Well folks...

Here we are five years after the invasion? Are we better or worse as a military? A nation? What about our military families, how are they doing?

Let's hear it!

3990


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From the Oxford English Dictionary:

quote:

rhetorical question ... (1884 Bradley's Aids to Lat. Prose) Questions that do not require an answer, but are only put in the form of a question in order to produce a greater effect,... are called rhetorical questions.

IMHO there's a pretty clear consensus as to the answers.

quote:

Originally posted by RobRodriguez:
Well folks...

Here we are five years after the invasion? Are we better or worse as a military? Much worse. A nation? Divided and financially unstable What about our military families, how are they doing? Doing everything asked of them with little support.

Let's hear it!
The same thing year after year. Maybe after Jan 20 we might see some change.

Personally I don't feel any safer-just more disgusted as time goes by. These past five years have taken their toll on our family. Our loved ones-so far-have come home reasonably intact.

It's a shame that the country I that I raised my right hand three times for and took an oath for, has people that are willing to start a war, but are unwilling to send their own loved one to. It's also a shame that I'm from a country that I can be prepared to defend, yet am considered a traitor because I oppose a President and his failed policies.

I imagine that if people really could turn over in their graves, that all of our fallen warriors and heroes from past wars are certainly turning over in their graves right now-turning over knowing what this ill-excuse for a President has done to our country and the Constitution they died defending.

I got a badge. Can't be too certain about the status of anything else.

I think we've set up a permanant residence there that we'll be years in getting out of if we do at all.

Military is in worse shape.Way too strung out.
Nation is in worse shape.Way too strung out.
Military families are not getting the support they need, nor are the returning casualties.
SNAFU.
And the Iraqis are not helping.At least not in the numbers we need.

quote:

Originally posted by BlackMagix:
I think we've set up a permanant residence there that we'll be years in getting out of if we do at all.

A great foothold to educate the world of the middle east on democracy. It costs a little bit more to get a foothold but the the benefits are really cool. Imagine a middle east that has regular elections in all the countries in that influence. I say it's all worth it.

quote:

Imagine a middle east that has regular elections in all the countries in that influence.

Depends on how they vote. . .

...gjd

Personally Rob, I'm doing great, thanks for asking.

There's been some bumps in the road back to AD, but overall....we're still good.

I don't presume to know squat about the going's on outside my own little world, BUT I will say this:
Military families need to quit EXPECTING things to be handed to them because their spouse is serving. Get off their "the military owes me" butt's and do it themselves.
If it's beyond your means--get off your butt and get involved with the FRG or whatever support group the Post has. Every single Post has support groups--can't nobody convince me otherwise.
If you feel left out: GET INVOLVED.
Don't know how: ASK SOMEONE.
Can't find answers: COME SEE US IN THE SPOUSE HOUSE. Collectively, we have TONS of resources--phone numbers, websites, people we actually know!


That's all I got.

Be doing alot better if they took the leash off our troops and let them do their job.Let them do what they were trained to do.Defeat the enemy.If not we will have another Nam on our hands.And I hate beening a loser.

quote:

Originally posted by wilddavemsg:
Be doing alot better if they took the leash off our troops and let them do their job.Let them do what they were trained to do.Defeat the enemy.If not we will have another Nam on our hands.And I hate beening a loser.

quote:

Originally posted by bobbysangelwife:
Personally Rob, I'm doing great, thanks for asking.

There's been some bumps in the road back to AD, but overall....we're still good.

I don't presume to know squat about the going's on outside my own little world, BUT I will say this:
Military families need to quit EXPECTING things to be handed to them because their spouse is serving. Get off their "the military owes me" butt's and do it themselves.
If it's beyond your means--get off your butt and get involved with the FRG or whatever support group the Post has. Every single Post has support groups--can't nobody convince me otherwise.
If you feel left out: GET INVOLVED.
Don't know how: ASK SOMEONE.
Can't find answers: COME SEE US IN THE SPOUSE HOUSE. Collectively, we have TONS of resources--phone numbers, websites, people we actually know!


That's all I got.

quote:

Originally posted by bobbysangelwife:
Personally Rob, I'm doing great, thanks for asking.

