Feb. 16th 2007
Sending Troops to Iraq
I’ve always used humor to cope. Being serious all the time is overrated. I like to laugh and I love making others laugh. Most things are either comedy or tragedy, just depends on whom you ask. How we process the world and assign comedy or tragedy depends on our perspectives, perceptions, filters, frames, expectations, and experiences. Those things can, and usually do, change over time, altering our views and opinions.
I get asked all the time about Iraq. Not too much funny about Iraq, I have to admit.
I guess because of my Marine Corps experience and my family’s involvement in Iraq, people are interested in my opinion, especially as it pertains to the President’s recent call for a “surge” in troops. As you may know, both my son Matthew and my nephew Jeff, both Iraq veterans (Jeff is in Iraq on his second tour as I write this), have talked a lot to me about the mess there.
I don’t know anything more about a solution in Iraq than the inmates of the asylum in Washington have put forward.
But here’s what I think about Mr. Bush’s surge, and this is no joke.
I suggest that George W. and Laura’s twin daughters join the Army or Marine Corps and be added to the “surge” ASAP. If Mr. Bush and the others who support the surge would put their own children in uniform, I’ll take a second look at the surge.
For an interesting research project, check to see how many of our elected officials in Washington have a son or daughter or close relative in uniform … in Iraq or Afghanistan (the other war we aren’t winning). Newly elected Senator James Webb, a graduate of the Naval Academy, winner of the Navy Cross (second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor) as a Marine platoon commander in Vietnam, former Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan (the youngest Secretary of the Navy in US history), and a prolific author, has a son in the Marine Corps … in Iraq.
I’ll listen to Mr. Webb on this issue. And when I see the Bush twins in uniform, I’ll listen to their dad. All other politicians will either need to ante up or shut up.
– 30 –