by Frank James
As we gather with family and friends over the Christmas holiday, we should take time to remember those who will be observing the holiday far from home on behalf of the American people.
The first who come to mind are the U.S. servicemen and women, all volunteers, in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere who have seen many of their comrades make the ultimate sacrifice or be injured severely.
They put the "power" in the term "American power." To do so means long deployments away from those they love, and years that can't be made up.
I know I speak for most when I say our fondest wish is that they return home to their families and friends at the end of their tours, with bodies and minds whole.
Then there are those civilian members of the government who are also serving abroad, in the diplomatic corps or other U.S. agencies in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world.
Though they are often forgotten, they take risks as well on behalf of the American people. They are some of the most important faces the U.S. shows the world. They are our soft power. We should be mindful of them too.
Last, and not least, there are the U.S. journalists in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots. They are the people Thomas Jefferson and other founders envisioned as providing the information vital to the American democracy for informed decision making. Let's not forget them amid all our Christmas cheer.
All of you will be home for Christmas, if only in our dreams.
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Comments
All US men and women serving in the military deserve to be home for Christmas.
Too bad Bush, Cheney & the Republic Party hacks aren't listening to 70% of the American citizens who are demanding this.
Posted by: BC | December 24, 2007 5:44 PM
Only BC could turn a post like this into a political bash against our President.
This only shows the defeatist mentality of the loser lefties.
May God bless our troops in this time of war.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | December 24, 2007 9:36 PM
Obviously, the best thing for our service people and the American economy is to end the Iraqi occupation immediately.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | December 24, 2007 11:06 PM
I salute the troops and wish them a safe and happy holiday season.
We must always remember that it's not the troops fault that this criminal Republican administration is conducting perpetual war, disdaining international cooperation, justifying torture, pissing on centuries of due process, terrorizing people and calling it the fight against terror, suppressing votes, killing journalists, spying on citizens, consorting with murderous dictators, building a secret gulag, denying the Iraq invasion was mostly about oil, overflowing the pockets of cronies with taxpayer gold, treating the Presidency like a kingship, rejecting science, renditioning suspects, and spreading lies so fast and thick that every household needs a front-loader operating 24/7 to keep from being buried alive.
Posted by: Billy Zoom | December 25, 2007 12:32 AM
Let's not forget founders like Thomas Jefferson who had the sense to question authority - without whos' dilligence, we wouldn't even be free to have discussions like this.
Posted by: Giraffe | December 25, 2007 1:57 AM
And too bad Pelosi and Reid have failed so miserably.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | December 25, 2007 3:24 PM
Yeah, Rick...It's the perfect storm:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/a/2007/12/19/notes121907.DTL
Posted by: dt | December 26, 2007 4:32 AM
Bring all the troops home NOW. This is a civil war. There is nothing we can do.
American has no stake in this war. This Bush's personal war. Choose your favorite explanation. To impress his father. God told him to do it. Guarantee him a second term. Launder money from no bid contracts back into Republican coffers.
Whatever explanation works for you, the longer we stay the more people die. Our soldiers, who are dieing, not for America, but for G. W. Bush. Iraquis, who are dieing in unprecedented numbers. Surely Bush is responsible for the deaths of more Iraquis than Sadam ever was.
Our continued miltary prescence in Iraq serves no useful pupose. It only spells death for more people.
Posted by: Susan | December 26, 2007 8:44 AM