There's been some bumps in the road back to AD, but overall....we're still good.

I don't presume to know squat about the going's on outside my own little world, BUT I will say this:
Military families need to quit EXPECTING things to be handed to them because their spouse is serving. Get off their "the military owes me" butt's and do it themselves.
If it's beyond your means--get off your butt and get involved with the FRG or whatever support group the Post has. Every single Post has support groups--can't nobody convince me otherwise.
If you feel left out: GET INVOLVED.
Don't know how: ASK SOMEONE.
Can't find answers: COME SEE US IN THE SPOUSE HOUSE. Collectively, we have TONS of resources--phone numbers, websites, people we actually know!


That's all I got.

Thank goodness someone has pointed out the fact that the military is not a WELFARE state.

quote:

Originally posted by Jamisina:
has people that are willing to start a war, but are unwilling to send their own loved one to.

You should really check your facts before you make a completly assinine statement like that.

For starters parents do not send their kids to war. We have an all volunter military and if their kids decide not to join then so be it.

Secondly, The next President of the United States just watched recently his own son return from Iraq with a deployment as a US Marine.

Well put!

quote:

Originally posted by bobbysangelwife:
Personally Rob, I'm doing great, thanks for asking.

There's been some bumps in the road back to AD, but overall....we're still good.

I don't presume to know squat about the going's on outside my own little world, BUT I will say this:

Military families need to quit EXPECTING things to be handed to them because their spouse is serving. Get off their "the military owes me" butt's and do it themselves.
If it's beyond your means--get off your butt and get involved with the FRG or whatever support group the Post has. Every single Post has support groups--can't nobody convince me otherwise.
If you feel left out: GET INVOLVED.
Don't know how: ASK SOMEONE.
Can't find answers: COME SEE US IN THE SPOUSE HOUSE. Collectively, we have TONS of resources--phone numbers, websites, people we actually know!


That's all I got.

bobbysangelwife, what you posted above (w/my emphasis), is how things should ALWAYS be done by the military families. Sadly, as you have seen/shown, some just expect that the military "should just know" what is needed and whether or not the family can/can't do it themselves.

There is a tremendous network of family members that are willing to help, but first they need to know that you do indeed need help. If they have been someplace in the past that had a FRG that asked before the need arose, they were blessed at that station. It IS nice to have someone that is so driven to give, that they come looking to find a job, a service that they can perform. Most FRG's do not have that type of person. Sometimes, those people can be a pain because they are always asking, "Can I.....? Do you want/need....?"

Thanks for your input. I, for one, am grateful that you took the time to say what needed saying.

quote:

Here we are five years after the invasion? Are we better or worse as a military? A nation? What about our military families, how are they doing?

Do you REALLY have to ask?

Wray...

quote:

Personally Rob, I'm doing great, thanks for asking.

There's been some bumps in the road back to AD, but overall....we're still good.

I don't presume to know squat about the going's on outside my own little world, BUT I will say this:
Military families need to quit EXPECTING things to be handed to them because their spouse is serving. Get off their "the military owes me" butt's and do it themselves.
If it's beyond your means--get off your butt and get involved with the FRG or whatever support group the Post has. Every single Post has support groups--can't nobody convince me otherwise.
If you feel left out: GET INVOLVED.
Don't know how: ASK SOMEONE.
Can't find answers: COME SEE US IN THE SPOUSE HOUSE. Collectively, we have TONS of resources--phone numbers, websites, people we actually know!


That's all I got.

This is such a great post!!! I joined the National Guard just a few months ago, knowing what we have been through in Iraq and also knowing what is probably to come. I am married and my wife and I are expecting our first child soon. My wife supported me joining and I volunteered because I believe in what we are doing. No one is perfect, and if you expect our leaders to be faultless then you are living in an absolute fairytale land. Those in charge have to make what they think is the best decision with the information they have. To suggest that someone just made up information to start a private war is to belive that they would be one of the most evil people on earth - which is rediculous. Remember, the president was elected by a Majority of the country. It is fine to dissagree with his decisions, but to attack him personally as people have done is demeaning and unpatriotic!