Sam....the point regarding Afghanistan....well I cant say I agree with you but.....

Xterrapin.....your very welcome for the freedom that allows you to sit in front of your computer and freely, openly and without fear of oppression or persecution write whatever you feel. Regardless of what your political leanings are very few of us protect so many.

The support for us (the individual service member) is amazing which is great. I dont have the luxury of debating the right or wrong of where we are fighting because my soldiers lives mean more to me and doing so would take valuable time away from them.

As an officer it is my sacred responsibility to put my soldiers well being and lives ahead of my own safety and comfort and I take that responsibility deadly seriously.

I still stand by the fact that no one in this country is suffering as a result of this war. The foreclosure bullshit is a personal self made problem and the weaker dollar is a natural slump in the economy that will work itself out.

The true burden of this war is on the family members of those of us who serve. I know full well that once i sign into the 10th Mountain Division that I will be deployed in a probably short amount of time. My wife knows what I do but my daughter (who should hopefully arrive any day now) is an innocent victim. Of course she wont remember daddy being gone but that is something that I will always live with....but you know what....to know that she will be able to grow up and live free and happy then its worth it.

Sorry again for the rant but a parting thought....

A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only one but once is enough.