Posted by yankee (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

God Bless all of you and THANK YOU!

Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on April 10, 2009 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Please clarify the directions...are they headed out to Brookhaven on 84 or over the bridge on 84?

Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on April 11, 2009 at 1:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They don't need to give up their lives for me. I'd prefer they all stay home and make babies and start businesses or family farms.

If the enemy wants to come over here and fight, let them come. There are twelve guns for every person in the US, we can take them for a lot less expense than sending billions of tons of equipment and thousands of soldiers over there.

Posted by gerandall58 (Greg Randall) on April 11, 2009 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

EnKiKur, you really have no idea do you , these people are brutal and sneaky, we don't want them on US soil , they have already shown us once on 9-11 why, SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Posted by Cherrybark (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Where was all this community support in 1968? There were no yellow ribbons on fences and trees, there were no people on the sides of the road waving goodbye and wishing us a safe and speedy return. One by one we left our homes and families to answer the call to duty, and one by one we returned. Over 58,000 young Americans lost their
lives and returned homes in caskets. No one named roads and streets after them. The ones that lived to return were scared mentally and physicaly. No parades, no speeches, no crowds on the side of the road waving flags. Many were spit on and treated like lepers. I wish the young soldiers a safe trip and a safe tour in a far away land. I hope the families they leave behind will still be supported by the community. In this war and ours I believe the blood of Americans spilled in these far away lands accomplished nothing.

Posted by Geaux_Tigers (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Fifteen of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. Al-Qaeda was started in the 70’s in Afghanistan. Bin Laden (who is Saudi) and al-Qaeda are still in Afghanistan. What’s 9/11 got to do with Iraq?

I hope these troops a safe and speedy return home to Natchez and I’ll be praying for them and their families.

Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If I was alive in '68, Cherrybark, I'D have been there telling you goodbye AND shouting my thanks upon your return. It's a shame how you and your comrades were treated. But I thank you dear sir...I appreciate you.

And I agree with you that the blood spilled in V.N. and the sandy hell our boys are in now has accomplished zilch for our American freedom. Our own Congressmen are stealing more freedoms from us on our own soil than some foreign enemy can ever take.

For our new troops about to be deployed....be safe and remember we love you.

Posted by annuity (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cherrybark, you have a good argument as far as people from the likes of Los Angeles,San Francisco and Seattle are concerned. But not from the likes of the citizens of Natchez.

Posted by Kilowattman (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

EnKiKur, that is the most ignorant statement I have ever read in this paper, and believe there has been some. Please crawl back into your shell and come out when reality kicks you where you need it.

Posted by was_there (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Enkikiu, You are an ignorant FOOL. We should send you to Iraq.
You really do not want these killers on U.S. soil. Kilowattman, I think EnKiKur should crawl back into the HOLE from which he came. And kicking in the rear is too good for him/her.
The 155th has already served duty in Iraq and now having to go back is a crime. This war should have been over a long time ago.
God Bless every member of the 155th. May you return safe and sound. And you vets from Vietnam, God Bless you too. The U.S. dropped the ball and let you down.

Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Enkikur, obviously your life as you know it must not be very good. War changes everything. Surely you didn't mean that. I pray we never have another war on our soil no matter how many guns we have. I hate that our soldiers have to go anywhere to fight for our rights or any other reason. I pray that God will keep them safe and all will not be in vain. You are usually pretty good at thinking before you speak. I really don't believe you meant that .

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think there are a lot of them already on US soil, thanks to our lax immigration policy. Many have come in through Mexico and Canada. Nevertheless, Thanks to those in the 155th. I'll see you off again, just as I did in 2004 when my son left. He came home safe and sound, and I pray all of you will too!

Posted by c_8512 (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

check out this website: http://www.mississippirifles.com/unit/?p...

as well as

Toby Keith's song,"American Soldier"

I’m just tryin’ to be a father, raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother, everythin’ to everyone
Up and at ‘em bright and early, I’m all business in my suit
Yeah I’m dressed up for success, from my head down to my boots
I don’t do it for money, there’s bills I that I can’t pay
I don’t do it for the glory, I just do it anyway
Providing for our future’s, my responsibility
Yeah I’m real good under pressure, being all that I can be
And I can’t call in sick on Mondays when the weekend’s been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays, and sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready, when the wolf growls at the door
Hey I’m solid, hey I’m steady, hey I’m true down to the core.

And I will always do my duty no matter what the price
I’ve counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh and I don’t want to die for you, but if dyin’s asked of me
I’ll bear that cross with honor, cause freedom don’t come free.

I’m an American Soldier an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters, I will proudly take a stand
When liberty’s in jeopardy, I will always do what’s right

I’m out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight
American Soldier, I’m and American, Soldier.

