And President Obama, like all politicians and all Presidents, is being seduced by it. I’m trying to withhold judgment and opinions on his decision for a “surge” in Afghanistan, but I’ve seen nothing to convince me, yet, that this is going to be anything but disastrous, as disastrous as LBJ’s Vietnam and George W. Bush’s fiasco of a decision to invade Iraq. For me, it’s cold comfort that Obama at least has stood up to the enormous political pressure and the rage of the right wing to be what W. would call “the decider” and inject thousands of troops into the vast, vast and very vast sinkhole that Afghanistan is.
Contrary to all the rabid calls for war and more war, there are alternatives to more troops and more casualties–just as there were alternatives to dealing with Iraq and Saddam by invading with nothing like a Plan B, C, D in case enemies on the other side decided to do what enemies are prone to do, which is slaughter invaders. And, in fact, those who fought us back in Iraq weren’t even Iraqis, but suicidal terrorists and nasty thugs from other countries who poured into Iraq to mindlessly blow up innocent men, women and children in order to blow up our wonderful and brave troops.
Well, like I say, I’m trying to withhold judgment on Obama’s plan that he’ll spring on us next week, and not doing a very good job of holding my peace, obviously.
But the same high commanders pushing for more troops in Afghanistan are many of the same high commanders who lied through their teeth to us about the now infamous death of NFL football star Pat Tillmann, who was killed by friendly fire but held up as a national symbol of a patriotic hero by Bush and his little band of warmongers. Meanwhile, our troops are being killed and maimed for life every day, still, while we the American public struggle with our conflicted feelings about raising the stakes in Afghanistan. The loud clowns on the far right wing just keep on banging the drums for more war in their endless lust for more and more war–always easy to do when you don’t have a personal stake in war as all the most war-ready right-thinking pundits always do. It’s never the blood of their blood or skin off their backs. When it’s your kids, your spouse, your parents at war, you tend to be more discerning and thankful we have one as discerning as Obama carefully and cautiously trying to be “the decider” who inherited the W. disaster of a decision maker.
Meanwhile, here’s what brought this rant on: News from Terrell, Texas, which had a population of 13,600 people in the 2000 census, a town that has paid an exceptionally hard and high price for the war deciders. This story just broke my heart and I pray for these families–and pray for President Obama just as I prayed for President W even as I loathed him and prayed God’s mercy on my own soul for it the intense feelings I had against him and Cheney and Rumsfeld. War should never be about patriotic gore. War should always bring us to our knees and appeal to God to help us all.
Hundreds gather in Terrell to honor fallen soldier
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
By KAREL HOLLOWAY / The Dallas Morning News
kholloway@dallasnews.com
TERRELL — Angels flew above the American flags that lined State Highway 80 on Wednesday, symbols of joy and sorrow.
Hundreds waited under the Christmas decorations and flags to honor Army Spc. Joseph “Joe” Michael Lewis, the fifth Terrell soldier to die in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2004.
Lewis, 26, died Nov. 17 in Afghanistan when his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device, according to the Defense Department. It is the second time in two months that the small Kaufman County town has organized to honor a fallen soldier.
The Lion and Rotary clubs placed large flags running along State Highway 34 from the city’s edge about two miles to downtown. The flags then continued on Highway 80, Terrell’s main street.
Peter Tuohy walked up and down the street, handing out flags that he had bought to those waiting. He’s from Mesquite, but “I like Terrell,” he said. He said a few weeks ago he also gave out flags for the procession for Sgt. Shawn McNabb, 24, killed last month in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
“It’s a tiny contribution for a large contribution — the ultimate contribution,” Tuohy said.
As they waited, residents talked about kids, dogs and Thanksgiving. But they kept watch for the procession, stepping into the street to look east.
Mary Spears, standing with a group of American National Bank employees, seemed surprised when asked why she was there.
“Why am I here? The reason being to pay respect,” she said. “My dad was 30 years in the military and he always came home.”
On the street in front of Anderson Clayton Brothers Funeral Home, Terrell firefighters had parked their trucks and used the ladders to hoist a giant American flag over the street. Funeral home workers had been out early Wednesday pushing small American flags around the edge of the home’s lawn.
Unfortunately, for them it has become a sad routine. The funeral home has handled services for all five of the Terrell soldiers.
Sophia Anders said the services are hard, “but we’re so proud of them.”
The family has declined interview requests.
At about 1 p.m., police and fire trucks blocked the intersection and the procession came through. The Patriot Guards motorcycle club led the way, followed by a plain white hearse.
Two white limousines carrying family members followed and behind them 10 vehicles with friends. The Guard, Terrell police, a fire truck and an American Red Cross emergency truck brought up the rear.
Linda Britton showed up with a group of family members just before the procession passed by. They numbered at least 11, including five grandchildren ranging in age from five to 16.
“I think my grandchildren need to see this. I think they need to know,” she said. “They have privileges and they need to know someone died for them.”
Lewis was born in Dallas and graduated from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst and attended Trinity Valley Community College in Terrell. He finished basic training at Fort Knox in 2004 and served in Korea and at Fort Lewis in Washington state before going to Afghanistan.
A visitation is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, 301 W. Nash St.. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 200 W. College St. Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Garden in Terrell.
Lewis is survived by his wife, Teresa Lewis, and infant daughter, Abiageal, his parents, grandparents and a sister. The family has asked that memorials be sent to a trust fund for Abiageal at American National Bank, PO Box 40, Terrell, Texas, 75160.
Other Terrell troops killed since 2004 include Army Sgt. Gerardo Moreno, 23, who was killed April 6, 2004, in a rocket-propelled grenade attack near Ashula; Sgt. Sean Brady Berry, who died in October 2005 in Iraq; and Spc. Jonathan David Arthur “J.D.” Emard, 20, who died of combat wounds in Tikrit, Iraq, in June 2008.
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