A Life, Wasted - a parent speaks

A Life, Wasted
Let's Stop This War Before More Heroes Are Killed

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...010200974.html

Early on Aug. 3, 2005, we heard that 14 Marines had been killed in Haditha, Iraq. Our son, Lance Cpl. Edward "Augie" Schroeder II, was stationed there. At 10:45 a.m. two Marines showed up at our door. After collecting himself for what was clearly painful duty, the lieutenant colonel said, "Your son is a true American hero."

Though it hurts, I believe that his death -- and that of the other Americans who have died in Iraq -- was a waste. They were wasted in a belief that democracy would grow simply by removing a dictator -- a careless misunderstanding of what democracy requires. They were wasted by not sending enough troops to do the job needed in the resulting occupation -- a careless disregard for professional military counsel. But their deaths will not be in vain if Americans stop hiding behind flag-draped hero masks and stop whispering their opposition to this war. Until then, the lives of other sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers may be wasted as well. This is very painful to acknowledge, and I have to live with it. So does President Bush.

A reminder that, behind the politics, there are families paying a very real price.

Heartbreaking isn't it?

And those families who are proud that their children died in this so-called fight-for-freedom are very similar to the families of the radicals who are ALSO proud that their children dried for fighting for THEIR cause.

Such a waste.

Two painful questions remain for all of us. Are the lives of Americans being killed in Iraq wasted? Are they dying in vain? President Bush says those who criticize staying the course are not honoring the dead. That is twisted logic: honor the fallen by killing another 2,000 troops in a broken policy? I choose to honor our fallen hero by remembering who he was in life, not how he died. A picture of a smiling Augie in Iraq, sunglasses turned upside down, shows his essence -- a joyous kid who could use any prop to make others feel the same way.

For the love of God, I hope this madness ends soon. The questions are painful, maybe too painful for many to really examine. Until they are seriously examined though, we will continue to lose great men and women in an ill conceived war.

It is friggin breaking my heart. The waste is abhorrent and tragic.

So much potential being wasted...and for what?

In our last conversation, Augie complained that the cost in lives to clear insurgents was "less and less worth it," because Marines have to keep coming back to clear the same places. Marine commanders in the field say the same thing. Without sufficient troops, they can't hold the towns. Augie was killed on his fifth mission to clear Haditha.

You'd never know it from the lack of media coverage in the US.

The work in Iraq is difficult and it is dangerous. Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed. Every picture is horrifying, and the suffering is real. Amid all this violence, I know Americans ask the question: Is the sacrifice worth it? It is worth it, and it is vital to the future security of our country. ~ President Bush

(pardon me while I lose it)

Be warned these pictures of US soldiers is painful and graphic: Do They Think It’s Worth It? http://www.lewrockwell.com/vance/vance66.html

Running cost of Iraq war $$$$: http://nationalpriorities.org/index....per&Itemid=182

:worry2: :worry2: :worry2:

it's just so crazy. Will we nver learn from our past mistakes? It wasn't enough we had 58,000 dead in Vietnam but now this.

Originally Posted by LindaK You'd never know it from the lack of media coverage in the US. (pardon me while I lose it) Be warned these pictures of US soldiers is painful and graphic: Do They Think It’s Worth It? http://www.lewrockwell.com/vance/vance66.html

the bush administration evidently thinks it's worth it. fortunately for the administration, none of theirs is fighting in iraq. do as i say, not as i do.

to post cruel jokes , NASTY pictures, spread some sickening lies, about this grieving Gold Star parent? Quick all you FREEPER-types- who wants to post the first cruel joke, or how about a few death threats? Where are the Bush regime's SPEW on CUE CREW? :mad2:
Perhaps the more decent folks wake up to reality, the more the HATE mongerers will think a little harder before they attack those who care enough about others to speak up. :gvibes: