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In Defense Of A Young Marine
OpinionBug.com ^ | Nov. 21, 2004 | LTC Allen B West (USA, Ret):

Posted on 11/22/2004 12:38:01 PM PST by conservativecorner

The subject of the young Marine in Fallujah is very near to my heart and emotional for me. See just a year ago there were sleepless nights for me and countless tears. A year ago I was the subject of a military hearing where my fate would be decided, possibly an eight year jail sentence. See, I stand firmly on the side of this Marine as many stood for me a year ago.

First, let no person that has never laced up a pair of combat boots, gone on a combat operation, been shot, or shot at offer their “opinion” on this issue. These Brave young Men and Women who volunteer to leave their families to secure the freedoms of others are the best of this Society, not actors and sports figures!

Second, Kevin Sites, MSNBC reporter, should, Nationally, apologize to this Marine, his family, and the Marine Corps for his shameful, dishonorable, and borderline treasonous action. He should be removed from the Iraq Theater of operations and forever be prohibited from covering issues of military relevance. I can think of nothing more damaging from an embed reporter other than just blatantly giving away unit operational information.

Thirdly, what have we become in America when we prosecute our Warriors and coddle the enemy. Look, they are terrorists, take it from a guy that has been on the opposite end of an AK-47 and discovered countless arms caches. They are not insurgents, they are simply killers. It is time that we stop having our benevolence used against us, shoot at Americans from a Mosque, run and hide behind women, children, dress as women, and now play dead or wounded (actually an old trick, ask the French about German tanks with their guns facing the rear, or any Vet that served in the Pacific or Vietnam). Therefore, what would America rather have? More dead US troops, perhaps that is truly what the liberal media would like to see? Seems to me that they do not want us to hurt any insurgents. And just earlier this month, these were the people that wanted their candidate to be Commander-In-Chief?

Fourth, stop talking about Geneva Convention! Terrorists are not signatories to this document. They are not uniformed troops serving under the flag of a recognized Nation or State. We really need to reexamine the so called “Rules of War", there are none especially when you are dealing with an enemy that has a completely different culturalization and religious base than yours! In WWII the Germans took Soldiers that were proficient in English and parachuted them into our rear areas in American uniforms, what happened, when captured they were shot. Boy howdy, what would our current media say to that? Gen William Tecumseh Sherman stated, “War is Hell” and having seen two combat operations and nothing similar to the furnace that was the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, or Vietnam, I would still agree. We need to look at how do we deal with these Terrorists, look you play a certain game, playing possum, well first time shame on us, second time, shame on you!

Ok, in conclusion, where is the Code of Bushido or the Honor of Sparta in our American society? Here we are on the media condemning a young Marine that was just recently shot while celebrating Officers refusing to return and serve their Nation. I ask, what defines character in America? If they ask me to return, my only question is where? If the episode that I experienced or this Marine was part of a Hollywood action film (check out “The Untouchables” and you will see a clip that parallels my situation) the audience would shout and cheer. Our kids play ruthless Video games and we do not condemn them, yet a young Warrior of this Nation takes action and we say, “First Degree Murder". Funny, War is murder isn’t it? Perhaps we have forgotten that people really do shoot at you, unlike the movies and video games.

Have we heard anything from Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, or the Dictatorial Monarchies we call the Middle East condemning the beheading of civilians? Ask yourself, how would TERRORISTS treat a wounded US serviceman or woman? No, I do not say lower yourself to the level of these fiends, however, as we used to say in street ball, “You make it, You Take It!”

Regards, LTC Allen B West (USA, Ret)


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fallujahmarine
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To: Max Combined
"LTC Allen B West (USA, Ret) is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but his heart is in the right place."

Oh he's sharp alright, and brave enough that he wouldn't let this modern PC crap stand in his way of doing his duty. He fired his weapon near the head of a terrorist to scare crucial information out of him to protect his men; the terrorists carve off people's heads to show their meanness. Col. West understood how to deal with sub-human beasts like these. Don't confuse bravery with stupidity, I greatly admire the man and would want a commander just like him if I were serving in a hell hole like Iraq.

21 posted on 11/22/2004 2:11:50 PM PST by TheCrusader ("the frenzy of the Mohammedans has devastated the Churches of God" - Pope Urban II, 1097 A.D.)
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To: conservativecorner
"Ask yourself, how would TERRORISTS treat a wounded US serviceman or woman?"

We already found out through Jessica Lynch, a 110 pound female that they saw fit to rape and torture.

Thanks for your great service to our country, LTC Col. West.

22 posted on 11/22/2004 2:14:44 PM PST by TheCrusader ("the frenzy of the Mohammedans has devastated the Churches of God" - Pope Urban II, 1097 A.D.)
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To: go star go

To have an opinion. . .okay. . .to sit in judgment. . .no.


23 posted on 11/22/2004 3:31:35 PM PST by Gunrunner2
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To: conservativecorner
First, let no person that has never laced up a pair of combat boots, gone on a combat operation, been shot, or shot at offer their “opinion” on this issue

I can understanding not passing judgement, but not having an opinion? Does the good Major feel that those that were never shot at and supported him should not have?

24 posted on 11/22/2004 5:41:08 PM PST by Ajnin
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To: Ajnin

Major=LTC


25 posted on 11/22/2004 5:42:24 PM PST by Ajnin
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