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This Speakout has not been edited

By John Hyduke, Erie

This is my first time writing a letter to a newspaper. The recent mean-spirited nature of the democratic process regarding Iraq, prompted me to write.

Both political parties seem to have gravitated into polarized camps far removed from the beliefs of the mainstream independent voter. Signs reading “Impeach Bush” seem to be very much in vogue at peace protests. Leading a Nation at war is not easy. Presidents must order soldiers into battle knowing many of them will die. Those actions are never popular, but I don’t remember seeing “Impeach Truman” signs when we sent troops into Korea. Nor do I remember seeing “Impeach Johnson” signs when the Vietnam conflict heated up. We lost a lot of soldiers in those wars.

Similar to Iraq, no one could claim our enemies in those wars were an imminent threat to our homeland. To put it into perspective, we have lost 3,400 troops in Iraq over the past four years. In contrast, we lost over 40,000 troops in Korea and over 50,000 in Vietnam. Fighting any war is costly for America. What is distressing to me is our loss of civility as we discus the options of how to best deal with war. How do we, as a Nation, want to deal with Islamic extremists who will be satisfied with nothing less than the annihilation of our way of life?

How history will judge our actions remains to be seen. How I think the Iraqis will remember us may be similar to the views voiced by old Frenchman in an interview I watched on TV last June. This Frenchman said he was a young boy from a village near Normandy when the invasion took place.His viewpoint is thought provoking. “You must understand that we residents of Normandy have a different perspective on the Iraq war than the rest of our fellow Frenchmen.

Like the Iraqis, we too, were living under a dictatorship when the Allies invaded our country. These Americans left their families and homes to come here and fight for our freedom. When they left, they took nothing. All they left behind were these crosses,” he said as he pointed to the nearby military cemetery. “Perhaps, ten years from now, the Iraqis, like us, will appreciate the sacrifice the Americans made so they might live in freedom.”

I believe his statement to be true. Most of Europe lives in freedom because of the sacrifices of American troops. The same is true of South Korea and the Philippines.

I do not profess to have any answers on how we should conduct this war.What really galls me, personally, are the war protests. They had a negative effect on the troops thirty-five years ago and they are having the same effect today. No matter how many signs protestors carry saying they support the troops, their actions are not really supporting the troops. When they urge public officials to cut funding for the war, they are not really supporting the troops.

When they call for the impeachment of the President, they are not really supporting the troops. They may think their actions are supporting the troops, but like Jane Fonda’s protests during the Vietnam era, the troops don’t see it as support. I know this to be the perception of the soldiers over in Iraq. You see, my only son is serving near Baghdad as a paratrooper in an Army Airborne unit. He and his friends fear the few amenities they now have will taken away from them if Congress cuts funding. Infantrymen in Iraq work in conditions we cannot fathom back here in our comfortable homes. He is gone from his forward operating base for three weeks at a time. They sleep wherever they can find a safe place to lie down. He and his fellow troopers want only to finish their mission and come home.

If either Congress or the President decides to change our current policies, I will live with the result. Poisonous rhetoric and disruptive public protests undermine the morale of our troops.

Let the political process run its course.

READER COMMENTS

If the average American IQ is similar to Hyduke and Dottie then we're in a lot more trouble than I thought!

God Bless You & Yours, John. And all our brave men and women serving.

And very well said John. You too Dottie.

Glad to see American patriots.

Horsefeathers, this moron of a president started both of these wars and was thinking about starting both wars even before his moronic self got into the white house.
And the reason the moron gives for starting the wars is because "God Told Him To Spread Democracy" if this thinks he actually speaks to "God" he is even loonier that I thought.
As far as the real truth is concerned, him and his big business friends wanted to start the wars so the war profiteers could make lots of money and gain control of the oil in Iraq.
This moron has lied to the American public since his 1st day in office, and so has the rest of his little crime family.
And the lies just keep on coming.

Very well said. I commend the both of you. It is sad that the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News , along with most of the media. Gives more press and coverage to the idiots protesting our government. Are they balanced in their reporting? No way. Will they ever give equal coverage to support our troops? It is very doubtful.
What a sad shape our media has become.

I write in thanks to that gentleman, Mr. Hyduke, from Erie. Sir, first I would like to send my heartfelt unending thank you for serving to protect our values and freedoms and also to your precious son serving over in Iraq now. Millions upon millions of us here at home are forever in a debt that could never begin to be repaid for your courage and valor then and now. However, in many American's opinion's, mine included, is that the press chooses not to hear our voices, instead, of the minority that protest in every war that we become involved in. These are the people that seem so eager to use the freedoms that you and your son have given us at such a great price, yet they have not the honor nor courage to proudly wear the uniform of the United States Military. They have not the values and guts to truly fight for what is right. They have no concept of fighting for something worth fighting for, freedom! Yet they abuse that right each time they protest. It's easy for them! They NEVER paid the huge price that was paid by other's to be able to stand up and speak their minds. Unfortunately sir, these people are not American's! They have no concept of what freedom really is. Perhaps a trip to the middle east or Asia perhaps to see just how far they would get standing up and spouting off about the goverments there? How long would they keep their heads? And I mean that in the literal sense! No, they choose to betray the country that gave them that freedom. They abuse it to the fullest. They are NOT American's. They are the garbage that you throw out with the rest of the trash. Oh, and God forbid if we ever do get any other terrorist act on our precious country they will be the first to run and hide! Absolutely no spine nor brains! Our hero's are people such as yourself and your son. We honor both of you sir and what you both have done for this nation, we are forever gratefully in your debt. God Bless you Sir and your son and family! We are eternally grateful! Dottie Trant Aurora, CO

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