Mike Luckovich
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
I'm going to ask one more time...Who supports the troops?
Geez! When I think these people in the administration can't get any lower, they go and do it again.
As a member of Military Families Speak Out, we say Bring the Troops Home Now and take care of them when they get here. It's simple. The president sent the military to fight a war (make no mistake the country is at war- we aren't, but the military is). The president sent them without the proper equipment, without proper training, without a clear mission and without a plan for the peace. There is no exit plan either, but that discussion is for another time.
When the military is sent in service to this country, we owe them for the rest of their lives. We owe them for healthcare; mental and physical. We owe them for lost job opportunities by giving them educational and vocational training. We owe them a hell of a lot more than they get now.
When these cretins in the White House say they support the troops; they are still lying because they don't. They don't even know what "support the troops means". They don't care that much of the military is on their 2nd, 3rd or fourth deployment. They don't care how many have been extended because they, the administration, didn't make any plans to manage this war and they never had enough soldiers there at any time during these past 4 years anyway. They don't care what being at war means to the families and they sure as hell don't care about the families of the fallen- that would be families like mine.
When I read an article like this, it really makes me crazy because Bush gets up and talks about sacrifice and then they pull a stunt like this- cutting programs that take care of the severely injured. Yes, there is another program called the Army Wounded Warrior program, or AW2 in army jargon. Why lay off the Military Severely Injured Center employees? Why not transition them into AW2? And what about the other services who surely have severely injured Marines, Seaman and Airmen (sorry, ladies, you, too!), where do they go?
Sources say case workers for wounded laid off
Defense Department officials have laid off most of their case workers who help severely injured service members, sources said.
The case workers for the Military Severely Injured Center serve as advocates for wounded service members who have questions or issues related to benefits, financial resources and their successful return to duty or reintegration into civilian life — all forms of support other than medical care.
The center officially opened in February 2005, with its primary offices in Arlington, Va., but also hired advocates at hospitals around the country.
Four sources said the decision was made to cut back the personnel because officials with the ArmyÂ’s Wounded Warrior program felt the Defense Department program was a duplication of efforts.
Defense officials did not comment on the actions as of Jan. 19. Wounded Warrior officials also could not be reached.
Reports indicate that Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Fort Campbell, Ky., were among the locations that had case workers cut. It is not clear what will happen to case workers at the Arlington center.
The only case workers that have not been laid off are at three hospitals: Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas; Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii; and Naval Medical Center San Diego, sources said. But those case workers will not be allowed to work with soldiers and must refer them to the Army Wounded Warrior program.
The laid-off workers were told Wednesday to finish up their case work with severely injured troops, and that Friday would be their last day.
“I’m just livid about this,” said Janice Buckley, Washington state chapter president for Operation Homefront. She was notified that the two case workers at Fort Lewis were given short notice that their jobs were ending, but she has no further information.
“They did a fabulous job for these families,” Buckley said. “The kind of work they do for these families who are hanging by a thread ... no other organization helped service members and their families like they did.”
The MSIC case workers provided the wounded service members with contacts and referrals to other organizations and agencies, ranging from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Social Security Administration, depending on their individual needs. Operation Homefront often helps with the familiesÂ’ emergency financial needs.
As a member of Military Families Speak Out, we say Bring the Troops Home Now and take care of them when they get here. It's simple. The president sent the military to fight a war (make no mistake the country is at war- we aren't, but the military is). The president sent them without the proper equipment, without proper training, without a clear mission and without a plan for the peace. There is no exit plan either, but that discussion is for another time.
When the military is sent in service to this country, we owe them for the rest of their lives. We owe them for healthcare; mental and physical. We owe them for lost job opportunities by giving them educational and vocational training. We owe them a hell of a lot more than they get now.
When these cretins in the White House say they support the troops; they are still lying because they don't. They don't even know what "support the troops means". They don't care that much of the military is on their 2nd, 3rd or fourth deployment. They don't care how many have been extended because they, the administration, didn't make any plans to manage this war and they never had enough soldiers there at any time during these past 4 years anyway. They don't care what being at war means to the families and they sure as hell don't care about the families of the fallen- that would be families like mine.
When I read an article like this, it really makes me crazy because Bush gets up and talks about sacrifice and then they pull a stunt like this- cutting programs that take care of the severely injured. Yes, there is another program called the Army Wounded Warrior program, or AW2 in army jargon. Why lay off the Military Severely Injured Center employees? Why not transition them into AW2? And what about the other services who surely have severely injured Marines, Seaman and Airmen (sorry, ladies, you, too!), where do they go?
Sources say case workers for wounded laid off
Defense Department officials have laid off most of their case workers who help severely injured service members, sources said.
The case workers for the Military Severely Injured Center serve as advocates for wounded service members who have questions or issues related to benefits, financial resources and their successful return to duty or reintegration into civilian life — all forms of support other than medical care.
The center officially opened in February 2005, with its primary offices in Arlington, Va., but also hired advocates at hospitals around the country.
Four sources said the decision was made to cut back the personnel because officials with the ArmyÂ’s Wounded Warrior program felt the Defense Department program was a duplication of efforts.
Defense officials did not comment on the actions as of Jan. 19. Wounded Warrior officials also could not be reached.
Reports indicate that Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Lewis, Wash.; and Fort Campbell, Ky., were among the locations that had case workers cut. It is not clear what will happen to case workers at the Arlington center.
The only case workers that have not been laid off are at three hospitals: Brooke Army Medical Center, Texas; Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii; and Naval Medical Center San Diego, sources said. But those case workers will not be allowed to work with soldiers and must refer them to the Army Wounded Warrior program.
The laid-off workers were told Wednesday to finish up their case work with severely injured troops, and that Friday would be their last day.
“I’m just livid about this,” said Janice Buckley, Washington state chapter president for Operation Homefront. She was notified that the two case workers at Fort Lewis were given short notice that their jobs were ending, but she has no further information.
“They did a fabulous job for these families,” Buckley said. “The kind of work they do for these families who are hanging by a thread ... no other organization helped service members and their families like they did.”
The MSIC case workers provided the wounded service members with contacts and referrals to other organizations and agencies, ranging from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Social Security Administration, depending on their individual needs. Operation Homefront often helps with the familiesÂ’ emergency financial needs.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
SAY NO TO ESCALATION OF IRAQ WAR
I'm turning this over to Brad Cotton, Veterans for Peace, Southern Ohio Chapter. I hear this will be distributed by VFP at the national level, so here's your sneak peek.
I like the men and women of Veterans for Peace. One of my VFP friends once told me "If you aren't fighting for peace, what are you fighting for?
===============
SAY NO TO ESCALATION OF IRAQ WAR
Out of fear comes the most grievous and hurtful mistakes. We should have listened to Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, October 2002 when he urged his fellows to adjourn their debate on funding the Iraq War to take a prayerful visit to the 58,000 names on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. Those 58,000 names on solemn black marble speak to those who can quiet themselves to listen, lives ended by another unjust tragic war. The Senate did not hear them on that day. Neither did we Those in Congress, our intelligence and military communities, concerned about the lack of any real evidence of an Iraq 9/11 connection or of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), those knowledgeable of Iraq history who warned that invading Iraq would likely result in years of bloody Shiite/Sunni civil war, their voices were drowned out by the pulse-quickening, stirring emotions of post 9/11 fear and anger. "Shock and Awe" makes better television sound bites than the quieter virtues of thoughtful praying for guidance. Fear sells, war fever sells, they always have. The oldest political trick in the book., played just before mid-term elections.
We attacked, a shameful un-American, immoral strike-first war of choice. We became a mob. Now, over 3,000 of us are dead, 23,000 wounded, many horribly, horribly so. Iraqi dead totals are unknown, at least a 100,000, maybe 600,000. $450 billion wasted, our future mortgaged. Our national moral fiber damaged, we torture, we just don't call it that. We hold detainees in secret prisons, with no hope of a fair hearing. We scorn international opinion. Now our President asks us to escalate, compound this terrible national mistake?
Where is the remorse that generally befalls those have been part of a mob action? Did it speak in our recent elections? Did remorse speak through Colin Powell, now proclaiming against the war, who initially warned Mr. Bush that "you break it, you own it" but then, like a loyal soldier supported his Commander in Chief? Did remorse speak through the voluntary re-assignments of Generals Casey, Dempsey and Abizaid rather than continue to oversee this Iraq tragedy? this escalation? Dick Cheney spoke of his remorse over shooting his friend in a hunting accident, where is his remorse over the mountains of corpses his neo-conservative aggressive policies have created? Mr. Bush says he is moved by the deaths of those who might be alive except for the war he wanted so badly. Is he really? Mr. Bush avoided combat in Vietnam, so did Mr. Cheney, Mr. Rumsfeld, Mr. Rove. Would they be so quick to send others to kill and be killed if they had served? Doesn't genuine remorse imply a genuine desire to try to right the harm we have done? If Mr. Bush is remorseful, as he says he is, why is still so blatantly misleading us, claiming it is al-Qaida terrorists rather than civil war that grips Iraq?
Mr. Bush's address to the nation of 10 January is more of the same. More of the same deliberately misleading, posturing and dangerous rhetoric. Deliberately misleading because Mr. Bush never misses an opportunity to imply that we are fighting the 9/11 terrorists and al-Qaida in Iraq. Again, there was not one Iraqi among the 9/11 hijackers. There are very few al-Qaida terrorists in Iraq, there were none at all until we destabilized the region. The inconvenient fact, and facts are often inconvenient for Mr. Bush , is that it is simply, absolutely, verifiably not "the 9/11 terrorists" we are fighting in Iraq. It is a Shiite/Sunni civil war, precipitated, as were the ethnic cleansings in Sarajevo and Kosovo, by the break-up of central authority, the Soviet Union in the case of Yugoslavia, the removal of Saddam in Iraq. This Shiite/Sunni civil war was predicted by Mr. Baker, Mr. Hamilton, lately of the Iraq Study Group but earlier advisers to the elder Bush in 1991, they warned him that going on to Baghdad would likely result in such uncontrollable civil carnage. The elder Bush listened, "The Decider" did not. Mr. Bush still doesn't, perhaps cannot listen.
Mr. Bush's rhetoric is dangerous for U.S. troops, continuing to soak up lead in a futile attempt to keep the Shiites, Sunnis apart. The Pentagon Joint Chiefs of Staff, finally standing up to this reckless President, advised against escalation as the Iraq War is already destroying our military. We brought on this Iraqi civil war, our continuing presence, most Iraqis feel, only fans the flames. Iraq Prime Minister al-Maliki asked us not to send more troops, Polls show the Iraqi people want us out, many consider attacks on our troops justified Perhaps we should listen to them, it is their land, not ours. Is it not?
I spoke on the Ohio Statehouse lawn this past summer at "Eyes Wide Open" an exhibit sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers). This very powerful exhibit includes an empty pair of combat boots for every U.S. military death in Iraq. There were 2,497 then, they filled the lawn. It took a host of volunteers a whole morning to place them. I helped make sure photos, letters, stuffed bears, flowers personalized for many of the dead soldiers were attached to the correct boot. I looked into many of the faces of our dead, placed letters from their families where they were intended. I spoke of my time as an officer with the U.S. Army 256th Combat Support Hospital and 2291st U.S. Army Hospital. I remember being embarrassed at being saluted. We did medical physicals on many local reserve units, I remember their young faces, the hopes and dreams they told me of, joining the reserves as a means to better themselves, learn a trade, get money for college. Many of them from less than privileged backgrounds, they were trying to make the American dream come true for them, "working their way up" in the time honored way.
I am sick at heart that we are killing these young men and women so that our President can save face, avoid admitting he made an awful and incompetent mistake, a mistake so awful that it is tough to look at square on. How many more lives will it take so that Mr. Bush can posture himself as not having lost in Iraq, a fight we should never have started in the first place.? How many more lives, ours and theirs, so that Mr. Bush can claim that it is the Democrats fault, not his, that we were not "victorious"? Victory defined as us arrogantly determining how a foreign land shall conduct its affairs. I understand the Quaker Norman Morrison, who set himself afire at the Pentagon November1965, in sympathy with the Vietnamese Buddhists who had similarly protested the brutal and repressive South Vietnamese regime and the war. Remembering the blood Father Berrigan poured on draft files in 1968, I think of the blood that is figuratively dripping from every "Bush-Cheney O4" bumper sticker, that is dripping from every Republican who told us that they had a special arrangement with God himself, that to oppose them and their war policies was to be without faith or values.
We can bring meaning to the deaths of so many. We can ensure that our dead, and theirs, are the last victims of 11 September 2001. It is obvious that our current White House administration is out of control, delusional, mumbling to paintings in the halls as Nixon did in his last days, unable to stop the war. We must thus stop it for them, as our Constitution promises we can. I urge you to write, call you congressmen and Senators, ask them to cut off the funds for this unjustifiable war, ask for troop withdrawal and a pledge of no permanent bases in Iraq. Ask that we talk to Iran, rather than rattling the saber at them, that we not launch a strike-first war in thatland. Ask that we decry military adventurism and thus stop seeing the entire world as" either with us or against us" ,or as an "axis of evil" The nation that lives by the sword, shall be destroyed by the sword. Write letters to the editor. Live peace. Speak the truth to your children. Pray for our land.
