Monica Davey of The New York Times on Some Back Home Wonder, 'Why Are People Dying?'
Somewhere along the way, the military families had stopped bracing so hard for the possibility of terrible news. Baghdad was taken, the statues had toppled, and the war seemed to be winding down. So at home, the relatives of service members said they began to sleep more deeply and to eat again. Some turned off televisions that had run for weeks. A few dared to plan homecoming parties.
One day in late April, Mary Arnold opened an e-mail message and felt the first traces of relief settle in her. Her marine son, Andrew Todd Arnold, a chief warrant officer, was preparing to leave Iraq for Kuwait, the message said, where he would start cleaning up the 18 howitzers he had been responsible for. Surely this meant it was over.
Well, in the mind of the average pro-war, lock-stepper the war is over. To those of us who've actually continued to think past G.W.'s grand carrier adventure, the war isn't over until our men and women come home. Until then, we'll continue to lose some of our best and brightest to sniper fire and stupid accidents. It's much too high a price to pay over two suspected mobile labs. I am deeply ashamed of those who were foaming at the mouth in favor of war who now sit in silence, unwilling to demand that the Administration produce the evidence. A share of this blood is on their hands.
I do not appreciate your including my interview with Monica Davey on this web site. I do not agree with your position on this war and ask that you remove any reference to me and my son from this site. Thank you. Mary Arnold
6/10/2004 3:00:00
Madam:
Want you should not appreciate is the way we’ve all been lied to with regard to the reason our men and women were sent to war. You don’t have to appreciate my link to this New York Times story, but I’m not taking it down just because you disagree with me. Too many of my fellow men and women in uniform have paid a high price for an unnecessary war.
As a fellow Marine and Gulf War veteran I am disgusted and angry that our government sent our men and women overseas to fight and then lied repeatedly about the reasons why. Then backpedaled. Then made excuses for the backpedaling. I am disgusted that hundreds of well-trained and dedicated Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are no longer with us as a result of combat deaths and accidents. They should be with us now and on call when needed to defend our country from its real enemies – not being sent abroad in search of monster to destroy. Our military exists to defend OUR country, not pick fights with petty dicatators. That was the intent of the founders of this nation, that we defend ourselves and stay out of the affairs of others.
Your objection is noted, but I’m not removing the reference to this New York Times story. And I’m not going to ignore the fact that real men and women have paid the price while others tell lies and backpedal without consequence. Our military men and women have been sent off to war and this Administration has repeatedly changed their reasoning behind this war. And that’s beyond reprehensible. I’m a patriot madam. I love my country and gave it several years in active duty service, but I will not abide lying politicians in silence.
Sergeant James Landrith
United States Marine Corps
and Gulf War veteran
6/10/2004 4:20:00