I received this Today and upon reading it felt it.

I just want to share it and irregardless of the nationality of the troops

We all feel for ours.

Will

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, just old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent Comprehensive School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.

He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.

He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.

If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.

He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humour in it all.

He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.

In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great- grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the BRITISH Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.


He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. . .

A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.

Prayer Wheel

'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts
they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq .

There is nothing attached...
This can be very powerful....

Of all the gifts you could give a British Soldier, Sailor, or Airman, prayer is the very best one.

With all due respect Will, what good does a British Soldier do you in Singapore? Praying for a soldier like praying for any other human being I have no problem with. I also understand the frustration of soldiers who get send out by their country and only hear talk of how good they are and experience no adequate support. However it is also a choice for most. Defending your country is one thing, going out of the country into another one is quite a different thing; perspective yes, but also see the perspective of the other side; okay in a war the winner writes the story but between us we should be able to see also the side of the Afghani wedding participants who lose half of their members because some dimwit thought they were terrorists etc... , calling for a prayer.... please include the non-military participants of warfare as well.

This point of view may be unwelcome, probably most from the majority of the US members of this forum, but I just had to bring it up, by the way I served 10 years in a middle eastern military outfit and yes I have see combat.

Sufir,

I did say:

"I just want to share it and irregardless of the nationality of the troops"

I served my country as well, in the Navy.

I felt that sharing this, irregardless of nationality of the troops would

be for some to feel for our guys out there, keeping us secure.

will

Hi Will
I appreciate your posting of this article.
It just goes to show, some people DO have respect and appreciation of a fellow man even though the subject has nothing to do with their home country.
I have not served myself and respect those who have which include my Grandfathers.
Well done for thinking and feeling outside the box.

Land First, Then Peace By TURKI al-FAISAL Published: September 12, 2009

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

THE United States and other Western powers have for some time been pushing Saudi Arabia to make more gestures toward Israel. More recently, the crown prince of Bahrain urged greater communication with Israel and joint steps from Arab states to revive the peace process.

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, the custodian of its two holy mosques, the worlds energy superpower and the de facto leader of the Arab and Muslim worlds that is why our recognition is greatly prized by Israel. However, for all those same reasons, the kingdom holds itself to higher standards of justice and law. It must therefore refuse to engage Israel until it ends its illegal occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights as well as Shabaa Farms in Lebanon. For Saudis to take steps toward diplomatic normalization before this land is returned to its rightful owners would undermine international law and turn a blind eye to immorality.

Shortly after the Six-Day War in 1967, during which Israel occupied those territories as well as East Jerusalem and the Sinai Peninsula, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution stating that, in order to form a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, Israel must withdraw from these newly occupied lands. The Fourth Geneva Convention similarly notes the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.

Now, Israeli leaders hint that they are willing to return portions of these occupied territories to Arab control, but only if they are granted military and economic concessions first. For the Arabs to accept such a proposal would only encourage similar outrages in the future by rewarding military conquest.

After the Oslo accords of 1993, Arab states took steps to improve their relationships with Israel, allowing for recognition in the form of trade and consular agreements. Israel, however, continued to construct settlements, making its neighbors understandably unwilling to give up more without a demonstration that they would be granted something in return.

Today, supporters of Israel cite the outdated 1988 Hamas charter, which called for the destruction of Israel, as evidence of Palestines attitude toward a two-state solution, without considering the illegalities of Israels own occupation. Israel has never presented any comprehensive formulation of a peace plan. Saudi Arabia, to the contrary, has done so twice: the Fahd peace plan of 1982 and the Abdullah peace initiative of 2002. Both were endorsed by the Arab world, and both were ignored by Israel.

In order to achieve peace and a lasting two-state solution, Israel must be willing to give as well as take. A first step should be the immediate removal of all Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Only this would show the world that Israel is serious about peace and not just stalling as it adds more illegal settlers to those already occupying Palestinian land.

At the same time, the international community must pressure Israel to relinquish its grip on all Arab territory, not as a means to gain undeserved concessions but instead as an act of good faith and a demonstration that it is willing to play by the Security Councils rules and to abide by global standards of military occupation. The Arab world, in the form of the Arab peace initiative that was endorsed by 22 countries in 2002, has offered Israel peace and normalization in return for Israeli withdrawal from all Arab territories including East Jerusalem with the refugee issue to be solved later through mutual consent.