Brad Cotton
Member, Veterans for Peace, Southern Ohio Chapter
I like the men and women of Veterans for Peace. One of my VFP friends once told me "If you aren't fighting for peace, what are you fighting for?
===============
SAY NO TO ESCALATION OF IRAQ WAR
Out of fear comes the most grievous and hurtful mistakes. We should have listened to Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, October 2002 when he urged his fellows to adjourn their debate on funding the Iraq War to take a prayerful visit to the 58,000 names on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall. Those 58,000 names on solemn black marble speak to those who can quiet themselves to listen, lives ended by another unjust tragic war. The Senate did not hear them on that day. Neither did we Those in Congress, our intelligence and military communities, concerned about the lack of any real evidence of an Iraq 9/11 connection or of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), those knowledgeable of Iraq history who warned that invading Iraq would likely result in years of bloody Shiite/Sunni civil war, their voices were drowned out by the pulse-quickening, stirring emotions of post 9/11 fear and anger. "Shock and Awe" makes better television sound bites than the quieter virtues of thoughtful praying for guidance. Fear sells, war fever sells, they always have. The oldest political trick in the book., played just before mid-term elections.
We attacked, a shameful un-American, immoral strike-first war of choice. We became a mob. Now, over 3,000 of us are dead, 23,000 wounded, many horribly, horribly so. Iraqi dead totals are unknown, at least a 100,000, maybe 600,000. $450 billion wasted, our future mortgaged. Our national moral fiber damaged, we torture, we just don't call it that. We hold detainees in secret prisons, with no hope of a fair hearing. We scorn international opinion. Now our President asks us to escalate, compound this terrible national mistake?
Where is the remorse that generally befalls those have been part of a mob action? Did it speak in our recent elections? Did remorse speak through Colin Powell, now proclaiming against the war, who initially warned Mr. Bush that "you break it, you own it" but then, like a loyal soldier supported his Commander in Chief? Did remorse speak through the voluntary re-assignments of Generals Casey, Dempsey and Abizaid rather than continue to oversee this Iraq tragedy? this escalation? Dick Cheney spoke of his remorse over shooting his friend in a hunting accident, where is his remorse over the mountains of corpses his neo-conservative aggressive policies have created? Mr. Bush says he is moved by the deaths of those who might be alive except for the war he wanted so badly. Is he really? Mr. Bush avoided combat in Vietnam, so did Mr. Cheney, Mr. Rumsfeld, Mr. Rove. Would they be so quick to send others to kill and be killed if they had served? Doesn't genuine remorse imply a genuine desire to try to right the harm we have done? If Mr. Bush is remorseful, as he says he is, why is still so blatantly misleading us, claiming it is al-Qaida terrorists rather than civil war that grips Iraq?
Mr. Bush's address to the nation of 10 January is more of the same. More of the same deliberately misleading, posturing and dangerous rhetoric. Deliberately misleading because Mr. Bush never misses an opportunity to imply that we are fighting the 9/11 terrorists and al-Qaida in Iraq. Again, there was not one Iraqi among the 9/11 hijackers. There are very few al-Qaida terrorists in Iraq, there were none at all until we destabilized the region. The inconvenient fact, and facts are often inconvenient for Mr. Bush , is that it is simply, absolutely, verifiably not "the 9/11 terrorists" we are fighting in Iraq. It is a Shiite/Sunni civil war, precipitated, as were the ethnic cleansings in Sarajevo and Kosovo, by the break-up of central authority, the Soviet Union in the case of Yugoslavia, the removal of Saddam in Iraq. This Shiite/Sunni civil war was predicted by Mr. Baker, Mr. Hamilton, lately of the Iraq Study Group but earlier advisers to the elder Bush in 1991, they warned him that going on to Baghdad would likely result in such uncontrollable civil carnage. The elder Bush listened, "The Decider" did not. Mr. Bush still doesn't, perhaps cannot listen.
Mr. Bush's rhetoric is dangerous for U.S. troops, continuing to soak up lead in a futile attempt to keep the Shiites, Sunnis apart. The Pentagon Joint Chiefs of Staff, finally standing up to this reckless President, advised against escalation as the Iraq War is already destroying our military. We brought on this Iraqi civil war, our continuing presence, most Iraqis feel, only fans the flames. Iraq Prime Minister al-Maliki asked us not to send more troops, Polls show the Iraqi people want us out, many consider attacks on our troops justified Perhaps we should listen to them, it is their land, not ours. Is it not?
I spoke on the Ohio Statehouse lawn this past summer at "Eyes Wide Open" an exhibit sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers). This very powerful exhibit includes an empty pair of combat boots for every U.S. military death in Iraq. There were 2,497 then, they filled the lawn. It took a host of volunteers a whole morning to place them. I helped make sure photos, letters, stuffed bears, flowers personalized for many of the dead soldiers were attached to the correct boot. I looked into many of the faces of our dead, placed letters from their families where they were intended. I spoke of my time as an officer with the U.S. Army 256th Combat Support Hospital and 2291st U.S. Army Hospital. I remember being embarrassed at being saluted. We did medical physicals on many local reserve units, I remember their young faces, the hopes and dreams they told me of, joining the reserves as a means to better themselves, learn a trade, get money for college. Many of them from less than privileged backgrounds, they were trying to make the American dream come true for them, "working their way up" in the time honored way.
I am sick at heart that we are killing these young men and women so that our President can save face, avoid admitting he made an awful and incompetent mistake, a mistake so awful that it is tough to look at square on. How many more lives will it take so that Mr. Bush can posture himself as not having lost in Iraq, a fight we should never have started in the first place.? How many more lives, ours and theirs, so that Mr. Bush can claim that it is the Democrats fault, not his, that we were not "victorious"? Victory defined as us arrogantly determining how a foreign land shall conduct its affairs. I understand the Quaker Norman Morrison, who set himself afire at the Pentagon November1965, in sympathy with the Vietnamese Buddhists who had similarly protested the brutal and repressive South Vietnamese regime and the war. Remembering the blood Father Berrigan poured on draft files in 1968, I think of the blood that is figuratively dripping from every "Bush-Cheney O4" bumper sticker, that is dripping from every Republican who told us that they had a special arrangement with God himself, that to oppose them and their war policies was to be without faith or values.
We can bring meaning to the deaths of so many. We can ensure that our dead, and theirs, are the last victims of 11 September 2001. It is obvious that our current White House administration is out of control, delusional, mumbling to paintings in the halls as Nixon did in his last days, unable to stop the war. We must thus stop it for them, as our Constitution promises we can. I urge you to write, call you congressmen and Senators, ask them to cut off the funds for this unjustifiable war, ask for troop withdrawal and a pledge of no permanent bases in Iraq. Ask that we talk to Iran, rather than rattling the saber at them, that we not launch a strike-first war in thatland. Ask that we decry military adventurism and thus stop seeing the entire world as" either with us or against us" ,or as an "axis of evil" The nation that lives by the sword, shall be destroyed by the sword. Write letters to the editor. Live peace. Speak the truth to your children. Pray for our land.
Brad Cotton
Member, Veterans for Peace, Southern Ohio Chapter
Saturday, January 13, 2007
They Can't Handle the Truth
On January this exchange took place between Senator Barbara Boxer and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice at a Senate Foreign Relations Hearing. The Senator said she wanted to focus on the human consequences of the decision to escalate the war by sending 20,000 more troops into Iraq.
The conservatives are having a field day distorting these words and accusing Boxer of attacking Rice because she was childless. White House spokesmodel, Tony Snow said that Boxer had made a "giant leap backward for feminism". (what does he know about feminsim?).
The New York Post called the comments a LOW BLOW. They said Breathtaking. Simply breathtaking. We scarcely know where to begin. The junior senator from California apparently believes that an accomplished, seasoned diplomat, a renowned scholar and an adviser to two presidents like Condoleezza Rice is not fully qualified to make policy at the highest levels of the American government because she is a single, childless woman. (Really. I'm not making this up!)
Boxer, defending herself against critics from the right, said Friday that she was "speaking truth to power" at a Senate hearing Thursday when she confronted the secretary of state -- who is unmarried and childless -- noting that neither she nor Rice will "pay a price" personally for sending more American troops to war.
Of course Senator Barbara Boxer spoke the truth in the hearings with Condoleezza Rice regarding the war in
When we met with the Senator at her office in DC in May 2006, 2 Blue Star Moms and me, a Gold Star Mom, she made it perfectly clear that she understands the sacrifice of the “American military and their families''. 2 short weeks after that meeting, we knew she understood our sacrifice when she introduced legislation in the Senate- To spur a political solution in
It is sad that this administration and many others have to twist the Senator’s words to find their brand of truth. How sad that they disregard her words about sacrifice which allows them to avoid dealing with our own. If they were offended, perhaps they should try to understand why. Were they offended because 3017
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Signe WilkinsonTuesday, January 09, 2007
DE-FUND THE WAR
We are in a crisis, or probably more true, the crisis in this country continues. If you've never written or made a phone call to a legislator; the time is now. If you won't do it for me, or for Ken, do it for your children and their children. But just do it!
If you don't know how to find contact information; here ya go. http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ Enter your zipcode and you are almost done!
On Wednesday evening, President Bush will be discussing his plans for a new strategy for victory in Iraq. He will announce that he will increase the troop level by 20,000 in Iraq, most likely in the Baghdad area. The problem is, these aren't new troops, these are troops that will be extended, stop-lossed, deployed for the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time. You cannot expect them to fight in open combat with no clear mission and no hope. This is abuse of the military and the troops, plain and simple.
If you don't believe me, check out this group who boasts Newt Gingrich, Lynn Cheney and Richard Perle on their staff of scholars. I don't want to give these guys anymore publicity than they already have, but these guys are scary, as in PNAC scary. Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq I don't know if I should throw up or throw myself off a bridge. Their plan? The only "surge" option that makes sense is both long and large.
Crank up the computer, we have no time to waste. Let your legislators know that they might not have run their election on this war, but they won on this war. It is time for action and time to stand up to this president. It is time to end the war and time bring the troops home NOW!
Here is my letter- I even included a photo of Ken in case they think we'll let them forget the faces of our children who were killed in Bush's war.
DE-FUND THE WAR
I am writing to you about George Bush’s plans for a new strategy in Iraq that will be announced this week. This so called “surge” is just another buzzword in this administration’s arsenal of rhetoric to convince the public the war in Iraq is winnable. If there was every a chance for victory, and I don’t think there was, we have long passed that day. Call it what it is and address it head on. This “surge” is an escalation of the war and will only result in more deaths of Americans and Iraqis.
I am counting on you to listen to the message that was sent to Washington last November, end the U.S. military occupation of Iraq. There is one way for Congress to make this happen: vote against further appropriations that allow the war in Iraq to continue -- de-fund the war.
3014 dead US troops, including my only child, Lt Ken Ballard who was killed in Najaf, May 30, 2004 is 3014 too many- any number more than zero was too many for this war based on lies. You can prevent one more family from answering the knock on the door only to have their heart ripped open and to trade their loved one for a folded flag.
You cannot simultaneously oppose and fund this war. There are ample funds already appropriated to bring our troops home quickly and safely, with the armor, protective equipment, supplies, vehicles, ammunition, food and water they will need during redeployment. Where you put the money will determine the real answer to the question- do you support the war or do you support the troops?
Every day you neglect to end this war you are also condemning 3 US troops to death. My son and the 3000+ other troops whose lives were sacrificed by George Bush will be best honored by a nation and a Congress with the courage to end this war.
I urge you to have the same courage that my son and his fellow troops exhibited when their Commander in Chief gave orders to invade Iraq. You must have the courage to stand up to that same Commander in Chief and say NO escalation, NO more troops, NO more funding for this hideous war.
Karen Meredith
Proud Gold Star Mom of Lt Ken Ballard- KIA 5.30.04
If you don't know how to find contact information; here ya go. http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ Enter your zipcode and you are almost done!
On Wednesday evening, President Bush will be discussing his plans for a new strategy for victory in Iraq. He will announce that he will increase the troop level by 20,000 in Iraq, most likely in the Baghdad area. The problem is, these aren't new troops, these are troops that will be extended, stop-lossed, deployed for the 2nd, 3rd or 4th time. You cannot expect them to fight in open combat with no clear mission and no hope. This is abuse of the military and the troops, plain and simple.
If you don't believe me, check out this group who boasts Newt Gingrich, Lynn Cheney and Richard Perle on their staff of scholars. I don't want to give these guys anymore publicity than they already have, but these guys are scary, as in PNAC scary. Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq I don't know if I should throw up or throw myself off a bridge. Their plan? The only "surge" option that makes sense is both long and large.
Crank up the computer, we have no time to waste. Let your legislators know that they might not have run their election on this war, but they won on this war. It is time for action and time to stand up to this president. It is time to end the war and time bring the troops home NOW!
Here is my letter- I even included a photo of Ken in case they think we'll let them forget the faces of our children who were killed in Bush's war.
