I Think There is a Lesson to Be Learned

I can't help but to think of my most previous blog in which I was celebrating a rather irritating road block in my military career. All of my senses of triumph are not as bright at the moment. Actually at this moment I am rather disgruntled and disappointed. As you may have detected where I am going with this, I had a PT test today. As happy as I am that my max time is now 16:36 it is not sufficient for me to meet the standard. This morning I performed the worst I have ever performed on a PT test so far. Granted my push-ups were great, the best I have done since I was in Arizona. The sit-ups are being counted in a newer stricter manner in which is not advantageous to those of thicker body mass; I lost 10 sit-ups from my previous worst. Now the grand finally of failure, my run was in 17:00 I find no reason at all that I ran so slowly. Even when I was at Basic I was in the 16:40's range, then I worked down to a very predictable 16:10's range then worked it down to the 15:50's range. I thought at worst I would be in the 16:15ish, after all I was stuck at that time area for a good deal of time. Well, apparently not.

So where am I in the middle of this? Very disgruntled and currently not seeing the proper lesson from this setback. Aside from the whole failure part, which I am not one to accept very readily, it puts a very negative outlook upon my soldiering and value to the unit. I have come to believe the general feel of the Army and people that fail at PT in one way or another are worse than a DUI. There is so much regular warning and precautions about preventing DUI's it seems like it is the most important thing in the Army at times. Those that get them are looked upon poorly for the time and the book is usually thrown at them. However, as a whole the person is not looked upon that poorly. It is a recoverable event, and then there is the group of PT failures that I am ever so familiar. It is somewhat of a not talked about stigma that I have sensed everywhere I have been flagged (the status one gets for being a PT failure or other form of trouble). The only difference I have yet to find is how blatantly poor those who are failures are treated.

I know this is not true in many people's minds, but the general aura of failure follows me around. I think the worst part is being identified with all of those that are in remedial. Part of the general consensus about those that are PT failures are that they have no heart. It is an understandable situation because my experience so far has shown that is the case with the majority that are present. Thus guilt by association puts me in the negative light of being lazy, not trying hard enough and the list goes on. To be associated with that attitude is such a misrepresentation of whom I am and constantly work to be. I do disdain the association.

I am guessing the lesson that I am to learn is something along the lines of humility. It seems the most logical at the moment; after all less than a few days ago I was standing upon a tower of achievement for waiting out a clock... I hope there is more to be learned. It is a lesson that will be taught in more repetitions throughout my life but is there more than that? I had so much hope for the clean slate at this unit and my performance has quickly muddied that. Part of my disgruntlement wants me to hit the gym in certain specific areas to ensure I pass the Tape Test with flying colors, or at least make some of the measurements very difficult to take. I am still unaware if I have passed the body fat part of the test. I have reasons to believe I failed and reasons to believe I passed.

Next Monday I am getting tested for a form of asthma, I am not sure where I stand on what I hope the results/diagnosis will be. On one side it is something to look forward to because it directly impacts the most negative mark on my record. On the other side of things, I don't want it to be some kind of affliction that will become a crutch. However, if the test yields that I have nothing, and then what am I to think with all of my constant efforts to better myself and pass the PT test? I am torn on the issue. Do I want the easy solution and if I do want it, how does that reflect my ethics of determination and effort? Then again, if I indeed have it then what is to become of my PT training? I do like running, a good deal of that joy is because I have so much room for improvement. Granted I am not grinning like an idiot as I am constantly passed on the run route and often am among the last to arrive at the destination. I suppose that is why I am so torn about what I hope the test yields... what is to become of my physical fitness training and expectations if I do have this condition?

On the bright side of things, I guess I am getting back to my more regular grueling routine of PT. I rarely run on my own due to other issues, in short when I train by myself with cardio I can't measure progress or properly train myself for short distances. I rely on my cardio training to come from morning PT, and most can say for those that are struggling in that area it is not enough. Hopefully, the extra exercise will also help me to drop some of my excess body fat and solve both my worries. We shall see.

I Made It

I am now officially 22, now in the civilian world I don't think that counts for much more than a step closer to greater adulthood/maturity/end of the greatest years of my life. Yet in the current situation I have placed myself in for the next several years yet, 22 is perhaps a more momentous occasion for me than 18. Why you may ask? APFT, the Army Physical Fitness Test, it is bracketed in age groups and as you may have now guessed I am in the 22-26 age group. On the downside I do have to do more push-ups and sit-ups to attain my previous high scores, not too much of an issue if at all. The kicker, I now have 40 more seconds for my max run time!

