Sunday, April 30, 2006
Distant Drums - The Dead of April
Emperor George * Neil Young's "Living With War" * The "I" Word
As April comes to a close, we learn that 72 of our soldiers have died in Iraq during the month. The total is 2400. Think of the president's Mission Accomplished appearance in a flight suit on the USS Lincoln. That was May 2,2003. Remember the words: ".....I think they're in the last throes if you will, of the insurgency" ? That was Vice President Cheney on CNN May 30,2005. U.S. casualties in May 2005 numbered 1666. So, 734 soldiers died since the vice president (who had taken four deferments during the Vietnam war) said that a year ago about the insurgents. Think about it. 734 soldiers, majority of them in their 20's. Those who sent them to Iraq will again issue lofty statements. The bereaved families will grieve but few of them will speak out about the wasted lives and maimed bodies. And the cost in terms of dollars (our money) keeps going up and up. The president still wants the grossly skewed tax cuts made permanent. Our children and grand children will pay for it while those who lead the nation into the mess do their golfing and quail hunting.
Darrell P. Clay, 34, Army Staff Sergeant, Apr 01, 2006
Israel Devora Garcia, 23, Army Sergeant, Apr 01, 2006
Michael L. Hartwick, 37, Army Chief Warrant Officer (CW3), Apr 01, 2006
Timothy J. Moshier, 25, Army Captain, Apr 01, 2006
Jeremy W. Ehle, 19, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 02, 2006
Andres Aguilar Jr., 21, Marine Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
David A. Bass, 20, Marine Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Patrick J. Gallagher, 27, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Kun Y. Kim, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Eric A. McIntosh, 29, Marine Staff Sergeant, Apr 02, 2006
Eric A. Palmisano, 27, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Scott J. Procopio, 20, Marine Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Felipe D. Sandoval-Flores, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Brian R. St. Germain, 22, Marine Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Abraham G. Twitchell, 28, Marine Staff Sergeant, Apr 02, 2006
Marcques J. Nettles, 22, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class, Apr 02, 2006
Geovani Padilla Aleman, 20, Navy Hospitalman, Apr 02, 2006
Ty J. Johnson, 28, Army Specialist, Apr 04, 2006
Dustin J. Harris, 21, Army Specialist, Apr 06, 2006
Daniel L. Sesker, 22, Army National Guard Specialist, Apr 06, 2006
Chase A. Edwards, 19, Marine Private 1st Class, Apr 06, 2006
Bryan N. Taylor, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 06, 2006
Richard P. Waller, 22, Marine Corporal, Apr 07, 2006
Shawn R. Creighton, 21, Army Specialist, Apr 08, 2006
Jody W. Missildine, 19, Army Private, Apr 08, 2006
Philip John Martini, 24, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 08, 2006
Juana NavarroArellano, 24, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 08, 2006
David S. Collins, 24, Army Specialist, Apr 09, 2006
Joseph I. Love-Fowler, 22, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 09, 2006
Gregory S. Rogers, 42, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Apr 09, 2006
James W. "Will" Gardner, 22, Army Specialist, Apr 10, 2006
Randall L. Lamberson, 36, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Apr 10, 2006
Joseph A. Blanco, 25, Army Corporal, Apr 11, 2006
James F. Costello III, 27, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 11, 2006
Kenneth D. Hess, 26, Army Specialist, Apr 11, 2006
George R. Roehl Jr., 21, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 11, 2006
Scott M. Bandhold, 37, Army Specialist, Apr 12, 2006
Roland E. Calderon-Ascencio, 21, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 12, 2006
Marcus S. Glimpse, 22, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 12, 2006
Andrew K. Waits, 23, Army Specialist, Apr 13, 2006
Salem Bachar, 20, Marine Corporal, Apr 13, 2006
Stephen Joseph Perez, 22, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 13, 2006
