I want to thank Michelle for inviting me to blog on her page. It’s been fun, but I’ll be happy to return to my little blog now that Michelle will be returning home from her peregrinations. Stop on by sometime when you’re cruising the blogosphere.

Here are some miscellaneous stories around the web.

There is a new ranking out of civil and political liberty in the Middle East.

The Index of Political Freedom lists Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Iraq and the Palestinian Territories as the most democratic parts of the region.

Libya received the lowest rating, below Syria and Saudi Arabia.

Iraq climbing up the ladder of freedom; where were they a couple of years ago? That is totally due to American efforts. When you have a chance, pause and be proud.

David MacDonnell, blogging at The Military Vote, reports that they’ve raised $500 to buy a wheelchair for the Iraqi man whose legs were destroyed by a terrorist bomb. You can still contribute here, if you wish. MacDonnell also blogs about his reaction to Representative Murtha’s speech yesterday. He is not in accord.

Personally, I don’t want leave this country feeling like a coward. I want the hero image my wife has of me to never be diminished by having to hear people speak in the future of how we went into Iraq with great intentions only to abandon it’s people, strengthening of Democracy, and the country’s fledgling government we helped to establish. I love my country and everything it stands for. With that I must say I respect Murtha for all he has done… I can only hope he will see the hypocrisy in his latest criticism of the war.

Will Whitley, another soldier serving in Iraq, has similar thoughts on Murtha’s speech.

I am just disgusted when I see and hear reports calling for the pullout of our military from Iraq. The American people do not see what really goes on here, all they see is what the media wants them to…and I think that we all know that the media likes to put a negative spin on it as well. I am here to tell you that everyday we are winning over the hearts of the people of Iraq. If you could see the smiling faces that I have seen you would know that we are making a difference in this country. I volunteered for the military, no one made me sign on that dotted line. Let me stay here and finish what we have started Mr. Murtha.

You know, it is an amazing thing to have soldiers serving in a war zone put up in real time their thoughts on politics going on at home concerning the war in which they’re serving. I often point out to my students what a unique experience we have in studying the Civil War due to the fact that there are so many extant letters from men serving in both armies. It was an incredibly literate army; there was no censorship; and families preserved those letters. We don’t have as much material from soldiers serving in the World Wars due to censorship. But, I think that historians could one day have a real feast if they can find the archived records from soldiers’ blogs and the preserved files of all the emails that soldiers have sent. Of course, there are still limits on what soldiers can say while they’re serving, but we’ve never had this opportunity before to hear from the soldiers so promptly what they think. It’s a credit to the military for making the Internet access available and to the soldiers who want their voices to be heard.

Stephen Spruiell has been talking to some Marines about media coverage of the war. They’re not happy.

No End But Victory is liveblogging the House debate on immediate withdrawl from Iraq.

comments (0)   trackbacks (6)