Go Away

Go Away

This baby looks kind of like I feel today. GO AWAY he seems to say as he tries to catch a breeze on a 90 degree day.

Deployment Extended

Last night I read that my Soldier's deployment would be extended beyond the NATO takeover date. I know given the heavy casualties his company took over the last couple of weeks, he sounded subdued - at best. The knowledge that he would come home soon helped sustain him during the very difficult campaign that is currently ending. In early June - he said "Only about 6 more weeks, Mom!"

Now, according to the publication "Stars and Stripes", they are aware that they will be staying and for the next few weeks, that stay will be at best "uncomfortable." They have been moved into temporary housing where their "supply officer" is trying his best to find a bed for everyone - even if that bed is in an unconditioned tent in temps that exceed 120 degrees most days. Lines for showers, chow, and other necessities will increase. The ability to communicate with family - poor to begin with - will become even worse with the increase in personnel housed at this small operating base.

NATO has a different "strategy" for dealing with the insurgency - building rather than bombing. My Soldier did express some concerns over the differing attitudes of the NATO force as they entered the theater. He has expressed nothing but praise for the Afghan forces but felt that the NATO force's peacekeeping strategy was a bit "inexperienced" given the conditions on the ground - where increasingly suicide bombers, bold raids on government facilities and ambushes have become commonplace.

It is getting kind of hard to tell a young man to "do his job...and stay focused" when the planning for the "Global War on Terror" is so obviously neglected. Friends with family serving in Iraq are dealing with similar feelings with the announcement that the 172 Stryker will be extended and sent to Baghdad to quell the sectarian violence there.

Politicians in both parties are busy "chest thumping" about who can best "manage the War on Terror" - but in reality, most are simply engaged with getting re-elected while brave young men and women die.

Operation "Mountain Thrust"

Today, I read that Operation Mountain Thrust is "wrapping up" in Afghanistan. I do not know if the Military considers it a "success" or not. What I do know is that many lives were lost and many people were injured in another occupation that appears to be going badly. After five years of primarily US occupation, Afghanistan is, by our own assessment, a failed state that produces 90% of the worlds heroin and has a government that is in business for itself - not for her people. Women are still forced to cover themselves fully to avoid harrassment from others, children who try to attend school face threats of death along with their families, most of the country still lacks basic health care and most face severe economic depression and threats of daily violence.

My Soldier was involved in "Mountain Thrust." When his task force returns, they will have lost two Soldiers - permanently. Both men were fathers - with six kids between them. In addition, at least three Soldiers have been severely wounded - and although all are expected to make it, rehab will be extensive with no guarantees on the long term prognosis. Several others were wounded with a good chance for a full recovery.

We have heard the violence in Iraq has increased dramatically. The country reports 100 deaths from violent causes each and every day. Many in Iraq and the US believe that Iraq is in a state of civil war. The Iraqi Prime Minister came to the US to ask us to help "secure" Baghdad. As a result, one Battalion has been "extended" for four months, others have been deployed to provide "overlap" coverage, effectively increasing our force by some 15,000 troops.

We have "taken sides" with Israel in her war with Hezbolla and by extension Lebanon. Thus far, many innocent civilians have been killed or displaced as bombs fall and tanks shell cities and villages - on both sides of the border. Iran supplies Hezbolla with arms - we supply Israel with arms and rhetoric.

At home, stressed by deployments and Troops returning with physical and emotional scars, Military Families struggle under the weight of "stay the course" policy. In our own small group, the infant child of one Soldier died while he was deployed, a wife fled due to battering, and parents of Soldiers agonize over the safety of their kids - on the battlefield and here in the U.S. We worry about the future - since we know that even if our Soldier comes home from this deployment unhurt and psychologically intact - he/she is only doing so to prepare to hit the next hot zone in rotation and the cycle of worry will only begin again.

There is an old maxim that states: "Violence begets violence - killing begets only more killing." I do not know the source of this statement - but along with 60% of American voters, I know it to be true. Too bad our leadership doesn't "get it." But then, they are too busy fundraising to keep their jobs to pay much attention.

Fuchsia Hair

Well, it seems that I am getting much closer to needing to dye my hair. When my son was home last summer, I informed him that I had no intention of being a "blue haired" little old lady when his job caused my normally brownish hair to turn to shades of white. My grandma used to use bluing in her white hair to enhance the "whiteness" often turning it a very pretty shade of blue.

I am NOT my grandma. I love the color pink...the brighter and bolder - the better. So I told him that he will be responsible for the rest of my life to keep me in vogue with hair dye to keep me in the pink.

So bud, if you read this, know that every day, I am finding new white strands popping up. When I hit about 50%, the dying will need to start for sure. Don't make too many plans for that cute little sports car you have been emailing me about - think PINK!

When I go pink, I WILL post pictures. Wonder what my boss will think. He already knows I am a bit off.