April 18, 2006
The Five Most Dangerous Things in the US Marine Corps
A Private saying "I learned this in Boot Camp..."A Sergeant saying "Trust me sir..."
A Lieutenant saying "Based on my experience..."
A Captain saying "I was just thinking..."
A Master Gunny chuckling "Watch this shit..."
Posted by Deb at 10:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 17, 2006
Jane Fonda hands her baggage to Cindy Sheehan
This morning on Good Morning America, Jane Fonda mentioned that she'd like to tour the country to protest U.S. involvement in Iraq, but has concluded that it's a bad idea."I wanted to do a tour like I did during the Vietnam War, a tour of the country, but then Cindy Sheehan filled in the gap, and she is better at this than I am. I carry too much baggage."
Baggage doesn't even begin describe the damage done by a clueless twit who toured North Vietnam as a guest of their government while our troops fought against them. That would be like Sean Penn visiting Saddam Hussein (oh wait).
Fonda posed for pictures on a tank used to shoot down American aircraft. She met American POWs who had been provided scripts assuring her that they were well fed and treated - and bought it hook, line, and sinker.
She gave radio broadcasts which castigated American troops as war criminals even as she praised the North Vietnamese military. When American POWs returned to the United States, she called them criminals not heroes. Why she wasn't arrested and tried for treason is a mystery to me.
And now, she'd protest against the liberation of millions of Iraqi and Afghanistan citizens from tyrannic rule. Except that she's resumed her film career and has a book to sell - personal profit trumps political passion after all. However, ceding her torch to Cindy Sheehan shows that she is, at least consistent. Cindy, the grieving mother of a fallen soldier, has posed for pictures with Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez (who has built his political career on suppression of free speech, fiery rhetoric, and human rights violations) and demands that Israel withdraw from Palestine. If Sheehan is picked to carry on the legacy of Fonda, she'll do that well.
To the folks who will send outraged e-mails, here's a thought. Cindy does have moral authority to speak on the war. Her son is a hero who gave his life for a free Iraq. But she does not have absolute moral authority. There are other gold star parents who have their own story. I know this - I've sat in their living rooms and cried with them, laughed with them, and most of all remembered their sons.
Read some of those stories here and consider signing the petition which has 50,000 signatures but is looking for more. Families United For Our Troops And Their Mission has this to say:
Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission is a grassroots coalition of more than 150 ally organizations and over 2,500 members, including hundreds of families whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our mission is to honor our fallen heroes and ensure that the American people know about our troops' accomplishments in the War on Terror. We encourage you to learn more about us at our website: www.FamiliesUnitedMission.com
As you may know, April 9th is Iraqi Liberation Day - the three-year anniversary of the end of Saddam Hussein's torturous regime and the day that launched the people of Iraq down the challenging road toward freedom, democracy, and self-sufficiency. We are keenly aware that the national media is drawn towards covering milestones and we respectfully request that you not ignore this historic date.
Although many of our families have made the ultimate sacrifice in the War on Terror, we remain steadfast in our commitment to defeating terrorists throughout the world and completing the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. We cannot forget that America was attacked on September 11, 2001 - an unprovoked attack by Al Qaeda - and we remain vigilant knowing that our own security is at risk until the terrorists are defeated.
While many of us await the return of loved ones abroad, we are reminded that our military is comprised of compassionate, volunteer warriors dedicated to finishing the job. As democracy takes root, we have witnessed more Middle Eastern men and women vote in free and fair elections in the last twelve months, than in the last 6,000 years. Our troops understand this tenuous democracy abroad is paramount to our security at home.
Freedom is not just an American right, it's not just an Iraqi hope . . . it's a human longing. Along with rights, however, come responsibilities and when a protester poses on a North Vietnam tank or with a South American dictator, they should not be surprised when other folks speak up and out.
Posted by Deb at 09:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 15, 2006
"We prefer the Marines"
From Strategy Page:As good as the U.S. Army Special forces are at training foreign troops, many of these foreign armed forces now prefer U.S. Marines. This began when some U.S. officers, responsible for assisting in the training of military forces in Third World countries, began declining, when offered Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel. Publicly, the reasons offered are usually couched in terms that suggest the SOF people are needed elsewhere, which is certainly true, given ongoing operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. But privately some of the advisory personnel cite the fact that SOF personnel usually bring with them all sorts of specialized equipment that the host country will never be able to afford. Moreover, the capabilities for which SOF trainers provide training for are often much too sophisticated for local, and usually poorly educated, troops to absorb. An additional objection is that the nature of the way in which SOF operates is just too "undisciplined" for Third World forces. Apparently when asked, experienced advisors will ask for American Marines rather than Special Forces. The Marines have been helping out with the foreign troops training since the war on terror began, and the more basic and down-to-earth approach of the Marines has been more attractive to many nations. |
Posted by Deb at 10:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 12, 2006
"We truly are the last best hope of the world"
Major Kevin Kelly, F-16 pilot with the New Jersey Air National Guard, is currently deloyed in Iraq. He describes his experience there as "incredible", sharing it through this editorial published in today's Philadelphia Enquirer:I have seen many incredible sights living and flying in Iraq the last two months. Two things, the bravery of our soldiers and the importance of completing our mission and building a free Iraq, prompt me to write today. |
Posted by Deb at 10:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 10, 2006
Making a difference
Ben Stein's latest letter to our men and women in uniform is wonderful - I'm printing it and sending it to my son. Stein is one of those rarities among Hollywood celebrities. He appreciates his freedoms, bought and paid for with the blood of our military, and has expressed that appreciation over and over again. Here are excerpts, but do read the entire letter.Dear Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, National Guard, Reservists, in Iraq, in the Middle East theater, in Afghanistan, in the area near Afghanistan, in any base anywhere in the world, and your families: |
Stein goes on to describe the details of our daily existance, living in a country where we have freedoms that can only be dreamed of in so many countries around this world. Your woes might include a family squabble or problems on the job. Others might be in the middle of a messy divorce or washing dishes by hand until the dishwasher is fixed. Me, I'm hoping to lose a few extra pounds before a trip at the end of the month. My car won't start and so I'm driving my son's truck right now (if you're reading this, Shane, I'm taking very good care of it). It's raining here in Oregon and I'm staying home today instead of taking my dog to the park. I've misplaced my cell phone and lost all my numbers. I'm out of chocolate. Little things.
In other parts of the world, people are starving and dying because of oppressive regimes. They would love to be burdened with nothing more than jeans that are a bit too snug and a rainy Sunday afternoon that disrupts leisure plans. Their worries include being blown up by suicide bombers as they worship or having their house commandeered by insurgents intent on using it as a staging ground.
But in Iraq and Afghanistan, as they have done in various parts of the world for more than 230 years, our Marines and soldiers, sailors, and airmen (and women) are making a difference. A real difference. And in so doing, they are defeating evil and bringing hope to a nation.
