Political Quotes

“America's burden in Iraq grew heavier over the last 7 days. In that period of time, 27 American servicemen were killed and 35 wounded. We were awakened to newspaper headlines on Monday morning of: ``U.S. Copter Hit, With 16 Dead.'' On Sunday, I received the sad news that the National Guard helicopter which was downed was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division and piloted by 1LT Brian Slavenas from Genoa, IL. It was shot down by a surface-to-air missile near Falluja in Iraq. Press accounts report that the missile was likely a heat-seeking missile because it hit the engine, but, thankfully, it did not explode. The helicopter went out of control, and First Lieutenant Slavenas clearly did the best he could at crash-landing the crippled aircraft. Quite possibly he saved the lives of those who survived. Sadly, he did not. This morning, I called the Slavenas family expressing my sympathy for the loss of their son. I have read the press accounts about his short but eventful and full life and the love which his family and so many others had for him. This morning I heard interviews on National Public Radio of his friends talking about a great young man--this 30-year-old helicopter pilot. He had just graduated from college a few months ago. He enlisted in the Army right after high school and, having completed that stint, he enlisted in the National Guard and went to officer training school and he became a helicopter pilot.”