DE-FUND THE WAR
I am writing to you about George Bush’s plans for a new strategy in Iraq that will be announced this week. This so called “surge” is just another buzzword in this administration’s arsenal of rhetoric to convince the public the war in Iraq is winnable. If there was every a chance for victory, and I don’t think there was, we have long passed that day. Call it what it is and address it head on. This “surge” is an escalation of the war and will only result in more deaths of Americans and Iraqis.
I am counting on you to listen to the message that was sent to Washington last November, end the U.S. military occupation of Iraq. There is one way for Congress to make this happen: vote against further appropriations that allow the war in Iraq to continue -- de-fund the war.
3014 dead US troops, including my only child, Lt Ken Ballard who was killed in Najaf, May 30, 2004 is 3014 too many- any number more than zero was too many for this war based on lies. You can prevent one more family from answering the knock on the door only to have their heart ripped open and to trade their loved one for a folded flag.
You cannot simultaneously oppose and fund this war. There are ample funds already appropriated to bring our troops home quickly and safely, with the armor, protective equipment, supplies, vehicles, ammunition, food and water they will need during redeployment. Where you put the money will determine the real answer to the question- do you support the war or do you support the troops?
Every day you neglect to end this war you are also condemning 3 US troops to death. My son and the 3000+ other troops whose lives were sacrificed by George Bush will be best honored by a nation and a Congress with the courage to end this war.
I urge you to have the same courage that my son and his fellow troops exhibited when their Commander in Chief gave orders to invade Iraq. You must have the courage to stand up to that same Commander in Chief and say NO escalation, NO more troops, NO more funding for this hideous war.
Karen Meredith
Proud Gold Star Mom of Lt Ken Ballard- KIA 5.30.04
Friday, January 05, 2007
Nancy, we heard you
On January 4, 2007, Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House. It's about time we have a woman in a high profile and powerful position in Washington, DC. Surely, no one should ever be given a position like this because they are a man or a woman; but because they earned it.
In her first remarks as Speaker, she made some firm commitments to make change in the way Congress does business. She made commitments to change the the direction of our country and to work in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship
The election of 2006 was a call to change, not merely to change the control of Congress, but for a new direction for our country. Nowhere were the American people more clear about the need for a new direction than in the war in Iraq.
The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war without end. Shortly, President Bush will address the nation on the subject of Iraq. It is the responsibility of the president to articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streets and their own security, a plan that promotes stability in the region and a plan that allows us to responsibly redeploy our troops.
Let us work together to be the Congress that rebuilds our military to meet the national security challenges of the 21st century.
Let us be the Congress that strongly honors our responsibility to protect our the American people from terrorism.
Let us be the Congress that never forgets our commitment to our veterans and our first responders, always honoring them as the heroes that they are.
Her words are simple and clear. They are a powerful and by them, we know that she not only heard what the voters said to Washington in November, but she listened.
We will find out soon enough if she really listened. Be very sure that we will remind her of these words if they were just a soundbite on her first day on the job.
We are listening.
In her first remarks as Speaker, she made some firm commitments to make change in the way Congress does business. She made commitments to change the the direction of our country and to work in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship
The election of 2006 was a call to change, not merely to change the control of Congress, but for a new direction for our country. Nowhere were the American people more clear about the need for a new direction than in the war in Iraq.
The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war without end. Shortly, President Bush will address the nation on the subject of Iraq. It is the responsibility of the president to articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that they must defend their own streets and their own security, a plan that promotes stability in the region and a plan that allows us to responsibly redeploy our troops.
Let us work together to be the Congress that rebuilds our military to meet the national security challenges of the 21st century.
Let us be the Congress that strongly honors our responsibility to protect our the American people from terrorism.
Let us be the Congress that never forgets our commitment to our veterans and our first responders, always honoring them as the heroes that they are.
Her words are simple and clear. They are a powerful and by them, we know that she not only heard what the voters said to Washington in November, but she listened.
We will find out soon enough if she really listened. Be very sure that we will remind her of these words if they were just a soundbite on her first day on the job.
We are listening.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Keith Olberman & Sacrifice
This Special Comment by Keith Olberman may well be the best 11 minutes you've listened to in a very long time. (If you'd rather read it, scroll down. )
Will the legislators we've elected use the same logic and analytical skills that this newman does? Will they be able to stand up for the peace that we asked them for, no, demanded from them in the November election.
This should be mandatory listening for ALL of Washington as the 110th Congress takes shape. They must remember why we sent them to DC. They must remember who they work for. WE THE PEOPLE!
Transcript
Olbermann: Special comment about 'sacrifice'
BBC reports Bush will reveal troop surge plan in sacrifice-themed speech
SPECIAL COMMENT
By Keith Olbermann
If in your presence an individual tried to sacrifice an American serviceman or woman, would you intervene?
Would you at least protest?
What if he had already sacrificed 3,003 of them?
What if he had already sacrificed 3,003 of them — and was then to announce his intention to sacrifice hundreds, maybe thousands, more?
This is where we stand tonight with the BBC report of President Bush’s “new Iraq strategy,” and his impending speech to the nation, which, according to a quoted senior American official, will be about troop increases and “sacrifice.”
The president has delayed, dawdled and deferred for the month since the release of the Iraq Study Group.
He has seemingly heard out everybody, and listened to none of them.
If the BBC is right — and we can only pray it is not — he has settled on the only solution all the true experts agree cannot possibly work: more American personnel in Iraq, not as trainers for Iraqi troops, but as part of some flabby plan for “sacrifice.”
Sacrifice!
More American servicemen and women will have their lives risked.
More American servicemen and women will have their lives ended.
More American families will have to bear the unbearable and rationalize the unforgivable —“sacrifice” — sacrifice now, sacrifice tomorrow, sacrifice forever.
And more Americans — more even than the two-thirds who already believe we need fewer troops in Iraq, not more — will have to conclude the president does not have any idea what he’s doing — and that other Americans will have to die for that reason.
It must now be branded as propaganda — for even the president cannot truly feel that very many people still believe him to be competent in this area, let alone “the decider.”
But from our impeccable reporter at the Pentagon, Jim Miklaszewski, tonight comes confirmation of something called “surge and accelerate” — as many as 20,000 additional troops —f or “political purposes” ...
This, in line with what we had previously heard, that this will be proclaimed a short-term measure, for the stated purpose of increasing security in and around Baghdad, and giving an Iraqi government a chance to establish some kind of order.
This is palpable nonsense, Mr. Bush.
If this is your intention — if the centerpiece of your announcement next week will be “sacrifice” — sacrifice your intention, not more American lives!
As Sen. Joseph Biden has pointed out, the new troops might improve the ratio our forces face relative to those living in Baghdad (friend and foe), from 200 to 1, to just 100 to 1.
“Sacrifice?”
No.
A drop in the bucket.
The additional men and women you have sentenced to go there, sir, will serve only as targets.
They will not be there “short-term,” Mr. Bush; for many it will mean a year or more in death’s shadow.
This is not temporary, Mr. Bush.
For the Americans who will die because of you, it will be as permanent as it gets.
The various rationales for what Mr. Bush will reportedly re-christen “sacrifice” constitute a very thin gruel, indeed.
The former labor secretary, Robert Reich, says Sen. John McCain told him that the “surge” would help the “morale” of the troops already in Iraq.
If Mr. McCain truly said that, and truly believes it, he has either forgotten completely his own experience in Vietnam ... or he is unaware of the recent Military Times poll indicating only 38 percent of our active military want to see more troops sent ... or Mr. McCain has departed from reality.
Then there is the argument that to take any steps toward reducing troop numbers would show weakness to the enemy in Iraq, or to the terrorists around the world.
This simplistic logic ignores the inescapable fact that we have indeed already showed weakness to the enemy, and to the terrorists.
We have shown them that we will let our own people be killed for no good reason.
We have now shown them that we will continue to do so.
We have shown them our stupidity.
Mr. Bush, your judgment about Iraq — and now about “sacrifice” — is at variance with your people’s, to the point of delusion.
Your most respected generals see no value in a “surge” — they could not possibly see it in this madness of “sacrifice.”
The Iraq Study Group told you it would be a mistake.
Perhaps dozens more have told you it would be a mistake.
And you threw their wisdom back, until you finally heard what you wanted to hear, like some child drawing straws and then saying “best two out of three … best three out of five … hundredth one counts.”
Your citizens, the people for whom you work, have told you they do not want this, and moreover, they do not want you to do this.
Yet once again, sir, you have ignored all of us.
Mr. Bush, you do not own this country!
To those Republicans who have not broken free from the slavery of partisanship — those bonded still, to this president and this administration, and now bonded to this “sacrifice” —proceed at your own peril.
John McCain may still hear the applause of small crowds — he has somehow inured himself to the hypocrisy, and the tragedy, of a man who considers himself the ultimate realist, courting the votes of those who support the government telling visitors to the Grand Canyon that it was caused by the Great Flood.
That Mr. McCain is selling himself off to the irrational right, parcel by parcel, like some great landowner facing bankruptcy, seems to be obvious to everybody but himself.
Or, maybe it is obvious to him and he simply no longer cares.
But to the rest of you in the Republican Party:
We need you to speak up, right now, in defense of your country’s most precious assets — the lives of its citizens who are in harm’s way.
If you do not, you are not serving this nation’s interests — nor your own.
November should have told you this.
The opening of the new Congress on Wednesday and Thursday should tell you this.
Next time, those missing Republicans will be you.
And to the Democrats now yoked to the helm of this sinking ship, you proceed at your own peril, as well.
President Bush may not be very good at reality, but he and Mr. Cheney and Mr. Rove are still gifted at letting American troops be killed, and then turning their deaths to their own political advantage.
The equation is simple. This country does not want more troops in Iraq.
It wants fewer.
Go and make it happen, or go and look for other work.
Yet you Democrats must assume that even if you take the most obvious of courses, and cut off funding for the war, Mr. Bush will ignore you as long as possible, or will find the money elsewhere, or will spend the money meant to protect the troops, and re-purpose it to keep as many troops there as long as he can keep them there.
Because that’s what this is all about, is it not, Mr. Bush?
That is what this “sacrifice” has been for.
To continue this senseless, endless war.
You have dressed it up in the clothing, first of a hunt for weapons of mass destruction, then of liberation ... then of regional imperative ... then of oil prices ... and now in these new terms of “sacrifice” — it’s like a damned game of Colorforms, isn’t it, sir?
This senseless, endless war.
But — it has not been senseless in two ways.
It has succeeded, Mr. Bush, in enabling you to deaden the collective mind of this country to the pointlessness of endless war, against the wrong people, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
It has gotten many of us used to the idea — the virtual “white noise” — of conflict far away, of the deaths of young Americans, of vague “sacrifice” for some fluid cause, too complicated to be interpreted except in terms of the very important-sounding but ultimately meaningless phrase “the war on terror.”
And the war’s second accomplishment — your second accomplishment, sir — is to have taken money out of the pockets of every American, even out of the pockets of the dead soldiers on the battlefield, and their families, and to have given that money to the war profiteers.
Because if you sell the Army a thousand Humvees, you can’t sell them any more until the first thousand have been destroyed.
The service men and women are ancillary to the equation.
This is about the planned obsolescence of ordnance, isn’t, Mr. Bush? And the building of detention centers? And the design of a $125 million courtroom complex at Gitmo, complete with restaurants.
At least the war profiteers have made their money, sir.
And we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.
You have insisted, Mr. Bush, that we must not lose in Iraq, that if we don’t fight them there we will fight them here — as if the corollary were somehow true, that if by fighting them there we will not have to fight them here.
And yet you have re-made our country, and not re-made it for the better, on the premise that we need to be ready to “fight them here,” anyway, and always.
In point of fact even if the civil war in Iraq somehow ended tomorrow, and the risk to Americans there ended with it, we would have already suffered a defeat — not fatal, not world-changing, not, but for the lives lost, of enduring consequence.
But this country has already lost in Iraq, sir.
Your policy in Iraq has already had its crushing impact on our safety here.
You have already fomented new terrorism and new terrorists.
You have already stoked paranoia.
You have already pitted Americans, one against the other.
We ... will have to live with it.
We ... will have to live with what — of the fabric of our nation — you have already “sacrificed.”
The only object still admissible in this debate is the quickest and safest exit for our people there.
But you — and soon, Mr. Bush, it will be you and you alone — still insist otherwise.
And our sons and daughters and fathers and mothers will be sacrificed there tonight, sir, so that you can say you did not “lose in Iraq.”
Our policy in Iraq has been criticized for being indescribable, for being inscrutable, for being ineffable.
But it is all too easily understood now.
First we sent Americans to their deaths for your lie, Mr. Bush.
Now we are sending them to their deaths for your ego.
If what is reported is true — if your decision is made and the “sacrifice” is ordered — take a page instead from the man at whose funeral you so eloquently spoke this morning — Gerald Ford:
Put pragmatism and the healing of a nation ahead of some kind of misguided vision.
Atone.
Sacrifice, Mr. Bush?
No, sir, this is not “sacrifice.” This has now become “human sacrifice.”
And it must stop.
And you can stop it.
Next week, make us all look wrong.
