Doubts surface even in heartland of Marine Corps [TRIPLE BARF ALERT]

[Commie] Mercury News ^ | April 2, 2004 | Laura Kurtzman

[LurkedLongEnough]

OCEANSIDE - Leo Diaz, a young Marine from Texas based here at Camp Pendleton, went to Iraq full of faith in the president who sent him. Today, he is burdened by the horror of what he saw and shocked at what he calls President Bush's ``frat boy'' mentality in starting the war.

``I show up. I'm proud. I'm looking forward to do my part,'' said Diaz, 22, whose father, uncle and grandfather served in the military. ``Turns out, we find no weapons of mass destruction. People hurt, killed.''

Diaz voted for Bush in 2000. But now he plans to vote for Democrat John Kerry for president.

Interviews with a dozen people, not all of them voters, in the communities near Camp Pendleton found opinion was still in favor of the war, 2-to-1. But many, like Diaz, express deep doubts about the reason Bush waged it and about the president himself.

Diaz spoke on a day when the grisly news from Iraq hung heavily over Camp Pendleton, which sent 14,000 Marines to Iraq in recent weeks. Nine Americans -- four civilian contractors and five soldiers -- were killed Wednesday in and around Al-Fallujah, a stronghold of support for former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein that the Marines patrol. Also, news arrived Wednesday that another Pendleton alum, Lance Cpl. William Wiscowiche, 20, of Victorville died in Iraq in hostile fire.

Nearly everyone in these parts has a relative, a friend, a customer who has gone to Iraq. Most do not talk about the war much. When asked about it, they tend to speak in the grave tones of people for whom the conflict is as real as their next-door neighbor.

Democrats were harsh in their criticism of the president. Republicans and independents were more muted. Many sought ways to assuage their doubts about the war in Iraq with assurances that it was worth the sacrifice to get rid of a terrible dictator.

``I think we did the world a favor,'' said Jim Francis, 61, whose son is an officer in the Marines on his second tour of duty in Iraq. Yet Francis, an independent voter, holds the president responsible for the faulty intelligence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction.

``As far as Bush goes, I know I wouldn't vote for him again.''

[LurkedLongEnough]

Forced excerption.

Disgusting, disgraceful and dissembling piece of liberal crap sure to please enemies of America. God help us.

Media Formula

1. Get out list of DNC talking points.
2. Find an exhausted Marine from Texas.
3. Put words in his mouth.
4. Find various people around town who watch CNN exclusively, and put words in their mouths too.
5. Plant doubts in the minds of Bush supporters with a jump on the bandwagon approach.
6. Mention that Americans are required to eat in front of hungry Iraqi children then immediately switch the topic to body parts.
7. Nothing will ever be the same again, unless and until Kerry takes back the White House, of course.

(gag gag gag gag)

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[Hardastarboard]

They were pumping this crap on CBS tonight, also. One Marine who voted for Bush now has some doubts and will probably vote for Kerry. The reporter said that the military has traditionally voted Republican, but that may change this fall. Right.

This not so subtle attempt at manipulating the voters just doesn't work, but it doesn't keep the media from trying it.

[x1stcav]

I hope this marine didn't give his real name or he's going to have a real hard time with his squad mates.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Interviews with a dozen people, not all of them voters,

What are they trying to say here? Illegal aliens? Suggesting that military doesn't vote? Shame on people who don't vote? huh?

running to get another barf bag... maybe I should take a shower instead...

[Kewlhand`tek]

meet one national guard member that is in iraq that voted for Harry Browne in 2000 , I will vote for Bush in 04...sorry Garry Nolan

[Sender]

Yep. You can always find someone who will echo your propaganda if you look long enough. I wonder why we never hear all the positive comments from all the servicemen and women who feel they are doing the right thing and making a difference? I guess the opinions of all the positive military aren't newsworthy.

[Sender]

...just like you hardly ever see a positive news story from Iraq, like "today we'll show you the new school that just opened" or "business is brisk here as merchants finally have freedom to do business freely". Instead they wait for scenes from Fallujah.

[Sola Veritas]

In this "Diaz" person is indeed a real marine, and said the things reported. Then I say he is a disgrace to the uniform, the flag, and his country.

I also suspect he his a craven coward, but is too much of a coward to admit it.

Whatever, no junior marine enlisted man would know to use the term "Frat Boy." That is so obviously a media planted term it reeks.

[bethelgrad]

I hope they bring this punk up on charges and take some rank for publicly badmouthing his COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

[WideGlide]

Were this douche bag's ancestors in Gen. Santa Anna's Army? Si senor.

[cricket]

"Diaz voted for Bush in 2000. But now he plans to vote for Democrat John Kerry for president."

Aid and comfort to the enemy; these disgusting Libs imagine that their treasonous speech is Free.

No doubt they raise their glasses nightly in self-congratulations.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Leo Diaz

AKA S**TBIRD

Open Letter From 1stMarDiv Commanding General

Letter to All Hands,

We are going back in to the brawl. We will be relieving the Magnificent Soldiers fighting under the 82nd Airborne Division, whose hard-won successes in the Sunni Triangle have opened opportunities for us to exploit. For the last year, the 82nd Airborne has been operating against the heart of the enemy's resistance. It's appropriate that we relieve them: When it's time to move a piano, Marines don't pick up the piano bench—we move the piano. So this is the right place for Marines in this fight, where we can carry on the legacy of "Chesty" Puller in the Banana Wars in the same sort of complex environment that he knew in his early years. Shoulder to shoulder with our comrades in the Army, Coalition Forces and maturing Iraqi Security Forces, we are going to destroy the enemy with precise firepower while diminishing the conditions that create adversarial relationships between us and the Iraqi people.

This is going to be hard, dangerous work. It is going to require patient, persistent presence. Using our individual initiative, courage, moral judgment and battle skills, we will build on the 82nd Airborne's victories. Our country is counting on us even as our enemies watch and calculate, hoping that America does not have warriors strong enough to withstand discomfort and danger. You, my fine young men, are going to prove the enemy wrong—dead wrong. You will demonstrate the same uncompromising spirit that has always caused the enemy to fear America's Marines.

The enemy will try to manipulate you into hating all Iraqis. Do not allow the enemy that victory. With strong discipline, solid faith, unwavering alertness, and undiminished chivalry to the innocent, we will carry out this mission. Remember, I have added, "First, do no harm" to our passwords of "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy." Keep your honor clean as we gain information about the enemy from the Iraqi people. Then, armed with that information and working in conjunction with fledgling Iraqi Security Forces, we will move precisely against the enemy elements and crush them without harming the innocent.

This is our test—our Guadalcanal, our Chosin Reservoir, our Hue City. Fight with a happy heart and keep faith in your comrades and your unit. We must be under no illusions about the nature of the enemy and the dangers that lie ahead. Stay alert, take it all in stride, remain sturdy, and share your courage with each other and the world. You are going to write history, my fine young Sailors and Marines, so write it well.

Semper Fidelis,
J. N. Mattis
Major General, U.S. Marines

[LurkedLongEnough]

Good reply.

Leo Diaz... prolly had a steak dinner & a couple beers "on the house" for his "opinion".

Do you know what a Code Red is, señor Diaz?

[VRWC_minion]

Diaz is never quoted as saying he won't vote for Bush or that the had voted for Bush. A father of a Marine says it.

[satan]

Last week I attended a commissioning ceremony at Quantico. The press was noticably absent. There are still a few good men - from all over this country.