3 years ago today I crossed into Iraq for the first time.

[liberaliraqvet26]

At the time I really believed that my government would not start a war over a pack of lies. Over the 14 month long (reserve) deployment I learned the hard way the truth about Iraq, this administration's stupidity and selfishness and what it is really like to readjust to home. I go to an underfunded VA hospital and have to pay full tuition for my own college. I was out of work for over a year and my unemployment ran out after six months. I pay $2.69 a gallon for the very gasoline I put my life on the line to protect. I get called "anti-american" when I question the war by a bunch of chickenhawks.

Do I regret going to Iraq? Not at all it opened my eyes and changed my life.

Well anyway I just wanted to rant a little bit. Thanks everyone at DU!!!

Lets elect some FIGHTING DEMS!!!
www.iavapac.org

[niyad]

1. so glad that you made it back--thank you for all you have done.

[CAG]

2. BRAVO!! nt

[Maat]

3. All I can think of to say is, "Thank you for your service."

No doubt that you will help educate others by virtue of the lessons so painfully learned.

Thanks again.

[RBHam]

4. Kick for courage...

Ask questions, demand answers.

[The Traveler]

5. Welcome home

I like what you said. Let's kick some butt.

[LynnTheDem]

6. Thank you for your service; I'm sorry your government & 1/2 your country

betrayed you.

*My husband is currently on his 2nd tour in Iraqnam.

[Sydnie]

7. I am glad you made it back to tell your story

Why do you have to pay your own tuition? Isn't that supposed to be one of the perks they are offering for your service?

I hope your need of the VA is just for minor things and not something much worse ... in other words, I hope you weren't injured too badly over there.

Welcome home and thanks!

[liberaliraqvet26]

8. As a reservist if you don't stay in you dont get education benefits...

regardless of combat service. It's a load of crap and this congress wont change it.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

9. Glad to see you here. Feel free to rant anytime you wish.

[alittlelark]

10. So, what did you see?

[liberaliraqvet26]

11. in 14 months its way too much to talk about

[Qanisqineq]

12. I am happy you made it back

This administration has sent the troops into two wars and betrayed vets by cutting funding. Sickening. My husband spent a year in Iraq. We were both against a war with Iraq but he tried to stay positive when he was deployed and hoped they would be helping the Iraqi people. He's now avoiding Iraq by choosing to stay in Korea for a few years -- the peace of mind is good.

[ClayZ]

13. Kick for liberaliraqvet26.... Welcome Home!

:kick:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

14. I'm glad you're here . . . thanks for posting this.

And I think it's a terrible thing that you have to pay all of your tuition. That's rotten, after all you did for these lying bastards.

:patriot:

[AuntiBush]

15. Thank you liberaliraqvet26

And I mean that with the utmost sincerity. Glad you came back safely and know the truth.

Double thanks for the link. :kick:

[K8-EEE]

16. Thank You For Your Bravery

For going, AND for speaking out about it. WECOME!

[RagingInMiami]

17. A thread like this ...

is crying out for a photo of Liberaliraqvet26, a fellow South Floridian. Here is our man in DC during last year's protest.

[Vektor]

35. Nice pic! Thank you for your service, and welcome home.

Kicking this thread for a true patriot.

:patriot:

[Raksha]

18. But first a toast to DU's own fighting Dems!

:toast:

Thank you for your service...your so-called CiC doesn't deserve to lick your boots. You're worth ten of him any day!

[UrbScotty]

19. Thank you for your service.

:patriot:

[pearl]

20. Dear liberaliraqvet26

Thank You for your service. Please know a whole lot of
people are on your side.

[Catrina]

21. So glad you made it back, liberaliragvet ~ since this Congress has so

abused the troops, I hope many of those fighting Dems get to kick some of them out of office so that the American people can have some real representation again. Maybe you could run for office some day also ~ meantime, thanks for speaking the truth about this war. :patriot:

[Lugnut]

22. Thank you for your service

If anybody deserves to rant it is you. You've earned the right as far as I'm concerned.

[calimary]

23. Thank you so much for your service and your sacrifice. Thank God

you made it back in one piece. Best of all, you made it back - HERE!

:toast:

And while yer at it, just keep on visualizing...

[Tinksrival]

24. March will never be the same......

Frightning how different your life would have been under President Gore.
Great to see you check in. Hang in there.....We'll get it turned around!

Thanks for standing up for your country....then and now! :yourock:

[barbtries]

25. thank you

[Kurovski]

26. K&R

:patriot:

[TheBaldyMan]

27. K&R'd

[madokie]

28. Thank you for your service to our country and sure glad you made it back

When you feel like talking about you time feel free to let 'er rip, I think most here would really like to read what you would have to say. Sometimes talking is all one has.

[democrank]

29. Glad you`re back safely and

here with us.

[NMMNG]

30. Bravo for you

And I am truly ashamed on behalf of America for the way it treats you and other veterans. Those who risk their lives in war should fare better.

Thank you for your service. :patriot:

[Disturbed]

31. Thank you.

Please think about bloggin here. I would like to read what you may write about.

[Hekate]

32. Thanks for your service. Thanks for your voice speaking truth to power

Let those who have ears to hear...

I hope you have found a group of vets (such as VFP) to be with, in addition to DU. My vet friends tell me this is important.

So glad you made it home; so glad you made it to DU. :hug:

Hekate

[Mnemosyne]

33. So glad you are safely home liberaliraqvet26. and so very

sorry things were such shit for you here when you returned.

Hope things are better, well, as much as they can be the way things are now.

Thank you. :patriot: :hi: :hug:

[mzmolly]

34. I see your studying Political Science. Bravo to you!

I hope you can serve your country in Washington someday - if you choose.

A belated welcome home! :hug:

[ozymandius]

36. Welcome home.

I hope you stay here, to help renew our fractured country.

[underpants]

37. Thank you for spreading the freedom

We appreciate it.

[Jacobin]

39. ?

(kinda snarky there, now, weren't you?
:spank:

[underpants]

42. No

I am sure that he gets the joke.

[myrna minx]

38. Thank you so much for your service.

:hug: My friend, a Staff Sgt, is thoroughly ticked off by the admin too.

[laruemtt]

40. thank you, liberaliraqvet.

so glad you're back home and with us.

[Lisa]

41. I'm glad you're back!

Good luck with your college degree. And I hope that you don't get run off the road by a right-wing "armchair hawk" in a honkin' big SUV, sporting a "support the troops" sticker!

[Minnesota Libra]

43. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your service and I'm glad you're back home nt

[Flying Dream Blues]

44. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I'm glad you're

back safely, Liberaliraqvet.

I had no idea there were no educational benefits in spite of combat service. This is something that needs to be changed!!

[liberaliraqvet26]

45. Thanks all!!!!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

46. Bless you Iraqvet26.... and thank you for your service to our

country.... glad you are here, glad you have seen the light. :)

[bleever]

47. Thank you for your service, past and future.

:thumbsup:

[caligirl]

48. I am sorry Bush took advantage of your service to this country,

we learned this lesson as have many throughout the history of our country. While my husband was in the MC(piloting Sea Knights 46's) and after our third deployment and two sons born, we woke up to the manipulation of our lives by politicians. Breaking the code of loyalty and group think was not taken well when we got out. His CO was quite mean about it then, and there was NO WAR at the time. (1990)