I made two new friends today and one of them died.

[FightingIrish]

I’m sorry to say that I had never read a post by maggiegault nor had I read her blog. When I read her post that her brother had been today killed by an IED in Iraq, I went to her profile which led me to her blog, http://lauralinger.blogspot.com/ I went back through her archives and saw how having her brother deployed in our twisted war for an idiot’s ego had tormented her for months. I got to know her brother, Andy Weiss, and saw pictures of his year-old son. I read some of the messages they exchanged and learned of her valiant campaign to end the war. Thirty seven years ago I put my own sister through that same hell of trying to cope with her brother being in a place where kids took turns dying young. Laura’s brother’s death is as senseless as all the rest but it does connect all of us. We can say that this war doesn’t touch us. Take the time to read her blog and it will touch you.

[babylonsister]

1. I will, and thank you for the reminder. nt

[Beaverhausen]

2. thanks - I will read it

God, this is so awful. :cry:

[mvd]

3. Recommended

What a very nice blog.

[tandot]

4. K & R for Laura and her family

This is so utterly senseless and sad

[Beaverhausen]

5. I think this is her brother's myspace page

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=128796024

[FightingIrish]

8. I made myself look at that.

Now I'm going home where I can cry in peace.

[babylonsister]

10. So, so sad. I looked, too, and that's the

first time I've ever been to myspace. :cry:

[WildEyedLiberal]

14. Oh jeez

What a beautiful life cut tragically short. Tempted to email that to all the loudmouth fucking chickenhawk warmongers I know and ask them how the fuck they supported that soldier.

[annabanana]

6. Thank you. K&R. . . . .n/t

[bonito]

7. K&R n/t

[CrazyOrangeCat]

9. K&R

[scarletwoman]

11. k & r (nt)

[Canuckistanian]

12. K&R

I'll look at the blog later.

[Puppyjive]

13. Rest In Peace

I too have been tormented over this war since the beginning. I am a Desert Storm Veteran and often have to remind myself that I do have the right to protest such a senseless decision. When I served in the Middle East, I kept my protest heavily guarded within, so that no one could accuse me of being less patriotic. I figured out that pushing democracy in the middle east was like forcing a size 5 shoe onto a size 8 foot. This war is not going to change anything in 6 months or a year. Our continued presence in the Middle East is spreading chaos like the plague. One of these days, the arabs are going to have enough of our crap and just cut us off. They don't really need our consumption anymore, they can sell to China. If the US could return to diplomacy, we might stand a chance. My heart goes out to all who have served, to those who are serving, and those who gave their last breath.

[democrank]

15. Welcome to DU, Puppyjive.

Of course you have the right to protest "such a senseless decision." History has shown us what can happen when citizens remain silent.

[vickitulsa]

24. Great post, puppyjive. (Great screen name too)

I can only imagine what constraints servicemembers -- active duty or veterans -- must feel on expressing their true opinions. But your voices carry extra weight in any protest against war and need to be heard.

I think most Americans bought the "Desert Storm was a smashing, spectacular success!" line and still don't have a clue about all the shady dealings and puredee BS that went on during that war of Bu$h41's.

The pro-war, fundie and conservative types seemed to think the U.S. not only acquitted itself a hundred percent proudly then with no negatives or downside. But they as citizens who have for decades treated Vietnam vets like crap on their shoes got a chance to shower you guys with confetti and "include the Nam vets, too" in the big parades post-Gulf-War.

So they got that off their consciences, too. Not bad, for a few months' ... well, not WORK, not on their part anyway. "Observance," maybe.

How is your health, puppyjive? And how are "they" treating you now -- the ones that made use of your willingness to serve your country?

I keep thinking it's going to take a near-revolt of the military folks with a conscience to stop the criminals in the White House from using you guys like their own private toy soldiers....

Of course, toys don't bleed and die, but they don't seem to care that there's a difference.

I figure every life lost due to the Bu$h Crime Family's misbegotten wars, every shattered soldier and ravaged military family, every limbless survivor and vet with a PTSD-tortured soul, is another load of Bad Karma these remorseless bastards are racking up.

I'll be glad when payment comes due to the Karma Bank. It can't come soon enough for me.

[bullwinkle428]

26. Welcome to DU, and excellent observations on the oil market -

showing the sheer lunacy regarding this PNAC philosophy of controlling the oil supply by taking over the entire Middle East. It's becoming more of a "seller's market" every day, making it easier and easier for all OPEC nations to just say "NO OIL FOR YOU!"

:thumbsup: :toast: :patriot:

[democrank]

16. Thanks for posting this, FightingIrish.

~PEACE~

[NJCher]

17. I read it and cried my eyes out

What a loss. What a tragic, tragic loss.

It defies understanding. When nearly everyone in the country is against this war, how can it go on and on and on and on....




Cher

[marions ghost]

18. all of us die a bit

when a soldier dies in a senseless war based on lies.

:cry:

How many Vietnams, how many Iraqs -- until we learn?

Work to end this carnage.

[lyonn]

28. So true. When any DUer tells us that someone close to them is in Iraq

we all send some sort of good vibes, be it prayers or Karma, etc, and it seems that if so many have positive thoughts it can work. So sad for Maggie/Laura that our vibes didn't work. Nothing seems to work.

Throw the bastard out

[myrna minx]

19. Thank you for this.

Laura, words cannot express my sorrow for you and your family. :hug:

[WiseButAngrySara]

20. Thank you so much for this. I will. R.I.P. Andy. ....n/t

[lonestarnot]

21. Thanks for posting this.

[mnhtnbb]

22. Nothing but tears. So much needless death; lives forever changed.

I cannot think of a punishment befitting the Busheviks for the horror
they have created with this war.

[Old and In the Way]

23. You're right, everyone of us are diminished by this family's loss.

My deepest sympathies to Laura and her family during their hour of extreme grief. No one can undo the damage done to her and her family, but we hold this administration to be held accountable for taking our soldiers into an elective war that was based on lies done solely for political and economic benefit of this administration. Justice must be served on these criminals.

[tblue]

25. Let this be the spark that recommits us all to ending this tragic occupation. He did not die in vain

Thank you so much for sharing Laura's blog with us. My heart breaks, and I can't stand to think what she and her family must be going through.

[Puppyjive]

27. A Song For Laura

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by The Hollies

[lyonn]

29. Puppy, that wasn't nice - - now I'm crying.

[colorado_ufo]

30. Eloquently stated.

[Breeze54]

31. I don't need to read it.

I lived it; up until her sad news. :(

[Ilsa]

32. I signed her blog. poor girl. That family is devastated, as are

thousands of others.

[Kajsa]

33. Thank you for sharing the link.

I read her blog
and saw Andy's picture.

:cry:

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

34. Kick for Andy

I will remember you. Andy, Katie, and Laura. I will remember you all.