SPORTS MAN

It sickens me that people can defend them. They wouldn't even have the right of free speech if it wasn't for those of us who risk our lives. They can say what they want to who they want but not when they want.

I think you would all be suprised at how much of the country we already have turned over. Most of the city of Ar Ramadi now belongs to the Iraqi National Guard or Iraqi Police. There on every corner. Down south where the British control is also being turned over to the ING and IPs very quickly. It will take time and we must support these brave Iraqi nationals to assure they are not comprimised. Its an entirely different mind set here amongst their citizens and that will slow things down. But for the most part they have decided the enemy is the terrorist and not the Americans.

Thats exactly how i feel. I will risk my life every minute of everyday just so that the lives of my wife and son are safe.

An end will come when they quit killing each other. It will end when Iraqi's can leave their homes to go to work without the fear of hitting an IED. When they feel safe enough to rebuild their economy and infrastructure. This is my second tour in Iraq. I'm sitting in Ramadi now and havn't seen much if anything rebuilt since my first deployment. We have to make it safe enough for Iraqs people to began life again.

Nope i didn't say anything about it making up for anything. I just reported a positive. And those lousy IED's are the most dangerous thing in Iraq right now. And that was 40 IEDs in one week by one Company. If you don't think that is a good thing than obviously you don't know as much as you think about the situation in Iraq.

Do you really think I don't know how many troops have died? But more good news. Over 40 IEDs found in and around Ramadi this week. Thats 40 IEDs that did not injure any one.

What i find disturbing is the fact that they are inmates serving less time in the US for similar crimes committed in civilization. I don't think the PFC deserves less time i just think everyone else deserves more time. I think they are politics envolved in the sentencing of this young man. I don't understand the rape in this case. I hear over and over again that rape is not an act of sex but rather an act of aggression and dominance. On the other hand the murder i do understand. Day after day we lose our freinds. There are no time to greive and you must continue the mission. You continue with a bit of silence in the air. The only thing that changes is theres one less person you count for. One less person to conduct pre combat checks on. Theres a certain silence during roll call. A few less jokes and a couple extra MREs. These things eat at the hearts and souls of these men. Especially 18 and 19 year old minds. So I won't judge. I won't except it as right. I won't make excuses. But i won't Judge.

For me I don't have to wory about the media interferring with my perception of reality at all. Up until today I didn't have much access to the media. Some but not as much as most of you. As far as reality....well I am smacked in the face by it on a daily basis.

That is true but people seem to act as if it was just a walk in the park. There are still incidents everyday.

The Democrats don't change the news I hear in Iraq. Nor do the reports Generals give. Hopefully they can leave politics aside so that we can concentrate on moving foward.

Every where I look I see nothing but bad news from Iraq. Heres a bit of good news. Attacks reduced in Ramadi by around 75%. Ramadi has a 80/20 IED find/explode rate.

I don't think many of the troops even knew he was here. Um... I'm not sure which secured airbase he landed in but he was in the anbar province and so is Fallujah. Just to let you know the anbar province has been the most dangerous and active areas in Iraq. Lately it has had alot less activity. Not because the terrorist groups decided to quit but because of some of the steps we have taken.

I would get with one of the local teams. Usually local wrestling coaches will help other teams get started just to increase the popularity of the sport. It also gives them closer compitition.

Just having a winning record isn't good enough for some people.

I think the pressure just got to Tubby. The pressure of always being expected to win. The pressure of being expected to bring in the best players. The pressure to bring home another national title. I think either the pressure got to him or he just realized he wasn't the right fit for UK. Im not a Tubby basher. I support who ever the coach is. But how Tubby left this program.......well theres just no excuse for it. I think he seen a team full of his recruits leaving year after year. Kids not developing into the athletes they should be. He just left the program. Well I say don't let the door hit you on the way out Tubby.