[Vision2020] Please Help our dying troops!

Donovan Arnold donovanarnold@hotmail.com
Sat, 19 Jul 2003 13:58:06 -0700


Mr. Hansen,

I agree that soldiers should not whine. And a as a rule, they never do. But 
I tell you, when I guy has been to war,stays up for 4 days straight in 117 
degree weather, is shot at, wounded, and has his buddies die. And he never 
whines. Then one day he does whine about something, but not just him, a 
great deal of others, that signals something to me. What are the odds of an 
ABC crew in a tightly restricted area stumbling upon thirteen soldiers that 
know full well what would happen to them if they spoke out, and still choose 
to speak out anyway? Not very likely unless there is something serious.
I ask you Tom, having been in the military, what would be so bad to make you 
whine?
Are you such a man that nothing would cause you to speak out for the other 
troops in your unit and take the reprimand? When a battle hardened troop 
whines, I think wow, what's going on? Not oh what a puss. Most people would 
not assume our troops are wimps, as you so quickly judge them to be.

Donovan J Arnold

>From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen@moscow.com>
>Reply-To: <thansen@moscow.com>
>To: "Donovan Arnold" <donovanarnold@hotmail.com>, <ddjames@moscow.com>,   
><vision2020@moscow.com>
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Please Help our dying troops!
>Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2003 12:19:32 -0700
>
>Greetings Visionaires:
>
>Wake up, Mr. Arnold.
>
>Being a retired Army NCO, I can tell you that there are a different set of
>rules for the military versus being on the "outside".
>
>A soldier may quietly (and privately) question the orders of those 
>appointed
>over him/her.  But, the bottom line is that he/she gave an oath to obey
>those orders.
>
>As situations change, orders could possibly change.  You DO NOT whine 
>simply
>because things are different today than they were yesterday.  When things
>aren't going "according to Hoyle", you do as a common Army slogan suggests,
>you suck it up and move on.  Y
>
>Soldiers that whined under my supervision found themselves on details that
>truly gave them reason to whine.
>
>An Army platoon is one unit.  It should never be looked at as 40
>individuals.  That is the primary reason how squads, platoons, companies,
>battalions, brigades, divisions, regiments, and the United States Army (as 
>a
>whole) becomes effective.
>
>
>Tom Hansen
>SFC, U.S. Army (Retired)
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]On
> > Behalf Of Donovan Arnold
> > Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 11:58 AM
> > To: ddjames@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com
> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Please Help our dying troops!
> >
> >
> > Deacon,
> >
> > You raise some legitimate concerns. All of information on General Wesley
> > Clark can be found at www.DraftWesleyClark.com that you are
> > asking. He more
> > than a General.
> > In terms of safety issues their are several. First, they are not
> > the proper
> > resources for the troops to fight a guerilla warfare war. That is
> > not what
> > they were told and trained for. Second, they are punished for expressing
> > their concerns. Third, they are told, "You are going on *), then they 
>are
> > told, nope sorry you are staying longer. The unit that has suffered the
> > greatest number of loses has been told they would go home after Baghdad.
> > After Baghdad, they were told their unit will stay indefinitely.
> > But don't take my word for it. Go talk to some soldiers and their
> > families.
> > I have two neighbors in my apartment complex with women who's
> > husbands are
> > over there. I suggest you talk to them.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Donovan J Arnold
> >
> >
> > >From: "Deacon James" <ddjames@moscow.com>
> > >To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
> > >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Please Help our dying troops!
> > >Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2003 00:22:28 -0700
> > >
> > >Donovan,
> > >
> > >Golly, you make it sound like Bush is personally shooting the troops. 
>How
> > >exactly are our troops (whom I support wholeheartedly) being ignored 
>and
> > >mistreated? What needs and saftey issues are not being addressed? I am
> > >unclear on these issues.
> > >
> > >Also, do we know anything about General Clark other than the
> > fact that he
> > >is
> > >a veteran who sympathizes with soldiers? I wouldn't want to
> > throw my lot in
> > >with a fellow who stands on only one issue.
> > >
> > >Just some questions,
> > >Deacon
> > >
> > >
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Donovan Arnold" <donovanarnold@hotmail.com>
> > >To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
> > >Sent: Friday, July 18, 2003 11:01 PM
> > >Subject: [Vision2020] Please Help are dying troops!
> > >
> > >
> > > > Community members,
> > > >
> > > > Everyday our troops are being shot at, killed, while drinking sodas,
> > >buying
> > > > a candy bar at the store, or just going to the edge of a river to 
>cool
> > >off.
> > > > Meanwhile, their wives, husbands, sons, daughters, moms,
> > dads, friends,
> > >and
> > > > other family members ring their hands wondering who is going
> > to be taken
> > >out
> > > > next. I got an email from somebody recently that was friends
> > with a boy
> > >that
> > > > was shot and killed next to Baghdad University. He was from
> > Florida, and
> > >not
> > > > much older than a boy.
> > > > Moral among are troops is at a record low as a buddy dies everyday 
>and
> > >many
> > > > more are being badly wounded, with them having nobody to shoot at, 
>no
> > >army
> > > > to fight, no enemy is defined. Bush has insulted our troops
> > once before,
> > >by
> > > > challenging Iraqi troops to attack our troops and to "Bring it On!".
> > > > Now, as troops write letters home to their congress members, the 
>Bush
> > > > Administration has been saying this is "untrue". A few troops
> > have been
> > > > frustrated by the Bush administration blocking their needs and 
>safety
> > >issues
> > > > from being addressed, a few troops voiced this concern on TV. As a
> > >result
> > > > they are being reprimanded for their actions.
> > > > I am appalled by this action and mistreatment of our troops. They 
>are
> > >dying
> > > > and being ignored half way across the world.
> > > > I am asking you to do something about this. I don't care if you are 
>a
> > > > Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, Green Party,
> > Tax party,
> > >or
> > > > anything way left or right. What we all have in common is we are
> > >Americans,
> > > > and have a genuine belief in this country and the proper treatment 
>of
> > >our
> > > > soldiers. Here is what I ask of all of you:
> > > >
> > > > Please go to  www.DraftWesleyClark.com and write a letter to General
> > >Wesley
> > > > Clark. Clark is thinking of entering the race for the
> > Presidency against
> > > > Bush. Clark is a war hero and opposes Bush on his treatment of the
> > >military
> > > > personal. Please ask him to enter this race and hold Bush 
>accountable
> > >for
> > > > the treatment of our troops. This is not a partisan issue. It 
>doesn't
> > >matter
> > > > if are for or against the war. We are all for the proper treatment 
>of
> > >our
> > > > Troops that fight and die every day for this country.
> > > > Our troops deserve more than to be attacked and threatened by
> > both Bush
> > >and
> > > > Saddam at the same time. Please help. Thank You!
> > > >
> > > > Donovan J Arnold
> > > >
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