From a previous blog, you may have noted that I have a little trouble running. I wouldn't say so much that I have trouble running. I have had trouble running the 2 miles in the time slot the Army allowed for me. The previous goal of 15:54 has now been extended to 16:36; in addition the point scale has been appropriately extended. But wait, it still gets better, now for the rather in accurate body fat measurement I am allowed 2% more body fat. According to the Army test I am close to the barrier I think the last test I took I passed with about .5% short of failing. I personally know that I am closer to 15% but an accurate measurement method but that doesn't matter to the Army. I have also been chuckling a little bit over the last month or so.

The CDC uses Body Mass Index to show the general body mass for what are healthy weights and such; it is solely based on height versus weight. At my current state of 5'7" 200lbs I rank in the 30+ category which is legally obese. Just a chuckle, as you all know I am not exactly in that category. Then again it is very common for any bodybuilder to be rated in the obese-overweight category. I suppose the BMI is useful for those that are not physically active or more specifically those with above average muscle mass. As I stand proudly marveling that I will not fail another PT test (and thus have negative attention on myself), I do wonder if I may indeed make the Tape Test. I honestly don't know if my neck has increased enough or my waist shrunk enough that according to the Army I will meet the standards. I'll try to have a recent update; my PT test is this next Monday.

Oh yea, since I did mention that it was my birthday I think I am approaching the point in life that it is not that big a deal anymore. I would hardly call the day eventful, actually it was rather plain. Due to the week long celebrations about the unit activation we had a short workday. I played some video games, went to the gym and did some reading. I finally made it to the bible study on Tuesdays, it was a good group, and I look forward to more gatherings. I am rather anxious for October to get here because that is the kick off of the regularly scheduled youth ministry. I hope my work schedule will allow for me to be able to attend more than weekend activities. Something to pray about that isn't looking too good; there is a rather under-manned mission this next week I hope to attend. I have not yet been able to request the time off because of all the details I need. To get a pass (something that allows us to not sleep in our room or leave a 50 mile radius from post) there is a rather extensive packet of papers to fill out to make sure there are good plans and preparation. Usually for something to get approved it should be put in a couple weeks in advance so for it to go through in a couple of days, I think it ranks in the area of divine intervention to get it through. I shall see next week. Upon further pondering I think missions is about the best kind of traveling throughout Europe that is really my style. Granted the tourist thing is nice, but I kind of get the vibe of "big deal" and "seen it".

Am I?

This one has been a week or so in the making, I have really wanted to write it a few days ago but since this is largely based on the book I just finished I thought it would be best if I finished the book before I wrote my commentary/what I learned. This one not typical of my readings at all, was a gift from the chapel at a volunteer dinner last month. It is Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels; it is his reflection of what leadership is and how it ought to be in the local church. It was a very easy read compared to my usual reads but rocked me more than most books. Not to say my usual readings are not challenging but the concept of leadership and where I fit in is very unclear to me as this blog will divulge.

I think the book was mostly written to senior pastors or at the very least beginning leadership in the local church. The emphasis about the importance of the local church and its full capacity to make an everlasting difference will definitely roll in my head, the passion and true belief about the importance was rather new to me. On one side I was pondering at first how will this apply to me? I am not leadership nor do I have the atmosphere of the local church. The military chapel is very different in that respect, but it is still a church nonetheless so I should be able to get something out of it. Perhaps some material that really spoke to me will stay in my mind until I am able to be a part of the local church once again.

Once I got over those issues of “does this even apply to me?” a question I held in the majority of the chapters was "Am I?" I have never read or heard something so direct to leadership, at some points in the book I thought the use of "leaders" was entirely too repetitive but that just went to show how important the issue was to the author. I have often wondered in my living walk with Christ, I'd honestly say approaching ten years now if I am a leader? I know throughout the majority of my participation in the church (the body) I have been a servant and a follower. I remember a few conversations at my summer in Hume that it started to hit me that I may be a leader or at the very least that I have a desire to disciple people that they will lead stronger. I recall the year I was on volunteer staff before and how much I enjoyed that, time I will value for the rest of my life. I ponder my thoughts about the future whether I will be in ministry by vocation or by volunteer, a thought I think about almost daily.