Stein goes on about the meaning of the work performed by our troops:
Meaning is doing for others. Meaning is risking your life for others. Meaning is putting your bodies and families' peace of mind on the line to defeat some of the most evil, sick killers the world has ever known. Meaning is leaving the comfort of home to fight to make sure that there still will be a home for your family and for your nation and for free men and women everywhere. |
So why do they do it? It isn't for the money. Compare the base salary of a Lance Corporal (about $18,000/yr) with $327,000. That's the lowest salary paid in 2006 for major league ballplayers - a sport where the median income is around $1 million. In contrast, top salary for an enlisted Marine with 20 years of service is about $60,000.
Take a 24 year old Marine and compare him to a 24 year old ball player. At the end of their lives, they'll both have some great stories. But our troops make a difference in a way that actors, rock stars, sports figures, and other folks who are regularly featured in headlines and TV specials will never accomplish. And sometimes, they give their lives in the effort.
Sgt Michael "Shrek" Carlson wrote in a high school essay; "When I am on my deathbed, what am I going to look back on? Will it be thirty years of fighting crime and protecting the country of all enemies, foreign and domestic? I want my life to account for something... I only have so much time. I want to be good at life; I want to be known as the best of the best at my job. I want people to need me, to count on me... I want to fight for something, be part of something that is greater than myself. I want to be a soldier..."
Sgt. Carlson was killed in while serving in Iraq. His life was short but counted for everything. He put his life on the line for our freedoms as have so many others of our best and brightest young men and women. He made a difference. And our troops continue to make a difference every single day.
Recently, my son led a search on a house - something he does every day of the week. After the search was concluded, he sat and drank tea with the the head of the household - a father of nine who has been unemployed for over a year. He could have hired himself out to the insurgency but he chose not to go that route. Like others in this border city, he wants nothing more than to be done with terror - to live and work without fear. My son's squad pooled the money they were carrying (about $20 USD) and that will help this family temporarily - $20 goes a lot further in Iraq than here. But, there is follow-up and follow-through. The civil affairs unit in the city will find work for the father. He'll be able to provide for his family. It's nationbuilding, one family, one house, one city at a time. It brings meaning to the lives of our troops who joined to make a difference and to the lives they touch. It's a legacy that will last.
Stein concludes:
Do you know how important you are? Do you know how indispensable you are? Do you know how humbly grateful any of us who has a head on his shoulders is to you? |
Our troops have never asked for thanks. Or gratitude. Or anything, other than our support as they carry out a complex and dangerous mission. The outcome is a safer and freer world for the rest of us. Ben Stein understands that.
Posted by Deb at 03:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 08, 2006
What We've Gained In Three Years In Iraq
Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, wrote this editorial to mark the three year anniversary of OIF.Some have described the situation in Iraq as a tightening noose, noting that "time is not on our side" and that "morale is down." Others have described a "very dangerous" turn of events and are "extremely concerned."
Who are they that have expressed these concerns? In fact, these are the exact words of terrorists discussing Iraq -- Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his associates -- who are describing their own situation and must be watching with fear the progress that Iraq has made over the past three years.
The terrorists seem to recognize that they are losing in Iraq. I believe that history will show that to be the case.
Fortunately, history is not made up of daily headlines, blogs on Web sites or the latest sensational attack. History is a bigger picture, and it takes some time and perspective to measure accurately.
Consider that in three years Iraq has gone from enduring a brutal dictatorship to electing a provisional government to ratifying a new constitution written by Iraqis to electing a permanent government last December. In each of these elections, the number of voters participating has increased significantly -- from 8.5 million in the January 2005 election to nearly 12 million in the December election -- in defiance of terrorists' threats and attacks.
One of the most important developments over the past year has been the increasing participation of Iraq's Sunni community in the political process. In the volatile Anbar province, where Sunnis are an overwhelming majority, voter turnout grew from 2 percent in January to 86 percent in December. Sunni sheiks and religious leaders who previously had been sympathetic to the insurgency are today meeting with coalition representatives, encouraging Iraqis to join the security forces and waging what violent extremists such as Abu al-Zarqawi and his al-Qaeda followers recognize as a "large-scale war" against them.
The terrorists are determined to stoke sectarian tension and are attempting to spark a civil war. But despite the many acts of violence and provocation, the vast majority of Iraqis have shown that they want their country to remain whole and free of ethnic conflict. We saw this last month after the attack on the Shiite shrine in Samarra, when leaders of Iraq's various political parties and religious groups condemned the violence and called for calm.
Another significant transformation has been in the size, capability and responsibility of Iraqi security forces. And this is vitally important, because it is Iraqis, after all, who must build and secure their own nation.
Today, some 100 Iraqi army battalions of several hundred troops each are in the fight, and 49 control their own battle space. About 75 percent of all military operations in the country include Iraqi security forces, and nearly half of those are independently Iraqi-planned, Iraqi-conducted and Iraqi-led. Iraqi security forces have a greater ability than coalition troops to detect a foreign terrorist's accent, identify local suspects and use force without increasing a feeling of occupation. It was these Iraqi forces -- not U.S. or coalition troops -- that enforced curfews and contained the violence after the attack on the Golden Dome Shrine in Samarra. To be sure, violence of various stripes continues to slow Iraq's progress. But the coalition is doing everything possible to see this effort succeed and is making adjustments as appropriate.
The rationale for a free and democratic Iraq is as compelling today as it was three years ago. A free and stable Iraq will not attack its neighbors, will not conspire with terrorists, will not pay rewards to the families of suicide bombers and will not seek to kill Americans.
Though there are those who will never be convinced that the cause in Iraq is worth the costs, anyone looking realistically at the world today -- at the terrorist threat we face -- can come to only one conclusion: Now is the time for resolve, not retreat.
Consider that if we retreat now, there is every reason to believe Saddamists and terrorists will fill the vacuum -- and the free world might not have the will to face them again. Turning our backs on postwar Iraq today would be the modern equivalent of handing postwar Germany back to the Nazis. It would be as great a disgrace as if we had asked the liberated nations of Eastern Europe to return to Soviet domination because it was too hard or too tough or we didn't have the patience to work with them as they built free countries.
What we need to understand is that the vast majority of the Iraqi people want the coalition to succeed. They want better futures for themselves and their families. They do not want the extremists to win. And they are risking their lives every day to secure their country.
That is well worth remembering on this anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Posted by Deb at 01:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 04, 2006
History and heroism in unexpected places
Last week, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld addressed the Army War College to a historical look at heroism of ordinary Americans. Here's a major snippet from his speech:Some of the passengers on that airplane, Flight 93, did not think of themselves as heroes or history makers when they boarded that plane on a Tuesday morning en route to San Francisco, and undoubtedly never heard of a place called Shanksville or a man named Mohammed Attah, and they never expected to be saying into their telephones, air phones, that:Read the rest, including his answers to some excellent questions, here.
"The plane's been hijacked."
"I'm calling to say goodbye." or the final comment,
"Let's roll."
On that day, the terrorists brought their fight to our shores and to our people. And in Shanksville, Pennsylvania -- over that quiet field -- Americans, our fellow citizens, began to fight back.
I suspect Americans will always remember where they were on September 11, 2001, when 3,000 lost their lives. Think of the questions that were asked and I suppose in some cases they're still being asked today.
Who were these people who were attacking us?
