Local Vet Supports Troops in Iraq
To the Editor:

When will the American people and our Politicians learn. Seems to me that History is repeating itself and we still haven’t learned our lesson. I recall the Vietnam War, maybe because I was in the Marine Corps during this conflict. I remember a documentary on one of the PBS channels some 20 odd years later in which General Giap, North Vietnam’s military leader, was interviewed about the war. I seem to remember him stating that after the Tet Offensive in 1968, he was willing to concede the war and pull back all North Vietnam troops. He stated he took a chance and kept going, only because of the reported “unrest” at home (USA) and the antiwar demonstrations shown almost daily on the nightly news. He stated “this gave him hope….” Now, lets move on to the 80’s……

Let’s look at the Iran-Contra fiasco. Congress cuts support for the Freedom Fighters in Nicaragua and our President tasked the NSC to find a way to keep funds flowing. We did and a good American, Oliver North, is chastised and criminally tried for helping. We lucked out, the Democratic Freedom Fighters won out.

Here we are in Iraqi, we started something and now, because the going is getting tough, we are about to “bail out” again. When will we learn! To me it seems as though any place we go, all the “Opposition” has to do is say “ Just hang on…..the American people have no will to fight or make commitments if we give them some opposition. They will give up if things don’t go exactly right.” I, personally, believe that President Bush knew more than what he let on and used what ever excuse was handy, namely WMDs, to attack Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi. So what! We did and we should complete the “mission” and show the World that we are still the same country that defeated the Axis powers, some 60-odd years ago. That we fulfill our commitments, once we commit to a strategy. I do believe that we shouldn’t commit to war lightly. To me War is a necessary evil…..a tool for “diplomats” and Politicians.

Let’s not follow History…..let’s make History!

Send enough troops to close off support coming across the borders and take out the “home-grown” militias that threaten the newly formed democratic government in Iraqi!

Frank R. Eckman Jr.

(Editor’s Note: Mr. Eckman is a Disabled Vet with a son, following in his Dad’s footsteps, serving in the Marine Corps as an MP, presently in Japan and a son-in-law serving in the Army as a truck driver and has had a tour in Iraqi, presently with the 3rd Division which is about to deploy back to Iraqi again.)

POSTED 070122_0200 ET