At What Cost?

UndercoverGator · July 22nd, 2006, 10:59 AM

This has been an interesting week on the personal front. One of my close friends lost her 22 year old son to a roadside bomb in Iraq. She's been a staunch conservative for many years so I'm curious to see if her personal tragedy impacts her politics in the future.

This kid wasn't the best student but he was an honorable young man who deserved better than to die fighting for oil, like they all do. I knew it didn't sound good when the first report came that he had been injured and was burned 80% of his body. After being airlifted to Weisbaden, Germany and transported to a military hospital there they said he was actually burned 90% and would be transported to Lackland AFB as soon as he was stabilized. That changed within hours and the family was summoned to Germany to say goodbye. He died before they could arrive, the real burn percentage of his body 98%. He didn't have a chance of survival. His poor mother, all of the deads poor mothers.

This kid's loss lead me to start looking at links about the casualities we're racking up in Iraq and I have to say that a war waged at the cost of our young people is too high a price to pay. - http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/

End the war now.

dakodas · July 22nd, 2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndercoverGator

This has been an interesting week on the personal front. One of my close friends lost her 22 year old son to a roadside bomb in Iraq. She's been a staunch conservative for many years so I'm curious to see if her personal tragedy impacts her politics in the future.

This kid wasn't the best student but he was an honorable young man who deserved better than to die fighting for oil, like they all do. I knew it didn't sound good when the first report came that he had been injured and was burned 80% of his body. After being airlifted to Weisbaden, Germany and transported to a military hospital there they said he was actually burned 90% and would be transported to Lackland AFB as soon as he was stabilized. That changed within hours and the family was summoned to Germany to say goodbye. He died before they could arrive, the real burn percentage of his body 98%. He didn't have a chance of survival. His poor mother, all of the deads poor mothers.

This kid's loss lead me to start looking at links about the casualities we're racking up in Iraq and I have to say that a war waged at the cost of our young people is too high a price to pay. - http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/

End the war now.

Not to be flip or to minimize but the Iraqi civilian casualties bother me more. 43,000? Those people didn't sign up for this...

UndercoverGator · July 22nd, 2006, 11:10 AM

All the deaths bother me because it's such a waste.. that site has figures on all people killed in this war.. Aww jeez I'm going to need police protection if those idiots from Westboro church show up at the funeral. I'm thinking this might be one of those occasions were it's probably smart to pop a few valiums first.

dakodas · July 22nd, 2006, 11:12 AM

We are the evil-doers, Mr. Bush.

Laurent · July 22nd, 2006, 12:00 PM

It's disgusting the lives that are being sacrificed for the almighty oil.

I'm sorry for your friend, Gator. I hope she pulls out of this as well as anyone can who has lost a child. I can't even imagine.

Sojiita · July 22nd, 2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UndercoverGator

This has been an interesting week on the personal front. One of my close friends lost her 22 year old son to a roadside bomb in Iraq. She's been a staunch conservative for many years so I'm curious to see if her personal tragedy impacts her politics in the future.

This kid wasn't the best student but he was an honorable young man who deserved better than to die fighting for oil, like they all do. I knew it didn't sound good when the first report came that he had been injured and was burned 80% of his body. After being airlifted to Weisbaden, Germany and transported to a military hospital there they said he was actually burned 90% and would be transported to Lackland AFB as soon as he was stabilized. That changed within hours and the family was summoned to Germany to say goodbye. He died before they could arrive, the real burn percentage of his body 98%. He didn't have a chance of survival. His poor mother, all of the deads poor mothers.

This kid's loss lead me to start looking at links about the casualities we're racking up in Iraq and I have to say that a war waged at the cost of our young people is too high a price to pay. - http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/

End the war now.

That is really awful Gator. Only 22 years old..this war is just so awful all the way around. I would be willing to pay 5 bucks a gallon at the pumps if it meant not having to need Middle Eastern Oil..and no need for pointless wars like this. I would rather have my taxes raised so they can develop alternate fuel sources or develop those oil tars sands in Alberta..or something..anything so we are not held hostage to oil. Fucking fighting this dumbass war for fucking oil.it is sickening.

Luna · July 22nd, 2006, 08:48 PM

Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent

- Issac Asimov

Sorry for your friend and her family

**Mr. Authority** · July 24th, 2006, 12:35 PM

Man that's a really sad and terrible thing to happen to your friend UG. I hope his family is recovering and moving on from his loss.

War is never a good thing. Even if there's a good reason to fight, there will still be innocents and soilders dying and families being devastated. So I can only imagine how it is when the reason for war is a greddy and selfish one. Personally I don't understand how anyone could be 'pro-war", that basically means you're for people dying, I just don't get it.

pacific breeze · July 24th, 2006, 01:15 PM

Yeah, well, the pro-war, "bomb them into the Stone Age" types are incapable of thinking that far ahead.

sweetrebel · July 25th, 2006, 10:14 AM

I was reading something yesterday, and it listed like 4 soldiers killed. They were all under the age of 25. I know that soldiers (and civilians) of all ages are dying, but that just jumped out at me. These kids were just starting their lives...

PrettyGirl · July 25th, 2006, 03:47 PM

Sad news Undercovergator....no one knows how truly stupid this war is until they know someone who's died there. I lost a 31 year old co-worker in 2004 in Iraq and my neighbor's son died 7 months ago. I think in 2 or 3 more years, we'll all know someone who died in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. Hopefully it won't be anyone in our immediate family because that must hurt even more. That will be Bush's legacy.

**Mr. Authority** · July 26th, 2006, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacific breeze

Yeah, well, the pro-war, "bomb them into the Stone Age" types are incapable of thinking that far ahead.

Right. But it's always interesting to see the pro-war group try to justify why they support seeing people being bombed and slaughered. It's like they're trying to think of ways to say "I like seeing people die!!!" in a civil manner.heh

SammysMom · July 26th, 2006, 02:09 AM

My BIL was sent over there in 2004. He was very much Pro-Bush and really ready to go over there and fight the fight. We didnt see eye to eye on this and neither did my sister and I until when he came home May 2005. He is a very changed man. At first is was very upsetting he was very closed. He saw things that will live with him forever and he will never be able to talk about. But in the last 5 months he has really become open with the family. He is more social, humourous and very loving. He told me the other night he thanks God he has a wonderful sister-in-law in me. Made me feel really good.
Gator, Im so sorry for your friends loss. I pray for her and her family. As well as all the soldiers over there.

strikeapose · July 26th, 2006, 03:33 AM

Sorry to hear about your loss Undercover. 22 is much too young to die. Killing is such a waste.

UndercoverGator · July 26th, 2006, 06:44 AM

The family is handling much better than I thought that they would. Ever since he was a small child he'd wanted to be a soldier so his family is finding comfort in the fact that he died doing what he loved.The funeral and reception is tomorrow on the Eastern Shore. I wanted to go to the beach this year but not like this.

I have to hand it to the Washington Post. They did a nice long write up about his short life in the paper several days ago and they're doing so for every local soldier who dies there, they're really honoring the guys. The family was touched by that and the outpouring of sympathy from the community.