For those who are either shipping out, or have a loved one shipping out, my thoughts are with you. My brother is unlikely to be sent out, so I am lucky in that regard. Take some comfort in the fact that even if hostilities arise, the chances are that our casualties will be few.

I hope that when these ships sailed and planes took off, there were as many Americans as possible on the docks and the sidelines waving flags and cheering. These people don't get nearly the support they deserve.

To their credit, the protestors I have seen do not seem to be taking it out on the military personnel like they did in the Vietnam era.