Blogging, Quagmire and Ron Hinkle

I find it difficult to continue blogging while my country is caught in this quagmire in Iraq. Not to mention the humanitarian crisis the people of Iraq face. My depression and frustration deepens daily when I see 10 billion dollars a month go out the door to support our occupation, while I witness my government trying to steal the natural resources of Iraq. And America's politicians remain impotent to stop our criminal pResident and his sycophants!

My heart goes out to the people of Iraq. Their land is occupied by a foreign force. The destruction of an entire society and reconstruction of a new one, materially, socially and politically all shaped by U.S. agendas and interests. By some accounts, 1 million dead and 2.5 million refugees forced to flee to Syria and Jordan. Forced out of their land by cancer-causing depleted uranium bombs, daily sectarian violence, contaminated water and little or no electricity. Attempts at rebuilding the infrastructure have failed because the U.S. military cannot protect themselves and the accomplished work. And this has been happening for over 4-1/2 years.

The men and women serving in our military who get injured and die in Iraq are innocent pawns of the politicians in Washington, Democrats and Republi-cons alike. At least the Democrats empathize more, or so they say. I continue to see our injured soldiers who come home get treated like trash.

That is what this story is about:

Four months after Army Spc. Ronald Hinkle left his ranch and family in Colorado to serve his country in Iraq, he was injured in an IED blast. He now suffers from a traumatic brain injury and is unable to think clearly. He suffers from seizures and cannot be left alone. Ron's wife, Reece, quit her high-paying job to care for him. They live on their Byers, Colo., ranch with their two daughters, Rebecca, 14, and Callie, 13, and Reece's mother, Lois White... Ron Hinkle survived his wounds, but he'll probably never work again. Meanwhile, Reece has serious health concerns of her own: She awaits a kidney and pancreas transplant. And their two daughters are just past bouts with cancer. That means that, along with a plunge in income, the family is dealing with crushing medical bills... UPDATE: Since NPR spoke with Hinkle last month, his financial situation has become more precarious. He is now owed two paychecks from the Army. It's not clear when the checks will resume or whether he'll receive back pay. The family is missing close to $2,500 in back salary. In addition, last week Hinkle was notified by the finance department at Fort Carson that a $3,000 enlistment bonus will not be honored because "he failed to fulfill his contract" due to his injury in Iraq.

I would hope that all those folks contributing to the politics of this country would give Ron Hinkle some cash. At least until his situation is straghtened out.

Think about it folks: The man serves his country, comes back with a severe brain injury and "he failed to fulfill his contract" due to his injury in Iraq. Sick!

Please... this country has gone insane!!

Blogging will be light from me for the next 3 weeks, family reasons. After that I have a 10 day vacation in Mexico coming up from October 5th to the 14th. I hope to come back refreshed and enthusiastic.