Well put Bill.

The pupose of this thread is and was to honor these men and women.

I encouraged people to vote (I didn't/don't care who you vote for) with the memory of their loss in mind

God knows why Tom took exception to to this thread. Then wanting to find a way to equate their sacrifice with accident victims, and people who are aflicted by disease. The big difference is that their deaths could have been avoided by one single decision having been made differently. A decision that many experts (even the CIA) say was flawed.

No one gives a $^!# who someone from another country would vote for. The citizens of THIS country can control their own destiny. It's just a lot easier to do when you are well informed, and not blinded by smokescreens put up by people with another agenda.

Tom:

Notice that neither candidates name was ever used in this thread by me. (and neither got a vote from me). It was you that polluted this thread with politics.

Carl, I like the way you interpreted my post!!? All I was talking about were deaths...period! I guess it's not so important to you that people die but how they die.....!!!! I have obviously touched a sour spot with you. And for polluting this thread....since when were you asigned as the Lord of the posts! Give me a break and step down off your soap box and chill out...we don't want one of our buddies having a heart attack...namely you!!! I'm done..........

So then what was the point of your post? This thread was about deaths to Military personnel. Discussion of disease and accidents was/is off topic. Your political commments added in your subsequent posts go a long way toward explaining your agenda.

PS, since I started this thread and have maintained it, it is MY thread. Start your own Dr Schweitzer!

Although, I don't really support the war in Iraq and think it's for all the wrong reasons... I do however support all the soldiers who gave their lives.

With rememberance day approaching, I think it is only right that we show our gratitude and sympathy towards all soldiers and their families. Even if you don't believe in what their fighting for.

God knows why Tom took exception to to this thread. Then wanting to find a way to equate their sacrifice with accident victims, and people who are aflicted by disease. The big difference is that their deaths could have been avoided by one single decision having been made differently. A decision that many experts (even the CIA) say was flawed.

ALL of the military people serving in Iraq VOLUNTEERED (To perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will.) and from what I've seen and heard, the majority of them are proud of their service and their purpose for being there.

They DESERVE our unrelenting support!

ALL of the military people serving in Iraq VOLUNTEERED (To perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will.) and from what I've seen and heard, the majority of them are proud of their service and their purpose for being there.

Which makes their sacrifice even more worthy of note. But make no mistake, not all of them support the decisions that put them there. (51% is a statistical majority) The bullets and bombs that take their lives don't select them based on their personal politics. These men and women are sacrificed for someone elses politics.

They DESERVE our unrelenting support!

And they have mine. In spite of my lack of support for the politics (of BOTH parties) that put them there and will keep them there.

Great thread honoring fallen heroes.

However Carl, you can't say that your intent wasn't political; it may be understated, but it was most assuredly political from the onset.

Having served in the US military, I'm qualified to make this statement: These soldiers not only volunteered, they also accept the risks every time they cash a pay check. They know specifically what those risks were (disability, dismemberment, or death at the hands of an enemy of the US) when they signed on the line. Most accept that, and take the risk.

Let's continue to support our troops and our allies' troops as they risk their lives to make ours safe. Right or wrong, how we got there is history. Moving forward, the extremists and terrorists are coming to the fight; a fight that is being waged by trained soldiers, far away from US soil. I like that MUCH better than them filtering over here for the next couple of decades, and taking pot-shots that kill THOUSANDS

Mike: You are wrong. The thread has been here for a year and a half. It was not political. My post urging people to vote may have appeared to be political since voting is political, but I never suggested that anyone vote for any one person. Just that they vote. I've said repeatedly on this site that I don't like Bush or Kerry and neither of them got my vote. If you think differently, fine. I couldn't care less. You can have your opinion as I have mine.

If you think that terrorists are not here, you are sadly mistaken. They have been here for many years (long before 9-11, and they are still here).

If you think fighting them "far away from US soil" wil prevent them from continuing to come over here you are very sadly mistaken. It encourages them.

Either way, we will likely be fighting them for decades. Most likley here AND there. It isn't like they have to ship an army halfway around the world to attack us. That has been proven several times. Having our armies deployed around the world does nothing to prevent their arrival. It encourages them.

However, in case you hadn't noticed, the "terrorists" who implemented 9-11 didn't come from Iraq, and weren't financed by Iraq either. That honor goes to our allies Saudi Arabia. But the longer we are in Iraq, it becomes more likely that Iraqi's will attack us at home.

If you were in the military, then you know that the soldiers voluteered to be in the armed forces to protect and defend our country, they most assuredly do not volunteer to wage this war, they go where they are ordered. Many of our soldiers in the Middle East joined the National Guard with little expectation that they could be shipped thousands of miles away (2 or more tours of duty in some cases). Many of the soldiers did not expect their enlistment to be extended far beyond the contract they signed, they also didn't expect to be called back to the service YEARS after having performed their obligation and been honorably discharged

On the other hand the peaple in Iraq could have stayed under Saddom And been torchered for another 20 or so years. And he would have put Ben Ladden up to if he actualy needed a place to hide.

We are trying to rid the world of terrerists. We have to go were they are to get them. I agree that their are alot of them here. But what goods it going to do for us to kill them all off over here if they just send more?

I am not trying to get a arguement started by anymeans. Carl i consider you a friend of mine so please dont take this wrong .

Just my 2c.

Carl, I understood the point of this thread when I first read it. Too bad you have to defend your point of view to those who dont get it and I have come to the conclusion on this site that the more you try to defend the more muddled it all becomes. How is this political? You are simply listing names of those killed in action. They do deserve our support. Lots of people are spouting off thier political views here as if they have the answer. I know I don't. That is why I won't partake in such a discussion. We all disagree enough already when it comes to the cars.

Carl, I have been quiet those last few month But I was watching...

Maybe you could find the number of casualty the Spanish had in their country! They where striked in Madrid because they where the most vulnerable and because they where the easy target in your coalition... :mad: :mad: :mad:

I know where you stand, I have true respect for you !!! I think that you forgot to add them because they where not military but civilian... but hey they where on the US side !!!! So they also deserve RESPECT all 190 of them!