Our meaningless sacrifice in Iraq must stop.
And you must stop it.
© 2006 MSNBC Interactive
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16442767/
Will the legislators we've elected use the same logic and analytical skills that this newman does? Will they be able to stand up for the peace that we asked them for, no, demanded from them in the November election.
This should be mandatory listening for ALL of Washington as the 110th Congress takes shape. They must remember why we sent them to DC. They must remember who they work for. WE THE PEOPLE!
Transcript
Olbermann: Special comment about 'sacrifice'
BBC reports Bush will reveal troop surge plan in sacrifice-themed speech
SPECIAL COMMENT
By Keith Olbermann
If in your presence an individual tried to sacrifice an American serviceman or woman, would you intervene?
Would you at least protest?
What if he had already sacrificed 3,003 of them?
What if he had already sacrificed 3,003 of them — and was then to announce his intention to sacrifice hundreds, maybe thousands, more?
This is where we stand tonight with the BBC report of President Bush’s “new Iraq strategy,” and his impending speech to the nation, which, according to a quoted senior American official, will be about troop increases and “sacrifice.”
The president has delayed, dawdled and deferred for the month since the release of the Iraq Study Group.
He has seemingly heard out everybody, and listened to none of them.
If the BBC is right — and we can only pray it is not — he has settled on the only solution all the true experts agree cannot possibly work: more American personnel in Iraq, not as trainers for Iraqi troops, but as part of some flabby plan for “sacrifice.”
Sacrifice!
More American servicemen and women will have their lives risked.
More American servicemen and women will have their lives ended.
More American families will have to bear the unbearable and rationalize the unforgivable —“sacrifice” — sacrifice now, sacrifice tomorrow, sacrifice forever.
And more Americans — more even than the two-thirds who already believe we need fewer troops in Iraq, not more — will have to conclude the president does not have any idea what he’s doing — and that other Americans will have to die for that reason.
It must now be branded as propaganda — for even the president cannot truly feel that very many people still believe him to be competent in this area, let alone “the decider.”
But from our impeccable reporter at the Pentagon, Jim Miklaszewski, tonight comes confirmation of something called “surge and accelerate” — as many as 20,000 additional troops —f or “political purposes” ...
This, in line with what we had previously heard, that this will be proclaimed a short-term measure, for the stated purpose of increasing security in and around Baghdad, and giving an Iraqi government a chance to establish some kind of order.
This is palpable nonsense, Mr. Bush.
If this is your intention — if the centerpiece of your announcement next week will be “sacrifice” — sacrifice your intention, not more American lives!
As Sen. Joseph Biden has pointed out, the new troops might improve the ratio our forces face relative to those living in Baghdad (friend and foe), from 200 to 1, to just 100 to 1.
“Sacrifice?”
No.
A drop in the bucket.
The additional men and women you have sentenced to go there, sir, will serve only as targets.
They will not be there “short-term,” Mr. Bush; for many it will mean a year or more in death’s shadow.
This is not temporary, Mr. Bush.
For the Americans who will die because of you, it will be as permanent as it gets.
The various rationales for what Mr. Bush will reportedly re-christen “sacrifice” constitute a very thin gruel, indeed.
The former labor secretary, Robert Reich, says Sen. John McCain told him that the “surge” would help the “morale” of the troops already in Iraq.
If Mr. McCain truly said that, and truly believes it, he has either forgotten completely his own experience in Vietnam ... or he is unaware of the recent Military Times poll indicating only 38 percent of our active military want to see more troops sent ... or Mr. McCain has departed from reality.
Then there is the argument that to take any steps toward reducing troop numbers would show weakness to the enemy in Iraq, or to the terrorists around the world.
This simplistic logic ignores the inescapable fact that we have indeed already showed weakness to the enemy, and to the terrorists.
We have shown them that we will let our own people be killed for no good reason.
We have now shown them that we will continue to do so.
We have shown them our stupidity.
Mr. Bush, your judgment about Iraq — and now about “sacrifice” — is at variance with your people’s, to the point of delusion.
Your most respected generals see no value in a “surge” — they could not possibly see it in this madness of “sacrifice.”
The Iraq Study Group told you it would be a mistake.
Perhaps dozens more have told you it would be a mistake.
And you threw their wisdom back, until you finally heard what you wanted to hear, like some child drawing straws and then saying “best two out of three … best three out of five … hundredth one counts.”
Your citizens, the people for whom you work, have told you they do not want this, and moreover, they do not want you to do this.
Yet once again, sir, you have ignored all of us.
Mr. Bush, you do not own this country!
To those Republicans who have not broken free from the slavery of partisanship — those bonded still, to this president and this administration, and now bonded to this “sacrifice” —proceed at your own peril.
John McCain may still hear the applause of small crowds — he has somehow inured himself to the hypocrisy, and the tragedy, of a man who considers himself the ultimate realist, courting the votes of those who support the government telling visitors to the Grand Canyon that it was caused by the Great Flood.
That Mr. McCain is selling himself off to the irrational right, parcel by parcel, like some great landowner facing bankruptcy, seems to be obvious to everybody but himself.
Or, maybe it is obvious to him and he simply no longer cares.
But to the rest of you in the Republican Party:
We need you to speak up, right now, in defense of your country’s most precious assets — the lives of its citizens who are in harm’s way.
If you do not, you are not serving this nation’s interests — nor your own.
November should have told you this.
The opening of the new Congress on Wednesday and Thursday should tell you this.
Next time, those missing Republicans will be you.
And to the Democrats now yoked to the helm of this sinking ship, you proceed at your own peril, as well.
President Bush may not be very good at reality, but he and Mr. Cheney and Mr. Rove are still gifted at letting American troops be killed, and then turning their deaths to their own political advantage.
The equation is simple. This country does not want more troops in Iraq.
It wants fewer.
Go and make it happen, or go and look for other work.
Yet you Democrats must assume that even if you take the most obvious of courses, and cut off funding for the war, Mr. Bush will ignore you as long as possible, or will find the money elsewhere, or will spend the money meant to protect the troops, and re-purpose it to keep as many troops there as long as he can keep them there.
Because that’s what this is all about, is it not, Mr. Bush?
That is what this “sacrifice” has been for.
To continue this senseless, endless war.
You have dressed it up in the clothing, first of a hunt for weapons of mass destruction, then of liberation ... then of regional imperative ... then of oil prices ... and now in these new terms of “sacrifice” — it’s like a damned game of Colorforms, isn’t it, sir?
This senseless, endless war.
But — it has not been senseless in two ways.
It has succeeded, Mr. Bush, in enabling you to deaden the collective mind of this country to the pointlessness of endless war, against the wrong people, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
It has gotten many of us used to the idea — the virtual “white noise” — of conflict far away, of the deaths of young Americans, of vague “sacrifice” for some fluid cause, too complicated to be interpreted except in terms of the very important-sounding but ultimately meaningless phrase “the war on terror.”
And the war’s second accomplishment — your second accomplishment, sir — is to have taken money out of the pockets of every American, even out of the pockets of the dead soldiers on the battlefield, and their families, and to have given that money to the war profiteers.
Because if you sell the Army a thousand Humvees, you can’t sell them any more until the first thousand have been destroyed.
The service men and women are ancillary to the equation.
This is about the planned obsolescence of ordnance, isn’t, Mr. Bush? And the building of detention centers? And the design of a $125 million courtroom complex at Gitmo, complete with restaurants.
At least the war profiteers have made their money, sir.
And we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.
You have insisted, Mr. Bush, that we must not lose in Iraq, that if we don’t fight them there we will fight them here — as if the corollary were somehow true, that if by fighting them there we will not have to fight them here.
And yet you have re-made our country, and not re-made it for the better, on the premise that we need to be ready to “fight them here,” anyway, and always.
In point of fact even if the civil war in Iraq somehow ended tomorrow, and the risk to Americans there ended with it, we would have already suffered a defeat — not fatal, not world-changing, not, but for the lives lost, of enduring consequence.
But this country has already lost in Iraq, sir.
Your policy in Iraq has already had its crushing impact on our safety here.
You have already fomented new terrorism and new terrorists.
You have already stoked paranoia.
You have already pitted Americans, one against the other.
We ... will have to live with it.
We ... will have to live with what — of the fabric of our nation — you have already “sacrificed.”
The only object still admissible in this debate is the quickest and safest exit for our people there.
But you — and soon, Mr. Bush, it will be you and you alone — still insist otherwise.
And our sons and daughters and fathers and mothers will be sacrificed there tonight, sir, so that you can say you did not “lose in Iraq.”
Our policy in Iraq has been criticized for being indescribable, for being inscrutable, for being ineffable.
But it is all too easily understood now.
First we sent Americans to their deaths for your lie, Mr. Bush.
Now we are sending them to their deaths for your ego.
If what is reported is true — if your decision is made and the “sacrifice” is ordered — take a page instead from the man at whose funeral you so eloquently spoke this morning — Gerald Ford:
Put pragmatism and the healing of a nation ahead of some kind of misguided vision.
Atone.
Sacrifice, Mr. Bush?
No, sir, this is not “sacrifice.” This has now become “human sacrifice.”
And it must stop.
And you can stop it.
Next week, make us all look wrong.
Our meaningless sacrifice in Iraq must stop.
And you must stop it.
© 2006 MSNBC Interactive
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16442767/
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Vigil for 3000 Dead Troops- Mountain View, CA
Under a full moon and clear, mild weather, 100 members of our local Peace Community attended our candlelight vigil in Mountain View, CA starting at 6 p.m. Gold Star Families Speak Out, Mountain View Voices for Peace, Los Altos Voices for Peace, Sunnyvale Voices for Peace, Peninsula Peace & Justice, and The Raging Grannies were all represented well. We displayed the MVVP dog tag display and a wall with all 3000 names listed.
I welcomed the group and thanked them for spending this New Years night with us. I spoke briefly about my son, Lt Ken Ballard who was killed in Iraq 5.30.04. I introduced other Gold Star family members; 2 of my son's aunts, Cathy Patton & Michel Meredith, the aunt and uncle of Wes Canning (KIA 11.10.04) and Dolores Kesterson, mother of Erik Kesterson (KIA 11.15.03).
I explained to the group that there were 3000 lit Christmas lights at our event representing the 3000 soldiers. 300 lights were wrapped around a flagpole representing the 305 California soldiers. I told the group that we would turn off the California lights once we completed reading their names.
The Gold Star families and one member of the community read the California names; some people in the group were crying. It was difficult for me hearing the names that have become so familiar to me. Sgt Patrick McCaffrey, Cpl Jonathan Castro, Sgt Even Ashcraft, HM3 John House, Spc Omead Razani, Sgt Mike Mitchell, Spc Joseph Norquist.....it's all so sad.
The group was very quiet when we turned off the 300 lights representing the California dead. I reminded the group that California has borne 10% of the US military deaths in Iraq; how long would it take to read ALL 3000 names? We had a moment of silence and then turned off all of the lights to represent ALL of the deaths in Iraq, including the Iraqi civilians and the contractors.
Afterwards, the crowd caught up with neighbors and friends. Many people stood on the sidewalk holding signs attracting driver's attention; horns honking in support. One of Ken's soccer coaches from middle school came up and introduced himself to me. I remembered him, Colin's father; I think he was surprised. A brother of one of Ken's schoolmates also introduced himself. This community of Ken's remembers him, we will not let him be forgotten.
One military death doesn't mean one family, it affects so many. How can our president not understand this; I don't think he wants to.
Special thanks to the local Bay Area media, who has been supportive all along. ABC, KNTV & KTVU included our vigil as part of the lead story of the night. And more thanks to everyone who helped make this another successful event to remember our troops. And one more thanks to AFSC who took the lead in sponsoring this event
For more photos, please visit: http://tian.greens.org/MountainView/MVVP/3000Dead/index.html (thanks, Tian!)
Monday, January 01, 2007
3000 US Military Deaths
It was never a matter of if this would happen- it was when. How sad that 2006 should end with this round number, 3000. 3000 lives; gone. 3000 families; devastated. 3000 futures; over.
3000 is a relative number. Depending on what you do for a living, 3000 may be a small number or it may be large. Some people tell me that 3000 military deaths in Iraq is a small number, or a comma, as our president refers to them as. Compared to WWII and Viet Nam, 3000 is nothing. That's not what you ever want to say to a Gold Star Mom. Any number more than zero is too many for this war.
What are the real numbers that so far define the legacy of the 43rd US President?
3002 US military dead because of Bush's lies
22032 US wounded
377 Contractors (all countries)
127 Coalition deaths (other countries)
2801 World Trade Center deaths on 9/11
357 US Military dead in Afghanistan
16273 Iraqi civilians
There is a number that is too large for the American public. 3000 isn't it. There is a number that is acceptable for monthly casualties. I think that number is about 75. The media doesn't even talk about a number until it starts approaching 100. December 2006 had the highest number of casualties in nearly 2 years, but the media was more interested in Saddam's execution, the upcoming Bowl games, and anything but the US casualties in Iraq.
