Lt. Col. Joe Repya’s “I’m tired” message expressing disappointment with public support for the U.S. military mission in Iraq.
“I’m Tired”
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I’ll return to Iraq to finish my tour. I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it’s because I’ll turn
60 years old in just four months, but I’m tired:I’m tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.
I’m tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.
I’m tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they ‘Support the Troops’ by wanting them to ‘Cut and Run’ before victory is achieved.
I’m tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.
I’m tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.
I’m tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament.
I’m tired of the so called ‘Elite Left’ that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.
I’m tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family who’s loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly
protesters is beyond shameful.I’m tired that my generation, the Baby Boom-Vietnam generation, have such a weak backbone that they can’t stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory.
I’m tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies. I’m tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the
press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.Mostly, I’m tired that the people of this great nation didn’t learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.
Sincerely,
Joe Repya,
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division
Repya, who now lives in Eagan, Minnesota, and has played an active role in Minnesota politics for the last decade, announced on 10 April2007 that he would challenge incumbent Ron Carey for election as chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota.
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“I’m Tired”
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained while in Iraq. When I recuperate they will want me to return to Iraq to finish my tour. I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are losing, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it’s because I’ll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I’m tired:
I’m tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see anything but shallow solutions that are based on waging war.
I’m tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history by rushing to war when the going gets tough.
I’m tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they ‘Support the Troops’ by forcing them to re-enlist while not supporting them when they return home.
I’m tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to show the real story of civilian deaths and atrocities at the hands of our military.
I’m tired that so many Americans think you can enforce democracy through war.
I’m tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go about their daily lives.
I’m tired of the so called ‘Elite Right’ that prolongs this war by justifying it with lies.
I’m tired that my generation, the Baby Boom-Vietnam generation, have such a weak backbone that they can’t or won’t stand up and protest war as a course they no longer support.
Mostly, I’m tired that the people of this great nation didn’t learn from history that war does not solve problems, it creates problems.
Sincerely,
Dave Rapya,
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division
Dear Dave,
You would have been so proud if you could have seen the way a town of less that 1600 welcomed home a fallen hero. Every light pole, power pole, and phone pole displayed a US Flag. Every front porch proudly flew the red, white and blue. Streets were line with young and old. Small town America never fell asleep nor have we waivered in our support of our Military. We may not agree with war but we support our troops. We love our men and women in uniform. The town of Stonewall Mississippi has lost two very fine young men in this war on terror. I grew up with both of their mothers and my children grew up with them. We miss Sgt Robert Shane Pugh and Cpl Dustin Jerome Lee. We recently honored them in a Memorial Day Celebration and hope to keep honoring them with a flag chain we have established. As stated, we are a very small community but we would like to get the word out that we have thousands of flags packed and ready for shipment to any community that wishes to display them for a fallen hero. There is no charge for the flags or the shipping we simply ask that the next town does the same.(packs and passes on the flags)
Thank you for your I’m tired letter and we would very much appreciate any help you can give in passing the word along on our flag chain.
Carolyn Taylor
President “Citizens for Stonewall Fallen Soldiers Memorial”
P.o. box 53
Stonewall, Ms 39363
ctaylor@hnrsupply.com
Hi Dave,
Thank you for serving and defending my liberty by your actions.
I mean no offence, but I disagree that the nation and the politicians are “spineless†We were dragged into the “was on Terror†by the events of 9/11, we entered a new phase of life as a nation. The leadership during this time I believe was short sighted and egotistical. We can not do it alone, we can not rid the whole world of terror by the shear might of the United States military force. After 9/11 we should have defined what we were looking for, found the group that brought terror to our shores and destroyed that group. Instead we are now in Iraq trying to build a Nation. What they think is Holy we do not, we try to respect what we do not understand, we try to go good works and we are loved by some and hated by others.
I think if we had gone in with a “plan†that was focused at the people, to bring prosperity and security immediately we would have been greeted as “liberators†but we fumbled the ball and by the time we were providing services, jobs, and respect we were the occupiers, the ones that caused all the death and destruction, even if it was not our fault. When we were not there was a life, now we are there and there is death everyday on the news; it is a small group but they are fighting against an occupier, just as you would if someone was occupying our country.
In the end Iraq does not have anything to do with the war on terror, the reasons that we entered the country was found not to exist, we are trying to make the best of a bad decision but the longer we are there the less true help we can be. With us there the political solution that is needed will not happen. We have no choice but to leave and allow them to work out there life as they wish, not as we wish it to be.
Kysa
thank you Colfo your thought, your duty and your love for this country an its people. If it is ok woth you I’d like to add your blog to mine which honors Cpl lee.
Thank you
and Semper Fi
Brian Rich
Well Cole.. it seems you are tired of war…
and from what i read you’ve had an overdose of it….
took you a life to learn that war is nothing but a business to the elite…
and that is futile…. that it kills… it hurts.. it’s a precious life waste action…
war should only exist to maintain peace..
and not fill the Elite pockets when they feel like it..
the last Iraq war opened the eyes of many…
the lies of politicians.. their games in persuading the masses into going to war just to get money from selling weapons and war alike stuff… the oil… control of the middle east..
Patriotism is defending you country borders against a mad man invasion and IS NOT invading another countries boundaries… Saddam was the Elite puppet for years.. (golf war..Desert storm)
he was useless now.. but unlike many dictators on the current reality.. he had his bum filled with oil wells!.. to bad for him…
a war is not meant to be won.. but maintained in order to obtain more profit.. its a business like everything else!
like Brad Pitt said in Achilles movie to his cousin : “Don’t waste your life following a fools orders”
to end my statement:
i can only bow to your bravery and can only fear the things you saw in your life! i wish it to no one!
and i hope you pass the message to you brothers in the military…
Im tired too. I found this letter only today as I sit here wondering if I can change things. I want to change things. I’m looking for a way.
WELL Sargent Michael HART.. i guess you are tired…
and i know you are not the only one seeing the widows.. the huge seas of tears and mountains of sorrow in the countless funelrals….
young man dying so the elite can control the oil at a long term in the future in the middle east!
first of all >> YOU THE MILITARY are their tool… the meat for the canon… without YOU and your “bodies” they cannot do NOTHING!
so.. STOP! THINK! you are not brainless blind following war robots! you are human beings!
too much blood as been wasted so their agenda can be full filled….
you are not fighting for freedom… you are invading for oil!! how much obvious can it be by now??
HOW much oil does it take to pay off the countless dead and the amount of blood spilled?