I have intentionally not posted on Iraq because I’m not interested in getting into that much on this blog. From time to time however, I like to share an article covering facts that seem to be skimmed over or ignored by the media.

Read this article in World Magazine titled “On Borrowed Time: Captured memo shows terrorist leaders realize they are fighting against the clock.” By John Dawson. I have quoted the article below:

“While Washington lawmakers were debating an exit strategy for the United States’ prolonged engagement in Iraq, terrorist leaders may well have been cheering them on. That’s because when it comes to measuring the insurgency’s success in war-torn Iraq, enemy leaders and many American politicians don’t seem to see eye to eye.

Documents found during a raid on a former safe house of super terrorist Abu Masab al-Zarqawi and released after his June 7 death suggest the terror leader didn’t think the insurgency was as strong as some Washington pols say it is. Instead, the letter, penned by Zarqawi himself or someone close to him, reveals an insurgency nerve center worried about a prolonged engagement and the rise of the Iraqi National Guard.

The prevailing wisdom among administration critics on Capitol Hill maintains that time has worked against coalition forces in Iraq. Prolonged conflict, they say, gives insurgents an edge as continued casualties eventually will turn the American public against the war effort and the Shiite majority against the new Iraqi government.

After House Republicans pushed through an early June resolution rejecting an “arbitrary date” for withdrawal, Senate Democrats tried to pass a nonbinding resolution calling on President Bush to set a timetable for removing all U.S. forces from the Iraq theater.

“The administration’s policy to date—that we’ll be there for as long as Iraq needs us—will result in Iraq’s depending upon us longer,” said Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, during a Senate debate on setting a timetable for withdrawal. “Three and a half years into the conflict, we should tell the Iraqis that the American security blanket is not permanent.”

Terror leaders inside Iraq apparently see things differently. In the preamble of what appeared to be a strategy memo composed by Zarqawi’s organization, the terrorist leaders of the Iraqi insurgency declared time to be working against them.

“As an overall picture, time has been an element in affecting negatively the forces of the occupying countries, due to the losses they sustain economically in human lives, which are increasing with time. However, here in Iraq, time is now beginning to be of service to the American forces and harmful to the resistance,” the seized document stated. In particular, the memo pegged the mass arrests of insurgents and the freezing of terrorists’ assets as prime reasons insurgency leaders believe they are failing.

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On this Veteran’s Day, I’d like to thank all of our military veterans for their service. This country owes you a debt of gratitude we cannot possibly repay appropriately. Your sacrifice and service are deeply appreciated.

This picture and text posted by Joe Carter from World Magazine’s blog say it better than I ever could:

“Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James embraces Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. during a Veterans Day commemoration last year in Dallas. Graunke, a member of a Marine ordnance-disposal team, lost a hand, leg, and eye while defusing a bomb in Iraq in July of 2003. A poignant reminder that for some people, every day is Veterans’ Day.”

Photo credit: Jim Mahoney/Dallas Morning News

Here in the U.S., today is Independence Day. A day when we celebrate our independence as a nation and the freedom that comes with it. Freedom unlike any other country in the world.

These days too many Americans are so focused on opposing the current administration that they lose perspective on what we really have here as a nation. Hearing people say they would rather leave the country than live here under George W. Bush. Of course those same people still live here, make a living here, and in the end probably never would have left in the first place.

My hope, though it may not be realistic, is that all citizens of this country would take time to be thankful for the freedom we have in this country. Many of us, myself included, take this freedom for granted everyday.

On this day when we celebrate our freedom, I most importantly what to thank all of our men and women in the Armed Services for what they do. We support you and thank you for your sacrifice in defending this country and keeping it free.

Linking back to my Memorial Day post, I watched a show on TLC that just began the other night called Operation Homecoming. It’s a series of documentaries about soldiers returning from Iraq or places unknown to their families and loved ones after being gone for a year or more. Most of the stories are told by the families here in the US, what they go through, the challenges, their fears, sadness for those who never come home and relief and joy for those who arrive safe and sound. What I appreciate about this documentary, at least so far, is they do not politicize the stories. Too many times I see the media use these families and soldiers to promote their agendas. Of course mostly to bash the current administration. I could go on and on about that, but I’ll spare you that right now. Yes, I am very opinionated about this subject, but ultimately I would like to just hear the stories of our soldiers without going through the “agenda filter” the media spin-meisters place on them.

Since this Memorial Day, I would be remiss if I didn’t take some time to express my sincerest gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all of the men and women of our Armed Forces who served, are currently serving, and have given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of this great country. Without you, this country would not be free and we would not have the things we take for granted every day. You are all heroes and have my utmost respect. Know that Americans support and appreciate all that you do. Hopefully someday all Americans will appreciate what you do and the sacrifices you make. May God continue to bless all of you in uniform and these United States of America.