Obsidian Wings Writer/Blogger Andy Olmsted dies in Iraq

This is just too damned sad for words…. Sad

Andy Olmsted R.I.P.

I am glad that he did write this part here:

I do ask (not that I’m in a position to enforce this) that no one try to use my death to further their political purposes. I went to Iraq and did what I did for my reasons, not yours. My life isn’t a chit to be used to bludgeon people to silence on either side. If you think the U.S. should stay in Iraq, don’t drag me into it by claiming that somehow my death demands us staying in Iraq. If you think the U.S. ought to get out tomorrow, don’t cite my name as an example of someone’s life who was wasted by our mission in Iraq. I have my own opinions about what we should do about Iraq, but since I’m not around to expound on them I’d prefer others not try and use me as some kind of moral capital to support a position I probably didn’t support. Further, this is tough enough on my family without their having to see my picture being used in some rally or my name being cited for some political purpose. You can fight political battles without hurting my family, and I’d prefer that you did so.

Thank you Andy for your honesty and may you rest in peace. Prayers and thoughts for your family.

(comment remove per request of the original poster to not make this Political…)

Others: Outside The Beltway, JammieWearingFool, Unqualified Offerings, Redstate, Crooks and Liars, Alas, a blog, INTEL DUMP, Right Wing Nut House, QandO, Flopping Aces, Grasping Reality …, The Sideshow, TigerHawk, The Newshoggers, The World Wide Rant, Soccer Dad, PoliGazette, Michael J. Totten, Confederate Yankee, The Volokh Conspiracy, Danger Room, The Glittering Eye, Comments from Left Field, The New Republic, Cold Fury, Reason Magazine, Wake up America, Alex Geana, Unfogged, Tom Watson, Marginal Revolution, Dynamist Blog and Bloggasm and More via Memeoradum