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I Have Returned... Now Relax!
By Charlie
Now that I’ve found an internet connection, my contributions to OPFOR can continue unfettered. Being out of the loop for the past 2 months has been a blessing and a curse. I missed an entire war in the Middle East, so I am far behind the blogging power curve, but I’ll play catch-up to the best of my ability. On the bright side I’ve had some time to think about things, so I’ve got some new things to throw at you.
Now that I’ve got the awkward introduction over with, I want everyone to take a deep breath and relax –the country’s doing fine. What do I mean? My troops and I sit in the chow hall in the morning after PT, and in the evening after a long day of training, and we watch the news. Every day we are deluged with reports of war and violence spreading across the globe, political fractures threaten to split apart our society at home, and the threat of terrorism looms so close we can’t take a bottle of water on a plane! With all of this uncertainty and violence encroaching upon us –how can I remain optimistic, and have a belief that the future will turn out alright? Simple, every day I see the best of the country around me –the American riflemen.
We are citizen-soldiers. The Joes who now meticulously clean their M240s and PMCS their Humvees were months ago working as policemen, teachers, carpenters, engineers, accountants, salesmen, and students. Now they are soldiers. 100% of the soldiers I’m with either signed up or re-enlisted after September 11th, and a solid majority of them are volunteers. Even in uncertain times, these men have cast aside their civilian lives, loved ones, and homes to pick up a rifle and go abroad to fight for their country. A large part of the work of a soldier nowadays isn’t fighting and killing terrorists so much as it is developing societies, infrastructure, and securing the internal defense of foreign countries. Killing terrorists is treating a symptom, fixing broken countries is treating the disease. Of course, it is possible to treat both at once.
Part of the American spirit is the ability to accomplish seemingly insurmountable tasks. We, as soldiers, are instruments of a national policy that seeks to bring stability and freedom to the world –a seemingly insurmountable task. The soldiers that I work with are up to the task. That fact, that we are up to the task, is what gives me confidence and optimism. Despite the news, despite the airline warnings and troubling developments abroad, America will be OK, thanks to the American fighting man.
From the OPFOR Command Post (Forward)
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Comments
Godspeed and good hunting.
Thank you, and best of luck.
Now we Americans have to make sure our ignorant and deluded politicians don't pull you all out of there before you've had enough time to get the job done....
I'm relaxed.
I, too, am relaxed.
Hooah!
This doesn't relax me, Charlie.
I just pumps me up.
" The soldiers that I work with are up to the task. That fact, that we are up to the task, is what gives me confidence and optimism."
Amen to that. Welcome back, Charlie.
Welcome back. And I sincerely hope - for my brother and all the rest of you in uniform - that you can bring to these places a stability that is more flexible, adaptive, and real than the 'realpolitik' stability of supporting whatever dictator was currently smiling in our general direction.
Good luck, and thank you very much.
Oops. Anonymous is me. Sorry 'bout that; I plead tired. And a little drunk.
...Killing terrorists is treating a symptom, fixing broken countries is treating the disease. Of course, it is possible to treat both at once.
why is that a difficult concept to grasp? maybe that could be katie couric's closing statement on the news! thank you for your service.
When asked "How do we know when we've won?", my C.O. responded "When we kill enough of them, they'll stop fighting."
I turn to milblogs for my dose of courage. You and Smash and Dadmanly and Blackfive and Mudville remind me of the rock-solid foundation that supports our nation. Our fears and our follies come and go, but we are immensely blessed to have you protecting us all. I pray for our forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world daily. Tell your guys we love them out here in the back roads and small towns of America.
Inspiring Post!
Be safe, and happy hunting. May God bless all of you Patriots.
Too bad the New York Times only recognizes tango recruits in their assessment of how the war is going.
You all are heroes to 99% of the nation. Good luck and good hunting. Streeter.
we're linking and quoting you: http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog/archives2/003774.html
"With all of this uncertainty and violence encroaching upon us –how can I remain optimistic, and have a belief that the future will turn out alright? Simple, every day I see the best of the country around me –the American riflemen."
I'm in awe of all our American riflemen. Your post just gave me a kick in the pants. I was feeling down, but now I'm up again. Good hunting and God speed. Every thinking American is behind you all the way.
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Nice post.
Please know how much I support you and your troops and how much I respect and honor your service to our country.
God bles and protect you and your men.
Doug Santo
Pasadena, CA