I lost my best friend in the Iraq war.

[Bread and Circus]

One of my employees' son's father was shot dead in the Iraq war by a sniper waiting in line to buy food in Iraq.

My nephew's uncle's head was sawn off in the Iraq war.

Literally sawn off while he squeeled for mercy and dear life.

So if you ever wonder why some of us cannot forgive a Democratic candidate who voted for the Iraq war for personal political gain, this is why.

If you ever wonder why some of us are so angry, hurt, and vengeful, this is why.

If you have seen the pain and hurt all around you that the votes and policies of those who chose to go middle of the road and decided to vote with Republicans on the IWR then maybe you would understand.

[Bread and Circus]

1. So no one else was personsally affected by capitulation with disgusting Republicans?

You see, small towns like mine are affected especially hard by these shitty wars.

[Art_from_Ark]

17. I was not personally affected

But I saw original pictures of the Highway of Death taken during the first Iraq War by someone who was there and I just about puked my guts out. The scenes were horrible beyond belief.

[Bread and Circus]

18. I was personally affected and many I know were waaay more affected than me x 1,000,000

Thiese shit wars and shit neocon andhit republican policies hit very hard in rural towns. When democrats capitulate to wat it is a further kick in the teeth.

[Ken Burch]

26. The OP wasn't belittling your pain. n/t.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Did you vote for John Kerry? nt

[Bread and Circus]

3. In the primary? No. In the general, yes. Does that somehow make you sleep easier?

Here is a story for you just so you know this isn't about pictures and debates.

My sister's ex husband had a brother, a person I knew, literally had his head sawed off because he was an independent contractor and was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This would not have happened if it were not for the capitulation of those who went along with that piece of shit George W Bush, may god damn his soul to hell.

Then, later I had an employee, who I tried to convince the Iraq war was a bad idea had an ex who was the father of her son who was shot dead in his early to mid twenties in Iraw by a sniper while buying an ice cream cone or something to that effect. Shot dead and now this will never seen his father again.

I cannot evem begin to speak in detail
of my best friend and how I lost what I lost.

This stuff is real and the pain that is rendered by these political games runs deep. So don't start with me in regards to political tit for tat. I am not in the mood for trifling bullshit.

I lost my best friend in Iraq and I hate all those responsible.

[Ken Burch]

27. A LOT of us called out Kerry for his IWR vote in the '04.

It has never been something only HRC was attacked over.

[Hoyt]

4. I blame george war bush, and to some extent those who enlisted to join his crusade.

bush did not have to use the authorization to act IF NECESSARY, beyond using it for leverage. And why would anyone enlist to kill innocent Iraqis?

[Bread and Circus]

5. I don't know why people are so callous to other's suffering

[beam me up scottie]

6. Most didn't "enlist to kill innocent Iraqis".

Quite a few joined after 9/11 and many others who got sent over there were members of the National Guard.

Blaming them instead of the criminals who started the illegal war is wrong.

[Hoyt]

7. Sorry, I disagree. There is no draft nowadays, so most enlisted to support bush's Crusade.

I blame george war bush most, but those who joined his crusade are not blameless.

[beam me up scottie]

8. If they joined after 9/11 it wasn't because they wanted "to kill innocent Iraqis".

And none of them deserved to die for a lie.

[Hoyt]

9. No one "deserved to die." But a lot supported the crusade.

[neverforget]

10. so you cast more blame with those that enlisted than with those that gave Bush the power

to go to war?

[Hoyt]

12. Both are to blame.

[beam me up scottie]

11. There would never have been a "crusade" in Iraq if not for Bush.

It's telling that you think the soldiers were supposed to know better than the politicians who sent them there.

[Hoyt]

13. I blame bush, thise who elected him (particularly in 2004), and anyone who joined up

to support the crusade, or re-enlisted to support it.

[beam me up scottie]

14. What about the Dems like your candidate who voted to send them to Iraq?

You're so busy trying to spread the blame around you forgot about them.

[Hoyt]

15. They voted to give bush authority IF NEEDED, bush didn't need to invade.

[beam me up scottie]

16. Hillary lied about Saddam harboring Al Qaeda to promote the war.

Sure sounded like she was on a crusade to me.

[neverforget]

19. And remember, she cast that vote with conviction

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/01/12/435624/-A-golden-oldie-Hillary-s-floor-speech-to-invade-Iraq

This is a very difficult vote. This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make -- any vote that may lead to war should be hard -- but I cast it with conviction.

She knew exactly what she was doing......

[beam me up scottie]

20. Exactly, she didn't just vote for the war, she gave a speech promoting it.

Including claiming that Saddam was harboring the terrorists responsible for 9/11:

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members...

It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well, effects American security.

This is a very difficult vote, this is probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make. Any vote that might lead to war should be hard, but I cast it with conviction."

[mymomwasright]

22. I didn't support it!

I went three times, but didn't support the reasons given. I support my brothers and sisters! Warriors are noble and not politicians! For you to lay blame with them is disgusting! We are TOOLS and I realize that. Perhaps, the fault lies with those not doing enough to change public opinion on the use of us?

[beam me up scottie]

23. Thank you.

My brother was sent over there, he didn't support it either.

Glad you made it back.

[azurnoir]

21. closer to the truth many joined because of a collapsing economy and a $30,000 sign on bonus

seems like a lot of money to an 18 year old without many choices

[Hoyt]

30. And a desire to carry guns, bust into huts, etc.

I've heard too many spout hatred for Muslims.

[Ken Burch]

28. HRC and Kerry KNEW what Bush would do.

He'd been baying for Muslim blood since 9/11, and for Iraqi blood ever since he convinced himself that Saddam tried to end #41.. EVERYONE EVERYWHERE knew Bush would invade if allowed to. No one believed he would ever stop short of war. I didn't. You didn't.

[Ken Burch]

29. Everyone who gave him "authorization to act" KNEW he would use it.

They all knew. They gave him authorization anyway.

[Live and Learn]

24. We were betrayed by that vote and I will never forget that. nt

[Ken Burch]

25. The world aches with you, my friend.

I know posting this must have taken a lot out of you.