I don't know if this has been posted before, but I just received it and wanted to share it with everyone.
To the Men and Women of the Armed Forces, THANK YOU for your continued service and dedication to ensure my continued freedoms and freedom to those who suffer from eveil.
http://www.wtv-zone.com/Mary/THISWILLMAKEYOUPROUD.HTML

 

That is so true! Men and women are over their fighting for our freedom (and that of the Iraqi peoploe) everyday and all they get at home is a slap in the face. If it wasn't for our soldiers, we wouldn't have the freedoms that we have!

 

thanks for sharing that.. i hope it gets the attention it deserves

 

Very true. Another thanks for posting that.

 

I posted this question to Yahoo Answers several weeks ago but didn't get an answer that I felt answered my question and it seems to fit this thread so if anyone has anything to say I'm interested.

How is OUR freedom being protected by sending soldiers from the US and Canada to fight in conflicts like Iraq?

Additional Info:

I don't want to disrespect or discredit anyone in any branch of the military by asking this question, please understand that. I've seen/heard many proud family members say..."They're fighting for our freedom"..."They're fighting so that we can be free". I don't see how conficts like The Vietnam War, Korean War, Somalia or Desert Storm would have affected our freedom. I can see reasons for being in some of these places....but not to protect our freedom.

The military presence in Afganhistan is a result of international terrorism. The conflct there doesn't really fit the same profile as Vietnam, Korea or Kuwait. These, to my knowledge, were civil wars and regional conflicts.

 

First of all, Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen go where they are ordered to go. As a 26 year veteran of the Marine Corps, I didn't always see the rationale behind the conflicts I served in. Putting you head in the sand results in events like the attack on the WTC and Pentagon. They will come again without vigilance. While you chasing your three calves, would you prefer that you address the problem at it's roots, the Middle East, or in Toronto? I have seen first hand what these calculating wonders are capable of, October 23, 1983 in Beirut. Just ask yourself what exactly what you personally stand for, if it's tolerance and ease of living, fine. The Quran gives the faithful three options, kill, subjugate, or convert. Communism had world domination at its' root. Kuwait would not exist today but for Desert Storm, my last little party. Freedom costs a great deal in blood. I have seen the gassed Kurds and haven't forgotten. You are entitled to ask this question because someone is on a wall keeping all of us safe and I understand your question. I have lost some great kids over the years and aquired three additional holes in my body that I didn't come from Mom with. There's not one of those kids lives I don't greive over. Good luck with your search for an answer, but you have it in your heart. If you don't agree with the situation, you're entitled, that's what we all served for, freedom. Canada is a very valuable ally as are Canadians, true friends to our north. I've trusted a Canadian with my life more that once and as I'm rambling on, they obviously did a good job.

 

First off I am not or ever have been in the military. My Mistake...

I have a great respect for the men and women who serve.

The answer to your question, as I see it, is. Our freedom is being protected by these soldiers in their efforts to stand up to world leaders, dictators, and terrorists around the world. If they didn't then Hitler would have suceeded, Communism would be everywhere. If you were in communist Russia and questioned their authority, where would you be? Dead I am sure. We are FREE to ask these questions, because they keep us free.

They may be sent to and die in some small insignificant place in the world, but like a cancer, you need to get it taken care of early before it has a chance to spread. That is what they are doing.

 

That was a great web site. Who cares if it was posted before. We could always use a reminder...

Did anyone check out the other stories on there?

 

I can see this turning into a flap, but before it does I'm very glad for all of the books I ever got from the Military Book Club. As a "troop" it was a goldmine of information and explanations of what we were doing, why, and how it came to be like that.

I recommend it to anyone on active duty.

Freedom still is not free, and the uninformed cannot claim to have informed opinions. Failure to learn from the past results inevitably in the past repeating itself and we can no longer afford to repeat history.


~Wolf

 

I'm not sure if you're comment about this turning into a flap is aimed at me. I know I injected something of a touchy subject into the thread. I am trying to be informed that is why I asked the question.

