2006 Soap Box Archives

Babylon 04/24/06

When you’re in a war torn country like Iraq it is hard to realize that it was once the cradle of civilization, the land of the Bible and the epicenter of learning and culture in ancient days.

We flew very close over the confluence of the Euphrates and
Tigris Rivers where it is thought the Garden of Eden was located and the relics of history are all over the country. They’ve just been cut off from public view for so long they haven’t received much attention.

LSA, Logistical Support Area, Adder, the airbase at Tallil is located in the shadow of the ancient city of Ur, birthplace of Abraham or Abram before God changed his name, the father of the Jewish race. Ur is where God called him to come out from among the heathen Chaldeans to journey to Canaan where God would give him a nation, which would be known as Israel.

There is a pagan temple in Ur, which is over four thousand years old and though it has disintegrated some in the last four millenniums is in remarkably good shape.

The walls of the house of Abraham were reconstructed many years ago on the spot where, as near as can be figured, it once stood and Easter morning some of us attended sunrise services there. It was so special to think that we were standing on ground once tread by the patriarch of the Hebrews and the forebear of the earthly linage of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Tallil is close to the city of Nasiriyah where Jessica Lynch was captured and then rescued from the terrorists back at the beginning of the war.

One of the things that strikes you when you hit the ground in Iraq is that you are constantly surrounded by security. Gun toting young men and women who cover every angle and would not hesitate to shoot back if need be. It only takes one look to tell that they know exactly what they are doing.

Performing for these young heroes is nothing short of a privilege and the show at LSA Adder was another rip snortin good ol’ time as several thousand young Americans a million miles from home were able to cut loose, forget the cold-eyed killers on the other side of the wire and live like an American for a little while.

I cannot stress too strongly the importance of supporting these dedicated warriors. One of the most precious things in their lives is letters and packages from home. Of course the ones from family and friends are the most special, but a supportive letter from anybody in the States is greatly appreciated and a bright spot in their day and believe me those bright spots are few and far between.

They’re all there, black, white, Hispanic, Native American, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. They all live in constant danger
of a bullet or an explosive device planted by a cunning enemy.
But they know why they are there and the examples of bravery are many and varied, and when I hear some gasbag politician spouting off from the safety of his desk in Washington or some
elitist journalist pouring out his antimilitary bile, or some elitist birdbrain like Ward Churchill condemning the country they are defending it makes me mad, and disgusts me with these parlour intellectuals and finger wetting politicians.

Say what you want about the President, the Congress or me but leave my troops alone.

Pray for our troops

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels
April 24, 2006