Then there are my doubts. Some of the attributes of my personality I am not sure if I am a spiritually gifted leader. That was one of the setbacks I found with the book, I really don't know if leadership is a spiritual gift. By recommendation in that book, that was a quality of huge importance to actually be a leader. I admit that I prefer to be a follower of a good leader, but in the instance that the leader is not cutting it, I am willing to take lead to get things how they should be. I recognize that my rank expresses that I am not even a junior leader within the army and at times I am very content with that. Perhaps the biggest block in my mind is that I notice people do not tend to follow me, or listen. The only time people tend to listen to me it is when they are approaching their wits end. I think about my social interaction and socially I am not the leader, I take the position of the younger brother very comfortably, even my friend Teddy calls me his "older younger brother".

I know I have potential to lead. Multiple people around me tell me they see the potential in me, why it has not developed I don't know. I suppose the lack of people seeming willing to follow me has taken its toll, after all why try to lead when no one will follow? There are often plenty of Chiefs and not enough Indians as the saying goes. Since I know that I can follow and follow well, I resort to being a good follower. Sometimes I think my leadership is mostly manifested by example as a servant, or leading by example. Then again, my example is more often mocked than sought as something that people actually want to follow.

I think this one hits me so much is that it is not an emotional "oh yea" kind of pondering. This is something that is really big, if I don't have the gift of leadership does that mean I won't attempt to lead anything? By no means (as Paul might have said it). Do I write this with hopes of hearing people’s thoughts about this? I don't know, maybe. This is one of the avenues of blogs I enjoy; I don't think this is a serious conversation that would come up at work. I constantly look forward to going to seminary when I get out of the Army, but whether I will be a full time student or use my army experience to get a nice job and do night school seminary I really don't know. The question of where I will be in ministry is constant. My lack of getting closer to an actual answer is in the ballpark of "I will know in God's timing."

If it wasn't for the months that I worked with Josh, I think I would have no inclination of being a leader. I know I wasn't the leader of anything really large but what little leading I did I truly enjoyed. When I think back about those days, the Bible Studies I led often grew me more than those who attended. From leading Bible study I have often considered being a teacher as another vocation other than ministry. Although I thought I was more in the crash and burn stages, the one time I spoke at High Life for the message, others told me I did a good job. I have thought about taking an online spiritual gifts test but I don't think that is the kind of answer my heart is looking for. I do love teaching, but what is a teacher that is not a leader? So often I think of the teachers within our church and they indeed are leaders without a doubt. The Halo2 tournament that I planned was my introduction to creating and making an event. I think largely it was my first big chance, I don't know if I ever thanked Josh for giving me that opportunity, if so I do now. Not many people I think have entrusted me with something like that to raise me up, maybe much of this are doubts about my full potential, I think that is what makes these blogs so comforting to me. I like to just lay it all out there and vent, but I like the openness it gives to those who read these that I might learn something more from my experiences.

One of the things that the book gave heavy emphasis upon, was knowing our spiritual gifts, he said we should be able to name the top three as easy as our name and address. Well, I think teaching and service are shoe ins, but what about the third? Is it leading? What is the scale or list of different spiritual gifts that the author was referring to? There were also a couple chapters of different types of leaders. Some of the descriptions I found comforting that I may be a leader, just not the type that is out front as much as putting things together. The self discovery this book has opened me up to will last a while.

I Think I Am Gonna Like It Here

So this was my first Sunday in Illishiem. So far, I think I will really like it here, thus the title. I got here Friday afternoon and have been warmly received. My squad leader and the way he described the shop is everything I dreamed, namely not being gophers for another section. I actually have an NCOIC which is huge plus. The chapel service was casual, I wouldn't quiet call it contemporary but it is not liturgical. The chapel crowd like the post is small, but it has a nice family feel to it. The feeling around is everyone knows everyone, I like it so far. I met the youth leaders they are really on key and I think I will actually be able to help out in this youth ministry. The gym, oh the gym, it is huge. Doesn't have as many free weights as I would like but they do have much better assortment and at least one of everything, including a good wide grip pull-up bar that I was hoping for.

I talked to the Chaplin about starting a bible study or PMOC (Protestant Men of the Chapel), he told me they were praying for people that would come and take leadership in chapel activities. The support to start and my better understanding of what I can and cannot commit time wise I think this place was an answer to prayers. It is really nice to not be such a newb around here, I know much of the basic operations and much more about how the regular Army works, so I can properly assess what I can commit to. So far I know of one other single soldier in the chapel, good start already. I think I am getting plugged in quickly and very well.

