[Vision2020] The Human Toll

Tue Dec 18 11:48:03 PST 2007

"The notion that we ought to now go to Baghdad and somehow take control of
the country strikes me as an extremely serious one in terms of what we'd
have to do once we got there. You'd probably have to put some new government
in place. It's not clear what kind of government that would be, how long
you'd have to stay. For the U.S. to get involved militarily in determining
the outcome of the struggle over who's going to govern in Iraq strikes me as
a classic definition of a quagmire." - Dick Cheney, 1991 
http://www.tomandrodna.com/Stuff/Cheney_Quagmire.mp3

And Dick Cheney again in 1994
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9a8_1186873756

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"I think Rumsfeld, Cheney, and the president made a big mistake in
justifying going into the war in Iraq. They put the emphasis on weapons of
mass destruction." - Gerald R. Ford (July 28, 2004)
http://www.tomandrodna.com/Stuff/Ford_Iraq_Big_Mistake.mp3

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>From the December 24, 2007 edition of the Army Times - 			

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U.S. service members who died while supporting combat operations in Iraq,
confirmed by the Defense Department from December 7 through December 13:

Navy Chief Petty Officer Mark T. Carter, 27, of Fallbrook, California;
assigned as an East Coast-based Navy SEAL.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3249859.html

Army Sgt. Samuel E. Kelsey, 24, of Troup, Texas; assigned to 3rd Battalion,
7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort
Stewart, Georgia.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3256315.html

Army Spc. Johnathan A. Lahmann, 21, of Richmond, Indiana; assigned to the
59th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort
Hood, Texas.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3246419.html

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan A. Lowery, 38, of Houlton, Maine; assigned to
the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3256326.html

Army Pfc. Juctin R. P. McDaniel, 19, of Andover, New Hampshire; assigned to
the 524th Combat Service Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th
Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3258378.html

Army Spc. Brynn J. Naylor, 21, of Roswell, New Mexico; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry
Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3256319.html

Army Spc. Randy W. Pickering, 31, of Bovey, Minnesota; assigned to the
Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored
Division, Vilseck, Germany.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3242998.html

Army Sgt. Austin D. Pratt, 22, of Cadet, Missouri; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division (Light Infantry), located at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3256327.html

Army Pvt. Daren A. Smith, 19, of Helena, Montana; assigned to the 3rd
Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division (Light Infantry), Fort Polk, Louisiana.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3256322.html

December 7 - December 13
Killed: 9; wounded in action: 32

March 19, 2003 - December 13, 2007 
Killed: 3,879; wounded in action: 28,614

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The following U.S. service members died while supporting combat operations
in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from December 7 through
December 13:

Army Cpl. Joshua C. Blaney, 25, of Matthews, North Carolina; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Camp Ederle, Italy. 
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3256343.html

Army Staff Sgt. Gregory L. Elam, 39, of Columbus, Georgia; assigned to the
54th Quartermaster Company, 49th Quartermaster Group, 101st Airborne
Division (Air Assault), located at Fort Lee, Virginia.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3251691.html

Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Gabel, 30, of Crowley, Louisiana; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade,
Camp Ederle, Italy. 
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3256345.html

Army Cpl. Tanner J. O'Leary, 23, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat
Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
http://www.militarycity.com/valor/3248572.html

November 30 - December 13
Killed: 4; Wounded in action: 15

Oct. 10, 2001 - December 13, 2007
Killed: 468; Wounded in action: 1,815

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National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Mobilized 
(as of December 12, 2007) 
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2007/d20071212ngr.pdf

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And the beat goes on . . . 

"Bring 'em Home"
http://www.tomandrodna.com/Songs/Bring_em_home.mp3

"If you love this land of the free 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 
Bring them back from overseas 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 

It will make the politicians sad, I know 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 
They wanna tangle with their foe 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 

They wanna test their grand theories 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 
With the blood of you and me 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 

Now we'll give no more brave young lives 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 
For the gleam in someone's eyes 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 

The men will cheer and the boys will shout 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 
Yeah and we will all turn out 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 

The church bells will ring with joy 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 
To welcome our darlin' girls and boys 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 

We will lift our voice and sound 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home 
Yeah, when Johnny comes marching home 
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home." 

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"Christmas in Fallujah"
Written by Billy Joel
Performed in Iraq by Cass Dillon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an7v6I2Bruo

"It's evening in the desert
I'm tired and I'm cold
But I am just a soldier
I do what I am told

We came with the crusaders
To save the holy land
It's Christmas in Fallujah
And no one gives a damn

And I just got your letter
And this is what I read you said
I'm fading from your memory
So I'm just as good as dead

We are the armies of the empire
We are ethe legionnaires of Rome
It's Christmas in Fallujah
And we ain't never coming home

We came to bring these people freedom
We came to fight the infidel
There is no justice in the desert
Because there is no God in hell

They say Osama's in the mountains
Deep in a cave near Pakistan
But there's a sea of blood in Baghdad
A sea of oil in the sand

Between the Tigris and Euphrates
Another day comes to an end
It's Christmas in Fallujah
Piece on Earth goodwill to men

It's Christmas in Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
It's Christmas in Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah

It's Christmas in Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
It's Christmas in Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah

Marry Christmas from Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Marry Christmas from Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah

Oo-ra!

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Pro patria, 

Tom Hansen 
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 

-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.