FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Friday the number of U.S. combat troops in Iraq
would be cut by some 7,000 by early next year, but the number involved in training Iraq’s new military would increase .President (George W.) Bush has authorized an adjustment in U.S. combat brigades in Iraq from 17 to 15," Rumsfeld said, addressing several hundred U.S. troops at a military camp east of Falluja."
I only hope this comes true and the sooner the better..they will miss this Christmas with their families , but may be able to enjoy next Christmas. I said the word "may" because they still have time over there and each day poses danger to most of the troops over there. Let us hope the troops over there are being watched over by the most powerful of protectors..OUR LORD…I pray for this everyday…….below is a poem I found that suits this very well..
please stop and say a silent thanks everyday for those who serve in our military to protect us.
THE SANDS OF CHRISTMAS by Michael Marks
I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh, And looked across the table where the bills were piled too high. The laundry wasn’t finished and the car I had to fix, My stocks were down another point, the Chargers lost by six.
And so with only minutes till my son got home from school I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool. The burdens that I carried were about all I could take, And so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break.
I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust, No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust. And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh, Eight Humvees ran a column right behind an M1A.
A group of boys walked past the tank, not one was past his teens Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean. They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight, Their dearest wish for Christmas, just to have a silent night.
Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind, To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again. There wasn’t much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease, They had no Christmas turkey, just a pack of MREs.
They didn’t have a garland or a stocking I could see, They didn’t need an ornament–they lacked a Christmas tree. They didn’t have a present even though it was tradition, The only boxes I could see were labeled "ammunition."
I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side, He asked me what it was I feared, and why it was I cried. I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near And kissed him on the forehead as I whispered in his ear.
"There’s nothing wrong, my little son, for safe we sleep tonight Our heroes stand on foreign land to give us all the right, To worry on the things in life that mean nothing at all, Instead of wondering if we will be the next to fall."
He looked at me as children do and said, "it’s always right, To thank the ones who help us and perhaps that we should write." And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note, To thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote:
"God bless you all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home. Remember that we love you so, and that you’re not alone. The gift you give you share with all, a present every day, You give the gift of liberty and that we can’t repay."