What do they want?
How can they be stopped?
I'd like to comment on those questions today.
The enemy we face may be the most brutal in our history. They currently lack only the means -- not the desire -- to kill and murder millions of innocent people with weapons vastly more powerful than boarding passes and box cutters.
Before September 11, 2001, there was somewhat of a misunderstanding in America about terrorists and in some circles I suppose there still is today. Even today, some folks view terrorists as criminals, not as combatants -- some even consider them victims. Some seem to think that the years before September 11th were decades of peace, but that is not so.
Though we think of September 11th as the first day in the Global War on Terror, it wasn't the first day for the enemy. Extremists had declared war on free people decades ago. In 20 years terrorists attacked and killed Americans more than 20 times including the bombing at:
The U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983;
The Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983;
Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerby, Scotland, in 1988;
The New York World Trade Center the first time in 1993;
A military compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1995;
Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1996;
U.S. Embassies in Kenya, Tanzania in 1998; and then
The war ship USS Cole in Yemen in 2000.
During those decades the West was ambivalent about how to counter extremist ideology and that type of aggression. As a result, terrorists became increasingly bolder. We should have learned the timeless truth -- that weakness is provocative.
Consider how they boasted of their murder of innocent people in the Khobar compound in Saudi Arabia. In their words,
"I went into an American's office and called him. When he turned to me I shot him in the head and his head exploded. We entered another office and found one infidel from South Africa and our brother Hussein slit his throat. We found a Swedish infidel and brother Nim cut off his head and put it at the gate so it could be seen by all entering and exiting."
On September 11th, they accomplished their most daring attack on our shores, and in the years since no part of the world has really been spared from their attacks:
In Russia terrorists held school children hostage, some as young as 20 months old; killed 186.
In Israel they hid a grenade under a baby.
In Iraq, according to the Mayor of Kalifar, they placed explosives inside the corpses of children in order to kill grieving parents coming to recover their bodies.
In Pakistan the Islamic extremists beheaded a Wall Street Journal reporter. They killed him because he was Jewish and because he was American. They bound his hands, they set up their video recorder, they sawed off his head on camera. His widow was pregnant with a son he would never see.
Those attacks, like September 11th -- were not random acts of violence. They were for a purpose and the purpose was to terrorize. If you think about it, people tend to think that the purpose of terrorism is to kill people. It really isn't. It's to terrorize, to alter behavior. In pursuit of a world where clerics issue binding edicts, where children are indoctrinated into violence and hate.
After the September 11th attacks the United States fashioned a very large global Coalition who worked together to protect our people and protect their people. This Coalition is probably the largest in the history of the world, with some 80 or 90 countries working together to make it more difficult for terrorists to do everything they need to do to be successful. More difficult to train, to recruit, to raise money, to establish sanctuaries, to acquire weapons, to cross borders, communicate.
But the strategy must do a great deal more to reduce the lure of the extremist ideology, like standing with those moderate Muslims advocating peaceful change, freedom and tolerance.
Progress is being made. Afghanistan has gone from a country where the government protected terrorists and imprisoned women, to one that imprisons terrorists and protects women. Iraq has gone from Saddam's mass graves to mass participation in democratic elections. A recent survey showed that a large and growing number of Muslims believe that free systems can work in their country.
The extremists see these changes and they're desperate to prevent that progress. One suspects that the terrorists preferred the battles before September 11th, when they were often the only ones on the offensive.
Today there are some who want America to go back on the defensive -- to the strategy that failed before September 11th. They say that a retreat from Iraq would provide an American escape from the violence. However, we know that any reprieve would short lived. To the terrorists, the West would remain the great Satan. The war that the terrorists began would continue. And free people would continue to be their target.
From time to time one hears the claim that terrorists' acts are reactions to particular American policy. That's not so. Their violence preceded by many years operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. And their violence will not stop until their ideology is confronted by the values millions on every continent take for granted. The ideas that liberated moderate Muslims are risking their lives every day to defend -- including free systems, individual rights.
We must recognize this and steel ourselves for the long struggle ahead.
Today's debate is probably the most significant division is between those who realize that we are in fact a nation at war, and those who do not realize that fact.
Of course, those in the Department of Defense are under no illusions. We serve in a building that came under attack. A building whose bricks were charred, whose employees had to escape by crawling through smoke, when that fuel-laden jet was flown into the offices and took some 189 people's lives.
We do not of course know what the thoughts were of those people on that airplane that crashed into Shanksville, the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, or the last thoughts of the innocent men and women that were killed. Some I'm sure worried about their families. Before that last plunge to earth over Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at least one passenger on Flight 93 prayed the 23rd Psalm over the phone with a stranger -- an operator he had found while trying to reach his wife. Together they took comfort in the passage that speaks of "still waters" and "green pastures."
Those passengers rest peacefully today and our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines -- which many of you will command -- are doing everything possible to keep other Americans from again having to experience the heartbreak and terror of September 11th.
It's up to all of us -- military and civilian -- to commit ourselves to be patient in supporting history's great and necessary task -- aware that the enemy will not simply go away.
And aware that when future generations learn of places where freedom was defended, they will be told about a meeting hall in colonial Philadelphia, the battlefield of Gettysburg, the beaches at Normandy, and a quiet town, not far from here, called Shanksville.
So I thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for your courage and your dedication, the sacrifices you and your families have made to serve our country. I hope that you know our people thank you.
Posted by Deb at 01:04 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 13, 2006
Letter to the President from a Gold Star Dad
And, his father, Bud Clay understands the meaning of honor, reaching out of his grief to send this message to his son's Commander in Chief.
December 7, 2005 |
Marines are instructed to write a letter to their familes in case of their death while deployed. Mr. Clay included his son's last letter home with his message to President Bush.
MOM, DAD, KRISTIE, JODIE, KIMBERLY, ROBERT, KATY, RICHARD, AND MY LISA: |
Ssgt Clay's final wish: Don't hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting.
I would love to see this father, who understands the true meaning of honor and who continues to support his son, given the same media attention given to Cindy Sheehan.
Thanks to Mary Helen who sent this along.
Posted by Deb at 01:06 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 08, 2006
Fair Winds and Following Seas to an American Hero
One definition of a hero is recognizing the right thing to do, and then doing it, no matter what the personal risk or cost. Hugh Thompson earned that title when he faced evil and stepped in to make a difference. John Donovan from Castle Argghhh! hosts a memorial this weekend for CW2 Turner, who died Thursday of cancer in a VA hospital.On March 16, 1968, American soldiers in My Lai killed more than 500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians. Many were children and senior citizens. And, the body count would have been higher if it weren't for the courage of Thompson and his crew who landed their helicopter in between American troops and the Vietnamese citizens who took shelter in a bunker.
From a CNN interview:
"We just noticed a vast number of dead bodies: old women, old men, babies, infants that were dead or wounded," said Thompson, who was 24 at the time. |
And, it was over 30 years before Thompson, Colburn and Andreotta were recognized for their heroism. In 1997, they each received the Soldier's Medal, an award for battlefield bravery that doesn't involve enemy conflict. Colburn and Thompson received their medals personally. Andreotta was killed in combat shortly after My Lai.