The Pentagon chimed in saying: "Every loss is regretted and there is no special significance to the overall number of casualties." "The President believes that every life is precious and grieves for each one that is lost," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. "He will ensure their sacrifice was not made in vain." Oh puhleez! Don't do me any favors. I don't want to go there- whether Ken was killed in vain, but please, please, please, do not spill one more drop of blood to honor my child's sacrifice. No more flags, no coffins, no Gold Star banners.
Despite what George Bush says, 'The most painful aspect of my presidency has been knowing that good men and women have died in combat. I read about it every night, and my heart breaks for a mother, a father, a husband, wife or son and daughter, it just does,'' he said. ``And so when you ask about pain, that's pain. I reach out to a lot of the families; I spend time with them. I am always inspired by their spirit.''
''Look,'' he said, ``my heart breaks for them, it just does, on a regular basis.'' I don't believe it. I don't believe this president has shed one tear for my son. I don't believe he cares; in fact I don't think he has the capacity to care. He says he meets with military families, but those families are chosen, for the most part. They are chosen for their politics. Do they agree with the president? okay, you're in. Against? You are not welcome here.
It's true that I don't like this president. I never supported him, his family or his politics. But, he has proven himself incapable of showing emotion and the subject of dead American soldiers is no exception. Our kids are George Bush's little, green Army men. He says he has not decided on a plan to increase the number of American soldiers in Iraq by 15,000-20000, but we know that he has already decided; kind of like he hadn't decided to invade Iraq when he told us that back in October 2002. He isn't listening to the generals on the ground, he isn't listening to the soldiers or to the Iraq Study group and he may have heard about the resounding message we sent to Washington in November, BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!, but he's not listening.
Besides, any President serving at a time of war, who has no problem sleeping just doesn't understand the magnitude of grief that war causes. This war, that he initiated. In an interview with People magazine, Bush said “I must tell you, I'm sleeping a lot better than people would assume”. I wish I could sleep as well.
It's time for this president to grow up and understand the magnitude of the financial and human losses this country has suffered while he continues to insist on victory in Iraq. (whatever that means....)
3000 is a relative number. Depending on what you do for a living, 3000 may be a small number or it may be large. Some people tell me that 3000 military deaths in Iraq is a small number, or a comma, as our president refers to them as. Compared to WWII and Viet Nam, 3000 is nothing. That's not what you ever want to say to a Gold Star Mom. Any number more than zero is too many for this war.
What are the real numbers that so far define the legacy of the 43rd US President?
3002 US military dead because of Bush's lies
22032 US wounded
377 Contractors (all countries)
127 Coalition deaths (other countries)
2801 World Trade Center deaths on 9/11
357 US Military dead in Afghanistan
16273 Iraqi civilians
There is a number that is too large for the American public. 3000 isn't it. There is a number that is acceptable for monthly casualties. I think that number is about 75. The media doesn't even talk about a number until it starts approaching 100. December 2006 had the highest number of casualties in nearly 2 years, but the media was more interested in Saddam's execution, the upcoming Bowl games, and anything but the US casualties in Iraq.
The Pentagon chimed in saying: "Every loss is regretted and there is no special significance to the overall number of casualties." "The President believes that every life is precious and grieves for each one that is lost," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. "He will ensure their sacrifice was not made in vain." Oh puhleez! Don't do me any favors. I don't want to go there- whether Ken was killed in vain, but please, please, please, do not spill one more drop of blood to honor my child's sacrifice. No more flags, no coffins, no Gold Star banners.
Despite what George Bush says, 'The most painful aspect of my presidency has been knowing that good men and women have died in combat. I read about it every night, and my heart breaks for a mother, a father, a husband, wife or son and daughter, it just does,'' he said. ``And so when you ask about pain, that's pain. I reach out to a lot of the families; I spend time with them. I am always inspired by their spirit.''
''Look,'' he said, ``my heart breaks for them, it just does, on a regular basis.'' I don't believe it. I don't believe this president has shed one tear for my son. I don't believe he cares; in fact I don't think he has the capacity to care. He says he meets with military families, but those families are chosen, for the most part. They are chosen for their politics. Do they agree with the president? okay, you're in. Against? You are not welcome here.
It's true that I don't like this president. I never supported him, his family or his politics. But, he has proven himself incapable of showing emotion and the subject of dead American soldiers is no exception. Our kids are George Bush's little, green Army men. He says he has not decided on a plan to increase the number of American soldiers in Iraq by 15,000-20000, but we know that he has already decided; kind of like he hadn't decided to invade Iraq when he told us that back in October 2002. He isn't listening to the generals on the ground, he isn't listening to the soldiers or to the Iraq Study group and he may have heard about the resounding message we sent to Washington in November, BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!, but he's not listening.
Besides, any President serving at a time of war, who has no problem sleeping just doesn't understand the magnitude of grief that war causes. This war, that he initiated. In an interview with People magazine, Bush said “I must tell you, I'm sleeping a lot better than people would assume”. I wish I could sleep as well.
It's time for this president to grow up and understand the magnitude of the financial and human losses this country has suffered while he continues to insist on victory in Iraq. (whatever that means....)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Florence Nightingale's December Update
more news directly from Baghdad-
Well this has been a long overdue update. There really has not been too much going on here. I have to say that luckily it has been slow and quiet. Usually that means that American soldiers are not being injured, at least in my general area of Baghdad. We still have many Iraqi patients to care for in spite of the relative calmness.
There has been a 6 year old little boy that has been a patient in our ICU for the past few weeks. He came to us in respiratory distress and had to be intubated. Let’s just say that this little boy gave me a run for my money the night he was admitted. I was in charge and I took on this little boy as my patient. He had this terrible habit of turning blue, which is never very good for kids. So there I was with 2 doctors giving me orders and I’m trying to tread water to keep up with their multiple orders in between trying to get better IV access and resuscitate this kid back to acceptable oxygen saturation. Luckily my battle buddy, was there to lend me a hand and write out all my orders for me and help keep me on track.
It is amazing how an adult patient can roll up on the floor covered in blood and have no blood pressure to speak of, but as soon as a kid rolls up I loose all my color. I’ve decided that it has to be because there is much more of a margin for error in an adult than with a child. I have to quadruple check every medication, and calculate every safe medication range. I check and recheck the ETT, the vital signs, and countless other things.
I have calmed down over these last few weeks working with him. I haven’t gotten as nervous about having to “breath” for him as I use the ambu bag to bring his color back and bring his oxygenation back above ninety. I actually have the confidence to take care of him without being a nervous wreck. It is honestly sink or swim here sometimes. The great thing about having your patient for more than one day at a time is that you can learn from your mistakes and do it better next time. You can also learn from your patient too, in order to better prepare yourself for the incidentals that come up.
I also got to fly again this past month. This time however, I didn’t have a ride home. I had to spend the night in Balad. The Air force facility is very different from our hospital. The hospital is set up in a tent or depmeds. Depmeds are deployable medical equipment and tentage. They have the same sections as we do at Ibn Sina, but there seem to be more. I think they had 3-4 ICU’s, 4 ICW/MCW, EMT, and Pad. They also have a pharmacy, radiology, and lab sections. They have a MWR section with phones, computers, and a TV in the hospital. There is also a small dfac.
Patients sleep on cots and they have to go outside to the portable latrines when they need to use the bathroom and don’t have a catheter. Imagine you have broken bones or got blown up in an IED blast and you have to go OUTSIDE to use a bathroom! Everything is covered in a fine powdery dust like here, but it’s more of a problem in the tents.
This facility is how I thought we would be operating here in Baghdad when I was deployed. I have trained in these tents before with other CSH. I realized that I have things pretty good here being in a fixed facility with running water and latrines. We don’t have all the things that we would like to have like back in the states, but you quickly learn to adapt and overcome the challenges that being deployed raises. Our patients here at least have real electronic beds versus cots!
I was able to get a “ride” back “home” the next evening. “home” being wherever I lay my head at night and for now it is in Baghdad, Iraq in my room with my battle buddy Kim. I had the night off, so it worked out that I could get back to my room and rest. I wish I could describe how exciting and scary it is to fly in those helicopters. The countryside or Iraq can seem so peaceful and beautiful as you are flying overhead looking out at the twinkling scattering of lights and feel the cool crisp air streaming in from the window. Then you think about the potential danger you’re in by being in a combat zone. The bird lands and it’s time to snap back into reality and get back into work. I didn’t have any patients on my flight back so I could just enjoy the scenery and think. The rotors are spinning and you are greeted by soldiers awaiting the patient on board. Stooping low to avoid the rotors they pull the patient off and carry them to the Gator. Equipment in hand I walked up the small stretch of street to the hospital from the landing zone and check in with the TOC (Tactical Operating Center). It is almost like your breath is caught when you get on that helicopter and given back to you once you’re walking back on the home stretch. It is a rush.
I’m hoping that I will continue to get the opportunities to fly with our patients. Right now only the ICU trained or identified nurses are able to fly unless the Head nurse approves. Keep your fingers crossed that things will change for me. It is always a good feeling to be sending our patients on their way back home. Granted they don’t want to be going and they feel terrible about leaving their buddies, but they all have a new journey to embark on. I’m just glad that I can be a part of that sometimes.
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Christmas this year was certainly different and was challenging. The dfac was highly decorated and they had a Christmas dinner. My battle buddy and I opted for pizza instead. Our unit had a small pizza party and exchanged secret Santa gifts. I got a little massager and some other cute items! Other than working that sums up my Christmas. My battle buddy and I opened presents on our day off which was the 26th. Her family sent us a real Christmas tree which we decorated and put up in our common area a few days before. It smelled wonderful. We did the best we could as for keeping spirits high. The command group along with the Chaplin and some of the other CSH (Combat Support Hospital) soldiers went around on Christmas Eve and sang carols on the units. I guess you don’t really realize just how much the holidays mean until you are away. I’m hoping that next year will be a different sort of holiday season. I hope that all soldiers are home for the holidays next year.
I am challenged everyday. I am so thankful to have all of you to lean on when I need to vent and to share my experiences with. I hope these updates help to shed some light on the things that I do here. I will be in touch and be sending out some new pictures soon. Until the next update, have a safe and happy holiday season. I think of you often and look forward to seeing everyone again soon. Keep in touch!
Well this has been a long overdue update. There really has not been too much going on here. I have to say that luckily it has been slow and quiet. Usually that means that American soldiers are not being injured, at least in my general area of Baghdad. We still have many Iraqi patients to care for in spite of the relative calmness.
There has been a 6 year old little boy that has been a patient in our ICU for the past few weeks. He came to us in respiratory distress and had to be intubated. Let’s just say that this little boy gave me a run for my money the night he was admitted. I was in charge and I took on this little boy as my patient. He had this terrible habit of turning blue, which is never very good for kids. So there I was with 2 doctors giving me orders and I’m trying to tread water to keep up with their multiple orders in between trying to get better IV access and resuscitate this kid back to acceptable oxygen saturation. Luckily my battle buddy, was there to lend me a hand and write out all my orders for me and help keep me on track.
It is amazing how an adult patient can roll up on the floor covered in blood and have no blood pressure to speak of, but as soon as a kid rolls up I loose all my color. I’ve decided that it has to be because there is much more of a margin for error in an adult than with a child. I have to quadruple check every medication, and calculate every safe medication range. I check and recheck the ETT, the vital signs, and countless other things.
I have calmed down over these last few weeks working with him. I haven’t gotten as nervous about having to “breath” for him as I use the ambu bag to bring his color back and bring his oxygenation back above ninety. I actually have the confidence to take care of him without being a nervous wreck. It is honestly sink or swim here sometimes. The great thing about having your patient for more than one day at a time is that you can learn from your mistakes and do it better next time. You can also learn from your patient too, in order to better prepare yourself for the incidentals that come up.
I also got to fly again this past month. This time however, I didn’t have a ride home. I had to spend the night in Balad. The Air force facility is very different from our hospital. The hospital is set up in a tent or depmeds. Depmeds are deployable medical equipment and tentage. They have the same sections as we do at Ibn Sina, but there seem to be more. I think they had 3-4 ICU’s, 4 ICW/MCW, EMT, and Pad. They also have a pharmacy, radiology, and lab sections. They have a MWR section with phones, computers, and a TV in the hospital. There is also a small dfac.
Patients sleep on cots and they have to go outside to the portable latrines when they need to use the bathroom and don’t have a catheter. Imagine you have broken bones or got blown up in an IED blast and you have to go OUTSIDE to use a bathroom! Everything is covered in a fine powdery dust like here, but it’s more of a problem in the tents.
This facility is how I thought we would be operating here in Baghdad when I was deployed. I have trained in these tents before with other CSH. I realized that I have things pretty good here being in a fixed facility with running water and latrines. We don’t have all the things that we would like to have like back in the states, but you quickly learn to adapt and overcome the challenges that being deployed raises. Our patients here at least have real electronic beds versus cots!