With so much great stuff I can't help but mention the not so greats. Boondocks, easiest way to describe the location, we seem to be roughly 30-45 minutes from everything. I think I will get plenty of driving time logged in being a designated driver. I learned they got back from a deployment at the same time Jonathan got back, so they are not going anywhere in the recent future. It is very likely I will be home for Christmas. The commissary and PX are little larger than the shoppet I have been used to. It is very small; I would say the commissary (grocery store) is about the size of a large 7-11. The PX has little more than the usual hygiene products and home decor.

The best part, my room! Oh this is the best part. Right now I am living in a roughly 11x11 room with 2 other guys in the basement. We each have one wall locker but that does little good for me cause I got so much gear I had to bring over, in addition to my normal stuff. In theory I will be here a week, I'll see how it goes. The rooms I have to look forward are great. Not as nice as the one Jonathan had previously, but not too far from it. They have personal bathrooms; a very large living room with an included kitchenette, there is a well equipped community kitchen as well. I can drink the water on post; this will take some time getting used to. It is really nice to not have to buy all my drinking water. I found out I will need to shell out the cash for ACU's (uniform) that will be around $500, non-refundable. I know I expected this to be an all male unit but it is co-ed. It is a Cavalry unit for another month then we reflagged to something else, I think it is a combat aviation unit. The post layout is long; it is a little bigger than my last post but stretched out so about a 10-15 minute walk to everything.

CYOB

This started as an extended rabbit trail from my Why I support the Iraq war blog. I got worked up and excited about how irritating I find certain liberal points of view in their fairy tale world that they want to make policy.

I am reminded of an interview on Oprah (yea, I get that bored) which she was interviewing the Queen of Jordan. It struck odd when the Queen said the most important thing she wanted to raise her son was, “the idea that we are a world and too look out for everyone”. I am not so callous as to say it is completely stupid and a terrible mindset. I think it is a very happy view to approach the world with, but I do have this question in my mind. If we are always looking out for other nations who is looking after our own nation? Where does the authority over other nations come from?

The best answer in today’s world would either be the European Union or the United Nations. As I recall both are voluntary organizations which truly hold no valid authority over a sovereign nation. As noted with Iraq in 2003, the most the UN can do is ask, and it takes the agreement of the individual nations to take action to enforce agreements made. I have a hard time containing my laughter when people accuse the United States of violating international law; I simply ask to whom did we submit our sovereignty or what law did we break? If the Geneva Convention is the law, it is clear that the United States is practically the only country which actually follows it; it doesn’t count for a pacifist nation to cry about the horrors of war.

I have come to believe the liberal platform of foreign policy does not have the American people in their best interest. It seems in order for any foreign policy to be made they need the reassurance of the UN, NATO, or several other nations as if they have interests for our benefit. This goes with my disdain for the European Union as well. I believe the duty of a national leader is to look out for the people whom reside in the nation they represent and lead.

The introduction of the euro for instance, it has wreaked havoc upon the German economy, so why in their right mind would the leadership approve such an awful thing to their economy? For the good of the world? Well I like to be optimistic and think happy thoughts and all, but when push comes to shove the French government will not look after the Germans, nor the Italians or anyone else in the EU. I know this selfish political ideology is very American, I think it is for this that draws a great divide between European and American mindsets. We are very selfish and we look out for our own interests. Is that such a bad idea? I would like to think the world powers will rush to stop injustice at a moment’s notice simply because it is the “right thing to do”, but then we see events like Darfur…Sadly, when push comes to shove people look after their own interests.

In the spirit of happy thoughts I also wanted to comment on those who claim we no longer need a military, nor maintain military strength as a world power. First, I must say how on Earth does one believe our status as a world power was established? The US arose from the rubble of WWII as the world super-power; it was from our military strength which directly lead to the conclusion of the WWII in the first place. It was from WWII the US got out of the Great Depression. Once we became Top Dog in the world it is through our military's presence and ability that we were able to secure it.

Everyone knows whoever is on the top has the furthest to fall. Top dog also the most people who would like to see them fall from glory too. Though our political and diplomatic methods are greatly valued, I believe it is the ability to topple governments and overwhelm a country with military force which gives backbone to diplomacy. Talk is cheap; if we don't have any bite to backup our bark, then how could we be more than a diplomatic chihuahua?