"What My Lai really means or what it stands for is choices that you make in your life and the outcomes, and if it signifies anything, it's that," Colburn said.
Photo by Trent Angers, Lafayette, La
From the Acadian Press website, here are Hugh Thompson and Larry Colburn with two of the women they saved during the My Lai massacre on March 16, 1968. From left to right are Colburn, Pham Thi Nhung, Pham Thi Nhanh, Ms. Nhanh's daughter, and Thompson. The reunion took place at My Lai, Vietnam.
"My Lai was a very bad situation - one that I hope and pray never happens again, but there's some good that came out of it," Thompson said in a CNN interview. "If we can have any of our younger generation, our college students or whatever, high school, stop and think sometime in their life, 'This ain't right. I'm not gonna do it' and put their foot down and go with what's in their heart, it'll be worth it in the long run." |
And that lesson carries on. In an interview recently, Joint Chiefs Chair, USMC General Peter Pace reiterated his expectation for American troops:
"It is absolutely the responsibility of every U.S. service member, if they see inhumane treatment being conducted, to intervene to stop it. As an example of how to do it if you don't see it happening but you're told about it is exactly what happened a couple weeks ago. There's a report from an Iraqi to a U.S. commander that there was possibility of inhumane treatment in a particular facility. That U.S. commander got together with his Iraqi counterparts. They went together to the facility, found what they found, reported it to the Iraqi government, and the Iraqi government has taken ownership of that problem and is investigating it. So they did exactly what they should have done." |
My Lai is certainly a black mark on our military history. Thanks to heroes like Hugh Thompson, and leaders like General Pace, it will, hopefully, never be repeated. Choices and outcomes. Thompson made a courageous choice and it made a difference. In the end, that is all any of us can aspire to do.
Posted by Deb at 01:17 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 06, 2006
Support the Troops by Supporting Their Mission
Recently a letter was sent from Iraq, written by a soldier currently deployed in Baghdad, to members of Congress who are publicly critical of the war effort. Read all of it here; but here are snippets worth reading by those who seek to gain partisan advantage by sniping at the mission of our deployed troops and their supporters.As you persist with your thoughts that this war cannot be won, consider the notion of past military victories: The First War with Iraq, the defense of South Vietnam, the landing at Inchon, Iwo Jima, the Second Battle of the Marne, Gettysburg, New Orleans, and Yorktown. What made these battles significant for American forces was not only the skillful tactics of the troops, it also consisted of the support of a political entity whose primary goal was to win, not to participate in petty, partisan politics. Nobody questioned President Franklin Roosevelt's strategy by saying we needed to pull out of World War II because he did not foresee the intensity of the Japanese on the South-Pacific islands. There was no doubt about fighting the Germans, even though they did not attack the U.S. Absent were the calls that President Woodrow Wilson engage in self-defeating reflection by apologizing for the brutality of trench-warfare. General George Washington held firm over a period of seven years in his overall strategy, despite early defeats. Yet, they all believed in what was right and their persistence proved successful. The fight for freedom is a relatively recent phenomenon, therefore, it is not widely accepted and it is a difficult process.The constant carping and criticism by Democratic leadership, who ignore the success stories coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan as related by military experts who see the day-to-day progress, is dangerously close to treason. Especially when journalists helpfully spin it some more. Cassandra, writing at TigerHawk's blog, cuts to the heart of this issue:
The American soldiers are not concerned about arguments that Saddam Hussein's payments to terrorists did not contribute to September 11th. They do not want to hear that Hussein's acquiescence to the presence of the barbarian Zarqawi in Iraq in 2001 was not a threat to our country. They are not going to analyze whether Hussein's "secular government" would ever conspire with religious fanatics to attack the U.S. More importantly, they do not consider the war in Iraq as a "distraction" from the efforts in Afghanistan. Yet, this is the anti-war mantra heard ever since the Islamo-fascists had the temerity to attack American troops. These are the same people who crashed jetliners into innocent Americans and you want to withdraw because they shoot back. What did you expect? This is war. Unfortunately, we were going to experience losses. Each loss is tragic, but each loss represents the yearning not to allow another innocent American to be attacked on U.S. soil ever again. Their lives were not lost in vain.
Never has a nation invaded another for the purpose of improving the style of government in the occupied land, while simultaneously respecting the lives and resources of the people. Naturally, there is a self-serving national security concern that is the overriding issue; however, the American military truly believes that it is also improving the lives of the Iraqi people. After three successful elections never before witnessed in this part of the world, American service-members have much to be proud of.
However, you portray the war as an imperialistic adventure along the lines of Napoleon. As Camillus saved Rome, you play the role of a present day Manlius. Envious of success, along with a desire to contradict the President at every opportunity, you conduct yourselves in ways that reflect your self-centered, degraded pursuit of power. How shallow it must be to sacrifice the honor of the American military and all of its accomplishments in Iraq at the altar of the 2006 and 2008 elections.
You constantly refer to the "failure" and "defeat" of Vietnam to justify your criticism of the current war. It is an unusual thought that you revel in the so-called defeat in Vietnam and optimistically predict the same self-induced conclusion in Iraq. To paraphrase John S. Mill: War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The degraded state of patriotic feeling, which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse. A man who cares about nothing more than himself is a selfish figure who has no chance at being free, unless provided by others better than himself.
When you criticize the President and the war effort, you are criticizing every service-member in this war. Please do not patronize the public with the often heard, "I support the troops, but I don't support the war." You cannot support the troops without supporting the war because their mission in life right now is to win the war, provide security for our country, and return home safely with honor.
However, you make that realization more difficult each passing day. Your talk of "there aren't enough troops", "the President lied", or, "we need a strategic withdrawal" is tiring and self-defeating, as well as contradictory. If you have legitimate concerns about achieving success in the war, perhaps you should discuss them with the President behind closed doors. Military exercises and combat operations require an analysis for lessons learned. Constructive criticism is expected and beneficial, but never is it acceptable when it is situated on the world stage for political purposes as it places the overall mission in danger.
When Colonel Danny Bubp, himself a Marine, had the colossal nerve to express publicly to his Congresswoman what the vast majority of Marines think privately (that withdrawing from the field of battle and reneging on our promises would be a cowardly act incompatible with over 200 years of proud Marine Corps history) Rep. Harold Ford charged across the House floor in anger and had to be physically restrained. How dare one of those uppity military types voice an opinion? Who let him in here? House Democrats then tried to have his words stricken from the record before thinking better of it.Transforming Iraq and Afghanistan, from rule by tyranny to the beginnings of democracy, in just a few years is a tremendous accomplishment. This has been accomplished, not by oil-for-food or appeasement, but by fighting Al Queda where they live and work. And, at the same time, engaging in nation building. Our troops have reopened schools and hospitals, supported local leaders as they identify infrastructure deficiencies, and gained the trust of local folks who defy terrorist death threats to vote in national elections. And, our troops have voices. If only our leaders would listen. And learn. JCS Chairman, General Peter Pace, suggested as much in a question & answer session following a speech last December:
The media then launched a ridiculous smear campaign complete with unfounded allegations that Rep. ("Mean Jean") Schmidt "misquoted" Bubp. In reality, the only alteration between her remark and Bubp's quote was her substitution of Murtha's name for "that congressman who sponsored the bill" - a change that altered the meaning of Bubp's comment not one iota. They also tried to make hay of Bubp's statement that he never meant to imply Murtha was a coward. Well of course he didn't. Unless English is your second language, a plain reading of his comment (difficult, as most news accounts of the story omitted the quote and simply informed readers Schmidt had called Murtha a coward) makes it quite obvious that was never his intent. Schmidt and Bubp have agreed on this point from day one.
