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A Plea from a Marine in Iraq
FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | 4/27/04 | Robert Nofsinger

Posted on 04/27/2004 1:13:29 AM PDT by kattracks

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, 1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC Ramadi, Iraq



TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq
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1 posted on 04/27/2004 1:13:29 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
WoW!

Bump!
2 posted on 04/27/2004 1:16:27 AM PDT by GottaLuvAkitas1 (What a Tangled Web We Weave . .when first we practice to deceive!)
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To: kattracks
Semper Fi!!!
Well said!!
3 posted on 04/27/2004 1:20:05 AM PDT by Agent47
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl; PhiKapMom; Miss Marple; Howlin; Mo1; onyx
ping
4 posted on 04/27/2004 1:22:24 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Twice posted already - well worth it:
5 posted on 04/27/2004 1:22:46 AM PDT by ThePythonicCow (Defeat J Frondeur Kerry)
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To: kattracks
Thanks for your views, Lieutenant. Now go kill them all or join the Peace Corps.

Let's stop kidding ourselves. This mysterious "vast majority of Iraqis who support us" is a lie. When I see teenagers looting destroyed HUMVEES on TV every night, I start to think we should turn the keys back over to the guy we overthrew.



6 posted on 04/27/2004 1:42:16 AM PDT by My Dog Likes Me
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To: kattracks
Yes, sir, Lieutenant! Will do! Well said.
7 posted on 04/27/2004 2:12:38 AM PDT by farmer18th
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To: kattracks
I think that television coverage of the war should simply end.

War is a dirty, filthy mess, and you don't win it by dying for your country, you win it by making the other bastard die for his.

Yes, innocent people get killed in war. That is nothing new. If they don't want their homes destroyed, and their families to die, they should do something to stop it. The Iraqis are certainly in a position to do so.

For a parallel in history, if only one German would have sacrificed his life and shot Hitler in time, millions would have been saved.

The ONLY THING that is new since World War II, is that now it is seen in everyone's home.
8 posted on 04/27/2004 2:13:01 AM PDT by RonHolzwarth (Nazi Party + Pearl Harbor = Tokyo + Dresden + Berlin + Hiroshima + Nagasaki. Worth it?)
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To: RonHolzwarth
Oh, one more thing is new. The bombs are bigger.

And, more accurate.
9 posted on 04/27/2004 2:15:54 AM PDT by RonHolzwarth (Nazi Party + Pearl Harbor = Tokyo + Dresden + Berlin + Hiroshima + Nagasaki. Worth it?)
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To: kattracks
I am emailing this to all my friends.

I am printing this and handing it out at work.
10 posted on 04/27/2004 3:03:57 AM PDT by samtheman (www.georgewbush.com)
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To: kattracks
It doesn't get any better. We are seeing the final collapse of the ability of the central command media to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
11 posted on 04/27/2004 3:08:21 AM PDT by AmericanVictory (Should we be more like them, or they like us?)
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To: My Dog Likes Me
This mysterious "vast majority of Iraqis who support us" is a lie

And you have what to back this up?

You are probably one of the many who have the audacity to contradict those on the ground based on what you see on tv.

What foolishness and nonsense.

and I'd agree with the Lt. much more than you.

12 posted on 04/27/2004 3:19:42 AM PDT by Eagle Eye (Coming to you live from HESCO city...)
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To: kattracks
We need to keep up the e-mails to the Dems and Kerry with caps in the subject line: YOU'RE KILLING OUR TROOPS! Can't hurt and it might help.

Carolyn

13 posted on 04/27/2004 3:26:02 AM PDT by CDHart
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To: Eagle Eye
And maybe our guys on the ground don't see what we see every night on the news.
14 posted on 04/27/2004 3:39:38 AM PDT by My Dog Likes Me
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To: kattracks
I'm in theater right now and can tell you that the Media is starting to get to some of us. I got in an huge argument w/ a PFC out here the other day because he thought we had no business here and they hate us. Send the 1LT's letter to everyone you know.
15 posted on 04/27/2004 4:12:36 AM PDT by Remember_Salamis (Freedom is Not Free)
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To: My Dog Likes Me
They probably don't see it, they are too busy living it while you're there at home watching TV.

The TV images do not reflect the Big Picture reality.
16 posted on 04/27/2004 4:23:01 AM PDT by Eagle Eye (Coming to you live from HESCO city...)
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To: My Dog Likes Me
...what we see every night on the news.

Who decides what gets shown on the news every night?

Once you answer THAT question, then ask your self if what is shown on the news is part of an agenda.

17 posted on 04/27/2004 4:49:39 AM PDT by jonno (We are NOT a democracy - though we are democratic. We ARE a constitutional republic.)
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To: kattracks; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
Freepers are on it, kattracks!

We e-mailed the Lt's letter to FrontPageMag, and to many troops, Veterans - allies (and others in the press).

It is being warmly received, and many are promising the Lt. and his Marines that they will help spread the news on the homefront - including a loyal and true Brit ally, who promises to do the same for the war effort in the UK.

Thank you, David Horowitz, for giving our troops a voice in the public square!

God bless our troops!

18 posted on 04/27/2004 4:58:59 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl
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To: kattracks
Big bump!
19 posted on 04/27/2004 5:02:21 AM PDT by Aeronaut (The proper response to gay marriage is laughter.)
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To: kattracks
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.

Thanks to the DNC

20 posted on 04/27/2004 5:16:50 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it.)
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