With Memorial Day coming up.......

"I'm Tired"
BY: Joe Repya, Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division

Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was
forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to
my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.

I left Baghdad, and a war that has every indication that we are
winning,
to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971
after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just
four months, but I'm tired:

I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican, who
lack the courage, fortitude and character to see these difficult tasks
through.

I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history
when the going gets tough.

I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they
'Support
the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved.

I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and
casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their
hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are
having on the battlefield.

I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship
into a democracy overnight.

I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to
the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent
Parliament.

I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by
giving
aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.

I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our
fallen
soldiers, a family whose loved ones gave their life in a just and noble
cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly
protesters is beyond shameful.

I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom -- Vietnam generation, who
have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks
through to victory.

I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives
than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.

I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the
press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front-page news.

Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn
from
history that there is no substitute for victory.

Sincerely,

Joe Repya, Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division