I was able to get a “ride” back “home” the next evening. “home” being wherever I lay my head at night and for now it is in Baghdad, Iraq in my room with my battle buddy Kim. I had the night off, so it worked out that I could get back to my room and rest. I wish I could describe how exciting and scary it is to fly in those helicopters. The countryside or Iraq can seem so peaceful and beautiful as you are flying overhead looking out at the twinkling scattering of lights and feel the cool crisp air streaming in from the window. Then you think about the potential danger you’re in by being in a combat zone. The bird lands and it’s time to snap back into reality and get back into work. I didn’t have any patients on my flight back so I could just enjoy the scenery and think. The rotors are spinning and you are greeted by soldiers awaiting the patient on board. Stooping low to avoid the rotors they pull the patient off and carry them to the Gator. Equipment in hand I walked up the small stretch of street to the hospital from the landing zone and check in with the TOC (Tactical Operating Center). It is almost like your breath is caught when you get on that helicopter and given back to you once you’re walking back on the home stretch. It is a rush.
I’m hoping that I will continue to get the opportunities to fly with our patients. Right now only the ICU trained or identified nurses are able to fly unless the Head nurse approves. Keep your fingers crossed that things will change for me. It is always a good feeling to be sending our patients on their way back home. Granted they don’t want to be going and they feel terrible about leaving their buddies, but they all have a new journey to embark on. I’m just glad that I can be a part of that sometimes.
I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Christmas this year was certainly different and was challenging. The dfac was highly decorated and they had a Christmas dinner. My battle buddy and I opted for pizza instead. Our unit had a small pizza party and exchanged secret Santa gifts. I got a little massager and some other cute items! Other than working that sums up my Christmas. My battle buddy and I opened presents on our day off which was the 26th. Her family sent us a real Christmas tree which we decorated and put up in our common area a few days before. It smelled wonderful. We did the best we could as for keeping spirits high. The command group along with the Chaplin and some of the other CSH (Combat Support Hospital) soldiers went around on Christmas Eve and sang carols on the units. I guess you don’t really realize just how much the holidays mean until you are away. I’m hoping that next year will be a different sort of holiday season. I hope that all soldiers are home for the holidays next year.
I am challenged everyday. I am so thankful to have all of you to lean on when I need to vent and to share my experiences with. I hope these updates help to shed some light on the things that I do here. I will be in touch and be sending out some new pictures soon. Until the next update, have a safe and happy holiday season. I think of you often and look forward to seeing everyone again soon. Keep in touch!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
I couldn't make this up
I get some unusual correspondence sometimes. Someone sent me this in an email on Christmas Day (not edited for spelling or grammar):
I do not know how you can say: I stand by what Ken stood for, and in the same breath. Put down our military. If you have forgotten The War in Viet-Nam. About the time the North was about to give up...due to the hard pounding they received under Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Line Backer. A woman by the name of Jane Fonda.....Lovingly known by the G.I.'s as Hanoi Jane. Was photographed with the North Vietnamese on an Anti-Aircraft Gun smiling. Along with the protests in the streets here at home. The VC say that our government was at odds with the people. This gave the VC a second wind and the war escalated for another 5 years.
Freedom is yours to do with what you wish. You stand hand in hand with Cindy Shehan protesting and diminishing our troops accomplishments, not to mention encouraging the insurgents to fight on through your actions. Shouting (as it is translated to the insurgents) Our govt is full of infidels, we all deserve to be killed. So more die, in your name (actions) called freedom of speech. That is in no way helping or supporting our troops.
I wonder what the writer is doing to support the troops? How many CARE packages or letters sent to Iraq or Afghanistan? How many VA hospital visits? How many pieces of body armor purchased? How many legislators has the writer worked with to improve conditions for our troops? Blindly supporting the president and his failed policy is NOT supporting the troops no matter how misguided you are.
I could easily refute the so-called facts of the email, but I won't bother; it's more fun to let the writer think I actually would consider the sage advice being offered. I kind of think I'm being compared to Jane Fonda. Hasn't the writer seen the movie, "Sir, No Sir"? Probably not; don't think it's on their Netflix list.
And I don't really think the writer has heard me speak- "we all deserve to be killed"? naaaaah, I don't. But no more soldiers or marines need to be killed either and neither do any more Iraqi civilians. I do support the troops and the peace work I do will bring the troops home sooner than if we don't speak up.
Ken would say "go for it, ma!" And for Ken and the other 2980 US military troops who have died in Bush's war, I think I will do just that!
Oh and, bartender? Another cup of purple koolaid for the writer of the email! With Bush's approval numbers in the mid 30's, the president needs all the support he can get.
I do not know how you can say: I stand by what Ken stood for, and in the same breath. Put down our military. If you have forgotten The War in Viet-Nam. About the time the North was about to give up...due to the hard pounding they received under Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Line Backer. A woman by the name of Jane Fonda.....Lovingly known by the G.I.'s as Hanoi Jane. Was photographed with the North Vietnamese on an Anti-Aircraft Gun smiling. Along with the protests in the streets here at home. The VC say that our government was at odds with the people. This gave the VC a second wind and the war escalated for another 5 years.
Freedom is yours to do with what you wish. You stand hand in hand with Cindy Shehan protesting and diminishing our troops accomplishments, not to mention encouraging the insurgents to fight on through your actions. Shouting (as it is translated to the insurgents) Our govt is full of infidels, we all deserve to be killed. So more die, in your name (actions) called freedom of speech. That is in no way helping or supporting our troops.
I wonder what the writer is doing to support the troops? How many CARE packages or letters sent to Iraq or Afghanistan? How many VA hospital visits? How many pieces of body armor purchased? How many legislators has the writer worked with to improve conditions for our troops? Blindly supporting the president and his failed policy is NOT supporting the troops no matter how misguided you are.
I could easily refute the so-called facts of the email, but I won't bother; it's more fun to let the writer think I actually would consider the sage advice being offered. I kind of think I'm being compared to Jane Fonda. Hasn't the writer seen the movie, "Sir, No Sir"? Probably not; don't think it's on their Netflix list.
And I don't really think the writer has heard me speak- "we all deserve to be killed"? naaaaah, I don't. But no more soldiers or marines need to be killed either and neither do any more Iraqi civilians. I do support the troops and the peace work I do will bring the troops home sooner than if we don't speak up.
Ken would say "go for it, ma!" And for Ken and the other 2980 US military troops who have died in Bush's war, I think I will do just that!
Oh and, bartender? Another cup of purple koolaid for the writer of the email! With Bush's approval numbers in the mid 30's, the president needs all the support he can get.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Perhaps they are not stars
Perhaps they are not stars
but rather openings in Heaven
where the love of our lost ones shines down
to let us know they are happy
~~~~~~~~~
Just before dawn, I sat under the glorious star-filled sky over the Sea of Cortez on the coast of Mexico and watched the Geminid meteor showers last week.
I knew that those dancing stars were our loved ones letting me know that they are always with us.
.
with love to all my Gold Star Family friends
.
an Eskimo legend
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Shame on Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA)
This letter was recently sent to hundreds of constituents by the office of Republican Rep. Virgil Goode Jr. of Virginia:
Thank you for your recent communication. When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran. We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.
The Ten Commandments and "In God We Trust" are on the wall in my office. A Muslim student came by the office and asked why I did not have anything on my wall about the Koran. My response was clear, "As long as I have the honor of representing the citizens of the 5th District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, The Koran is not going to be on the wall of my office." Thank you again for your email and thoughts.
And I'm going to include his address in case you are so inclined to get ahold of this idiot and give him a piece of your mind.
Virgil H. Goode, Jr.
70 E. Court St., Suite 215
Rocky Mount, Va. 24151
They asked my son, Lt Ken Ballard for his religion when he enlisted in the Army, so it could be embossed on his Army dogtags; dogtags that were given to me with his body when it was returned to me after he was killed in Bush's war in Iraq, and that I now where around my neck. They didn't care what religion he was when he enlisted in the military and they didn't care what religion he was when he was sent to war. And lastly, they didn't care what religion he was when I had to determine the verbiage on his headstone that sits in Arlington National Cemetery.
If the Un-honorable Virgil Cooke doesn't know his history, the United States was founded on the premise of religious freedom.
I am ashamed that he represents any district in this country.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Congress is tired
I'm sorry that Congress is tired. The average annual pay for a member of congress is around $160K . They should earn their wages. This "Do Nothing" Congress, the 109th has worked less than any since 1948 .
The House of Representatives is projected to meet for only 99 days this session, nine days less than the Congress of 1947-48. The Senate is projected to meet for 129 days, tying the sixth fewest days a Senate session has met since 1948.
The average pay for a soldier fighting in Iraq & Afghanistan is $7.50 per day. How's that for supporting the troops? Yes, I'm talking to you folks out there who slap a yellow ribbon on the back of your SUV. $7.50 a day! So, I'm not feeling too bad for those members of the 109th session of Congress.
"There is a lot of battle fatigue among members, probably on both sides of the aisle," said Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), usually a reliable conservative firebrand. "Contrary to popular belief, members of Congress are human beings. They have a certain shelf life and a certain amount of energy to be drawn on. We're tired."
Rep Pence** should not dare to use the words "battle fatigue" unless he is referring to the troops in Iraq & Afghanistan. You know, those men & women who are being deployed for multiple trips into a war zone and who are being stop lossed because "they volunteered" to serve their country. Members of Congress do not have a clue, not one inkling what battle fatigue is. Back in the day, battle fatigue or "shell shock" was what soldiers suffered from when they returned from WWII or the Korean conflict or Viet Nam; now they call it Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
If you dare, go to the PTSD Timeline and read a little bit about some of the PTSD cases in the past 3 years.
Read about Tony Garcia, a 24-year veteran of the military who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Or Corey Small, a 20-year old Army private first class based out of Fort Polk, LA committed suicide while serving in Iraq with the 502nd Military Intelligence Company, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. " [A]n account published by the Gettysburg Times tells of a soldier, who shot himself July 3 after calling the USA. The suicide took place in front of other troops waiting to use the telephone."
Or James Curtis Coons, a 36-year old Army Master Sgt., who'd been evacuated from Kuwait weeks earlier following an overdose, hung himself while getting treatment for PTSD. He told doctors he was seeing the shattered face of a dead soldier in the mirror. They diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder, sent him to a hospital in Germany and then to their premier treatment facility, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in northwest Washington. By July 4 he was dead, hanging from a bed sheet in his room at Mologne House, a hotel for outpatients and families on the grounds of Walter Reed. The soldier had served for 17 years in the Army, earning an OIF Bronze Star. His family is fighting to get his suicide listed as KIA.
Or my friends, Joyce & Kevin Lucey, the parents of Jeffrey Lucey, a 23-year old Marine Reserve who fought in the battle of Nasiriyah and who hung himself a year after returning home from military duty in Iraq. In late May 2004, his parents had involuntarily committed him to a military veteran's hospital after he ignored pleas to seek help. The hospital discharged him after a few days. Three weeks later, he was dead -- the dog tags of two Iraqi prisoners he said he was forced to shoot unarmed, lay on his bed.
So don't talk to me about battle fatigue and DO NOT tell me you are tired unless you are a soldier who has done one, two or three tours in Iraq of Afghanistan. And finally DO NOT tell me you "support the troops" unless you are doing something about bringing them home NOW and are taking care of our son's and daughter's when they return home. If you aren't doing either of those, you are not supporting the troops.
** Rep Pence of Indiana is still drinking the purple koolaid that this administration is serving. In June 2006, he issued a press release saying that WE ARE WINNING THE WAR IN IRAQ. We weren't winning the so-called war, this occupation in June 2006 and we aren't winning anything now. Even the nominee for US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, was asked at the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing today, "Do you believe that we are currently winning in Iraq?" Gates was equally blunt in responding. "No, sir," he said simply.
No sir, indeed.
The House of Representatives is projected to meet for only 99 days this session, nine days less than the Congress of 1947-48. The Senate is projected to meet for 129 days, tying the sixth fewest days a Senate session has met since 1948.
The average pay for a soldier fighting in Iraq & Afghanistan is $7.50 per day. How's that for supporting the troops? Yes, I'm talking to you folks out there who slap a yellow ribbon on the back of your SUV. $7.50 a day! So, I'm not feeling too bad for those members of the 109th session of Congress.
"There is a lot of battle fatigue among members, probably on both sides of the aisle," said Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), usually a reliable conservative firebrand. "Contrary to popular belief, members of Congress are human beings. They have a certain shelf life and a certain amount of energy to be drawn on. We're tired."
Rep Pence** should not dare to use the words "battle fatigue" unless he is referring to the troops in Iraq & Afghanistan. You know, those men & women who are being deployed for multiple trips into a war zone and who are being stop lossed because "they volunteered" to serve their country. Members of Congress do not have a clue, not one inkling what battle fatigue is. Back in the day, battle fatigue or "shell shock" was what soldiers suffered from when they returned from WWII or the Korean conflict or Viet Nam; now they call it Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
If you dare, go to the PTSD Timeline and read a little bit about some of the PTSD cases in the past 3 years.
Read about Tony Garcia, a 24-year veteran of the military who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Or Corey Small, a 20-year old Army private first class based out of Fort Polk, LA committed suicide while serving in Iraq with the 502nd Military Intelligence Company, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. " [A]n account published by the Gettysburg Times tells of a soldier, who shot himself July 3 after calling the USA. The suicide took place in front of other troops waiting to use the telephone."
