or in other words, yes, I'm still alive.
Completely random update. I tried to file my DITY paperwork Tuesday on the last day of my leave, and oddly enough, the post was closed. They were planting Jerry Ford. Now, while I am all in favor of rendering due honor to dead presidents, WTF?
They didn't close down post for Reagan, and they sure as hell didn't do it for Nixon. Why when they planted the 20th century Republican tribute to mediocracy did they chose to do such an honor? I'm always glad for another military holiday, but if it were me, I'd have started it , say for the president that rang in the downfall of big Communism (mostly).
I'm still knitting. I've got a beautiful cable knit scarf going I'm making for dharma that's about three feet long now. I like it so much, I picked up some more yarn and I think I'm going to try to make a matching hat. Very relaxing. I'm still plotting out the ACU afghan. Hmmmm.
Army life remains interesting. Still waiting to see about NTC, plus now that they're talking about this surge affair, whether we'll be leaving a month or two early. I put in about 5 miles at PT this week, and I'm figuring on about 15 or 18 total by Sunday. Not great, but what the hell just starting up again. The most interesting thing so far this week came yesterday when I upset a captain by suggesting that we were losing popular support in America for the war.
I should know better than to open my mouth during any Army discussion, but it just kinda slipped out. We (as a platoon) were talking about the reasons people fight, and the will to fight, and I let slip that I thought that while we were fighting a highly successful war, (yes I know the debate, but all things relative, it's been hugely successful and had miniscule numbers of casualties.) we are still about to lose the country to the politics.
My position is basically that I agree with what we are doing there. I don't support a pull out. I think that we are doing an amazing job. Our reasons for going in? Not so hot. But that doesn't mean that it's right to pull out now by any stretch of the imagination. You don't start remodelling because you think you've got dry rot, then pack up your tools and leave with the walls still half knocked out because you find there wasn't any dry rot, and it's going to cost a lot to fix. Iraq will not stand up for itself for at least one, if not two generations. Constant fighting? No, but there will continue to be some violence. A lot for the next few years. Regardless, I don't think the American people have the balls to stick it out.
We've lost popular support for the war in this country, and once that happens it's only a matter of time 'til we get yanked out and Iraq becomes Little Persia Number Two. The insurgents have better P.R. than we do. Of course, that's also because we've had the U.S. media rallying against the war since day one. Every mistake, no matter how small has been under intense scrutiny. (grant you there have been some whoppers, but still one of the cleanest wars we've fought, and if you don't believe that, study your history) America lacks the political will to fight and has for some time. Shit, we wouldn't have even got involved in WWII if it hadn't been for Pearl Harbor. (at least not until the battle of New York came in say, about 1950.)
Meh. I hate to be in an Army that can win a war and lose to politics. But I still knew better than to say so.
Yours truly, and slightly bitter,
NBS