QUESTION: Thanks for taking my question. Sir, it seems like the press and the media have one perception of how the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is being conducted. And on the other end of the spectrum we have our government and the military's perception of how the war is being carried out in Iraq and Afghanistan. In my view, there's a gap. In other words, those perceptions do not match. What are we doing about it? And specifically, in the victory outline, I noticed there could be a lot more reference to informational use as an instrument of power. And I'd like your comments, please, sir.If that happens, our military needs to be more proactive in finding opportunities to get their message out, to find those groups, to open those dialogues. And, while that message may be ignored by some media or politicians, if the stories are heard enough times they will be harder and harder to ignore. Or, spin. Predictably, General Pace's comment was mischaracterized by John Roberts at CBS. As related by Brad Wilmouth:
GEN. PETER PACE: Yeah. Thanks.
I think you are correct that we have not -- we, guys like me -- have not articulated well enough what is happening in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
We made a conscious decision in June of '04, when the Iraqi government took over sovereignty, that we would step back a little bit in the press to do the proper thing, which was to let the Iraqi government speak for itself publicly. And that was a good idea. But as a result of stepping back, I think we may have stepped back a little too far inside our own country with regard to explaining to our own people what we were doing. And I think you can do both; I think you can have the Iraqi government, properly so, speaking about what they're doing for their own country and their own people, and still have U.S. military leaders, in our case, talk about what the U.S. military was doing in a way that explains to the American public the progress that's being made.
So, it's incumbent not only on folks like me in Washington, but also on lieutenant colonels, and colonels, and captains, and lieutenants, and lance corporals and corporals. When they come home, we should be encouraging them inside their local communities to take the opportunity to talk to the local newspapers, to the local chamber of commerce -- just to be able to answer our fellow citizens' questions as openly and honestly as we can, understanding that PFC Pace's view of the battlefield is different than General Pace's view of the battlefield. But if enough of us are making ourselves available to answer questions publicly, then the American people will have a large enough buffet, so to speak, that they can pick and choose and read and listen and determine for themselves what's really going on.
If you remember back when the war first began, it was 24/7 coverage. You could watch TV all day long, you could read magazines, you could read newspapers. If you cared to, you could have all the information you wanted to determine for yourself what was really going on.
Understandably, we don't have 24/7 coverage anymore. Therefore, the amount of information out there for the general public is less than it used to be. Those of us who have the opportunity to put more on the table for more people to look at and turn around and decide for themselves what's right and what's not, need to take those opportunities. That's a reason why I mentioned upfront how appreciative I am of the press being here today. But it's also an answer to your question, which is not just the senior leaders of our organizations, whether they be civilian or military, need to be out talking, but all of us need to think through what do we know that we'd like our fellow citizens to know, and how might we have the opportunity to just sit with groups and talk and have a dialogue in a way that would help them understand what their military's doing.
Roberts began his story by introducing Pace's comments as part of a "campaign of contrition to win back the public trust in Iraq," as if the Joint Chiefs Chairman were repenting for some grave misdeed. Roberts then asserted, "Today, it was the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff who admitted mistakes have been made," followed by the below clip of General Pace:This would have been clear to anyone reading the full transcript and the obvious conclusion is that Roberts deliberately misinterpreted General Pace's words to make his negative point. Cassandra finishes up her essay with the following observation:
General Peter Pace, Joint Chiefs Chairman: "We, guys like me, have not articulated well enough what is happening in Iraq and in Afghanistan."
After also citing a Bush speech from the day before, which is covered in more detail further down, Roberts maintained that, "The change in tone is an answer to critics who claim the President won't acknowledge errors or learn from them. The new candor won praise from some Democrats..." which gave the impression the administration was admitting to errors in the way the war has been conducted since Democrats have frequently made that criticism.
The quote from Pace was therefore misused to add credibility to charges that the Bush administration made mistakes in conducting the war, rather than conveying the full scope of the problem Pace's comments were actually referring to: the negative portrayal of the Iraq War's progress by the media. Notably, Pace, who was responding to a question from an audience member, chose not to frame his comments as an attack on the media, but instead referred to his own failure to be more proactive in conveying the message to the public. Pace also did not himself use the word "mistake," as this was Roberts' choice of words.
But it's so much easier to control the dialogue if we can just keep those troublesome military folks (you know - the ones who are actually fighting the war) away from the megaphone and let the press control public perception. Just trot out a few worn out and disaffected vets, and if anyone dares to disagree with them - even active duty folks who actually know something about the subject - either refuse to cover what their remarks, mischaracterize them, or call them partisans.And sometimes, all of the above.
Posted by Deb at 06:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 05, 2006
Finding Gold at Parris Island
Last September, Ashley Edwardson attended a USMC graduation ceremony at Parris Island, South Carolina. Via Jarhead Dad, here is the letter he wrote to the Gainesville Sun, chronicling his experience:To the editor:It's a continual source of amazement to me that in 13 weeks, the Marine Corps accomplishes what 18 years of parental nagging cannot - turning a typical teen into a squared away Marine. Oohrah.
I recently had the privilege of attending a graduation ceremony at Parris Island, South Carolina. Little did I know that this would be one of those rare defining moments in my life. One of those moments which forever change the way you see yourself and the rest of the world. Since I left there, I have been sifting through my thoughts and feelings, like a miner trying to glean the nuggets from the sand. Hopefully, I will leave my Parris Island gold with you.
My trip to Parris Island was a study in contrasts. The contrasts between the Marine world and the world I live in. When you pass through the entrance and converse with the sentry, you are convinced in about five seconds max that Parris Island is a place where they say what they mean and mean what they say. You note the posted speed limit is 25 MPH and you are not tempted to try 26. You instinctively know that the rules there are not meant to be broken, bent, or circumvented. Parris Island is utterly devoid of any trash, even the size of a postage stamp. Every square inch of sidewalks and roadways are edged, mowed, and manicured to exceed Disney World standards. In stark contrast to my world, there were no drive-by shootings. There were no blaring stereo speakers blasting profane garbage that disgraced the maker and disrespected the listener. There were no hats on backwards and no exposed posterior crevasses. There was no graffiti. They use the words "ma’am" and "sir". Two separate invocations were held during the ceremonies. No one was offended and no ACLU lawyers showed up to save us and file lawsuits. The flag was flown and the national anthem was played and no federal judges declared it unconstitutional. I felt safe without my Glock. It is the only place I've ever been that I saw my tax dollars were well spent and hard at work.