An American Soldier an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters, I will proudly take a stand
When liberty’s in jeopardy, I will always do what’s right
I’m out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight
American Soldier, I’m and American, an American, an American, Soldier.

Posted by barbarj1 (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The trouble with the sixty`s is we had too many potheads that were too scared to protect this country. I was a teenager then and they made me sick. They were so weak and troubled and they brought shame to America. Now we have people that believe we should not help other countries. They don`t understand that if we help others we help to keep it away from our homeland. My heart goes out to all the young men and women that are in the military. They are this country. In world war I and II we didn`t have all this distention. That is because the news didn`t play a big part in the war. We have lost over 4,000 brave men and women to the war in Iraq. In the World wars we lost hundreds of thousands and we showed appreciation for all of them. What has become of the people in this country these days.

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All the school kids should be allowed to attend this event instead of being in their classrooms being totally unaware of current events about their own community. Maybe a few more kids would learn a little more compassion if they were allowed to attend this event Monday. It would not have been a big deal for the school district to arrange to have the school children bussed to different areas of the highway so that they could line up and be a part of this very important community current event. A little thought behind this would have gone a long ways and would have been greatly appreciated, felt and noticed by so many in such a positive way, especially if every student had a small flag to wave. I have seen this done by so many other communities in other parts of the country, so why can't we get it together here in Natchez?

Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It is more dangerous in most parts of Natchez than it is in Iraq now. Except for the 5 yesterday who were in the wrong place nothing is going on affecting servicemen. I know because I'm in continuous contact with people over there. They are bored.
The Marine Corps Commandant asked more than a year ago for all his Marines to be pulled out of Iraq. bush and cheney started this war. now tens of thousands have been killed and injured. I blame bush, cheney, and rumsfeld for their deaths. I might have worded EnKiKur's statement a little differently but he is essentially right.
I am speaking from a Marine Corps point of view. Marines are an assault force. We go in first. We are not police, crossing guards, or peacekeepers. That's what weekend warriors are for. I wish the 155th well over there.

For anyone who says something about my "continuous contact" statement, it's the truth. I am online most of the day and night with Marines in Iraq. They are begging to go to A'stan where some action is. As for the redneck idiot toby keith, he never served a day in his life. I don't want to hear his junk now.

Posted by reb1843 (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Which is leaving? The 1st Battalion or the 155th Brigade? Which is training? The 1st Btn or the 155th Bgd? I'm sure the families of these soldiers would like to know.
The title of the article and the first sentence do not match.

Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on April 11, 2009 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All I'm saying is, don't send your sons and daughters over there on my behalf. I don't need them to die for me and I don't want them to.

The American interests being served in Iraq belong to Exxon, Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Haliburton, Dyncorp, etc. Corporate profits and market expansion aren't worth dying for.

If you believe that those soldiers are over there protecting our freedoms, ask yourself if personal liberty and economic freedom have increased in America during this war. They have not, they have decreased. Now we have checkpoints, soldiers on the streets, constitution free zones within 100 miles of all borders, and free speech zones. We have an unpayable debt and a perpetual tax burden made all the greater by the waste taking place both in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in 130 other countries around the world where we maintain military bases.

Posted by Username (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our military is so overstretched as of now and enlistment is the lowest it has ever been and like EnKiKur says we have a military presence in over 130 countries,so that leaves approximately 60 countries that we do not have a military force occupying and we wonder why the world hates us so badly.
We need to keep our military home to protect the national security of this nation and not 1000's of miles away from home.
Them people over there don't hate us and want to kill us because we are free and prosperous,they hate us and want to kill us because we are over there bombing and killing and being the bullies of the world and have been for decades.That's what the official 9-11 commission report says was Bin Laden's reason for attacking us.

Posted by reneef (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My thanks and prayers are with these soldiers and their families left behind and also with ALL OTHER service personel both current and past. They are doing a job that is thankless in many situations. While the war has not made an effect on my current freedoms it has taken the war off US soil and keeps the problems on the other side of the world. If we were not there helping then the problems could move to US soil and then my freedoms would be greatly curtailed.

This is not the time or the place to argue whose fault the conflict is. It is the time to support our own men and women who will be leaving for over a year.

Posted by reneef (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Also:

I am not sure of the exact make up of military command but I think the article is referring the the 1st battalion of the 155th Brigade

Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on April 11, 2009 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, let us not question whether or not we should be occupying other lands, let's just praise the fact that we are and romanticize the slaughter of the people in those lands and the slaughter of our children we send. That is very noble, and should stir every American's heart.

People willing to blindly accept war should be willing to host it on their own soil. I am certain Iraqi's are far less fond of war than Americans are.

Over 100,000 people die every year in the US due to properly prescribed and administered prescription medications. That's at least 800,000 Americans killed under the oversight of the federal government since 911. Draw your own conclusions about that.

