🚀 go-pugleaf

Let's just get the hell out and allow all the animals to kill
themselves.  If we don't like the outcome, nuke 'em all and start with
a clean slate.  Why is this so hard to see?  Is it that some friends
won't make a railcar load of money?



On Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:23:59 -0500, Alan Smithee
<AlanSmithee@nospam.nul> wrote:

>
>Sept. 13, 2007, 5:55AM
>Texas City GI who died had criticized war in Iraq
>Death of troops to heighten debate after their editorial appeared in
>papers
>
>By DANE SCHILLER
>Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle 
>
>The sharp words of a Texas City soldier who was critical of the war in
>Iraq and killed there this week may continue to echo in Washington.
>
>Sgt. Omar Mora and six other enlisted soldiers, including one who was
>killed in the same non-combat accident Monday, recently signed a bold,
>public letter in which they questioned whether the war in Iraq can be
>won militarily.
>
>The letter � published as a column sharing the view of a group of
>soldiers in battle � was referenced in a Senate hearing this week in
>which Gen. David Petraeus delivered an update on the war.
>
>It was first printed in The New York Times on Aug. 19 and later picked
>up by the Houston Chronicle and other outlets.
>
>"They will soon realize that the best way to regain dignity is to call
>us what we are � an army of occupation � and force our withdrawal,"
>the letter says of the Iraqi people. "We need not talk about our
>morale," it concludes. "As committed soldiers, we will see this
>mission through."
>
>Mora's family, Ecuadoran immigrants, said the 28-year-old was
>exhausted by Iraq and wanted to put the war behind him when he was due
>to return to the United States in November.
>
>"He told me, 'Mama, I am tired, I am so tired. I want to come home,' "
>his mother, Olga Capetillo, recalled of a recent phone conversation.
>
>"I told him to believe in God, and he will bring you home safe and
>sound," she said in Spanish through sobs. "My son is an American who
>gave his life for this country."
>
>Mora's brother, Roger Mora, said nobody should doubt his patriotism.
>
>"I think it was a very courageous decision not just on the part of my
>brother, but all the soldiers to voice their opinion," Roger Mora
>said. "We as Americans have that ability, that is very privileged," he
>continued.
>
>He declined to share the family's views on the war, but they were
>unaware of his having any trouble with other soldiers after it was
>published.
>
>In addition to Mora, the letter was signed by Spc. Buddhika Jayamaha;
>Sgt. Wesley D. Smith; Sgt. Jeremy Roebuck; Sgt. Edward Sandmeier;
>Staff Sgt. Jeremy A. Murphy and Staff Sgt. Yance T. Gray, who was
>killed along with Mora.
>
>A woman who answered the phone at the Gray family home said she was
>was exhausted by the emotion of losing her son and could not talk.
>
>Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington, a Pentagon spokesman, said soldiers have
>a right to speak their minds.
>
>"Regarding freedom of speech, service members may exercise their right
>to free speech and speak to the media as long as they are voicing
>their opinion," Withington said.
>
>Judith LeBlanc, co-chairperson for United For Peace and Justice, a
>nationwide coalition to end the war, said the soldiers' letter as well
>as their deaths will add to the war debate.
>
>"Their deaths are going to arouse people's awareness that this war is
>not able to be won militarily, but in fact the only solution � as they
>argued in the op-ed piece � is a political solution," LeBlanc said.
>
>"I am hoping when people hear about the passing of these soldiers,
>they will decide to call their congressperson and be part of speaking
>out as they need to do," she said.
>
>A third author of the letter was reportedly shot in the head and is
>expected to survive. Citing privacy laws, the Pentagon declined to
>confirm the injury.
>
>
>
>
>http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5130698.html
>
>
>"Devotees of grammatical studies have not been distinguished for any
>very remarkable felicities of expression."    - Amos Bronson Alcott