THE NUMBERS WAR ON TERRORISM. DANGER TO OUR CHILDREN.
I am concerned about my children, my grandchildren and my developing great grandchildren.
When I was indoctrinated for the war in Korea the death rate was high. My Sister taught school and the home room next to hers lost all but one male member of the class and most of them froze to death in Korean rice paddies. We lost 55,000 and it was not an official war.
In fact, I looked it up one time and found that almost one million Americans have died in wars related to obtaining and protecting our freedom. The military has been a very dangerous place for us in past years. I feel fortunate to have been able to beat the odds. Now I wonder about my offspring and I am wondering if they might be safer in the military than they would be at home? Sound weird? Let’s review some other information.
We have lost many young people in the service in car accidents and various incidents relating to their leisure time. I have searched for this information but have not been able to find it. Then an interesting email arrived the other day. I tried to search back to the original source so I could tell you where it came from and ran into a dead end. The figures look legitimate. I did not find any verification that the information was stated by John Glenn although he is mentioned. I also do not like to post information that attacks someone personally but if I leave out the personal references it loses some of the meaning and frame of reference. I made a few changes which are in italics.
SENATOR JOHN GLENN SAID:
Things that make you think a little......
1. There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq during the month of January.....In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That's just one American City, about as deadly as the entire war torn country of Iraq,
2. When some claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state the following:
FDR...led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year.
Truman...finished that war and started one in Korea. North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost---an average of
18,334 per year.
John F. Kennedy...started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. The next president...turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost---an average of 5,800 per year.
Clinton...went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. There is dispute about opportunities to capture Bin Laden. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.
3. In the two years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaeda, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea, without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.
The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking, but... It took less time to take Iraq than it took …………. to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.
We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq far less time than it took …………… to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.
It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took ………….. to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick killing a woman.
That is it, did it make you think? In fairness, those involved do not agree with the claims that they could have killed Bin Laden. I would like to object to their political policies and debate those relating to higher taxes and other policies that I disagree with. I am glad to see that while writing this the market went to a new high as a result of the tax cuts put in place by Bush.

I do agree the Iraq war went well in the beginning but it is difficult to adjust quickly to the changes in the way the terrorists are fighting us. Most Iraqis kept alive by outwitting the dictator Saddam so we should not be surprised they are trying to con us now by fighting over better positions for their tribes or religions.

I think some of my off spring would be safer in the military than at home unless we get involved in an all out war involving Iran, North Korea and Venezuela. Of course, then none of us are safe so maybe they would be better off in the service of their country. The future does not look very promising today.