Or James Curtis Coons, a 36-year old Army Master Sgt., who'd been evacuated from Kuwait weeks earlier following an overdose, hung himself while getting treatment for PTSD. He told doctors he was seeing the shattered face of a dead soldier in the mirror. They diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder, sent him to a hospital in Germany and then to their premier treatment facility, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in northwest Washington. By July 4 he was dead, hanging from a bed sheet in his room at Mologne House, a hotel for outpatients and families on the grounds of Walter Reed. The soldier had served for 17 years in the Army, earning an OIF Bronze Star. His family is fighting to get his suicide listed as KIA.
Or my friends, Joyce & Kevin Lucey, the parents of Jeffrey Lucey, a 23-year old Marine Reserve who fought in the battle of Nasiriyah and who hung himself a year after returning home from military duty in Iraq. In late May 2004, his parents had involuntarily committed him to a military veteran's hospital after he ignored pleas to seek help. The hospital discharged him after a few days. Three weeks later, he was dead -- the dog tags of two Iraqi prisoners he said he was forced to shoot unarmed, lay on his bed.
So don't talk to me about battle fatigue and DO NOT tell me you are tired unless you are a soldier who has done one, two or three tours in Iraq of Afghanistan. And finally DO NOT tell me you "support the troops" unless you are doing something about bringing them home NOW and are taking care of our son's and daughter's when they return home. If you aren't doing either of those, you are not supporting the troops.
** Rep Pence of Indiana is still drinking the purple koolaid that this administration is serving. In June 2006, he issued a press release saying that WE ARE WINNING THE WAR IN IRAQ. We weren't winning the so-called war, this occupation in June 2006 and we aren't winning anything now. Even the nominee for US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, was asked at the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing today, "Do you believe that we are currently winning in Iraq?" Gates was equally blunt in responding. "No, sir," he said simply.
No sir, indeed.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thanksgiving in Baghdad from Florence Nightingale
Hello!
Another week has gone by. This week went by a little quicker than the last. Our census has finally dropped in the ICU and we were given some extra time for ourselves. It was nice to say the least and much needed. I feel like we have been working hard and trying to keep pace with our demanding patients. They are demanding in their needs and medical problems not necessarily in their wants.
I have seen deaths door too often since I have been here. It is again an unfortunate reality to the situation we are in. There is such trauma sustained to the body from IED blasts, GSWs, and everything else that the fact that the body can withstand some of that torment is incredible. It is even harder for some reason to see a child affected in this way by this war. It is not everyday that I get to care for sick and injured children, but here in Baghdad it is an everyday reality. Small children as young as 3 years old have crossed my path. They have suffered from gun shot wounds, IED blasts, and vehicle crashes just like the adults I care for. There is no differentiating between who the blast will affect and where the bullets will land. Their little bodies withstanding all that torture of injury and surgery to recovery and rehab. Some of them don’t survive and perhaps their deaths hurt more because they are too young; too young to have really lived and enjoyed life. They may simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time or caught in the cross fire. We had a family of 8 injured in the cross fire this week. Two children died on the scene, two were admitted to our ICUs, one was flown to Balad for a head injury, the father was cared for in the Step Down unit, and the pregnant mother was cared for on the ward.
How do you care for each of these injured souls? It is difficult enough trying to get better for yourself, but when your very support system is pulled out from under you how do you heal a broken heart?
So today on Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my family, my friends, my fellow soldiers, and the gift of being a nurse. I may not always give myself the credit I deserve as I have been reminded so often by those that know me all too well, but I am a good nurse. It has taken this deployment for me to realize that. I have a gift of connecting with people when they are down and out and helping them get to the best place for them. It may not always be better or healed where they walk out of those hospital doors from where they first entered. It may be to die with ease and comfort or to find a place where they feel safe. I have my doubts that I may not always accomplish what I set out to do, but the fact is that I try.
On a different note, I took care of another fellow soldier tonight. I have a difficult time trying to explain the difference between taking care of soldiers than taking care of other types of patients. I was told once that soldiers fight harder, take more risks, and accomplish great things because they know that we (the medical assets) are here to take good care of them if they get hurt. I know tonight my patient must have thought I was crazy when I wanted to turn him and check his backside. Keep in mind he had multiple fractures and wounds from being in an IED blast. I gave him the rationale why and we screamed and fought through the pain to get him to move so I could check his wounds and his skin to assure he wasn’t going to “bleed out” without me knowing about it. He forgave me later when I let him brush his teeth and helped him wash up this morning. He told me that this was so embarrassing for him. He looked at me strangely as I offered him my explanation that “this” was my favorite part of my job. I told him that I love to help people and if helping them brush their teeth and washing them up is going to make them feel better then hand over the wash cloth and soap!
He may not even realize that even his bed bath is part of his recovery. He brushed his teeth today with his one good arm (2pts). He washed his face and torso (5pts). He washed his hair with a shampoo cap (2pts). He rolled in bed so much better the second time around so I could wash his backside and change his sheets (10pts). My point is all these little things add up. They double as physical therapy, they count as exercise and assist the blood to flow to those injured parts to facilitate healing, and they give him control over a seemingly uncontrollable situation. Everything I do has a purpose; they may not know that or ever learn that, but it is to help them reach a goal. That goal would be to walk out of Walter Reed or some other Army facility a stronger man or woman than when they came in. Beat up and broken initially, but stronger and wiser later.
This is how I fight this war. This is my part in making a difference during this deployment. I may not always know why I am here or agree with what we are doing, but I know that my mission is to take care of soldiers and this is what I will do.
I will end this here. I am well and in good spirits despite that the holidays are here and I’m without all of you. Again, I cannot thank you all enough for sending the wonderful packages, letters, and support on such a daily basis.
I wasn’t able to get any Thanksgiving cards this time and most of you know that I keep Hallmark in business by sending greetings for all the holidays. I want to wish everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope that this season helps us all to reflect on what we have to be truly thankful for. Plus how can you go wrong with turkey and all the fixings!
Wishing you all well. Thinking of you often and missing you more! I’ll be in touch.
With Love~
Another week has gone by. This week went by a little quicker than the last. Our census has finally dropped in the ICU and we were given some extra time for ourselves. It was nice to say the least and much needed. I feel like we have been working hard and trying to keep pace with our demanding patients. They are demanding in their needs and medical problems not necessarily in their wants.
I have seen deaths door too often since I have been here. It is again an unfortunate reality to the situation we are in. There is such trauma sustained to the body from IED blasts, GSWs, and everything else that the fact that the body can withstand some of that torment is incredible. It is even harder for some reason to see a child affected in this way by this war. It is not everyday that I get to care for sick and injured children, but here in Baghdad it is an everyday reality. Small children as young as 3 years old have crossed my path. They have suffered from gun shot wounds, IED blasts, and vehicle crashes just like the adults I care for. There is no differentiating between who the blast will affect and where the bullets will land. Their little bodies withstanding all that torture of injury and surgery to recovery and rehab. Some of them don’t survive and perhaps their deaths hurt more because they are too young; too young to have really lived and enjoyed life. They may simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time or caught in the cross fire. We had a family of 8 injured in the cross fire this week. Two children died on the scene, two were admitted to our ICUs, one was flown to Balad for a head injury, the father was cared for in the Step Down unit, and the pregnant mother was cared for on the ward.
How do you care for each of these injured souls? It is difficult enough trying to get better for yourself, but when your very support system is pulled out from under you how do you heal a broken heart?
So today on Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my family, my friends, my fellow soldiers, and the gift of being a nurse. I may not always give myself the credit I deserve as I have been reminded so often by those that know me all too well, but I am a good nurse. It has taken this deployment for me to realize that. I have a gift of connecting with people when they are down and out and helping them get to the best place for them. It may not always be better or healed where they walk out of those hospital doors from where they first entered. It may be to die with ease and comfort or to find a place where they feel safe. I have my doubts that I may not always accomplish what I set out to do, but the fact is that I try.
On a different note, I took care of another fellow soldier tonight. I have a difficult time trying to explain the difference between taking care of soldiers than taking care of other types of patients. I was told once that soldiers fight harder, take more risks, and accomplish great things because they know that we (the medical assets) are here to take good care of them if they get hurt. I know tonight my patient must have thought I was crazy when I wanted to turn him and check his backside. Keep in mind he had multiple fractures and wounds from being in an IED blast. I gave him the rationale why and we screamed and fought through the pain to get him to move so I could check his wounds and his skin to assure he wasn’t going to “bleed out” without me knowing about it. He forgave me later when I let him brush his teeth and helped him wash up this morning. He told me that this was so embarrassing for him. He looked at me strangely as I offered him my explanation that “this” was my favorite part of my job. I told him that I love to help people and if helping them brush their teeth and washing them up is going to make them feel better then hand over the wash cloth and soap!
He may not even realize that even his bed bath is part of his recovery. He brushed his teeth today with his one good arm (2pts). He washed his face and torso (5pts). He washed his hair with a shampoo cap (2pts). He rolled in bed so much better the second time around so I could wash his backside and change his sheets (10pts). My point is all these little things add up. They double as physical therapy, they count as exercise and assist the blood to flow to those injured parts to facilitate healing, and they give him control over a seemingly uncontrollable situation. Everything I do has a purpose; they may not know that or ever learn that, but it is to help them reach a goal. That goal would be to walk out of Walter Reed or some other Army facility a stronger man or woman than when they came in. Beat up and broken initially, but stronger and wiser later.
This is how I fight this war. This is my part in making a difference during this deployment. I may not always know why I am here or agree with what we are doing, but I know that my mission is to take care of soldiers and this is what I will do.
I will end this here. I am well and in good spirits despite that the holidays are here and I’m without all of you. Again, I cannot thank you all enough for sending the wonderful packages, letters, and support on such a daily basis.
I wasn’t able to get any Thanksgiving cards this time and most of you know that I keep Hallmark in business by sending greetings for all the holidays. I want to wish everyone a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I hope that this season helps us all to reflect on what we have to be truly thankful for. Plus how can you go wrong with turkey and all the fixings!
Wishing you all well. Thinking of you often and missing you more! I’ll be in touch.
With Love~
Thursday, November 23, 2006
It's Thanksgiving
Any holiday these days is bittersweet. I try to be mindful of other's joy in celebrating, but there is so much emptiness in my heart. I can't say "Happy* Thanksgiving or *Happy* Holidays or *happy* anything.
Of course there are better days, and there are many good memories my son, but any holiday is a reminder of what shining light is missing from my life.
3 years ago in 2003, Ken & I had set up a time for us to chat on the internet; he being in Sadr City, Iraq and we being in California. For these purposes *we* means my parents, 2 sisters, 2 nieces, my nieces fiance', and the fiance's family. We had a houseful of love and food, too. We were all looking forward to sharing a meal of thanksgiving and chatting with Ken. We were thankful he was alive and well, albeit 11 time zones removed from our family gathering.
I was nervous about making sure we had a connection- what if Ken came online and we weren't there? What if he thought we weren't thinking of him? This was the year that George Bush flew to Baghdad, and served turkey dinner to the troops safe within the Green Zone, wearing a 1st Armored Division jacket. Of course it was dangerous and how could the President of our country, the man who started this ugly war go beyond the safety of the Green Zone? For those outside the Green Zone, one day is like the rest; no respite from the daily mortar rounds, the ied's (improvised explosive devices) and the war.
Ken did not appear at the appointed time and I started to panic. I thought it was the internet connection, or maybe he popped on while we were eating. Finally, the instant message noise on the computer rang and Ken was with all of us for just a little while that Thanksgiving day. The delay in meeting us was a result of an extended firefight and unlike the women in some of the September 2006 Doonesbury comics, I always knew that our meetings online could be delayed.
Of course there are better days, and there are many good memories my son, but any holiday is a reminder of what shining light is missing from my life.
3 years ago in 2003, Ken & I had set up a time for us to chat on the internet; he being in Sadr City, Iraq and we being in California. For these purposes *we* means my parents, 2 sisters, 2 nieces, my nieces fiance', and the fiance's family. We had a houseful of love and food, too. We were all looking forward to sharing a meal of thanksgiving and chatting with Ken. We were thankful he was alive and well, albeit 11 time zones removed from our family gathering.
I was nervous about making sure we had a connection- what if Ken came online and we weren't there? What if he thought we weren't thinking of him? This was the year that George Bush flew to Baghdad, and served turkey dinner to the troops safe within the Green Zone, wearing a 1st Armored Division jacket. Of course it was dangerous and how could the President of our country, the man who started this ugly war go beyond the safety of the Green Zone? For those outside the Green Zone, one day is like the rest; no respite from the daily mortar rounds, the ied's (improvised explosive devices) and the war.
Ken did not appear at the appointed time and I started to panic. I thought it was the internet connection, or maybe he popped on while we were eating. Finally, the instant message noise on the computer rang and Ken was with all of us for just a little while that Thanksgiving day. The delay in meeting us was a result of an extended firefight and unlike the women in some of the September 2006 Doonesbury comics, I always knew that our meetings online could be delayed.
Ken got to chat with everyone, mostly it was back and forth trivialities, but we were together that day and that was good enough for me.
