Day After Tomorrow ~ Tom Waits

I got your letter Today
An' I miss you oh so much here

I can't wait
To see you all
And I'm counting the days dear

I still believe that there's gold
At the end of the World
An' I'll come homeTo Illinois

On the day after tomorrow
It is so hardAnd it's cold here
And I'm tired of taking orders

And I miss old Rockford town
Up by the Wisconsin border

What I miss you won't believe
Shovellin' snow,and rakin' leaves

And my plane will touch down
On the day after tomorrow
I close my eyes

Every night
And I dream
That I can hold you

They fill us full of lies
Everyone buys'Bout what it means
To be a soldier

I still don't know how I'm s'posed to feel
'Bout all the blood that's been spilled

Will God on his throne
Get me back home
On the day after tomorrow?

You can't deny
The other side
Don't wanna die
Any more than we do

What I'm tryin' to say
Is, don't they pray
To the same God
That we do? Tell me, How does God choose?

Whose prayers does he refuse?
Who turns the wheel
Who throws the dice
On the day after tomorrow?

I am not fighting
For justice
I am not fighting
For freedom

I am fighting
For my life
And another day in the World here

I just do what I've been told
We're just the gravel on the road

And only the lucky
Ones come home
On the day after tomorrow

And the summer
It too will fade
And with it brings
The winter's frost dear

And I know
We too are made
Of all the things
That we have lost here

I'll be twenty - one today
I been savin' all my pay

And my plane
Will touch down
On the day after tomorrow...

And my plane
It will touch down
On the day after tomorrow...

Terry, what could we have done to protect you?

Still contemplating the loss...

I sit here thinking what could have been done differently that day. Wondering if this same fate, the same chance is what happened to my other two friends that lost their lives in Iraq in 2008. Did someone take their eye off the route? There are specific procedures for this type of convoy...I know this. Could it have been avoided? My God, what is the lesson?

The reflections and questions keep coming and without fail, so do the tears. How could anyone want to hurt Terry Barnich, Maged Hussein or Commander Duane Wolfe...these good, kind men, that were selflessly serving to help rebuild the country the killers lived in...? I will not ever understand it, nor will I accept it as "just something that happens". There is meaning...I am searching and it will take time, as a result, so will this piece. Be patient, think, use logic and it just isn't adding up...I feel sick and lost.

My mind pauses, my stomach tightens and the anger builds and I realize there is no reason, just emotion. Some kind of victory, destroying someone good and beautiful so that no one else can feel and share in that goodness again, just isn't enough for me. When this happens, everyone wants to have their say, be it political, personal or financial ~ including me. I am sad, hurt and really fucking angry! I want answers and for this to not happen again.

We are all ready to point the finger of blame and it is shameful. I hate that about myself and others. We are supposed to be humane people that value life above all else. We can show that we value it by preserving it. More than anything we should see through this, most especially now, the state at which our country and world exists. Our lessons are so close, remember 9.11.01? Remember the pain and suffering, the devastating loss of life, love, time, security and opportunity. Oh yea, liberty...we became fearful and therefore, lost many freedoms, like those we are losing daily under this administration. I will save that for another blog.

My fear is that Terry's friends, people that he loves are there still, surviving this in their minds and hearts. Doing the job to the best of their abilities, no belly aching, no whining about the freakin' weather however, blazing it is in Iraq. Well, maybe a little belly aching. They are there, working, bonding now, more than ever before to realize a dream they all share...If they can just hold on another 5-10 years. Yes, that is right. Unlike our memory of losing 3,000 countrymen in 2001, this will take more time, it won't go away when the TV is turned off. It will take more effort, money and perseverance. It is worth it...IT is NOT worth another life, another cowardice, senseless bombing, IED attack or stabbing of some innocent person. We need to resolve these security issues NOW...civilians need proper protection and we should NOT care what the cost. We need former service people who know the enemy well and know how to do their jobs consistently. There is no room for error. We cannot expect our citizens to be working in a war environment without professional teams protecting them at all times. Yet, another blog, another time.

My point here is this. Hire the right people to do the job correctly. It is clear those routes and perimeters were not secured...I want to know why. Then, I want a friggen plan of action and the tightest possible security of every water facility, every outdoor toilet and route that money can buy...We are not employing good people like these men, to go fight the war, they are not military trained, they are OUR American citizens who need our protection and they deserve our best...everyday.

More later.

I welcome constructive comments and clarifying statements.