Those rare defining moments that I write of have been few for me. I used to have them when my daughters passed milestones in their lives and achieved goals. I cannot take much credit for those successes. Each of my daughters has always been her own person, but in a small way, when they succeeded, I did too. Those are the moments I treasure and that I hope define me as a parent. Being a Deputy Sheriff for then years put me in the company of so many outstanding officers, not surprisingly, many of whom were ex-Marines. I treasure those days as well. So too, when I attended Recruit Dustin T. Ryan's graduation, I felt fate had made me part of something so much better than myself and I came away a better and wiser person.
Before Parris Island (BPI), I spent hours and days watching the events unfold in New Orleans on TV. I was both angry and depressed. The scenes reminded me of a really bad reality TV survival show. I was embarrassed for the world to see some of my fellow countrymen at their worst. I was sure that our country could not survive if the best we could do, during bad times, was loot, shoot at our rescuers, and throw food on the ground – the same food that our soldiers in Iraq eat every day. During this same time period, the recruits on Parris Island were going through the Crucible (a 72 hour, 30 mile obstacle course, where they are allowed three meals - total - and four hours of sleep a night). They would not graduate without passing this course. They would not pass the course without working together to achieve goals and survive. Now, (AP), I know what separated these two groups of people - training, self reliance, the will to survive, and most importantly - leadership. I'm pretty sure the recruits weren't allowed to give up and wait for FEMA to do it for them.
Here then, is the gold I found at Parris Island. At graduation, I saw Dustin T. Ryan and 481 other graduates stripped of some twenty years worth of wrong thinking. The thinking produced by a society that highly values freedom, but hardly values character. A society which lives for today and never gives a thought about tomorrow. Much of American society has lost what can be found in abundance at Parris Island. API, I'm still not sure that our country will survive, but I am sure of this one thing. If one Marine is left anywhere, honor, courage, commitment, and leadership will carry on. Self reliance and self sacrifice will survive. The qualities and character that made America and her citizens great before are still alive and well on Parris Island. Even Mac, the Parris Island bull dog, was a model of canine obedience. His house was cleaner than most hospitals I've been in. The Marine Band which is small in number but big in sound was a model of what I saw everywhere. Doing more with less. Doing it better and faster. Doing it precisely on time and with perfection. If only the rest of America could grasp what Col. Steven D. Hogg and the United States Marine Corps have figured out. My hat is off to Dustin T. Ryan and the other recruits who graduated from H company. As they say in today's vernacular, you guys rule.
Ashley Edwardson Alachua, FL
Posted by Deb at 05:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 04, 2006
Born on the birthday of the Corps
B.J. Daniels, former Marine with a caring heart passed along this request:I was getting myself pumped up for all the big football games this holiday. Reading all the various websites when I came across a story and picture of this lovely little girl.I noticed on the Cure Nikolette website that there's a place in Beaverton, OR where donations can be dropped off, sold on E-Bay, and the proceeds will go towards her medical care. I need to clean out a few closets this weekend and now I have a place where all those treasures I no longer need will go.
I read it and it it brought tears to my eyes. Now as a former macho Marine type that is usually hard to do but to me she was as brave as anyone I served with in the Marines.
I thought to myself how can she smile after undergoing not one but two Chemo treatments...well she must be truly special!
Then I read her bio... Well! Well! Look at her birthday!
November 10th!!!! She is truly special! To share that birthday with the best Military unit ever....she is a born fighter!!
I know this is tough times for all who serve and their families, but we must help her. Please post her story somewhere on your site and let the Marines know about this brave little girl who shares our special day and needs their help.
Thank you and God Bless!
Posted by Deb at 07:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 02, 2006
Force Multipliers
From Wikipedia:Force Multiplier-a military term referring to a factor that dramatically increases (hence multiplies) the combat-effectiveness of a given military force.Russ Vaughn, poet laureate of OIF, sent along his latest:
Force Multipliers
In Iraq an IED explodes,Thanks, Russ, your words are also a force multiplier.
An American soldier dies,
But that blast will grow as the media blow
It up before our eyes.
And trumpet to the watching world,
These fifth column falsifiers,
Like sheep they bleat we face defeat,
Our foe's force multipliers.
Osama and his minions know,
In combat they can't beat us;
So they hope and pray will come a day,
Our own media will defeat us.
Ignoring all the good we've done,
Liberals focus on the gore,
On losses mounting and body counting,
To prove we've lost this war.
They disgraced us once in Vietnam,
So now these leftists feel,
That again they'll win with media spin,
And make America kneel.
But defeatists aren't the only ones,
Learned lessons from the past;
Back then we swore we'd lose no more,
This time we're standing fast.
The Internet's exposed them,
As elitist media liars;
They stand unclothed and widely loathed,
Our foe's force multipliers.
Some day when all our troops return,
With Iraq on freedom's path,
The liberal elite who sought defeat,
May face some Righteous wrath.
Russ Vaughn
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66
Posted by Deb at 11:29 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 01, 2006
A comprehensive list of Milblogs
One of my new new favorite sites, www.milblogging.com is starting 2006 in grand style with a major media plug this morning - if you haven't checked it out yet, do. It's a great place to find both established and brand new milblogs - voices that provide a candid look at current events. Reading through these weblogs is a terrific way to start out the new year.Posted by Deb at 12:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 30, 2005
General Pace: "This has been an incredible year"
Last Sunday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, USMC Gen. Peter Pace appeared on the Fox News Channel's "Fox News Sunday," Here's what he had to say about re-enlistment rates and the contributions of military families, via John D. Banusiewicz with the American Forces Press Service:"(The high re-enlistment rate) shows their pride in what they're doing and their understanding of how important it is," the general said. "It is absolutely true that for those units that have served overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, that their re-enlistment rates are the highest of all of our armed forces."Amen.
Pace said servicemembers know they're doing important work, and also know it's appreciated. "I think Pfc. Pace understands the value of what he or she is doing, and they know that what they're doing is appreciated by the Iraqis and the Afghan people. They know that the support here at home for the armed forces is very, very solid and very strong. They're proud of what they're doing, and they want to continue to do it."
The chairman acknowledged that waking up far from home on Christmas morning can be difficult for the nation's deployed forces, but he added they can wake up with great pride in what they've accomplished in 2005.
"This has been an incredible year," the general said, "and all of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen (and) Merchant Marines have so much to be proud of, and we should all be thankful."
Pace cited an unprecedented concentration of major relief efforts, including the South Asia tsunami, hurricane relief in the United States and earthquake relief in Pakistan. He also noted that U.S. servicemembers' efforts helped to bring about Afghanistan's second parliamentary election as well as two elections and a referendum on a constitution in Iraq.
"When they wake up this Christmas Day, and they're away from home, they also can take enormous pride in being part of a really historical year," Pace said.
The chairman also noted the contributions military families make. "You know, when we're overseas and we are in harm's way, we know when we get in trouble, and we are able to, through our training, do something about it," the general said. "Our families here at home don't know when we're in trouble, so they wait and they pray.
"And when we come home," he continued, "they stand in the background and pretend that we did it all on our own. But the families that we have supporting our military are serving this country at least as well as those who wear the uniform."