On the personal level, it is far from the lifestyle I live to intimidate but as a body that represents millions of people and their interests, why would I have any interest in helping another country at such a cost of my own people? I am not opposed entirely to social programs to assist people in hard times, but when there is a way to help there is also a will to slack.
I think for a good portion of my high school days I was closer to a social conservative and a economical liberal, well from the last evaluation’s of where I stand I am almost completely conservative. It is more important to pay off our own debts, get rid of poverty within our own borders, before we spend fair portions of our budget to assist others. This is not to be selfish, but I believe in the long term if we can secure our own economy and stability we can be more helpful to those around. It isn’t too much to ask to be fiscally responsible before we are fiscally generous. For example, the last pie chart I saw noted the federal budget the interest paid on the national debt took up close to 30% to pay off the interest rate! Almost 1/3 of our tax dollars doing nothing but keeping us in the yellow. It is plain to see from any financial perspective that is extremely poor management.

I find it rather interesting with some simple comparative analysis; the liberal political view is very close to modern communism. For example, some points of similarity are universal and government provided healthcare and education. Being a Creationist I have strong objections to what is labeled “science” in the majority of public schools when it comes to the teaching of origins. Although I think many people do benefit from government provided healthcare I think it can be done much better in the public sector. It would be nice if everyone could have healthcare, but it is not a right, if it really was it would be named in the Preamble with the other unalienable rights granted to us.

Here is a thought; if people had to pay for their healthcare would they stop some of their regular destructive habits? I make an attempt to take care of my body because I have seen what can happen if I don't, many people don't think about such decisions on a regular basis. In fact, one sign of a developed nation, deaths from disease are from preventable diseases, verses those who die from unpreventable causes like infections, disease and the sort.

In Acts 5 the early church had a system similar to communism if not a communistic type of community with other Christians. I have heard of modern communities who continue to live in such a way. However, in Acts 6 Ananias and Saphira, two people who expressed their greed within the Christian community. Oh yea they were also the last people in scripture to be directly killed by God. I happen to think communism is a great idea in its purest form, but the only places one can find pure communism working successfully is either in someone's imagination or a book. Like most good-idea social experiments, as long as humans with a sin nature wander the Earth they cannot and will not work. There are many organizations that in their purest of forms are wonderful things, but when you add people we have this certain ability to mess it all up with very little effort.

If real life doesn't teach this I know the Army has certainly taught me this, cover your own butt. When stuff hits the fan make sure you are taken care of. I would like to be able to watch out for people all the time and put myself last but doing so is not in the best interest of my survival. I think this basic tactic should be applied to politics. This life philosophy takes an interesting turn with my theology. After all, how do I look out for number one and at the same time submit my life and desires to God? This is the balance I am learning with my experience here.

I can't tell you how many times I have been told to stand up for myself and not let other walk over me. I do not think people take me for being weak, but I have come across as a pushover. I look at it as making a fuss about trivial matters. Often it is easier and more beneficial, I believe especially to my testimony, to submit and get the job done. The bad part, often those forget what I do believe, forget I hold and do not move. I take stands on important matters. If I honestly believed by me not talking crap, I was a weak person, I would talk back. If I believed taking a few dead arms made me a wuss, I would hit back. I believe when push comes to shove, I can carry out my duty to the best of my ability and with a clear conscience because I do not do it for selfish reasons.

When You Believe in Miracles

This one was just randomly inspired while I was doing my monthly shave and the Prince of Egypt soundtrack started to play. It is a lovely sounding sound I think its message is somewhere along the lines of if you believe anything can happen. Knowing my style I doubt the song was hardly taking it so deeply. I am reminded of several of the books I have read in which it addresses logical arguments Humanists use to dismiss the evidence and arguments for our faith. I think it is fair to expand this to a good deal of ancient historians who deny the ancient manuscripts that currently makeup the Bible as historically authentic. The common denominator between the two parties, as to why one group denies the possibility of God and the other of historicity is their disbelief and outright denial of miracles.

