The RUSSIANS Did It!!!!

This story just keeps getting better. Who'da thunk that the Russians would help Saddam protect his military holdings from allied bombings and seizure? Sounds like they had some issues to take care of prior to the coalition invasion (Thanks Drudge):

"The Russians brought in, just before the war got started, a whole series of military units," Mr. Shaw said. "Their main job was to shred all evidence of any of the contractual arrangements they had with the Iraqis. The others were transportation units."

The Russian involvement in helping disperse Saddam's weapons, including some 380 tons of RDX and HMX, is still being investigated, Mr. Shaw said.

Well, I certainly can't dispute any of this. Read the entire Washington Times article. As we like to say here in the Middle East: "Oil-for-Food makes the world go 'round."

A Kerry Challenge

I knew something was up when 6 different people sent me the exact same link. That usually means "you must check this out." Thanks to all who sent it- it was the most perfect anti-Kerry ad (disguised as a pro-Kerry ad) ever made. Here's my challenge to you "Kerry voters" out there (and I know there are some of you out there!). Go to this site, listen to the ad (A Strong Case for Kerry), and see if you can still manage to vote for him. I'm willing to bet the farm you won't be able to. Just go ahead and try!!

Blogging Works

Some of you may wonder why I do this. Why should I feel compelled to tell my side of the story with respect to the war or military affairs in general? The short answer is, I can't take it anymore. Many of my friends are no longer with us. They gave their lives for something they believed in, and I'm not about to let John Kerry (or anyone else) tell the world that we "failed to capture bin Laden when we had him surrounded" or that we "failed to guard a storage facility near Baghdad" when I know for a fact that he's lying. I simply won't let him do it. He did it 30+ years ago and (until now) got away with it. He's not getting away with it anymore.

In a recent email to one of my loyal readers, I explained it like this: We in the military need to do a better job of telling our story. We have a long and honorable tradition of being "quiet professionals"- doing our jobs and letting our actions speak for us. But now there is a problem- we are living in the "information age." If we don't tell our story, the profit-driven media (with the help of corrupt self-serving politicians) will tell it for us. The information superhighway will amplify this sorry excuse for "news" to the point where truth and reality are no longer easily discernible.

That's why I started this blog. The blogosphere works. I've seen it debunk multiple attacks on Bush, I've seen it pave the way for the Swiftees, and now more than ever- I've seen it amplify the voices of our soldiers who serve so proudly.

I recently collaborated on a book (more on this in a future post), and I'm now helping with a documentary about my Brigade's efforts in Iraq. You'll notice that I avoid publicizing my name. That last thing I want is personal recognition. I'm not saying that we should talk about our heroics and seek praise from the masses. That's not what this is about. This is about us doing our part in getting the truth to people. The Swiftees are providing a wonderful model that would have served them well 30+ years ago, and I'm so happy that they are finally getting their day in court. But I don't want to wait 30 years. I want to get the truth out there right now.

We're getting better at this. The other night, I was here at the cybercafe. Just typing away and listening to Sean Hannity (it's free on his web site). I could barely believe my ears when I heard one of my great friends from the 101st (she's now stationed in Alabama I think?) come on the air to berate Michael Moore about his joke of a movie (I made a very similar call on the Glenn Beck show a few months back). As soon as I heard her familiar voice refer to our dear friend who was shot down over Tikrit, I felt the bond reconnect. I hadn't spoken to her for months (my brother and I had drinks with her a few days before I left Fort Campbell- maybe April?), but I shot her an email as soon as I heard her on the air. We both feel the same sense of loyalty and responsibility, and we're both doing our part. There are thousands more of us, and our numbers grow daily.

We need to get the truth out. We owe it to our buddies. The ones who are still over here fighting, and especially the ones who made the ultimate sacrifice.