Darin T. Settle, 23, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 14, 2006
Mark W. Melcher, 34, Army National Guard Specialist, Apr 15, 2006
Derrick J. Cothran, 21, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 15, 2006
Pablo V. Mayorga, 33, Marine Corporal, Apr 15, 2006
Justin D. Sims, 22, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 15, 2006
Ryan G. Winslow, 19, Marine Private 1st Class, Apr 15, 2006
Clinton W. Cubert, 38, Army National Guard Master Sergeant, Apr 16, 2006
Ian P. Weikel, 31, Army Captain, Apr 18, 2006
Robert J. Settle, 25, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 19, 2006
Patrick A. Tinnell, 25, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 19, 2006
Jason C. Ramseyer, 28, Marine Staff Sergeant, Apr 20, 2006
Jacob H. Allcott, 21, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 22, 2006
Michael E. Bouthot, 19, Army Private, Apr 22, 2006
Kyle A. Colnot, 23, Army Sergeant, Apr 22, 2006
Eric D. King, 29, Army Specialist, Apr 22, 2006
Travis C. Zimmerman, 19, Army Private, Apr 22, 2006
Eric R. Lueken, 23, Marine Corporal, Apr 22, 2006
Jason B. Daniel, 21, Army Corporal, Apr 23, 2006
Robert W. Ehney, 26, Army Sergeant, Apr 23, 2006
Shawn Thomas Lasswell Jr., 21, Army Corporal, Apr 23, 2006
Metodio A. Bandonill, 29, Army Staff Sergeant, Apr 24, 2006
Aaron William Simons, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 24, 2006
Raymond L. Henry, 21, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 25, 2006
Richard J. Herrema, 27, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Apr 25, 2006
Michael L. Ford, 19, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 26, 2006
Matthew Webber, 23, Army Sergeant, Apr 27, 2006
Edward Davis III, 31, Marine Sergeant, Apr 27, 2006
Lea R. Mills, 0, Marine Not reported yet, Apr 27, 2006
*
*****
The much vaunted Operation Iraqi Freedom has turned out to be a disaster. The Post reports that: "As the U.S. military struggles against persistent sectarian violence in Iraq, military officers and security experts find themselves in a vigorous debate over an idea that just months ago was largely dismissed as a fringe thought: that the surest -- and perhaps now the only -- way to bring stability to Iraq is to divide the country into three pieces." In the meantime, one hears more and more about the once unthinkable subject---impeachment of President Bush. Living With War, a newly released CD by Neil Young (yes, he is Canadian) includes a song "Let's impeach the President" Click on the title of the CD to listen to clips. In a despatch from Washington, Sarah Baxter of The Times (London) reports: "THE movement to impeach President George W Bush over the war on terror began with a few tatty bumper stickers on the back of battered old Volvos and slogans such as “Bush lied, people died” on far-left websites. But as Democrat hopes rise of gaining control of Congress this autumn, dreams of impeaching Bush are no longer confined to the political fringe. A poll last week found that voters, by 50% to 37%, would prefer the Democrats to win control of Congress. If Bush’s opponents find themselves in a position of power, the temptation to humiliate him is likely to be irresistible."
I doubt that Democrats would succeed in taking control of both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections. In the unlikely event that should come to pass, I would rather see the Bush administration in a lame duck presidency than going through the process of impeachment. It is too expensive in every sense of the word. The nation will need all the energy the leaders can muster to move forward and repair the damage done after 2000. I opposed the impeachment of President Clinton for diddling with Monica Lewinsky and lying about it. No one died because of what he did. The Clinton impeachment was purely a partisan thing. I would have supported his impeachment if he took the nation to war on lies. No question that President Bush deserves to be impeached. Still, it is a course that I have deep reservations about.