David Hume is one of the most notable philosophers who argues miracles are non-existent. From face value it is one of those claims that one does believe in miracles would likely exclaim such a suggestion is outrageous. The funny thing though, in Hume's premises, what is believable is normal or natural occurrences. Things which do not repeatedly occur or cannot be repeated should not be taken into account as having happened. With such premises it is plain to see why the presence of miracles is denied. The nature of miracles defies nature and cannot be repeated upon command. If they could be repeated in nature there would be nothing special about the event, if they could be repeated upon command it would not be forces from beyond this natural world. The "logical" method of philosophy to argue against miracles stands at eliminating their possibility in the premise to arrive at a conclusion which does not include anything beyond nature. It is like asking you to persuade me to vote for a candidate with the premise that the person does not exist. The argument is dead in the water against such bountiful premises. This is the same issue with the Problem of Evil, yet another philosophy question which attempts to disprove the existence of the supernatural using false premises. Then again, this argument is not as ludicrous as Hume's.

The plausible deniability used in philosophy is similar in the historical analysis of the ancient manuscripts we call the Bible. Many historians dismiss those manuscripts, being in greater volume and number than any other manuscript used to figure out the ancient past by more than a thousand fold. The reason they deny the historicity is because they do not believe in miracles, and if the manuscripts, which dictate as something to be literal include miracles then that poses a problem for the "enlightened" ones. Andy Stanley has a good 3 part Sermon series about the reliability of the Gospels called Verdict. Then again, Lee Strobel's Case for Christ, Norman Giesler's I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, and Ravi Zacharias' Jesus Among Other Gods, all contain powerful points about the reliability of the scripture as historical documents. I am very tempted to throw out a few of the tip bits about how much ancient manuscripts there are in comparison to other ancient documents, but I encourage you all to read the books for yourselves cause it will stick much better than, "oh I read it in this guy's blog".

I think this kind of ties to CYOB. People get so much of their life views in unrealistic illogical happy thoughts, such as how they want to live and believe what they want to because it is more comfortable. Then in order to secure their comfort, because deep down (Romans 1:18-21) they know there is a Truth they convince themselves there is no Truth. I am in awe constantly every time I read Romans to see how much it completely applies to our current cultural climate. Hopefully you are either familiar with Romans 1 or you looked it up to see what I was talking about, but I would like to conclude this one with a couple choice quotes that I think add to the points I made rather eloquently.

“Our willingness to accept scientific claims that are against common sense is the key to an understanding of the real struggle between science and the supernatural. We take the side of science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises of health and life, in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment to materialism. It is not that the methods and institutions of science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover that materialism is absolute for we cannot allow a divine foot in the door.” – Richard Lewontin, Billions and Billions of Demons (review of The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan, 1997), The New York Review, p. 31, 9 January 1997.

“Unless we are born again we cannot see the kingdom of God. A man once stood on a soap box at Hyde Park Corner pouring scorn on Christianity. “People tell me that God exists but I can’t see him. People tell me that there is life after death; but I can’t see it. People tell me there is a heaven and hell, but I can’t see them…” He won cheap applause and climbed down from his “pulpit.” Another struggled onto the soap box. “People tell me there is green grass all around. But I can’t see it. People tell me that there is blue sky above, but I can’t see it. People tell me that there are trees nearby, but I can’t see them. You see. I’m blind!” – David Watson, My God is Real

Why I Support the Iraq War

This one classifies as an op-ed political type that doesn't have too much bearing on my recent activities but something I thought I should share with you all (y’all is not a legitimate word). I write this from the eyes of someone that has not yet had the chance to do my part in contributing to the resolution of this conflict but I look forward for my chance to go. One of the reasons I joined the Army was because I wanted to be a part of this. I realize these words come from one whose best idea of war is described by those who have been, and I am speaking about something I have yet to have firsthand experience about.

I read an op-ed a few months ago I think was one of the best pro-war op-eds I have read in a long time. It was Right Invasion, Wrong Explanation, by Jonah Goldberg. Many of the author’s points brought up in the op-ed I agreed with, but I had some of my own thoughts and elaborations I thought I would like to share. I wanted to start off to acknowledge I personally do not care nor have I ever cared about the notorious WMD's. I don't care the President's State of the Union mentioned the "16 words" that supposedly rallied much of the support for the initial action. Actually, I have seen some interesting new articles which obviously were not widely circulated throughout the media showing the alleged WMD's were present up to a week before the beginning of the invasion and Russian Special Forces moved them to neighboring Syria. I don't think that was made public because it was not enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in the public’s eye, in addition to allege Russia having something to do with working with the former Iraqi regime would be such a blow to our foreign relations with Russia it was not worth it to pursue. In addition I am inclined to believe that certain methods of gathering such evidence were better off not mentioned.

