I looked across the field today to where my best friend died,

Oh how I well I remember it, for days and days I cried

I remember when we came here, he sang the patriot's song

He talked of all the good things, Said it wouldn't take too long                

-

He said we'd help the people and really set them free

So they could live as we do and share in liberty

But things did not go well, for fanatics took the day

And killed innocent people, in many a horrid way

-

They cared not who they killed,Man, woman or a child

But he refused to give up, And looked at me and smiled

They are trying to sap and weaken the will of those who fight-

By their bombs and killings, Each and every night

-

But over time he told me, Now we take the day

The people here have voted, Freedom's on its way

The problem that we now have , Are the folks who sent us here

The ones that we elected, Their hopes have turned to fear

-

They want cut and run now, As they had us do in 'Nam

Fold our tents in dark of night, And take it on the lam

Desert the folks whose freedom, Our boys and girls did buy

With courage and conviction, And some of them did die

-

What kind of men and women, Are these whom we serve

Who haven't got the courage, Who haven't got the nerve

But then as all good soldiers, our duty must be done

So off we went on patrol,with armored vest and gun

-

I didn't hear the weapon, I only heard the groan

I looked to his position, and my good friend was gone

The medics couldn't save him and on this sandy plain

I lost my very best friend, by a sniper he was slain

-

I stood beside his coffin, as they loaded up the plane

Going home to Mom and Dad, and a lovely girl named Jane

Riding back to barracks, I mourned this terrible cost

And then I heard a Senator, saying, "this war is lost"

-

And now I have to wonder, as I continue on my tour

Is all this really worth it, Why should I be so sure

That what we do is honest, what we do is right

When victory is denied us, by those afraid to fight

-

Why did my best friend die? Was there really a need?

I guess not to everyone, especially Senator Reid.

But as I leave the Green Zone, A whisper in my ear

I hear my friend say "Do it. You know why we are here".

-

So I'll continue in my efforts, to do a soldier's job

And not give in to panic, and the cowardice of the mob

I'll work to help these people, build their government

And the only one that I'll obey, is my President.

-

I'll tell my fellow soldiers, We cannot run like rats

We mustn't have people, think we're Democrats

We have to finish like soldiers, what we started to do

And when the Iraqis take over, then our job is through

-

Then we can go home, our heads we'll hold up high

And look our politicians, right straight in the eye

"Say Mister Senator and Mister Congressman too

Whatever made you abandon the Red, White and Blue?

Strangely enough, a certain AM political radio talk show host predicted exactly that this would happen, right down to the exact day that it would happen. But I digress...

As it happens, I was in Hawaii (where I grew up in the 1960s right after Statehood) for 2 weeks in 2003. The aircraft carrier Bush landed on stopped there on its way home. As the local Hawaiian TV stations reported, the crew of said aircraft carrier had already erected a "Mission Accomplished" banner, which had nothing to do with Bush and Iraq.

In fact, it was meant as a banner for the ship's successful return from their deployment. My late father was executive officer on a US military ship in the 1950s and 1960s, and he told me (and proved with the pictures he took while on duty) that the ships would always make and display such banners when returning to port after their missions, no matter what the missions were. In his case, the ship he was on was stationed as a weather ship in the North Atlantic.

It's also interesting to note that Bill Clinton did 5 photo-op visits on US aircraft carriers while he was pResident.  That's 5 times more than the current President, and more than any other President in history.

Considering the fact that Mr. Clinton was the first pResident in almost 50 years who never saw military service (FDR was the last), that's pretty funny!

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq49-1.htm

Presidential visits to US Navy ships:

William J. Clinton (1992-2001)

Carrier Carl Vinson (1993; 1995)
Carrier George Washington (1994)
Carrier Independence (1996)
Carrier Harry S. Truman (1998)
Guided Missile Cruiser (AEGIS) Hue City (2000)
                              
George W. Bush (2001-    )     Carrier Abraham Lincoln (2003)

Want more? The 1994 Clinton visit to the USS GW included these tidbits:

"President Clinton used the aircraft carrier George Washington to ferry himself, various high-ranking officials, 40 White House aides, and 23 members of the Press Corps across the English Channel. He made remarks on the ship June 5, and the next day he and his entourage went ashore for the ceremonies in France (images of which were later used in campaign commercials). Along with them went dozens of towels and bathrobes lifted from the ship's stores. The Navy investigated and presented the White House a bill for $562. On June 16, 1994, the White House Office of Scheduling and Advance issued a memo to the staff asking that those who took the items please remit payment. No checks were forthcoming, so a member of the office paid the entire bill just to kill the issue. "

Want more?

"(Democrat) President Franklin Roosevelt also took the Cruiser U.S.S. Houston to the Galapagos Islands for a fishing trip. "

"Mission Accomplished", indeed!

del,

Great job!  Thanks.  I get so sick of the whole "Mission Accomplished" clap-trap lie (although Bush walked right into that one for them ... I don't think he's made a similar mistake since. Apparently his PR people became a bit more careful)

Jake Tapper,

Huh? WTF???

So it's all about symbolism now, is it? I hope Bush has the sense to veto this bad boy in some equally symbolic fashion -- maybe on the deck of the Missouri -- then pin it to the door of the Senate with a bayonet.

It's not enough to just say no -- he's gotta say "HELL, no." The Dim-o-crats have been kicking sand on the Republicans since November, and it's embarrassing. Fight back, for God's sake.

Great poem misterbill! Great letter DCCI! Yuse guys are the reason I love coming to this site. The "Mission Accomplished" misrepresentation by the media was and still is a sore spot with me. Those fools bring it up constantly and I am still angered because I read the speech, which they obviously haven't. (Sorry about CNN link, but I couldn't find the speech in the White House archives)

"The transition from dictatorship to democracy will take time, but it is worth every effort. Our coalition will stay until our work is done and then we will leave and we will leave behind a free Iraq."
- President Bush aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln

"When Bush declared an end to major combat"  >> you mean the day he spoke no longer terrified of loosing 3,000 or so soldiers in one day?

"Live Right" and celebrate all the technological advances and inventions by republicans.   Don't forget most of individuals chance for living more right is often just a local issue and even just an issue as within the power of your local hardware distributor and store manager.  Or, just your local building code and zoning officials.

Still not too late for a woman, unencumbered, of intellect and character to enter the Presidential race.