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April 29, 2004
A deployed Marine asks for your help
During the past week, the blogging community has raised a substantial sum of money to support our Marines as they take on the difficult task of winning the peace in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks to all who donated money. There are other ways to help. In this 4/27 Front Page Magazine op ed, USMC 1st Lt. Robert Nofsinger, currently serving in the sandbox, describes how you can stand up for what our troops are achieving. They need us.
Hello Everyone,I am taking time to ask you all for your help.
First off, I'd like to say that this is not a political message. I'm not concerned about domestic politics right now. We have much bigger things to deal with, and we need your help.
It seems that despite the tremendous and heroic efforts of the men and women serving here in Iraq to bring much needed peace and stability to this region, we are losing the war of perception with the media and American people. Our enemy has learned that the key to defeating the mighty American military is by swaying public opinion at home and abroad. We are a people that cherish the democratic system of government and therefore hold the will of the people in the highest regard. We love to criticize ourselves almost to an endless degree, because we care what others think. Our enemies see this as a weakness and are trying to exploit it.
When we ask ourselves questions like, "Why do they hate us?" or "What did we do wrong?" we are playing into our enemies' hands. Our natural tendency to question ourselves is being used against us to undermine our effort to do good in the world. How far would we have gotten if after the surprise attacks on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, we would have asked, "Why do the Japanese hate us so much?" or "How can we change ourselves so that they won't do that again?" Here in Iraq the enemy is trying very hard to portray our efforts as failing and fruitless. They kill innocents and desecrate their bodies in hopes that the people back home will lose the will to fight for liberty. They are betting on our perceived weakness as a thoughtful, considerate people. Unfortunately our media only serves to further their cause.
In an industry that feeds on ratings and bad news, a failure in Iraq would be a goldmine. When our so-called "trusted" American media takes a quote from an Iraqi doctor as the gospel truth over that of the men and women that are daily fighting to protect the right to freedom of press, you know something is wrong. That doctor claimed that out of 600 Iraqis, that were casualties of the fighting, the vast majority of them were women, children and the elderly. This is totally absurd. In the history of man, no one has spent more time and effort, often to the detriment of our own mission, to be more discriminate in our targeting of the enemy than the American military. The Marines and Soldiers serving in Iraq have gone through extensive training in order to limit the amount of innocent casualties and collateral damage.
Yet, despite all of this, our media consistently sides with those who openly lie and directly challenge the honor of our brave heroes fighting for liberty and peace. What we have to remember is that peace is not defined as an absence of war. It is the presence of liberty, stability, and prosperity. In the face of the horrendous tyranny of the former Iraqi regime, the only way true peace was able to come to this region was through force. That is what the American Revolution was all about. Have we forgotten? Freedom is not free and "peace" without principle is not peace. The peace that so-called "peace advocates" support can only be brought to Iraq through the military. And we are doing it, if only the world will let us! If the American people believe we are failing, even if we are not, then we will ultimately fail.
That is why I am asking for your support. Become a voice of truth in your community. Wherever you are fight the lies of the enemy. Don't buy into the pessimism and apathy that says, "It's hopeless," "They hate us too much," "That part of the world is just too messed up," "It's our fault anyway," "We're to blame," and so forth. Whether you're in middle school, working at a 9-5 job, retired, or a stay-at-home mom you can make a huge difference! There is nothing more powerful than the truth. So, when you watch the news and see doomsday predictions and spiteful opinions on our efforts over here, you can refute them by knowing that we are doing a tremendous amount of good. Spread the word. No one is poised to make such an amazing contribution to the everyday lives of Iraqis and the rest of the Arab world than the American Armed Forces. By making this a place where liberty can finally grow, we are making the whole world safer. Your efforts at home are directly tied to our success. You are the soldiers at home fighting the war of perception. So I'm asking you as a fellow fighting man: Do your duty. Stop the attempts of the enemy wherever you are. You are a mighty force for good, because truth is on your side. Together we will win this fight and ensure a better world for the future.
God Bless and Semper Fidelis
We're all in this together. Back in WWII, those who stayed home rolled bandages and planted victory gardens. Now, we can cultivate the internet with truth to overcome lies.
Thank you, 1st Lt. Robert Nofsinger, and Semper Fi.
Posted by Deb at April 29, 2004 03:34 PM
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Comments
It's good to hear what the Marines really need as far as moral support. The media sensationalizes and puts a spin on what is happening and I do not beleive that what the media says is truth; I support our troops, and am proud to stand up to anyone and voice the fact that things over there are not all ugly, are not all bad, and there are some positive things being done by our Marines, things that are, shamefully, going unnoticed/unreported.
Posted by: Holly at May 5, 2004 04:40 AM
I'm not exactly sure how I found this wonderful site, but the open letter from 1st Lt. Robert Nofsinger moved me to tears. I used to live near Camp Pendleton and now live in NC, so I have the privilege of seeing young Marines. I try to thank each one for their service...often, they looked surprised, which is sad. Each and every one needs our support, gratitude and prayers. May God watch over them and their families and help us to stand up for them in whatever way we can.
Posted by: Christie at May 18, 2004 05:12 PM
I arrived at this website for the purpose of seeking out the positive things being done in Iraq-I am tired of seeing a one-sided view (negative) of what is happening in Iraq. As you said, I have heard from others who describe the great things that are being done over there, and I, too, would like to pass the good word and let the troops know that there are MANY who believe in them!!
Posted by: Sue Casey at May 19, 2004 02:23 PM
I am a marine corps mother,proud to be an American and proud of my son. I can say,I believe in our men and wemon over in Iraq. I would prefer that we all be at peace but the enemy has attacked the sleeping giant and now it's time for the giant to "put his thing down" so that pride and security will remain a sure and constant commodity. That is what they are doing. I would wish more than anything that no American marine would perish and If they do, may God our king bless and keep there soul and allow it not to remember the requirement and pain of war. GOD BLESS OUR U.S. MARINE CORPS. March on, giv'm hell and come back to us mentally, physically and spiritually sound.
Posted by: Eunice Mobley at May 29, 2004 08:04 AM