This is regarding the recent article published by the NY Times based on classified documents (This is the closest I could find).  For those of you that know what part of the Army I serve, you know that I know about the protocol with such information. The very definition as pertains to the US government and classified documents is quiet self-explanatory, in fact if anyone wants to read AR 380-5, it lays it all out there, but I warn you it is deathly boring to read. The definitions of the following levels of classification are: “Secret” if it can do danger to the United States if the information is revealed. “Top Secret” is differentiated that the information can do grave danger to the United States. For news organization to spill the beans and publish such material is what I consider espionage and or sedition. Well, that is what we call it if one person delivers the same material to someone from another nation who does not have the clearance to view such information.

The NY Times in my eyes committed the worst form of espionage, they made it open source, available to the general public. Those who argue the information in itself does not directly endanger the US have no clue what they are talking about. The content of the information is not always the important part; it is how it was collected. That being said, I think it would be perfectly legal and completely appropriate to charge the NY Times editors and journalists that were associated with the leak of information.

Many argue we did not do enough peace talks to find out if Iraq had complied with the UN resolutions which ended the first Gulf War in 1990. Well, for me I think we did more than enough, in fact, the UN proved itself to be impotent in my eyes and I favor withdrawing from the organization altogether. They are not worth the billions we spend to be in the council and I do not believe they act in the best interest of Freedom and Justice. I remember watching the clips from the UN meetings when the US appealed to the UN asking for action. It went like this: they agreed Iraq was not in compliance with the original resolution which ended the first Gulf War, in fact they had been in violation of that resolution for over 10 years; after agreeing Iraq was in violation of their resolutions with another resolution, a resolution for military action was proposed and failed.

I am not one to jump the gun on important decisions, but, I think that was a clear example of refusing to solve the problem. If I make a deal with someone and the conditions of the deal are not honored then either the conditions prior to the resolution ought to be reverted or the agreed penalty for violating the resolution should be paid. In my opinion, military action is the reasonable and logical course of action, it was deemed appropriate in 1990 as a result of the invasion of Kuwait, from which the Allied forces were about to overtake Iraq after liberating Kuwait but it was that same resolution which halted the coalition forces in 1990.

One may ask how Iraq violated the resolution from 1990. Although the politicians focused on the unaccounted chemical agents and equipment possible for making WMD's I think they left out a major detail when considering invading Iraq. Since the conclusion of the Gulf War one of the conditions was a no-fly zone the United States and other countries were to patrol. For the entire duration of the patrol it was common for Iraq to fire missiles at the military jets. Correct me if I am wrong but, when one country attempts to shoot down another military’s aircraft that is an act of war? There was never an instance when a coalition warplane was ever shot down in that duration, but it does not excuse being shot at without retaliation.

I am curious as to why there are so many people against the war at this present time. I know the American people are fickle and loose interest in things that last more than a month. I find it rather sad the change in popular support of the war. The initial invasion in 2003 there was close to 70% support for the military action, after the lack of discovery of the WMD's the public support was around 50%, and now it is somewhere in the 30% range. Many people attacked President Bush for his action on what was believed to be correct intelligence, but since everything didn't go as planned, the majority of the initial support has left the cause. I am most perplexed by those who advocate instant withdrawal. Did they not understand what happened in Afghanistan? The Soviets took over the region, essentially conquered it and then left with the fall of the Soviet Union. Upon the exits of the previous government the Taliban took control of the nation. Those that do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it; I didn't think 20 years was that long to remember.

Epilogue: This was interesting to read so many years later. I do not think at the time I considered the differences in types of classified information leaks, that or these statements were made prior to my embrace of certain Libertarian sentiments. For the sake of Liberty, I find criminal acts like those of Snowden, were not done in malice but from a patriot’s heart. Given that the Director of National Intelligence outright lied to a Congressional Oversight Hearing, I have a hard time explaining how Snowden was not vindicated by that overt act of deception.

I truly wish the post war plan was conducted better, not by the military but the State department. The de-bathification policy was the most disastrous policy that directly lead to the less than satisfying conclusion.

In light of the Syria mess, who knows where Assad got his chemical weapons?

Also, note that in 2006, it was easy enough to predict the rise of an organization like ISIS from nothing more than a history lesson.