Sharing a great post on Israel, Gaza, Hamas

Let me set this up just a bit before I share the blog.

A good friend, Gen. Jack Wheeler (ret.) started sending me some of the newsletters and other information he receives regarding the military. One of the newsletters, Multi-national Force Iraq (MNF), had such great articles I thought it would be worth following up to see if we could reprint some in our various military sections and blogs on the Fayette Front Page and Georgia Front Page.

I tracked down a general email and sent a request for permissions.

The affirmative response came from Fred Wellman, another friend. Fred lived in Peachtree City for a number of years and was actually running for Mayor when September 11th shocked us all. He decided not to run, re-enlisted in the Army, moved to wherever they sent him, and has now served three tours in Iraq. Last I heard he was Chief of Public Affairs, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.

We emailed back and forth a few times and in one of the emails he included a link to his blog, Armed and Curious, Home of the Heavily Armed Tourist. I check it off and on just to see how he's doing. The following is his take on the situation in Israel, posted Jan. 5th.

Of dumb rockets and dummer people
I have been watching the unfolding battle in Gaza very eagerly and with much less detachment than I think the normal observer would because of my intimate association with rockets after three tours in Iraq. It sickens me how much many observers are castigating Israel for finally responding to the withering rocket fire they have endured for 8 years in southern Israel.
http://armedandcurious.blogspot.com/2009/01/of-dumb-rockets-and-dummer-people.html

Cindy Sheehan

This blog doesn't need another title. The name Cindy Sheehan says all that needs to be said. Regardless of whether you love what she's doing or hate what she's doing, she has definitely managed to make herself famous.

I'm not one that loves what she's doing, or even likes what she's doing. I'm sure she'd hit me over the head with a protest sign if I opted to have a verbal exchange with her. I was going to say conversation, but from what I've seen and read civil discourse wouldn't be in the cards given that she and I have opposing views on "her issues".

If you're reading this column chances are you're somewhat knowledgeable about politics. So, I'm sure you're aware she's running against Nancy Pelosi in California. I should probably set up some Google Alerts just to keep up with that one, it has to be interesting.

Well, it seems that Sheehan is going to be at the Rose Bowl Parade protesting in a few days.

That aggravated me. The parade has absolutely nothing to do with the war in Iraq, politics of any sort, George W. Bush, the military or anything remotely connected to any of those issues.

Why ruin a perfectly innocent parade for the kids? for the families? for those who have worked so hard to create the floats? the bands? the schools?

You and I know why. She chose that event simply because it will garner national attention. The stories about the Rose Bowl Parade are going to include her name and some mention of the protest.

I believe in the right to protest. Peacefully and without disruption.

Make your case. Go protest at the local military base. Go stand outside when the President is speaking somewhere.

But don't rain on OUR parade.