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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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To: My Dog Likes Me
What you see every night on TV is like watching the world through a straw instead of through clear eyes.

Think of any onther instance in your life where you accept the TV view over a view that you yourself have witnessed.

Example: are the Ruckus Society anti-IMF protestors a majority? Are the 500,000 women who protested on the Mall last Sunday even a majority of American women?
21 posted on 04/27/2004 5:23:25 AM PDT by maica (Member of Republican Attack Machine, RAM, previously known as the VRWC)
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To: kattracks
Political Science major?
22 posted on 04/27/2004 5:28:56 AM PDT by verity (A Vote for Kerry is a vote for National Suicide!)
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To: Remember_Salamis
May God bless you and your family, I thank you, my children and I pray for your safety every night, and keep up the good work!
23 posted on 04/27/2004 5:37:00 AM PDT by no more apples (God Bless our troops)
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To: Remember_Salamis
there is still strong support here, the majority of Americans are behind President Bush and his war on terrorism. If this were not an election year, we would hear half of the lies spewed. Ask more of your soldier friends to keep writing these letters, we will do our best to promote them. God bless you and a big thank you for your service.
24 posted on 04/27/2004 6:00:07 AM PDT by etabeta
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To: My Dog Likes Me
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.

Sort of like the teenagers burning and looting in LosAngeles after the Rodney King verdict? Or a Chicago Bulls win?

25 posted on 04/27/2004 6:28:50 AM PDT by gatorbait (Yesterday, today and tomorrow......The United States Army)
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To: My Dog Likes Me
What, pray tell, did you think about the riots after the Rodney King verdict in L.A. or the riots in Cincinnati after the police shooting? Should we abandon California and Ohio to chaos because there are some highly visible thugs running rampant?
26 posted on 04/27/2004 6:38:06 AM PDT by Law is not justice but process
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To: kattracks
BTTT
27 posted on 04/27/2004 6:49:57 AM PDT by EdReform
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To: kattracks
BTTT
28 posted on 04/27/2004 6:50:36 AM PDT by EdReform
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To: CDHart
Carolyn: you forgot to include that we need to send those same YOU'RE KILLING OUR TROOPS! EMails to the OldMedia outlets.

29 posted on 04/27/2004 7:13:45 AM PDT by AFPhys ((.Praying for President Bush, our troops, their families, and all my American neighbors..))
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To: Eagle Eye; My Dog Likes Me; Allegra
Just like every other news story, the OldMedia delights in seeking out the sensationalist stories. There are more high school children killed every year pursuing HS sports (especially football injuries) than have ever been killed in HS gun incidents, but the OldMedia chooses to highlight a gun shooting from across the country, and that serves to immensely scare everyone in the nation about the prevalence of guns in their own local schools when nothing could be further from the truth.

The dynamic of seeking out the sensational is true here, also. The relatively small number of trouble spots are highlighted. Meanwhile throughout most of the country, schools and hospitals and power stations and businesses are being built and prospering despite the persistent efforts of the few obstructionists. Ask Allegra!
30 posted on 04/27/2004 7:22:54 AM PDT by AFPhys ((.Praying for President Bush, our troops, their families, and all my American neighbors..))
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To: AFPhys
The relatively small number of trouble spots are highlighted. Meanwhile throughout most of the country, schools and hospitals and power stations and businesses are being built and prospering despite the persistent efforts of the few obstructionists. Ask Allegra!

Yeah, the media twists it so much. They're so cynical.

More and more Iraqis are experiencing clean drinking water in abundance, children are getting vaccinated and the child mortality rate is already dropping.

Yes, there are still a lot of problems and there's a long way to go, but to listen to the media, you'd think it was hopeless.

It is anything but that.

31 posted on 04/27/2004 8:10:21 AM PDT by Allegra (Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, MUSHROOM!)
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To: Remember_Salamis
I'm in theater right now and can tell you that the Media is starting to get to some of us.

That's the whole idea. This constant sniping by the Media, academics and Liberal politicians is having a corrosive effect everywhere, including among the troops.

Their strategic aim is to create a self-fulfilling prophecy and lose this war so they can be morally affirmed and regain power.

32 posted on 04/27/2004 8:27:18 AM PDT by Gritty ("Even Islamic terrorists don't hate America like liberals do.They don't have the energy"-Ann Coulter)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
33 posted on 04/27/2004 9:11:58 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: AFPhys
Good point!

Carolyn

34 posted on 04/27/2004 9:34:32 AM PDT by CDHart
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To: kattracks
I've been doing this and will continue to do so.

But we have a problem.

It is an election year and the Dumbocrats are spewing their filthy, their "smells like Vietnam" and other such junk.

Means that we have to keep speaking about the good that our soldiers are doing - over and over and over.

Fight the good faith. We have to keep doing this right up to the election and even after Pres. Bush is re-elected!!! Just because the election is over, doesn't mean the Dims will stop their palaver of lies.

Truthy
35 posted on 04/27/2004 10:17:54 AM PDT by TruthNtegrity (We all have to work hard to make sure that Pres. Bush is re-elected in Nov. 04.)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Good Bless our troops ~ Bump!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

36 posted on 04/27/2004 10:31:44 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl
God Bless our troops ~ Bump!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

37 posted on 04/27/2004 10:31:55 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: kattracks
Semper Fi Lt., Will do!
38 posted on 04/27/2004 10:35:53 AM PDT by threat matrix ('For my brother, and my country.' Ranger Pat Tillman to Sgt. Joe Bush)
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To: Eagle Eye
The TV images do not reflect the Big Picture reality.

This is so true. I met a guy from Northern Ireland last year. I asked about all the killing that went on there. He laughed and said it was only one little neighborhood in the whole city. By the news, you would have thought it was constant fighting. Most of the people went about their daily business. Think about it like when the police have a shootout with a criminal...

The MSM are nothing but liars and out to make a buck.

39 posted on 04/27/2004 10:48:15 AM PDT by BushisTheMan
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To: BushisTheMan
The fighting in Iraq is more than one or two little nieghborhoods and the truth is that westerners are not safe in many places at all.

It's not all open combat but it is certainly not hunky-dory either. Not when one has to wear body armor and a helmet to go anywhere outside of a secure zone and the secure zones receive rockets and mortars.
40 posted on 04/27/2004 10:57:03 AM PDT by Eagle Eye (Coming to you live from HESCO city...)
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