 

Just read the editorials on the SUN newspapers.

Living in Ontario you get a lot of the Liberal drivel thrown at you.

Here's the deal:

Canadian soldiers are over in Afghanistan to Help rebuild the country and provide support to ther ciitizens that wish to live like us in the Western World.
Part of this is having combat troops to neutralize any member of the Taliban et al that don't want this to happen there.
They want things to stay the way they were >

As long as these terrorists can live and train without interference they
could/will some day come to Canada and terrorize us the way they did in the US on 9-11.
I'm sure you prefer that these battles be fought over in the middle east as opposed to Downtown Toronto or Montreal or wherever in Canada ?
ie: Blowing up and killing thousands of people like they did on 9-11.

Canada is doing the right thing.

Here's one thing to remember about our American friends & allies in the military.

When & If we need them ,they will be the first to help us.

In fact, Canada has a minu'te amount of defence to guard this country.

Thanks to the Liebral's (that Ontario kept putting into power) All of Canada's military can be sat in an average American College's Football stadium and still have room for 20,000 more people.Canad with a population of 35 million people and the 2nd largest country in the world has a military might of about 52,000 Soldiers This number includes all the Majors & Generals that sit at home as well.

That's disgraceful ! never mind ..we have to "hitch a ride" to get our special equipment to places around the world when neded.

Canada has led the way with peace-keeping in many areas of the world but our combat and special training exceeds other countries.
It's just that we have had spineless leaders keeping us out of things.


I don't know how many American folks here know but we just had our first FEMALE combat soldier casulty return home.
She had one of the most dangerous jobs in the military and died doing it.
She was a front line obervation soldier. It was her job to find ,pinpoint the enemy and point out where to fire the artillery.

I'll find you all sorts of articles about why Canada is there in Afghanistan within a few minutes.

Iraq is Mainly a US and allied forces thing.

They went after and found a madman after killing his madman sons that loved to Kill people in the thousands.

They got rid of a despot dictator.

IMO, He was the WMD

The amount of innocent lives that were killed (and would have been killed had they not stepped in to help) by Hussein is a far greater number than how many have been killed by the forces.

Count how many Iraq's have been killed by other iraqi's and the suicide bombers.

What do I do to show the American's how appreciative I am that they will protect from harm.

I fly the Stars & Stripes on my home

EDIT:
so Why is Canada in Afghanistan ?

Read this :

http://www.canada-afghanistan.gc.ca/active-role-en.asp

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Colum...0/1589216.html

Why is Canada in Iraq ?

Read This:

Canada and Iraq
Policy Statement

Canada is committed to helping the people of Iraq by providing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. Even before the beginning of the conflict, Canada disbursed $5.6 million to help humanitarian organizations prepare for impending hostilities. On March 26, 2003, Canada committed an additional $100 million in humanitarian assistance. Of this allocation, $55 million has been disbursed to United Nations humanitarian agencies and international humanitarian non-governmental organizations. This funding will help to ensure that war-affected Iraqis have access to clean water, proper sanitation, food, shelter and primary health care. Resources were also devoted to mine action and the safety of aid workers.

On May 14, 2003, Canada announced a further $200 million in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Iraq, bringing Canada's total to more than $300 million. This new funding will help Iraqi authorities improve access to basic services, including clean water, proper sanitation and primary health care. Our funds will also support Iraqi efforts to build democratic institutions; reform judicial, police and correctional services; strengthen civil society; and promote human rights. In addition, Canada will work with neighbouring countries to address some of the political, economic and social challenges and opportunities created by the new situation in Iraq.

Canada welcomes UN Security Council Resolution 1483, adopted on May 22, 2003. Resolution 1483 lifts the sanctions against Iraq, which were imposed following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1991. This resolution sets out a framework for international support of Iraq's reconstruction and recovery, and recognizes the vital role the United Nations must play. The international community can now turn resolutely to the task at hand-Iraq's reconstruction and recovery.