I'm Tired
"Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I wasforced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained priorto my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.
I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, toreturn to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old injust four months, but I'm tired:I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican wholack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasksthrough.I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite historywhen the going gets tough.I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they 'Supportthe Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved.I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs andcasualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety oftheir hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men andwomen are having on the battlefield.I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorshipinto a democracy over night.I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go tothe voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanentParliament.I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by givingaid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallensoldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in a just and noblecause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardlyprotesters is beyond shameful.I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom/Vietnam generation, who havesuch a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasksthrough to victory.I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captivesthan they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and alli es.I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by thepress, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn fromhistory that there is no substitute for Victory.
Sincerely,Joe Repya
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army101st Airborne Division
2 comments:
Your should give credit to those patriots at powerline, who first posted Col. Repya's letter back in November 2005.
Repya has sinced retired and is running for the chairmanship of the Minnesota Republican Party.
Thanks for the information, I received this letter from one of my email friends who follows our nation's current struggle with a Vietnam analogy of lack of political will to achieve victory in Iraq. Good for Joe Repya, I wish him well.
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