[Vision2020] The Human Toll

[Tom Hansen]

"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

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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 February 26, 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 February 9 through February 15:

Army Capt. Donnie R. Belser Jr., 28, of Anniston, Alabama; assigned to the
1st Infantry Division and attached to the 1st Cavalry Division. Belser was a
member of the 1st Infantry Division's 's 524th Transition Team, Fort Riley,
Kan. 

Army Spc. Leeroy A. Camacho, 28, of Saipan, Mariana Islands; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood,
Texas.

Army Spc. Ross A. Clevenger, 21, of Givens Hot Springs, Idaho; assigned to
the 321st Engineer Battalion, Boise, Idaho. 

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott E. Duffman, 32, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; 
assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

Marine Pfc. Tarryl B. Hill, 19, of Shelby Township, Michigan; assigned to
Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine
Division, Mount Clemens, Michigan. 

Army Sgt. James J. Holtom, 22, of Rexburg, Idaho; assigned to the 321st
Engineer Battalion, Boise, Idaho. 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Laquita Pate James, 23, of Orange Park,
Florida; assigned to the USS Bataan.
 
Army Sgt. Russell A. Kurtz, 22, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania; assigned to
the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry
Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Army Spc. Ronnie G. Madore Jr., 34, of San Diego, California; assigned to
the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
at Fort Hood. 

Army Sgt. 1st Class Allen Mosteiro, 42, of Fort Worth, Texas; assigned to
the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division,
Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Sgt. Long N. Nguyen, 27, of Portland, Oregon; assigned to the 141st
Brigade Support Battalion, Portland, Oregon.

Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew P. Pathenos, 21, of Ballwin, Missouri; assigned to
Marine Forces Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine
Division, Bridgeton, Missouri.
 
Army Sgt. James J. Regan, 26, of Manhasset, New York; assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Army Sgt. John D. Rode, 24, of Pineville, North Carolina; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at
Fort Hood. 

Army Staff Sgt. Eric Ross, 26, of Kenduskeag, Maine; assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Sgt. Carl L. Seigart, 32, San Luis Obispo, California; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at
Fort Hood. 

Army Staff Sgt. Alan W. Shaw, 31, of Little Rock, Arkansas; assigned to the
1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood,
Texas. 

Army Pfc. Nickolas A. Tanton, 24, of San Antonio, Texas; assigned to the 3rd
Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division,
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Sgt. Robert B. Thrasher, 23, of Folsom, California; assigned to the 2nd
Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. 

Army Pvt. Raymond M. Werner, 21, of Boise, Idaho; assigned to the 321st
Engineer Battalion, Boise, Idaho. 


February 9 - February 15
Killed: 20; wounded in action: 113


March 19, 2003 - February 15, 2007
Killed: 3,122; wounded in action: 23,530

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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 their voice and sound
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Yeah, when Johnny comes marching home
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home."
   
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.