Monday, October 5, 2009

Slugfest in Afghanistan










My fellow citizens, the war in Afghanistan has become a free for all. Afghanistan is a failed state. The government in Kabul controls only parts of that large country. But more importantly the Global War on Terrorism is a spiritual war between the forces of darkness and light. I have said this many times but prayer is our most powerful weapon. The Obama regime may vacillate, procrastinate and waffle but we the citizens will not. We must remember 8 long years ago to 9/11. We did not ask for this war. With that in mind consider the following: The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment. He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. Letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively. He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other and wears them until they are worn out. (In Iraq I had to order soldiers to get new fatigues because they were so focused on the mission they forgot about their own clothes.) He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem and God Bless America vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away ' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. He is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years. He has asked nothing in return, except our prayers, friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now like our Revolutionary War we have women in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

As you go to bed tonight, remember them during a short lull of battle, catching a little shade with a picture of loved ones in their helmets.

My fellow citizens it is a savage, brutal, bitter war in Afghanistan and getting worse by the day. The Taliban are true believers and will fight to the death to preserve their medieval society. Furthermore, it is still dangerous in Iraq and will get more dangerous as our troops complete their mission and depart Iraq. America these are our children pray for them.

Pray that the 'Lord, holds our troops in your loving hands and protects them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Pray for our many wounded military personnel and the families of our deceased military personnel. Pray for the many civilians working for the military and our missing civilians. Pray for our military leadership. Stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan , coast guardsmen, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in and all foreign countries. Again, remember prayer is our most powerful weapon. I am convinced it was my family, friends and neighbors who brought me home safely from Iraq with their prayers. There were times when I should have been wounded or captured on the most dangerous highway in Iraq. I could have died in the hospital from a severe infection but prayers and the Holy Spirit/Ruach Elohim saw me through. Remember Yeshua taught us how to pray. Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coast Guardsman, Marine, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

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