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Hispanic Military Families Speak Out Against War & Against Bush

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protect freedom impeach bush now Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-11-03 11:24 AM
Original message
Hispanic Military Families Speak Out Against War & Against Bush
Edited on Sat Oct-11-03 11:27 AM by protect freedom impe
http://www.mfso.org/

snip


Below is a letter dated 9/12/03 from several military parents in South Florida who are speaking out against the ongoing war in Iraq. The letter was originally written in Spanish.



September 12, 2003

Michael G. Jones
Colonel, U.S. Army (Ret)
Strategic Planning Office
Florida Department Of Military Affairs

Dear Colonel Jones,

We, the relatives of the Florida National Guard soldiers want to express our position in relation to the last postponement of the return of our soldiers back home. We want to inform you that we are united in the fight for the return of our soldiers.

This letter shall serve to remind you that these soldiers have now been away from our homes for eight months, away from their children, wives and parents, away from their universities and jobs, involved in a guerilla war in an unknown country, not knowing the culture or the language of the place, menaced by mines, bombs and guns, risking their lives 24 hours a day, standing in their uniforms and carrying their equipment in temperatures of up to 130° F.

In less than 3 months, this small company has suffered countless attacks, leaving 4soldiers crippled and another soldier in coma, not to mention the injured soldiers at the AR Ramadi.

The National Guard soldiers are civilians, not active members of the Army. They have never received the training for combat in the desert or to face urban guerrillas. We know that, since their arrival at AR Ramadi, our young soldiers have been patrolling and searching the houses of presumed guerrilla forces. We know that they lack adequate equipment, that in many cases they have patrolled without bulletproof vests and without the necessary ammunition to face the guerrilla forces. Isn't this enough? How many months, how many abuses are we supposed to endure?

We will not mention each suffering and difficulty that our soldiers have endured. We just want to tell you that we know what they are going through and that we will not keep quiet in the face of this dishonor. We will not rest until our young soldiers come back to our homes.

We are determined to continue on this campaign to the end. If necessary, a group of mothers will go on an indefinite hunger strike. You will not only be responsible for the lives of our soldiers, but for that of their mothers. We shall not accept political apologies. Lack of governmental will by President Bush to work together with the United Nations and to restore the power to the Iraqis is the reason why the participation of an international force comprised by big nations is not possible. The coalition we are being told about does not really exist. It is our troops that carry the load of this war. It is our children who are being sacrificed due to an arrogant and unfair attitude.

For this and for other reasons, we demand the return of our soldiers now!! We shall not abandon our loved ones; we shall not abandon our troops. We shall continue demanding their return day-by-day, street-by-street, door-to-door. We will ask the world to join us. We will not abandon our fight until our soldiers are back in our homes.

Respectfully yours,


Maritza Castillo
Miladys Guerrero
Estela Guerrero
Maria Carrasquillo
Julio C. D'Augerot
Antonia Mendieta
Carlos A. Mejia
Teresa Lugo
Johanna Guevara
Anna Caballero
Mario Murillo
Patricia Luna
Ligia Sánchez
Patricia Cabadiana
Mirtha Bonilla
Claudia Gonzalez
Paola Gomez
Euri Velásquez
Ingrid Soriano
Ana guerrero



CC:


Daniel J.Taylor
Col. Fl. FLARNG
Deputy Chief Of Staff, Personnel.

Kelly McKeague
Colonel, U.S.Air Force
Chief, Office of Policy and Liaison Gov. Jeb Bush
Senator Bill Nelson
Senator Bob Graham
Rep. Peter Doutsch
Michael Ratner
(International Human Rights Lawyer) The Miami Herald
Channel 7
Univision channel 23
Telemundo TV 51
MilitaryFamilies Speak Out






Bring Them Home Now!!!

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La_Serpiente Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-11-03 11:28 AM
Response to Original message
1. Amen...Reservists don't belong in Iraq
Nobody signs up for the Army National Guard to do peacekeeping and fighting. It's mainly for floods and internal fighting. That's why it is called the "National" guard, not the "International" guard.

My friend is going to Iraq and I don't want him going. He didn't sign up for this. He's only 19 years old.

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lovedems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Oct-11-03 11:40 AM
Response to Original message
2. Wow!
"The coalition that we are being told about does not really exist"
and "Lack of governmental will by President Bush to work together with the United Nations"

Wow! They have nailed it! This should make national news! I am sick of hearing the spin about how things are going as planned in Iraq. I would like to see Dummsfeld's response to this letter. Is this also unfortunate?
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