Posted by Deb at 07:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 28, 2005
Vice President Cheney" "One Team, One Fight."
Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife made a surprise visit to Bagram Afghanistan - here's the text of his speech to the assembled troops:THE VICE PRESIDENT: Don't hold back. (Laughter.) Well, that's quite a welcome. And Lynne and I are delighted to be here today. And I want to thank you for that fantastic welcome. And, General Eikenberry, for your kind words, and say good afternoon to my fellow Americans. Let me also thank General Sterling and Command Sergeant Major Savusa. It's great to be here today. I have a message from the folks back home: We're proud of you; we're grateful for your service; and we're behind you 100 percent.
It's good to be back at Bagram Air Field, and to express our country's appreciation to every man and woman in Joint Task Force 76. I'm only sorry I didn't come earlier this month. Somebody told me I missed a chance to meet Vince McMahon, Big Show, and Triple H. (Applause.)
I was last here a year ago, and over this time you have done extraordinary work fighting terrorists, standing up the Afghan security structure, building a secure and peaceful future for Afghanistan. With Christmas and Hanukkah just around the corner, I wanted to come and let you know how impressed we've been with the tremendous progress you've made. And to each and every one of you, I bring the personal gratitude and the good wishes of our Commander-in-Chief, President George W. Bush. (Applause.)
More than four years have passed since the United States was attacked by a terror network that received support and safe harbor from the Taliban regime. And after the awful events of September 11th, this nation set out to hunt down the terrorists, one by one if necessary, and to hold accountable regimes that gave shelter to the enemies of civilization. With good allies at our side, we came into Afghanistan, joined up with freedom fighters, and began dismantling the training camps of terror and the apparatus of a violent regime. It was a huge and challenging task to face these enemies in their own element -- going into rugged, isolated territory to find terrorists who dwell in the shadows, in mountain ledges, and caves.
Some of the challenges in the Afghan campaign were unprecedented. For example, our naval expeditionary forces had to establish a forward-operating base 450 miles inland -- more than twice the distance that previous doctrine considered supportable. And yet for all the difficulties we had to confront, America and our superb coalition partners acted with speed and precision -- bringing down the Taliban, capturing or killing hundreds of al Qaeda, and liberating 25 million people from tyranny.
As we pledged to do, our coalition has stood with this nation and helped prepare the way for democratic institutions and a free society. On our trip last December, Mrs. Cheney and I had the privilege of attending the inauguration of President Hamid Karzai. Just this morning we witnessed another milestone, as newly elected representatives took their place as members of the Afghan Parliament. Once again, in free elections, the Afghan people have shown the world their determination to chart their own destiny. In this journey of freedom and progress, they will continue to have the full support of America and our coalition. We are proud to count Afghanistan as a free country, a fellow democracy, and a friend of the United States of America.
We are firmly committed to the safety of the Afghan people, to the success of this democracy, and to lasting peace and stability in the region. And by serving here today, each and every one of you is playing a vital role in that cause. There is still a terrorist element in this country, and some Taliban die-hards who apparently are slow learners. (Laughter.) The job of this Task Force is to find these enemies, to confront them directly, and to take them out of commission. And that is the business at hand, and you're doing it extremely well.
I also want you to know, ladies and gentlemen, that I was in Iraq yesterday, and spent some time with soldiers, Marines, and Navy corpsmen serving in the western part of the country. Your comrades are doing fantastic work over there. On occasion they receive mixed signals from politicians about whether America has what it takes to stay in the fight. I assured them that the American people do not support a policy of submission, resignation, and defeatism in the face of terror. In the war on terror we are up against an entirely new kind of threat to our security -- a threat global in scale, and often hidden from view. And the United States has made a decision: We will engage the enemies of civilization. We will face them with our military far from home, so we do not have to face them on the streets of our own cities.
Along with the American servicemen and women in Task Force 76, I want to express our nation's gratitude to all the personnel operating here at Bagram, and to the men and women from other nations in the coalition. Together you are "One Team." You've stayed on the offensive from day one, and your tremendous skill and professionalism are helping to make history.
In this fight our special forces, expeditionary forces, and Task Force Devil are at the tip of the spear -- going into the high mountains and along border areas. In the intel, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, our coalition is using aircraft, drones, and people on the ground to keep an eye on the enemy in order to strike at the right moment. Our forces have also found and destroyed enemy weapons caches and IED cells. Overhead, the EC-130s provide an electronic shield around ground forces, giving them another edge against the enemy. Here at Bagram you operate the busiest runway in Afghanistan, and the 455th ECES is out there every day keeping it in great repair.
At the same time, our coalition is building up the infrastructure to improve both security and living conditions in Afghanistan. Three major all weather combat roads have been built in the last eight months, making our forces less vulnerable to IEDs while helping to unify this country and strengthen its economy.
The capability, confidence, and experience level of the Afghan forces continues to rise month by month. There have been many joint operations, including some very tough combat against the terrorists. Since last March, JTF-76 has completed over two hundred combat operations, and increased operations with the Afghan National Security Forces. The Afghan military is a respected institution, committed to its duties, and critical to the success of this nation. Americans are proud to serve with the forces of a free Afghanistan.
The people of Afghanistan have been through so much -- from hostile occupation by the Soviet Union in the 1980s, to the horrors of the Taliban in the 1990s. But this young century is turning out to be a time of promise -- with a democracy, a market economy, equality for women, and millions of children going to school for the first time. America has made a long term commitment to freedom and progress in this land. And in your conduct as members of the military here at Bagram, you are showing the true character of the United States. I think of people like those in Joint Task Force 76 Surgeon, who have provided medical care to thousands of Afghan citizens, and also veterinary care to farm animals and pets. I think of all that was done to provide relief after the earthquakes in this area- with our military moving thousands of tons of equipment and supplies to the affected areas, and providing treatment to thousands of people who were injured.
I think as well of the great kindness you've shown in the "Adopt-A-Village" program, as you go into Afghan communities with clothing, school supplies, and toys. After going into a village one of our soldiers said, "Once the trip's over, you're really proud of what you've done and of the country you serve." It speaks well of America, and of our military, that we have people like you building ties of friendship with the citizens of Afghanistan. And it's another reason the folks back home are grateful to you.
By fighting enemies, by standing with our friends, we honor both the ideals and protect the security interests of the United States. The victory of freedom in Afghanistan, as well as in Iraq, will be an inspiration to democratic reformers in other lands. In the broader Middle East and beyond, America will continue to encourage free markets, democracy, and tolerance -- because these are the ideas and aspirations that overcome violence, and turn societies to the pursuits of peace. And as the people of this region experience new hope, progress, and control over their own lives, we will see the power of freedom change our world, and a terrible threat will be removed from the lives of our children and our grandchildren.
Each one of you is helping to write a very proud chapter in the history of freedom. You've carried out your duties in difficult conditions, far from home and family, often risking your lives, and experiencing the loss of comrades. You have done everything we've asked of you. You have conducted yourselves with professionalism and with honor. And when you return home from this part of the world, you can be proud of your service for the rest of your life. (Applause.)
