Posted on 11/17/2004 5:28:42 PM PST by lt.america
Good Morning Everybody. > > The following is an email from my son regarding the NBC report (with > embedded reporter Kevin Sites), concerning the Marine who is being > investigated for "murdering" the insurgent in Fallaja. I will be sending his > mail to every news program's email I can find. I find it sickening that this > Kevin Sites is even allowed to be embedded with our Marines, as this isn't > the first report I've heard from him that took on a decidely unfriendly > tone. My son also gave me permission to release it to anyone that wants to > pass it on, as long as it remains unedited. > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that > everyone does. > > This is just one most don't hear: > A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently > filled with insurgents armed with Ak-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, > another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, > mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of > his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured > man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split > second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and > the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside > rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles. The > result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the > deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives. > The Marines' remains are gathered by teary eyed > comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only > mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by > someone who hid behind a white flag. But no one hears these stories, except > those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who > loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares. > > This is the story everyone hears: > > A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently > filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, > another wailing in pain. The insugent can be heard saying, "Mister,mister! > Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded.Suddenly, he pulls from under > his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, > killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel > in the face. > The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The > young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One > lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the > wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the > background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!" > The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. > > Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the > Marine is being held for commiting a war crime. Unlawful killing. > > And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for > protecting the life of his > brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down > their face. Brother, should I have > been in your boots, i too would have done the same. > > For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, > Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it > is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our > right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can > go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.
> > For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and > choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. > Get out of you recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave > your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have > walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us > alive. > > I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions > and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US > military, or any other. > > Sincerely, > > LCPL > USMC > > > > > > "For those who fight for it, freedom has a flavor the protected never know." > -- Written on a C-ration box lid at Khe Sanh, South Vietnam, 1968 > > "There will be nowhere left for the insurgents to hide. We will fight them > until there are none of them left to fight." U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid, > chief of U.S. Central Command > > MGySgt., USMC (Ret.) > Not as lean, > Not as mean, > But still a Marine. > >
Every time I see that picture it makes me want to find the closest liberal journalist and choke the living shi* out of him - literally!I hear ya. Me, too!
I was speaking of deterring the jihadis.
Yeah, that's me. Must be a product of 8 years in the USMC.
I did. Lots of "blah blah blah" but no real meat to back it up.
I guess you've earned the right to turn your back on this poor trooper. Thank God other Marines haven't.
Contrary to what you believe, I haven't turned my back on him. I merely note that life in the Marines prepares you for adversity.
I've had people "unfairly" say nasty things about me when I was a Marine. I didn't give a flying fornication what they thought, I just continued mission.
Three and a half years is all it takes.
In other words... the ICC is the global "organization" which, when studied closely, resembles the so-called "black reparations" scam.
It's extortion, hidden by legalese, and socialist theatrical make-up.
Ar$eholes. Blow them all up! Just G-r-r-r-r!
True. We have a reputation for being soft and weak, which is why so many people flock into Iraq from other countries to fight us. (Ironically, few of them return home alive). This video may put some scare in them. Not much consolation to the Marine facing charges, though.
Second. The whole media circus surrounding Abu Ghraib -- has changed the way the public views the news. Now they are far more skeptical than before Abu Ghraib, and Kerry's "stars from 4 months in Vietnam".
True, but again, irrelevant to the Marine.
Third, the military does THOROUGH investigations which are not carved around "ratings" and income (like in the private sector) -- therefore, the real details and data will emerge...
I have two concerns here.
First, as I stated earlier, is that I fear the facts of the matter will show the Marine violated the rules of engagement, and will face prosecution. 'I felt threatened' are the three golden words for meeting 'use of lethal force' requirements, but you need to be able to show cause. Being spooked because an unarmed, wounded terrorist may be playing dead (i.e. no hostile act) won't cut it, as far as the ROE goes.
Second, when in doubt, the military often chooses to punish anyway, especially when bad publicity is involved. Are they going to fall on the sword of public opinion for one Marine caught in a very messy and questionable PR nightmare, when they could just wash their hands and move on?
bump for later read
I musta had a brain-gasser. Pardon.
"Kevin Sites is famous now. Maybe now he should go back to New York, write his book, and get the fark out of the way from now on."
The stupid bastard should have kept his film and MOUTH shut.
Those unwilling or unable to do what the enemy is able and willing to do, will not win.
And the tragedy is compounded by the Old Media. The Old Media have lost their two biggest audience draws: the election and the Scott Peterson case. (Choosing Senate leadership isn't quite in the same category). What they want is a big scandal as an audience draw. This Marine is being lynched to keep up their ratings.
Great job on your profile page. Excellent comments about the Marine.
"... but you need to be able to show cause. "
From all that I've been reading on boards, from MSM, and from other soldiers.. I think the Marine will in fact be able to prove this "I felt threatened". I know this often boils down to "was proper warning given" (before shooting a moving "alleged" injured".)
"Second, when in doubt, the military often chooses to punish anyway, especially when bad publicity is involved. Are they going to fall on the sword of public opinion for one Marine caught in a very messy and questionable PR nightmare, when they could just wash their hands and move on?"
Yes, the military is a very strict discipline. I've been inside, with some soldiers, some total Catch-22 situations, and I've seen how strict it is. My own hunch is, the public has made clear it stands with the soldiers (given last election results) and Safeguarding the US. Plus, and lastly, Joe-Public has also made it clear he wants the US Military mission to be completed (this part), and... this mission involves ridding Iraq of some *REALLY* BAD guys. The longer the bad guys stay and keep on being "bad", the longer our toops have to fight -- greater chances of losing more troops.
Ergo, I think public opinion, overall (certainly in anon mode) holds with the Marine's actions. Not the injured (now dead) lying, cheating, murdering thug.
Thank you for the Ping. WOW!
Ignore Poobah, he's going around all the threads trying to defend Sites,despite the fact that as more is known about him it is evident that he is a biased anti war protester.
Make that 6247 sigs.Thanks for the link
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