my best friend's marine bf just got called to iraq 3 months earlier

[partisan to truth]

...Falluja January 15th (he was supposed to go in February as of July, kicked back to March pre-elections). We commiserated last night with a box of cheap wine... about everything. We came up with an analogy-

There's a red button (red for a reason).

You are inundated with reasoning and warnings not to push it.

Half of America (allegedly) pushed it.

... so yeah, anger is our current sentiment.

[Maat]

1. Tell her that she and her boyfriend are in my prayers!

We're listening - it is so unjust...

[partisan to truth]

3. i appreciate, and i'll tell them... thanks

[flamingyouth]

2. I have an employee whose boyfriend is part of the Stryker Brigade

He left for Iraq in early October. He was supposed to leave the service this year but was called up for extended duty. Over the weekend, his brigade lost two members and four were injured. Every time I hear a news story like that, my stomach sinks. Even if it's not the guy I know, it's someone else's son, brother, husband or boyfriend.

I will keep your friend's bf in my thoughts as well. :hug:

[partisan to truth]

5. thank you...

she's stopped watching that kind of news, for the same reasons it's hard for you... it's sad that innocent people have to die for this, from both sides

[flamingyouth]

7. I like your analogy in your original post

At this point, we're all in this together, and my employee (she's more like a family member after all of this time...) and her boyfriend know the score here. Neither of them voted for or support Bush. But we all want the our troops to come home safely.

I think it's probably a good idea for your friend to not watch the news now. I've been doing that for a while now, and it's helped me tremendously. I get so mad when I see the casualties listed as some kind of afterthought. :grr:

[partisan to truth]

9. thanks :)

yes, that's what i've been starting to do, and especially now that it's so close to home. last night, michelle also told me that she found out (through her own means... her bf didn't even know) that a 'casualty' means death in combat and absolutely nothing else- even if someone's wounded, flown back to the US, and then dies... not a casualty.

it just worries me so much when i think of how many deaths are due to reasons like that- including hum v's (sp?) tipping over, which i guess is really common.

[flamingyouth]

12. Yes - you're exactly right

One of the many things that enrages me about this war - we have no idea how many "casualties" exist. NPR was looking into it a few months ago and found that the Army alone had reported something like 7,000 members evacuated for medical reasons ... and that's just the Army, and that was just what NPR could verify.

Accidents are incredibly common in combat.

At any rate, we will all hold positive thoughts for him and for all the troops that they will be safe and that they can come home soon.:hug:

[partisan to truth]

13. good to know that at least NPR looked into it

and i wholeheartedly agree... :hug:

[TwoHandedLayup]

4. My brother in law is in the same boat

Just called up and going to Iraq. He has his second child due in May and won't be back until it is nearly 15 months at the earliest. Fucking Bush!

Nice analogy.

[partisan to truth]

6. that's horrible... i know john (the bf) is going for 7 months,

then 47 days back, then out again.

yeah... that's why i'm so glad i found this place- b/c people actually Think (not to mention support, empathize, challenge, etc)

it's so much better to not be alone on this :)

[TwoHandedLayup]

8. You are correct

This is a great place to find companionship in our challenges. Too bad my brother in law voted for Bush. I am proud of him for wanting to do his duty and serving faithfully for so many years, but it still sucks.

[partisan to truth]

10. yes... actually john voted the same

so consequently michelle and i have to constantly bite our tongues... i guess it's a mindset that might be better to go into war with, but it sickens me. i believe he's going to be using a 'saw' gun... which is basically a machine gun, and as horrible as it is, they're mentally preparing to be able to kill people without demonstrating weakness

[maxsolomon]

11. if he voted for bush

why is she dating him?

dump him now.

[partisan to truth]

14. well, they started dating when he was in high school

... and a totally un-political typical guy. i guess he totally changed in training/bootcamp in terms of his political affiliation, and also in other ways. she broke up with him (b/c of how he changed...), but long story short- she couldn't keep it that way, and now they are together, for now. lots of guilt going on there- and she loves the true-john.

he's also in an atmosphere, according to michelle who visited him, where everyone around him is staunchly for bush- what can i say, some people never question what is said to them.