Once again, I thank you for a wonderful job on behalf of the United States. I want you to know, especially at Christmastime, how much you mean to America. This is a season for counting our blessings, and Americans realize how fortunate we really are to have people like you wearing the uniform of our country. I want to thank you, once again, for serving far from home, in an hour of great need. You reflect immense credit on the uniform you wear and on the cause you serve, and the nation is proud of each and every one of you.
"One Team, One Fight." Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Posted by Deb at 08:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 23, 2005
Will there be justice for Robert Stethem?
18 months ago, we printed an eyewitness account to Robert Stethem's brutal murder. He was killed by Hezbollah terrorists because he served in the U.S. military. Here's part of that account:I was one of the Navy Seabee Divers who had to endure the pain of hearing and seeing SW2 (DV) Robert Stethem go through the brutality of terrorism on June 14, 1985. It has been 19 years since that day. I will NEVER FORGET what he sacraficed. I was lucky/blessed to be able to return home after 17 days of captivity. The mental and physical pains which we all endured during that time will heal, but will also be forever etched into our memory. Bobby was a close friend who is deeply missed by many. Let us all remember what has been taken away from us by EVIL and call it what it is. Many people ask me the question of, are we doing the right thing in waging a world wide war on terror, as if I am some type of an expert on the topic. I can only respond by saying,"If you can answer that question buy saying NO, you have not personally felt the pain of the enemy. Only a casual observer can say that we are doing the wrong thing, someone who lives in a bubble". Let us not just remember the events of Sept. 11,2001, but remember all of what has happened over the course of many years. Remember we are not the bad guys in this fight. It is right for us to take a stand and support the cause of freedom and to do our best in preventing these acts of barbarism. I have no doubts that if Robert Stethem were still alive what his answer would be.Stethem's killers - Mohammed Ali Hamadi and Hasan Izz-Al-Din, escaped after the kidnapping. Hamadi was later captured, tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison in Germany. German courts refused a U.S. request for extradition because Hamadi might have faced the death penalty if he were tried by U.S. courts. So, what does a life sentence for terrorism mean in Germany? Earlier this month, Hamadi was set free from his German prison cell and flown back to Lebanon. And, according to a post on an Arlington National Cemetary website, Stethem's parents, Richard and Patricia, continue to press for Hamadi's extradition. They have not forgotten. Patricia Stethem will visit her son's grave at Arlington this Christmas, with a message . . . "We'll be after him. We won't let it rest." Hopefully, this time, America will also stand behind them and this extradition request will not rest until Hamadi and Izz-Al-Din stand before a judge in the United States.
Posted by Deb at 01:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 16, 2005
Marines - "a microcosm of America at its best"
Here is a must-read for today. Matt Pottinger, a Wall Street Journal correspondent recently gave up journalism to become a Marine. He is commissioned a 2nd Lt. today at Quantico. Why would he do this? His parting editorial can be found at Opinion Journal, but his walkaway paragraph says it all:"In a way, I see the Marines as a microcosm of America at its best. Their focus isn't on weapons and tactics, but on leadership. That's the whole point of the Marines. They care about each other in good times and bad, they've always had to fight for their existence--even Harry Truman saw them as nothing more than the "Navy's police force"--and they have the strength of their traditions. Their future, like the country's, is worth fighting for. I hope to be part of the effort."
Posted by Deb at 03:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 09, 2005
A Marine Dad responds to Representative Jack Murtha
I've heard from a number of Marines and Marine parents who were outraged at Representative John Murtha's challenge to President Bush. The following was recently sent to Rep. Murtha by a proud Marine Dad who put those feelings into this eloquent letter:
Representative Murtha: |
When my son was home recently over Thanksgiving, he heard several opinions from well meaning people regarding our troops' presence in Iraq. I've heard those same opinions myself a number of times. In contrast to those who feel our troops should be brought home, my Marine absolutely believes in this mission. And, he has the moral standing to make that statement since he has been over there twice and will return next year for his third deployment.
Listen to the troops. They know what is going on. They can see the progress that is not being reported by major media . . . both in winning hearts and minds of the Iraqi people, and the training up of the Iraqi Army. It's significant. And it's too bad that Rep. Murtha refuses to acknowledge the incredible achievements made by our troops. Parents whose sons and daughters have made the ultimate sacrifice and who continue to support the not only the troops who are still there but their mission. More on that later this week, but Representative Murtha does not represent the views of the Stark family, or the Conrad family, or so many other families who have far more to lose than the Murtha family.
I applaud Murtha for his service during VietNam, but given that experience, he should know better. Shame on him.
Posted by Deb at 09:08 AM | Comments (48) | TrackBack
November 02, 2005
"Promoted from shower shoe to go-faster" - the life of a new Marine
Pfc. Kaitlyn M. Scarboro graduated from MCRD-Parris Island recently and is now assigned to the other side of boot camp - chronicling the day to day life of Marines as a journalist. Here's a personal look at the life of a very new Marine as written for the September 23 Chevron.
I don't even rate to wear my little blue ribbon yet. You know, the one you get after being in the fleet for 60 days. I haven't even reached the end of my first enlisted year. |
Posted by Deb at 08:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 23, 2005
An oath, a dedication, a way of life.
Here's an essay by a deployed Marine that perfectly captures the esprit de corps that personifies the Corps:
The Marine Corps is an institution. One that you have to prove you have what it takes to join and to survive. We are an organization that develops strong bonds even between Marines who had never met before but hold the same title. We have a saying that reads, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" because when you get out of the Army or other branches you say I use to be in the Army. Marines don't say "Im a former Marine". We stay Marine and we stay together. We have lost Marines in the past months here. We have lost Marines in the past months back in the states as well. Some by accidental deaths and some by old age. To all the Marines, we salute you and your families for the hardship that you endured. For what you have done in the past and for what you are being trained to do in the future. Semper Fi Marines we hope to fill your shoes and make you proud. |
I've heard the same thing from every Marine I've talked with in the past three years. It's a quality that sets Marines apart from every other group I've seen - and that's a good thing.
Posted by Deb at 01:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2005
"Heroes are people who overcome evil by doing good at great personal risk"
Former Marine Oliver North recently defined the word hero: "Heroes are people who overcome evil by doing good at great personal risk. Through self-sacrifice, fortitude and action -- whether they succeed or fail -- heroes provide a moral and ethical framework -- and inspiration -- for the rest of us."
North goes on to provide examples of heroes who fill that description:
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Holsey really is a hero. A nine-year Army veteran, Staff Sgt. Holsey was serving in the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment -- one of the units I've been privileged to cover in Iraq for FOX News. A roadside bomb -- placed by a terrorist, not an insurgent, not a "bomber," a terrorist -- so severely wounded him that his left leg had to be removed below the knee at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He now wears a prosthetic leg -- yet he plans to stay in the Army. When I asked him why, he replied, "because my soldiers need me. We have a war to win -- and my country needs me." |
There are so many others. This generation of young Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen/airwomen have put their own interests aside to serve their country and we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.
Hat tip: View from Tonka
Posted by Deb at 11:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack