Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life

Remembering Nick Manoukian

A few years ago, I first told you about the story of  A young Marine from Michigan, who lost his life in the Anbar province of Iraq.   His name was Nicholas Manoukian, and he was 22 years old when he died.

Since then, I have posted about this dedicated young man several times, particularly on Veteran's Day.  You see, I promised this young man's mother that I wouldn't forget her son, and that I wouldn't allow others to forget him, either.

Nicholas Manoukian is one of over four thousand Americans and untold hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have been killed in Iraq since the U.S. invasion, of that country, and now that President Obama has said that all American troops should be out of that shattered country by the end of this year, I want to say something that I think is important.

You see, we Americans have short memories.  Seriously short, if you can recall our last Presidential election we were concerned about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now all we do is quietly shake our heads about them.  Those on the left have moved on to Occupy Wall Street and other things, and those on the right are up in arms about gay people and wrecking the ability of our goevernment to govern.  Now, not too many people talk about these wars.  I guess it isn't popular for anyone these days.  Well guess what, kids?  These wars aren't over, and Americans are still dying. You probably already know how I feel about the wars, but this isn't about that.  I want to talk to you today about a particular young American.  A young person who is probably fairly typical of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have lost their lives doing the bidding of our government.

 

This is Nick Manoukian.  A husband and father from Lathrup Village, Michigan.  He lost his life during his second combat tour in Iraq, in 2006.

Look hard, folks.... look and ramember that this young fellow died for his country.  Look and remember that no matter what your politics are, this country, for the sake of it's own soul, has to remember that the actions of our government have consequences that mean more than political rhetoric.

By all accounts (I have been in touch with Nick's mother, Mary, and several of his Marine  Corps comrades for a few years now), Nick was a great son, and a first class Marine.  He was also a good friend to those who knew him.  The loss of this young man is a loss to all of us.

I didn't post this on Veteran's Day this year, because I didn't want it to get lost in the general flag-waving and fist pumping that generally happens then.   I want people to remember Nick Manoukian on days that aren't so special.  I want you to remember this young man who left a grieving, heartbroken mother and wife & child.  I want you to remember him for all of those who won't come back from those places.

 

Corporal Nicholas Manoukian, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, 1984-2006

On The Libyan Intervention

I don't think that it will surprise you to know that I oppose the current military intervention in Libya.

My reasons are basically the same as they were for the invasion and continuin occupation of Iraq, and are the same for my opposition to the escalation and and continuance of the war in Afghanistan.  I don't think that I really need to enumerate them here... if you aren't familiar with my blog, look around, you'll see what I mean.

I think that there isn't a single, solitary good reason to this military operation, and I think that it should end immediately.

There, you know how I feel about it... but that isn't wht I really want yo talk about, my friends.

What I want to talk about is all of the noise coming from the Republican/Tea Party/whack-a-doodle news network (known by some as Fox News) echo chamber.  Aside from taking a crack at our President, why are Republicans against this operation?  It doesn't make sense to me that the people who thought that the invasion and occupation of two sovereign nations, in the name of freedom, liberty, and self-determination was a good idea, DON'T think that this operation in Libya makes just about as much sense. 

How can you support one or two, if you can't support the other?

To tell you the truth, I don't see why the right-wing whackos aren't applauding our support of people who are actually TRYING to oust their dictator.  No... instead, the Republi-dopes have taken another tack.  They have used this militay operation, however ill-advised, for political purposes.  Our airmen (and likely our Special Forces) are in harms way and the Republicans don't support them. 

Amazing.

You know, if I was another sort of person, I might point out the hypocrisy of their position.  If I was another sort of person, I might say that the Republican willingness to play politics with this issue smacks of a blatant anti-military bias. If I was another sort of person, I might say that their criticism of a President in a time of war was downright unpatriotic, communist, treasonous, traitorous, and all sorts of other bad things. 

Good thing for them that I'm not that kind of person.

You people are a bunch of effing hypocrits, and I wish you great confusion as you destroy yourselves before the next Presidential cycle.