Comments about ‘Freedom isn't free’

Wars are fought today for purely economic reasons.
Bogus ideologies (and lots of flag-waving) are used instead of the truth as to why somebody died over there.
Case in point:
Vietnam was supposed to "rid the world of the Red Menace" yet today Communist Vietnam is a trading partner with the U.S.

First, freedom need not be paid for only by the shedding of blood.

Second, is the war tied to the defense of our freedoms, or is it more economic or to expand our influence and power? I think Iraq was the latter.

Things to think about.

Iraq and Afghanistan were in no way a threat to our freedoms. This war was fought for money and power. That's it.

Keep on keeping on. The vast majority of us out here understand the concept. The above posters are shallow simpletons. I pray for Zackary.

Vietnam may be a trading partner. But, it is most certainly not a FREE country. Communism can NEVER tollerate individual freedom.

Expanding America's "influence and power" has been a naturual outcome of SOME of our wars. But, with the exception of the Spanish American War, "expansion" was never the goal.

What country in history has conquered so much yet givin back almost all? Expanionist countries do not act as we have.

Try having greater love and affection for the unique experiment that America is. Even with all our faults, we are STILL a Shining City on the Hill. See the great good and you'll then see less sinister motives behind the sacrifices your fellow Americans have and continue making . . . for you.

As has been said . . . the fact we're having, can even have, this discussion is PROOF that FREEDOM is NEVER free . . . and that we ARE free thanks to the men and women who have faught to keep us that way.

Lee Padron
Draper

Perhaps someday it will be common knowledge as to why our brave young people are put in harm's way.
(And it is always for economic reasons)
Public schools, churches, etc. might all be involved in an educational program.
Meanwhile, whenever troops are committed and die - the debacle goes on and on and ....

America has had to deal with suicide bombers before.
In 9/11 the perpetrators died instantly, just like kamakazi pilots in World War Two. Unlike in that war, though, there was no nation officially at war with us. All nations, save Hussein's Iraq, extended their sympathies.

So we seek those who planned or provoked the attack. We name countries and organisations but they continue to exist. We find more willing suicide bombers, even women, and say they are cowardly and keep looking for Bin Laden.

Tens of thousands die, hundreds of thousands die but they are mostly from unfriendly nations so we do not worry much about that. Our treasure is used up and a hostile nation becomes our major creditor.

Meanwhile our borders leak like sieves and a president tries to make Saudi Arabians the guardian of our seaports. We tell him no and he backs down. A new president arises promising to end the conflict but increases the troops and extends the undeclared war.

You can't invent scenarios any more absurd. But I'm not laughing.

I honor anyone who dies wearing the American uniform. Still, the Cheney cabal who sent Americans to die for oil have a great deal to answer for. The war in Afghanistan is totally different--it really is a war in self defense.

And why are we always the ones buying freedom with our blood and money? Neocons never can answer this question. During the American Revolution, I don't remember that China, Japan, or even France (who allied with us eventually) bought us freedom with their lives and money.

We started the revolution, fought for it, and won it.

If Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, etc want freedom, THEY should be the ones fighting, earning, and winning it. Not a foreign power, like the US.

This is not a question of giving thanks to the men and women who are ordered to go to unwinnable, illegal wars.
It's a matter of starting wars based on lies, then while the debacle goes on and on and more troops step on mines and die, those who gave the orders retire to Texas ranches and/or write books about it.

Some believe everything they hear as long as some flag-waving is thrown in there somewhere.
Cleverly worded, shock-and-aweing, wire-tapping, and torture can be made to sound like this is the American way.
Nobody ever said CEO politicians were stupid.

I appreciate Mr. Padron's point of view. And I appreciate his son's service and sacrifices. Since serving in Vietnam, I've come to see serving in the military as a bundle of sacrifices those who don't serve will not know. We left home at an early age. This was a sacrifice of comfort and security.

We were thrown together with other men that we didn't know. This was a sacrifice of identity and leaving relationships we had nurtured for years.

We trained for combat, realizing that after our service we would not need to know how to kill others. This was a sacrifice of time and effort, preparing for an immediate need with no thought for the future.

We were sent far away, a sacrifice of being out of reach of our parents, family and friends.

We saw terrible things, heard terrible things, did terrible things. These sacrifices yielded up our innocence and left scars.

Those of us who returned had sacrificed these things that would have been blessings for our lives. Those that didn't return sacrificed all.

Veterans of war will understand what I've written. Others won't.

It's not the war - it's the politicians who start the wars and are calling the shots thousands of miles away.

You say that Ken Halterman doesn't understand that "...his freedom to read and write to this paper has been purchased for him by the blood of countless, nameless heroes." But the freedom was purchased by the blood of the soldiers in the Revolutionary War, not those in Iraq.

Does anyone recall that we were attacked on 9/11 by a group of middle eastern radicals financed and supported and hidden by numerous countries. Silly, unconsciousness deluded people. Your freedom is being purchased by our military whether active in war or standing down.

We were attacked by a group of Saudis. The Saudi family (close friends of the Bush Family) was in Washington on 9/11. They were quickly swept away out of harm's way after the attack.
Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

Smelled fishy back then.
Totally stinks today.

YOU COMPLETELY INGONRE the fact,

that we needed to change the culture and environment that fosters terrorism.

and go after those countries that support and protect terrorists.

Iraq was Message sent, and an action necessary to accomplish that,

regardless of reasons they claimed.


the LIBERAL DEMOCRAT attack on the war is really nothing more than political.

Lee Padron,

Thank you for raising a son who knows the value of citizenship in a free country, who is willing to serve his fellow citizens, even those that mock him as he serves.

Thank you for reminding us that our freedom was purchased with the lives of men and women, who, just like your son, were patriots who knew that duty to others came before service to self.

Thank you for reminding us that you are praying for the safety and well-being of your son and those who serve with him. Many of us will remember you, your family, and most of all your son, tonight as we thank God for the freedom that we enjoy.

God bless you and all who are dear to you. May the rest of us be thankful for men and women of courage who serve with your son.

Lee Padron,
pay no attention to the extremist blowhard Mike Richards. He, like is guru, Rush Limbaugh believe Democrats want our troops in Afghanistan to lose that war.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We are however, taking steps to make sure that situations like your son is in won't happen again anytime soon.

We have given Iraq our warning to don't mess with us, and that we will fight if they hurt our people. And Iraq has backed off. Right now, all I see are small groups causing havoc; not the Iraq people or their government. It is wrong to keep fighting a country that doesn't want to fight anymore. Leave them alone.