As for AF/ArmyMom, the new Commander-in-Chief does respect the American flag and our country. He just doesn’t have to pander to the public to make it a point. He has served our country in community service roles which often go unrecognized. He doesn’t get medals or need to wear a lapel pin to prove it. Judge someone by their actions… not what they wear on their suit jacket.

Wow, that’s a pun, isn’t it? You used my screen name as an adjective? Golly, that’s clever.

AND, I’m sorry you, who are enlisted, have to salute your new Commander-in-Chief, when he doesn’t respect the American flag that you defend. Ponder that… Thank you all for protecting us. I hope there are funds so that your job isn’t cut.

Please dont confuse the Air Force budget with that of the other services. There is absolutley no comparison. Every squadron I have worked with has to count pennies when they order parts for aircraft.

Most units take pride in the ability to make the most out of the little funding they do recieve. And by make the most, I mean use the same printer for 30 years.

Luckily, it appears that the most probable budget cut or reallocation of funds will be removed from the Air Force’s pocket.

http://www.esemperfi.com/ForumThread.aspx?categ=News&postID=11_5_2008__2_37_PM9H6L93EHWFZBQ1TCN8CW

It was only AFTER American deaths turned out to be extremely low that they then looked for another “excuse” to bash the war and/or America.

You said the following: “Arguably, Chicago has a more lethal zip code than Iraq”

There’s no way I can squint at that and make it come out the way you want it to.

As to the naysayers you insist you were originally talking about, I’m sure you can provide some examples? Links? Quotes?

It was only AFTER American deaths turned out to be extremely low that they then looked for another “excuse” to bash the war and/or America.

Mine is a house divided, one for Obama and one for McCain, but we proudly serve our country, not just one man in office. I would like to see this forum do the same. Also, I would like to commend AJ’s comments and those others who have defended the military spouse (and the military child). We may not share an identical experience as our spouse/parent, but we are affected and we make our own sacrifices for the sake of family and country.

Obama has a huge challenge in front of him, restoring the economy and resolving the wars which began under the Bush administration. Not even a war-hero such as McCain could put a band-aid on the gaping wound our country has right now. He should have our support, not some fear-inducing, bitter journalist who shares blame not solutions with his readers.

There is no easy fix for the economy, but if having to make budget cuts (which, let’s face it… if you’ve been in the military for even a year, you know there are places in which budget cuts can be made! How many flat screen tv’s does a squadron need just so they’ll get the same funding the next year, how times does a project get sold to the lowest bidder only to be 3 years delayed and over-budget?) If there are budget cuts to be made in the military at least I am confident that Obama will go in with a scalpel and not a hatchet as was McCain’s solution. I for one believe that Mr. and Mrs. Obama will take care of our military AND their families for the greater good of our country.

Oh, for the love of God. I’ve understood what you’re asserting all along, I just DON’T AGREE with the analysis. Jesus H. Christ. Splitting the war in Iraq into two distinct campaigns is an artificial distinction to make us look better. We proved overwhelmingly better at conventional tactics, so the Iraqis turned to unconventional tactics, at which we weren’t overwhelmingly better. That switch from conventional warfare to guerrilla warfare was eminently predictable and the military should have been ready for it. It wasn’t, and that’s a bad thing.

Total: In regards to Iraqi deaths, the point I was making, admittedly in a poor fashion, was that prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq many of the naysayers laymented that the US would incurr tens of thousands of deaths. When that didn’t happen they then started arguing that the war was causing tens of thousands of Iraqi deaths.

Uh, and you’re disproving that by explicitly leaving Iraqi deaths *out* of your argument?

Ok, maybe we do not physically serve in the military, but sir, we DO serve our country alongside our spouse. We move when we are told, we kiss our spouses goodbye and comfort our children as geographically single parents so that our spouses can physically serve. WE form support commitees to SERVE our soldiers away from home and we worry countless nights until they are safely home.

As for having no inkling what war does to anyone, again sir you are mistaken. Do we not watch our spouses suffer in silent agony over the things their jobs required them to see or do? Do many military marriages not break up because of the time and distance that so often causes couples to grow apart?

And one last thing, WIVES are not the only military spouses with an opinion Sir, and I use the term sir only because it is polite to do so. I thank you for your service, but your views are outdated to say the least!

In reality, the Iraq war has been almost benign with regards to US deaths and even those wounded.

To be sure, every death and injury carries a toll upon family and friends — and, of course, the injured for those that are injured. Still, the number of deaths should not be the deciding factor vis-a-vis when we should go to war. America lost 6,000 dead on D-Day alone. The Marines lost 6,000 dead on Iwo Jima. Grant lost nearly 10,000 on the first day of the Battle of Shiloh. If we, as a country, decide to throw in the towel as soon as we hit the “magic” number, we might as well give up before we even start the fight.

It is certainly fair to question whether Iraq was a necessary fight. But it is specious to argue that the battle is wrong simply by looking at the number of combat deaths. It is the “need” for the war which determines whether the body count is too heavy a burden — not the other way around.

The WAR was an example of HARD POWER. The anti-INSURGENCY is now based on SOFT POWER, and is becoming more successful by the day (yes, I DO agree with you it started off very very badly).

You are failing to see any of the points or logic anyone is throwing at you, and instead you are bashing your head against your own stubbornness. I agree with some of your points, but mostly you are trying to compare apples and oranges.

By that standard, neither could McCain, who associated with Walter Annenberg, who funded William Ayers. Eek!

Thank you for defending the military spouse. It’s wrong for people to say that the military spouse doesn’t have any idea what is going on. Maybe our Friend posting the thrashings toward the military spouse either A. didnt have one. or B. Didn’t have one he was very proud of. By any means I’m sorry he can’t see what it is we go through. I refuse to even try to shed light for the simple fact that just thinking about it brings pain to my heart. My husband is serving his 4th tour in Iraq and as a medical platoon sergeant I get to hear about a great deal of what he has to endure. Then add in what the relationship endures, the children, and trying to learn to live with a man ridden with thoughts and memories that make it impossible to live a normal life… or friend has no idea what a military spouse goes through or how much we actually see through the eyes of our service member.

Those who can, DO (the GOOD).

Those who can’t, teach [those who prefer to impress others with magniloquent speach(GOOD teachers not included. America loves you and needs you)].

Those who can’t do either, prepare an ambuscade of polictical drivelry for the easy targets.
These folks love to lure others onto their tricycle only to pedal the lot of them into the center of a slough and spin wheels.

The ride was fun but it’s time to dismount a wash up.

Watch and pray that we do not share the fate similar to Egypt in Isaiah 19