Hip, Hip...! At long last, a display of integrity and courage from "our" side of the equation. That British soldier stood up for American ideals better than anyone else I've read about recently! Let's hear it for our cousins across the pond!
Most people here don't realize the number of Brits and Aussies who are also over there fighting shrub's war. The number of Aussies, especially, is quite high.
From personal conversations, the soldiers I have spoken with our very demoralized over the Iraqi engagement. They are doing 2, 3, 4, tours of duty over there with no end in sight. Most of them have become quite cynical about the war. Here, any active duty soldier who speaks out against the war in Iraq risks court martial. I have been told by a drill Sgt who is now on his second tour over there, that any time a soldier is interviewed by the press, a member of JAG stands right behind him to make sure he says the politically correct thing.
Our soldiers over there are going without adequate supplies or even clean drinking water. I recently sent off $200.00 worth of food items for 18 of our soldiers in Iraq - things like Kool Aide, dried beef sticks, packs of cookies, ramen noodles, and instant oatmeal. These things are highly prized. Our soldiers prize
instant oatmeal and
ramen?
They return home to substandard housing, ever dwindling VA benefits, and a general population who doesn't want to know. Is it any wonder that some of them treat Iraqi's like untermenschen, when this is the way they, themselves, are being treated by their own country?
Cyclefrance, would you sponsor me for British citizenship, please? I've read Ian's book thoroughly and filled out all the forms.