Posted by Geaux_Tigers (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

reneef wrote: While the war has not made an effect on my current freedoms it has taken the war off US soil and keeps the problems on the other side of the world. If we were not there helping then the problems could move to US soil and then my freedoms would be greatly curtailed.

reneef,

With all respect, exactly “problems” are you expecting to “move to US soil” from Iraq?

Iraq is not and never has been a military threat to the US (remember the non-existence of those WMDs from Collin Powel’s presentation at the UN).

The war in Iraq is an unprovoked offensive invasion and six year occupation of a country that is literally on the other side of the world. 4,000 Americans and as many as a 100,000 Iraqis have died and I don’t know why. It’s is the definition of foreign policy INSANITY to me.

With respect to those who disagree, I’m am thankful we have a new president who is working to change this tragic situation.

Posted by southernwoman (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with Enkikur about the war(s) and the medication, too.

Posted by msubulldog (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I served during peactime 1981-1987. So my time in the service was (quiet). I salute all the men and women that serve in our armed forces. Lets pray for them to come home soon.

Posted by hytekrednek (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Geaux_tigers What has our new president done to change this "tragic" situation? Lets see, he has extended the projected withdrawal of troops from Iraq and escalated the war in afghanistan, really following through on those campain promises huh?

I personally feel that military service should be compulsary, and that anyone who has not served should not have the right to vote, or hold public office, but that is just my opinion.

Good luck over there guys(and girls) do your jobs well and come home safe, thank you for your service and may God bless you all.

Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Enk and hardcorp are right

This Iraq war is a mess, the past administration has been completely untruthful on why we are in Iraq. Its not worth U.S. lives to establish democracy in the middle east. If the people of a country want a change, let them make the change.

Posted by say31 (anonymous) on April 11, 2009 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I pray for a safe return for all of you!

Posted by hitchcock (anonymous) on April 12, 2009 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

God be with each of theses brave men & women. Bring each and everyone home safely.
Also be with the families, there will be many sleepless nights of fear especially if children are involved.

Posted by Geaux_Tigers (anonymous) on April 12, 2009 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hytekrednek,

The president has set a firm deadline to end the Iraqi occupation by August 2010. I think 50,000 troops will remain till 2012. After six years of life-loss coupled with the titanic sums of money spent and the fact that we could end up with another dictator running that country, well, I think tragedy is an appropriate word.

The situation in Afghanistan probably warrants military intervention – the center of world terrorism is a direct line between the mountains in Afghanistan and the hotels of Mumbai. An area that includes the nuclear weapons of Pakistan.

Posted by jerryjoe (anonymous) on April 12, 2009 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Iraq, weapons of mass destruction yeah right. Did they find any? Why do we have to police the world. They need to deal with the problems in our country first. War is a money making machine, and if you don't believe that you are nieve. In 5 years time the worlds food supply will not be able to handle overpopulation.

Posted by straightshooter1 (anonymous) on April 12, 2009 at 8:39 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by hytekrednek (anonymous) on April 12, 2009 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

50,000 troops is not ending the occupation, Obama just requested 83.4 Billion dollars to fund the wars in Iraq and afghanistan. Sounds just like the Bush policy doesn't it. Pakistan is a seperate country from Afghanistan. The reason you hear Pakistan in the news so much is because there is effectively no border with afghanistan, Militants can come and go as they please. The Soviet Union spent 15 years fighting this same war in afghanistan, to no avail. The only way to win there is a war of attrition, and you think Iraq is tragic. The Afghani people already live in the stone age, though with modern US and Soviet weapons. There is nowhere to bomb them back to. Thier culture breeds warriors it is how young men win glory and honor, without a common enemy (US and non-muslims) they will just go back to fighting each other.

Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on April 12, 2009 at 11:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hytekrednek you're right about the futility in fighting in A'stan. bush was an idiot thinking he could democratize any country in the Middle East. We armed and militarily equipped the hadji who were fighting the Ruskies. These same hadj became the taliban and have "ethnically cleansed" several lower class groups by killing most of them and essentially enslaving the rest. Buy and read "The Kite Runner". It's a good book.
The Pakis are killing the US with their wishy washy support against the taliban.
I also think POTUS is trying to appease the rightwing nut cases like dub shaidnable. bush blew it out his ignorant rear when he invaded Iraq for no reason. hussein will be replaced in time with someone just as bad if not worse. So the tens of thousands who have died as a result of the bush cheney oil war will have died in vain.
The countries over there are living as they did 2 thousand years ago except now they have American made and bought weapons to kill with instead of swords and crossbows.
We need to bring our troops home and quit sending billions to people who laugh at and abuse our trusts. We could put Marines along a border in CA, AZ, NM, & TX. Marines could get target practice anyway and our money would be better spent.
Mexico's economy is worse than ours. At some point their economy will totally collapse and when it does their people will come streaming across that border by the hundreds of thousands every day. Does anyone not believe this?