As I raised Ken, I wanted him to be the kind of man that other women would tell their partners- Why can't you treat me like Ken treats his woman? I wanted him to be able to be as comfortable in the kitchen as he was driving a 65 ton tank. He should be able to do his own laundry and be able to balance a check book. When he got married I wanted it to be because of the woman and his commitment to her and the relationship, NOT because he needed someone to do his laundry or fix a meal. 
Ken did feel comfortable in the kitchen from a very young age. Every Thanksgiving from the time he was about 4 years old, Ken made the cranberry sauce for our family dinner. Yep, from scratch, real cranberries and real sugar. He loved stirring the pot while the cranberries popped and released the juicy pulp. Look at that face, how happy he was to be part of our families tradition. As I continued Ken's tradition of making the cranberry sauce last night, I know that Ken was with me; always in my heart.
Over the years, Ken spent many Thanksgivings with friend's families and with his Army buddies and always, the families told me what good company he was.
So, this week, while our president yuks it up at the White House with the traditional pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey and a gratuitous nod to the military, my thoughts are of Thanksgivings gone by.
He also commended U.S. military personnel, whom he said "have set aside their own comfort and convenience and safety to protect the rest of us." "Their courage keeps us free. Their sacrifice makes us grateful. And their character makes us proud," Bush said. "Especially during the holidays, our whole nation keeps them and their families in our thoughts and prayers."
Most people in this country are detached from the war, including our president. They won't have to, don't have to think about the 140,000 troops currently serving in Iraq who are so far from their families and another 18,000 in Afghanistan on this national holiday. There is no impact, no rationing, no personal commitment to this war, except for the military families.
While happiness is a distant memory for me, I *am* grateful for many things and many people. I am grateful for my fellow Gold Star families at Gold Star Families Speak Out and the other 2871 Gold Star families, who know this bereavement. I am grateful for my new friends that I have met along the way and of course my old friends, my dear friends; the hugs that are freely given when people find out I am a Gold Star Mom; and my family, who has been supportive of this journey we are taking. I am grateful for the relatively good health of my family and that I will share Thanksgiving with my 2 favorite sisters, my favorite parents, my favorite niece and her new puppy. I am grateful for my 3 favorite brothers and 2 other favorite sisters and ALL of my favorite nieces and nephews, who are with their families this holiday. I am grateful for Ken's friends who stay in touch, who let me know that he will always be remembered. I am grateful that the voter's finally understood the futility of this occupation in Iraq and I hope the newly elected Congress responds in kind. I am grateful for ALL members of the military past and present, who made a commitment to serve their country; and to their families & friends who know the cost of this war.
I hope you are spending the day with those you love, as I am, and that there is comfort and gratitude in your heart. I do wish you a HAPPY Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Poppa Bush is drinking the koolaid
And I thought George HW Bush was onto his son.
I had heard that it was this president's father who suggested a few months back that Rumsfeld should leave. That's when his son came out and told us he was the "decider"; But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense." George W said in April 2006 when 6 retired generals spoke out against the Secretary of Defense.
The International Herald Tribune tells us that the retired president was speaking in the United Arab Emirates and had just finished a folksy address on leadership by telling the audience how deeply hurt he feels when his son the president is criticized.
Finally, back in in the UAE
Someone needs to go back to school and it isn't the college student who made those accusations.
I had heard that it was this president's father who suggested a few months back that Rumsfeld should leave. That's when his son came out and told us he was the "decider"; But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense." George W said in April 2006 when 6 retired generals spoke out against the Secretary of Defense.
The International Herald Tribune tells us that the retired president was speaking in the United Arab Emirates and had just finished a folksy address on leadership by telling the audience how deeply hurt he feels when his son the president is criticized.
"This son is not going to back away," Bush said, his voice quivering. "He's not going to change his view because some poll says this or some poll says that, or some heartfelt comments from the lady who feels deeply in her heart about something. You can't be president of the United States and conduct yourself if you're going to cut and run. This is going to work out in Iraq. I understand the anxiety. It's not easy."This is going to work out in Iraq? FOR WHOM??? He hasn't a clue about the anxiety of a loved one at war and he never will. It's not easy? AndI'm guessing that 41 did not get the message that "cut and run" is no longer the message. He can be forgiven for that, well, maybe not; but he cannot be forgiven for this comment:
When the son's and daughters of this country were sent to Bush's war, there was nothing we could do to be on their side and to help them in any way possible. This administration sent our son's and daughters into this war with inadequate training, inadequate equipment and inadequate numbers and an undefined mission. And while we raised our voices in protest, very few in Washington listened until election day a few weeks back. They got the message that the war is wrong and it is time to bring them home, but did they listen? We will make sure they listened. We said that people would not get elected if Iraq was not on their platform and we were right."When your son's under attack, it hurts. You're determined to be at his side and help him any way you possibly can."
Finally, back in in the UAE
Another hostile audience member, a college student in Abu Dhabi, told Bush that U.S. wars were aimed at opening markets for American companies. He said globalization was contrived for America's benefit at the expense of the rest of the world. Bush was having none of it.
"I think that's weird and it's nuts," Bush said. "To suggest that everything we do is because we're hungry for money, I think that's crazy. I think you need to go back to school."
Someone needs to go back to school and it isn't the college student who made those accusations.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Florence Nightingale reporting In
My favorite Army nurse is checking in...I must tell you that it has been a busy week for me. I have not been able to write or email as much as I would like. I have gone through a variety of emotions this week from happy to sad to upset and stressed. Everyday can be a challenge here because you never know what will come through the doors. Never mind, the constant challenges you constantly face in the ICU as you take care of your patients. Often though it feels like Ground hog day, like in the movie. I wake up every afternoon around 1600 or so. My battle buddy usually gets in the shower before me and I get the extra 10-15 minutes of sleep. We put all our gear on and walk over to the hospital before dropping our stuff off and heading to dinner. Dinner of course has turned into eating the same thing every night; it just has a different name. Then we sit for a few minutes before we “assault the mail room”. We head up stairs, change into our scrubs and our night begins. We hit the gym in the morning and then race to go to bed. Then it starts all over again.
I don’t even know where to start now. I learned an important lesson this week about the interaction of people you work with. It is always a difficult test to throw a whole bunch of people together who have never worked with each other before, send them to a place where no one speaks the language, take away the pieces of their life like family and friends and expect them to perform. I think most of you who have ever heard me talk about nursing know that I have very high standards. I like my patients and work area neat, clean and organized. I always feel that if you keep the area you work in organized that when stuff goes wrong you know where everything is and can act fast. I also always put my patients’ needs before my own. That includes going to the bathroom, eating, or anything else. I also have high expectations of the people I work with too.
I have learned that not everyone will share the same ideals you have. Not everyone will work as hard as you do to do the right thing. Not everyone will know what they did wrong or where they can improve if you don’t tell them. I have always had a difficult time correcting people. I hate the confrontation, especially with being in the military. Being here throws an interesting twist on things. Here, you can never get away. There is no place to go. There is no real escape. We all live, sleep, eat, and work together all the time; 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It’s not like you put in your time and head home and become distracted by your life. This is your life here.
I have learned that regardless of how I feel about confrontation, I owe it to myself and the person I have issues with to tell them about it. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. Maybe they didn’t know that what they were doing was wrong or not the right thing to do. I have learned that not only am I an officer, I am a leader, a registered nurse, a teacher, an advocate. I will need to work on this idea while I am here.
My goal for the next year will be to take the CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) exam while I am here. They are conducting a review course for the exam and they plan to give in the spring. I don’t yet feel like an ICU nurse even though I am told on a daily basis that I am now. I’m hoping to pass this exam so I can finally feel like I know something. I think that it will be helpful on my resume or my curriculum vitae for the military.
I have been taking care of an Iraqi burn patient all of this week. Whenever I am working I will get assigned to this patient. He requires so much care and I have taken on the difficult task of it. I have come to the conclusion that I don’t necessarily enjoy taking care of this type of patient, but I am probably good at it due to my OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) tendencies. There are multiple dressing changes to be done throughout the day and night. He also requires the same regular care that you would provide for every patient anyway which include oral care and bathing, hourly monitor and vital signs, medication and pain management. I did get a compliment from one of our docs though; He said that the patient was getting better and that I should take care of the patient each night. The sad reality is I don’t think that he will. If it wasn’t for the medication we are giving him he would never be able to maintain his blood pressure or breathe on his own. A harsh reality. Perhaps if he were back in the states he would make it, but one never knows.
A little over a week ago our area was hit by a rocket. It impacted just behind our building where I sleep and near the trailers where some of my fellow co workers sleep. The blast wave from its impact broke most of the windows in our whole building. It apparently shook up the trailers next to us as well. My buddy and I had just finished dinner and were sitting out on the smoke bench ( she smokes, not me) waiting to do our daily assault of the mail room and all of a sudden we heard this loud boom followed by some fire like sparks over in front of the hospital. The smoke bench is located on the back side of the hospital by the EMT entrance. We both just sat there and stared at each other. It was like we couldn’t move. I was frozen. Finally I just said “run” and we sprinted to the hospital.
Everyone was obviously shaken and there were people putting on the IBA (individual body armor) and moving toward the front of the hospital. My buddy and I reported upstairs to the ICU and everyone was talking about what had just happened. Inside my heart was beating a mile a minute. I was trying to control my breathing and think clearly. I took report on my patient but I really wasn’t listening. I was numb. It took a couple of hours before I was back to myself. Our roommates and fellow co workers were coming in periodically from other places to let us know what was going on and that they were okay. One of my roommates was in the shower when the rocket hit and was attacked by the fan in the window that blew out with the blast. She also was greeted half naked as she was trying to pull on her clothes and get out of the building by someone barging in and telling her to get out.
When we returned in the morning, we found broken glass and were thankful that we have heavy curtains covering all the windows. We also have very tall concrete barriers around our building with concertina wire on top. It was at this time that I realized I’m really in a combat zone. I hear gunfire all the time. There are “booms” every now and again. I know that I am lucky though. I am not listening or engaging the enemy on a daily basis. I am not living in a tent or out conducting convoys or patrols. I am not a combat arms soldier who faces this danger every moment of everyday they spend here in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Well I should probably end this here as it seems like it is already 3 pages long. I tend to get a bit long winded. Sorry about that. I hope you all are enjoying my updates and that I am not boring you.
I’m hoping everyone is doing well. I am still taking it one day at a time. I appreciate all the support, emails, letters, and packages. Thank you so much. I will be in touch
With love
Happy Blogday to me!
One year ago I made the first entry here. I didn't know what I would say, but I knew I had plenty on my mind. I've heard from enough people who make me feel that I am making a difference; maybe what I say does matter.
I've had visitors from .mil and .gov addresses. I hope they are taking notes. (The war is wrong and you know it!) I've had visitors from all over the world. I have regular visitors and accidental visitors; anyone who stops by is welcome. Don't be shy- do leave a comment; I appreciate a bit of dialog.
I've learned a lot from some fellow bloggers, Chancelucky, Brainhell, pogblog, and the Nemesis of Evil to name a few. Thanks for standing by me- it means a lot.
I hope I have made you laugh a little and I hope we've shared some tears. I wouldn't wish my life as a Gold Star mom on anyone. That is why I speak out and share my thoughts.
There have been some victories and there've been days when I wondered what kind of people were running this joint we call America. There have been days of darkness and a few days where we found out that this country really does belong to "we, the people" and that maybe it will get back on the right track.
Always, this blog has been a place of late night solace for me; where I could say what I really feel once the door to the outside world is closed.
I think Ken would have liked knowing my thoughts. I don't know if I would have been inclined to keep a blog had my life not changed so much on 5.30.04. The thing that I cannot express well enough is just how much I miss Ken; every day, every hour, every minute. We got gypped, whether you knew him in life or you just got to know him here; we were all gypped! I hope you got to know a little bit more about my blonde kid.
So, what do you say? Shall we try for another year?
I've had visitors from .mil and .gov addresses. I hope they are taking notes. (The war is wrong and you know it!) I've had visitors from all over the world. I have regular visitors and accidental visitors; anyone who stops by is welcome. Don't be shy- do leave a comment; I appreciate a bit of dialog.
I've learned a lot from some fellow bloggers, Chancelucky, Brainhell, pogblog, and the Nemesis of Evil to name a few. Thanks for standing by me- it means a lot.
I hope I have made you laugh a little and I hope we've shared some tears. I wouldn't wish my life as a Gold Star mom on anyone. That is why I speak out and share my thoughts.
There have been some victories and there've been days when I wondered what kind of people were running this joint we call America. There have been days of darkness and a few days where we found out that this country really does belong to "we, the people" and that maybe it will get back on the right track.
Always, this blog has been a place of late night solace for me; where I could say what I really feel once the door to the outside world is closed.
I think Ken would have liked knowing my thoughts. I don't know if I would have been inclined to keep a blog had my life not changed so much on 5.30.04. The thing that I cannot express well enough is just how much I miss Ken; every day, every hour, every minute. We got gypped, whether you knew him in life or you just got to know him here; we were all gypped! I hope you got to know a little bit more about my blonde kid.
So, what do you say? Shall we try for another year?
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