government and their nation.

But despite the best efforts of American trainers, the problem of molding a viciously sectarian population into anything resembling a force for national unity has become a losing proposition.

For two years, American sergeants, captains and majors training the Iraqis have told their bosses that Iraqi troops have no sense of national identity, are only in it for the money, don't show up for duty and cannot sustain themselves.

Meanwhile, colonels and generals have asked their bosses for more troops. Service chiefs have asked for more money.

And all along, Rumsfeld has assured us that things are well in hand.

Now, the president says he'll stick with Rumsfeld for the balance of his term in the White House.

This is a mistake.

It is one thing for the majority of Americans to think Rumsfeld has failed. But when the nation's current military leaders start to break publicly with their defense secretary, then it is clear that he is losing control of the institution he ostensibly leads.

These officers have been loyal public promoters of a war policy many privately feared would fail. They have kept their counsel private, adhering to more than two centuries of American tradition of subordination of the military to civilian authority.

And although that tradition, and the officers' deep sense of honor, prevent them from saying this publicly, more and more of them believe it.

Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large. His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt.

This is not about the midterm elections. Regardless of which party wins Nov. 7, the time has come, Mr. President, to face the hard bruising truth:

Donald Rumsfeld must go.

WOW....THIS IS BIG...

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yeah, today was a very long day I am really tired. It seems like i havent stopped all day..I worked threw lunch...and then threw dinner. and well into 7 o clock because people like to wait to the last minute to do things and I end up having to pick up the slack. I am hungry and tired. I think I am going to get something to eat and sit down with a glass of blue lable and relax and then head to bed...

Well its lunch time and I am trapped in my own office because there are a couple of privates waxing the floor outside of my office. With that being said I figured I would just update my lj because I havent done it in a while. So I guess my lunch is going to be hotdogs (not to excited about that) and listening to some hurby handcock. Only 36 more days left in the army and only 10 more days until i go home for christmas leave. I had a little to much coffee today.

"I said 'Mom, there's lots of things boys do that they're not sure why they do it.' (Understand that and you'll understand boys)"
-- Tim Allen

I was reading this book for a couple of days now. Mostly because I always say that I will read this book and never get around to doing it. I like Tim Allen as a writer...he is ok as an actor...mostly because he just keeps it funny...in a cute way. But I like the book. I really liked his last book that he did. I dont remember the title and I am pretty sure that I am alreayd boring those whom have made it this far. In other words I am almost certain that you probably dont really care. (So just shake your heads and say yes george) so I leave you with this:

10 things that Men Dont Want To Hear
NO!
I'm afraid it's the starter
is it in?
Gee, I have never seen one quite that misshapen.
Tim, the school called
What's this letter from the IRS?
Another guy saying, "Where is this relationship going?"
I thought you had money
I thought you were going to pay
From your doctor: That had to hurt.
From the masseuse:
Whoops!
How long has that been there
I meant really sleep together

So Now Here I some Great News For Everyone....I am getting out of the army...It has been almost four years and I am coming home for good. I will he home for Christmas vacation from the 18 of December until the 27th of December and then I go back to Germany for a couple of weeks and then I come back. The best News is that I am going to Make the Spring Semester at LSU…score for me.

I got the flu shot today...becuase the army said i needed it...and i dont feel well because of it...blasted shot..You know it hurt a bit more that they usually do. But what sucks i found out that there is no way I will ever be able to donate blood not only because of the shots that I have recieved (antharax being one of the major reasons) but because I have lived in germany and have lived in Iraq...that sucks because I dont mind giving blood because I have AB+ blood. Which is pretty rare and always needed. and that sucks. tisk tis life i guess.

Yesterday I had this idea for a book (i have alot of them) but this one is different because the idea has stuck with me all day today. I keep comming back to it. Its not new idea persay, but its a new twist i guess. And writers always say write what you know about. And I think that would be it. I guess the real question is do i would i want to finnish it. I think that is why I stopped writting because I couldnt finnish it. It would mean good bye to the people in it. Or maybe just completing something of that nature would mean. I would be tempted to put it out there on the block. I guess if it says with me for a couple of more days i might have to start righting a book and hopefully finnish it.

I've been thinking alot about certain things
And I haven't really gotten anywhere other
than in front of a brick wall.

Every time I try to venture out
I get stuck inside a landslide
and cant seem to find a way out

Shes been telling people lies
to get us threw the day while
I stare at the cracks in the wall

Every time I try to crawl out
of this place I get pushed
back to the side of my mind

I've been telling people lies
so she can find a way out
and maybe a better place

I've been thinking alot about the things that
I haven't really gotten to see and the things
that I havent gotten to do

Yeah, so I got this new program that lets me run my pictures at all times. And it started showing pictures from last spring break...and I started to remembers the great time i had a bit hectic. but great non the less. So it got me thinking about what I would like to do this year for spring break...since I will be a free man...as in no longer in the army...i was thinking that all i really want to do is kick back and relax some where. Maybe Nature Like. But not somewhere where we will be spending money like last time. Something simple and relaxing no presures and all that jazz. I woul love to go with Julie and Derick(AND BECCA OF COURSE HON YOU ARE ALWAYS IMPLIED) but i am not sure if they will be up to it because of all the wedding plans....Does someone got any ideas on where to go?