Posted on 05/20/2004 3:54:58 AM PDT by phil_will1
As you all probably know by now, we are turning Fallujah over to the Iraqis.
This will give us an opportunity to focus on other areas, and hopefully to build a new Iraqi Army with some of the folks that are feeling alienated right now. We're all painfully aware of the various issues associated with this move, but there's no point in discussing them. We'll make this work, just like we make everything else work to the best of our ability. The Marines fought hard in Fallujah and took a lot of very evil people out of the fight. That effort, and the associated loss of Marine lives, was not in vain. We're already seeing a significant decrease in the enemy's ability to attack our forces. The supply lines are open again and everything is flowing freely through the country. Their efforts to cut us off in order to break our willpower failed. The Iraqi people are tired of the enemy and they are turning them over to us left and right. I'm going to discuss a subject that I know does not apply to most of you...We're reading that everyone back home is starting to lose faith in our efforts in Iraq. The last CBS poll put the numbers under 50% for the first time. I know that doesn't mean a loss in support for the troops, but supporting "the troops" while not supporting the mission doesn't do much for us. If we're over here for nothing then vague "support the troops" statements carry little weight.
The Marines are in high spirits. The troops in Fallujah are doing what Marines do best, and they're true professionals. Everyone else is driving forward, wondering what all the fuss back home is all about. We don't feel that we're losing anything - in fact, we're finally addressing issues that should have been addressed some time ago. The world seems to have forgotten what war looks like. It's not supposed to be pretty and happy. Force is used to kill those who are perpetrating evil on the people of Iraq. The images need to be put in perspective, something the news agencies just don't have time for.
It would be interesting to see someone track all the dire accounts and predictions that were issued over the past three weeks to see if they've been accurate. I read reports that we were cut off and couldn't get supplies. Reality: Not true, they failed. A popular revolution was taking place in the south and Sadr was leading a new Shia revolt. Reality: Not true. Shia militia are killing Sadr's folks in Najaf because they don't respect him and they're sick of him. He's the same buffoon he was last month. Fallujah would ignite the Arab world (how many times have we heard that one). Reality: Despite the best efforts of Al-Jazira to make us look like Atilla the Hun, there has been no explosion of populist anger. The same problems exist that existed last month - no better, no worse.
Please pass the word that we're doing great and the Marines are victorious in every battle. The enemy is a disconcerted, disparate group of disenfranchised dissemblers who have little power outside the realm of localized intimidation and the support of complicit al-Jazeera reporters. We will be able to settle this place down and help the Iraqi people back on their feet if we're able to ignore the hysteria on T.V. and recall the national willpower we had in the 1940's. What happened to our country?
Have we really become so addled and weak-willed that we can't stick something out through a little rough patch? I have faith that we'll get the backing we need to finish our work in Iraq. Please have that faith with me and support our mission as much as you support our Marines.
Semper Fidelis,
Ben
So it could be a hoax?
I wonder if every serviceman knows that any of his letters or emails could be posted to the Internet.
ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, ...
I was U. S. Air Force and in my heart I will always be an Airman. From all the other information I've be able to find I believe it is true. All our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airman, and Coasties are doing a great job. They are the Best of the Best.
PING!
Trying to have it both ways is a typically liberal position. They've yet to figure out that if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. I'm sure our troops know that not everyone shares in that flipflop philosophy!
Iraq and Iraqis may not be worth the price we are paying in brave men and women but the mission is. God Bless our brave men and women in uniform and see them safely home.
I'm sure somewhere deep down our troops know that the media isn't the true heart of the nation, but I agree with this e-mail that seeing the garbage in the news is disheartining to our troops.
I know several guys whose biggest fear in going to Iraq was that they would come home to a country that couldn't appreciate what they did, be it right or wrong. It would seem that the media wants to confirm these fears.
I know that we have a voice here on FR, but how can we be heard more by everyone to show them that there really is support for our troops, and their mission?
It boils my blood to know that our guys are fighting for what was thought to be the right thing at the time, and all we can do is watch the media pick it apart and turn it into political propaganda and a circus act. I for one am tired of not being able to do anything.
ping
IN spite of a few bad apples, it's never been our soldiers that were the problem in Iraq. The question is, are the Iraqis strong enough to stand on their feet when we've helped them up? That is something that is out of American control, but the success of our mission (create a strong democracy in the Mideast as an example and bulwark against terrorism) depends on it.
Yeah, right. The politicians ordered the Marines to tuck tail and run from a fight they were winning, and they're in "high spirits".
Is that a new euphamism for "extremely pissed off"?
"I wonder if every serviceman knows that any of his letters or emails could be posted to the Internet."
There is nothing personal or confidential in here. I would never have posted it if there were.
That's not it. His opinions are posted for the world to see. If the Army wanted him to have opinions, they would have been issued to him.
It actually appeared in USA Today yesterday, and their 'rules' allow us to only post links (or rewrite *g*).
Re-bump!
"If the Army wanted him to have opinions, they would have been issued to him."
The ARMY? As a former jarhead, I can tell you that the Captain of Marines would be highly insulted that you confused him with a doggie!
The President needs to go on national television and articulate exactly what is in this letter. I am totally dumbfounded that we have the Bully Pulpit and don't use it.
BMP
Sadr is a punk. He does not have the charisma or the gravitas of his father.
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