The fallen (two names have not yet been released by the DOD. Source:Iraq Coalition Casualties. Let's not forget the hapless Iraqi civilians killed in military action: Min. 34,512 Max.38,661 Source: Iraq Body Count
Darrell P. Clay, 34, Army Staff Sergeant, Apr 01, 2006
Israel Devora Garcia, 23, Army Sergeant, Apr 01, 2006
Michael L. Hartwick, 37, Army Chief Warrant Officer (CW3), Apr 01, 2006
Timothy J. Moshier, 25, Army Captain, Apr 01, 2006
Jeremy W. Ehle, 19, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 02, 2006
Andres Aguilar Jr., 21, Marine Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
David A. Bass, 20, Marine Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Patrick J. Gallagher, 27, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Kun Y. Kim, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Eric A. McIntosh, 29, Marine Staff Sergeant, Apr 02, 2006
Eric A. Palmisano, 27, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Scott J. Procopio, 20, Marine Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Felipe D. Sandoval-Flores, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Brian R. St. Germain, 22, Marine Corporal, Apr 02, 2006
Abraham G. Twitchell, 28, Marine Staff Sergeant, Apr 02, 2006
Marcques J. Nettles, 22, Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class, Apr 02, 2006
Geovani Padilla Aleman, 20, Navy Hospitalman, Apr 02, 2006
Ty J. Johnson, 28, Army Specialist, Apr 04, 2006
Dustin J. Harris, 21, Army Specialist, Apr 06, 2006
Daniel L. Sesker, 22, Army National Guard Specialist, Apr 06, 2006
Chase A. Edwards, 19, Marine Private 1st Class, Apr 06, 2006
Bryan N. Taylor, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 06, 2006
Richard P. Waller, 22, Marine Corporal, Apr 07, 2006
Shawn R. Creighton, 21, Army Specialist, Apr 08, 2006
Jody W. Missildine, 19, Army Private, Apr 08, 2006
Philip John Martini, 24, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 08, 2006
Juana NavarroArellano, 24, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 08, 2006
David S. Collins, 24, Army Specialist, Apr 09, 2006
Joseph I. Love-Fowler, 22, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 09, 2006
Gregory S. Rogers, 42, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Apr 09, 2006
James W. "Will" Gardner, 22, Army Specialist, Apr 10, 2006
Randall L. Lamberson, 36, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Apr 10, 2006
Joseph A. Blanco, 25, Army Corporal, Apr 11, 2006
James F. Costello III, 27, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 11, 2006
Kenneth D. Hess, 26, Army Specialist, Apr 11, 2006
George R. Roehl Jr., 21, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 11, 2006
Scott M. Bandhold, 37, Army Specialist, Apr 12, 2006
Roland E. Calderon-Ascencio, 21, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 12, 2006
Marcus S. Glimpse, 22, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 12, 2006
Andrew K. Waits, 23, Army Specialist, Apr 13, 2006
Salem Bachar, 20, Marine Corporal, Apr 13, 2006
Stephen Joseph Perez, 22, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 13, 2006
Darin T. Settle, 23, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 14, 2006
Mark W. Melcher, 34, Army National Guard Specialist, Apr 15, 2006
Derrick J. Cothran, 21, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 15, 2006
Pablo V. Mayorga, 33, Marine Corporal, Apr 15, 2006
Justin D. Sims, 22, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 15, 2006
Ryan G. Winslow, 19, Marine Private 1st Class, Apr 15, 2006
Clinton W. Cubert, 38, Army National Guard Master Sergeant, Apr 16, 2006
Ian P. Weikel, 31, Army Captain, Apr 18, 2006
Robert J. Settle, 25, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 19, 2006
Patrick A. Tinnell, 25, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 19, 2006
Jason C. Ramseyer, 28, Marine Staff Sergeant, Apr 20, 2006
Jacob H. Allcott, 21, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 22, 2006
Michael E. Bouthot, 19, Army Private, Apr 22, 2006
Kyle A. Colnot, 23, Army Sergeant, Apr 22, 2006
Eric D. King, 29, Army Specialist, Apr 22, 2006
Travis C. Zimmerman, 19, Army Private, Apr 22, 2006
Eric R. Lueken, 23, Marine Corporal, Apr 22, 2006
Jason B. Daniel, 21, Army Corporal, Apr 23, 2006
Robert W. Ehney, 26, Army Sergeant, Apr 23, 2006
Shawn Thomas Lasswell Jr., 21, Army Corporal, Apr 23, 2006
Metodio A. Bandonill, 29, Army Staff Sergeant, Apr 24, 2006
Aaron William Simons, 20, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 24, 2006
Raymond L. Henry, 21, Army Private 1st Class, Apr 25, 2006
Richard J. Herrema, 27, Army Sergeant 1st Class, Apr 25, 2006
Michael L. Ford, 19, Marine Lance Corporal, Apr 26, 2006
Matthew Webber, 23, Army Sergeant, Apr 27, 2006
Edward Davis III, 31, Marine Sergeant, Apr 27, 2006
Lea R. Mills, 0, Marine Not reported yet, Apr 27, 2006
The Burial of the Dead
"April is the cruellest month,breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain."
---T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), Waste Land