There have been increasing well-intentioned calls for Saudi Arabia to do a Sadat: King Abdullah travels to Israel and the Israelis reciprocate by making peace with Saudi Arabia. However, those urging such a move must remember that President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt went to Israel in 1977 to meet with Prime Minister Menachem Begin only after Sadats envoy, Hassan el-Tohamy, Sadats envoy, was assured by the Israeli foreign minister, Moshe Dayan, that Israel would withdraw from every last inch of Egyptian territory in return for peace. Absent a similar offer today from Israel to the leaders of Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, there is no reason to look at 1977 as a model.

President Obamas speech in Cairo this summer gave the Arab and Muslim worlds heightened expectations. His insistence on a freeze on settlement activity was a welcome development. However, all Israeli governments have expanded settlements, even those that committed not to do so.

No country in the region wants more bloodshed. But while Israels neighbors want peace, they cannot be expected to tolerate what amounts to theft, and certainly should not be pressured into rewarding Israel for the return of land that does not belong to it. Until Israel heeds President Obamas call for the removal of all settlements, the world must be under no illusion that Saudi Arabia will offer what the Israelis most desire regional recognition. We are willing to embrace the hands of any partner in peace, but only after they have released their grip on Arab lands.

Prince Turki al-Faisal, the chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, is a former director of Saudi Arabias intelligence services and ambassador to the United States.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/opinion/13turki.html

 

Now if I get attacked... and gain lands from the aggressor during the fighting.. that they started.. I would not give anything back, ever.

And as a Catholic.. from a family of Marines.. Isreal does not have to give anything back.. and the fact that 250 of my Marines where blown up by some COWARD who did not dare show his face or true colors.. Yeah.. Isreal gets to keep whatever they want after being attacked on two fronts by superior numbers and still won.. God is and was on whos side?

 

***** "If Palestine attacked Isreal and lost lands.. they should not have attacked.. then.. weaklings and i might add if it where a rightous cause then God would have made sure that Palestine won.. but my knowledge of the 6 day war is.. that more than just stones where turned over.. this is aginst the teachings and writtings of Allah..

Let there be no perfidy nor falsehood in your treaties with your enemies, be faithful in all things,, proving yourself ever upright and noble, and main taining you^ word and promise truly. Do not disturb the quiet of the monk or hermit and destroy not their abodes, but inflict the rigour of death upon all who shall refuse the conditions you may impose upon them (The Law Quarter!* Review, J908.}

It is a pity, therefore, to find that the civilized nations of to-day, when engaged in the Great War, could not observe the above rules. Churches were demolished, mostly in France and Belgium, and priests were murdered in the war.

Muhammad, as I have said before, appeared as a Warrior-Prophet, not only to protect his own faith and the lives of his followers from the ruthless tyranny of his adversaries, but to lay down rules of guidance for the coming world in the matter of war. The story of the Great War is palpable proof that man-made rules are either insufficient to meet the situation or can be set at naught by those whose interests are opposed to them. Muhammad had to fight several campaigns and thus left tracks on the pages of history for our guidance. He always respected treaties made with his enemies. I will now attempt briefly to describe the events of his life in this connection, and give the beautiful Quranic injunctions to which they gave rise." *****

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ethics_of_War

 

The Six-Day War of June 5-10, 1967 was a war between the Israel army and the armies of the neighboring states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. The Arab states of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria also contributed troops and arms.^[6] At the war's end, Israel had gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. The results of the war affect the geopolitics of the region to this day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War

 

If anyone wants to know why we keep two (2) Carrier Groups in the gulf.. stop wondering.

 

Be well, JW

As history has it, they have been at war before Jesus walked the surface of this planet. If it isn't one thing, it will be another, to justify war and people suffering. When will this madness end? Until G_d says: "enough" and poof...we suddenly, all of us are gone....and the earth starts a new era.

P.I.

Great post Will!!
As a Vietnam US Army combat veteran----I understand and support your
ideas for the troops fighting this war against these killers and violent terriorist!!
All the best,
Mike

Indian Soldiers say 'For your tomorrow we give our Today'