Posted on 05/29/2006 4:46:05 PM PDT by Coop
...
In the meantime, my column had been posted on a well-known right-wing American website, where it attracted 119 comments. Oddly, none of them displayed any hint of disquiet over the behaviour of the Marines under investigation. Rather, their outrage was reserved for John Murtha and yours truly.
One poster's reaction was to "nuke the Middle East" adding "thank you very much Dishonourable Rep. Jack Murtha". He was later to write "if you can't stand behind our troops, stand in front of them".
A few of his co-posters rushed to the website of Murtha's Republican challenger Diana Irey to donate campaign funds.
The fact that this murdering troop has the support of even those 119 posters is worrisome. Surely, nobody should defend the indefensible based on some false notion of patriotism.
Military personnel should act as ambassadors for their country and behave according to international rules of law and the Geneva Conventions that were drawn up as a result of atrocities committed during the Second World War. There should be a difference between real soldiers and ruthless thugs with public opinion the final arbiter.
If the public, as represented by the 119 posters on the Free Republic website, condones such behaviour or seeks to excuse it, then not only is its members giving their country's soldiers a license to kill arbitrarily, they are altering the fundamental psyche of their nation.
To quote a well-known rationalist intellectual Felix Adler "Love of country is like love of women - he loves her best who seeks to bestow on her the highest good."
The "Freepers" - as members of the Free Republic website have come to be known - may also like to contemplate the words of theologian Howard Thurman who said "During times of war, hatred becomes quite respectable, even though it has to masquerade often under the guise of patriotism."
In short, people who glorify soldiers who purposefully assassinate women and small children are as misguided as those who glorify the blowing up of crowded buses, trains and marketplaces.
Does the donning of a uniform render its wearer impervious to justice? The Nuremberg trials indicate not...
As with many things in Ms. Heard weak article, that phrase was incorrectly attributed to me.
Awesome response!
Unfortunately that's very true.
Thanks for bringing out that oldie but goodie. Seems very appropriate for this whiny Eurotrash. You're on the list, thanks.
One question: I remember the Entebbe thing, as I was 12, had been following it on the 1/2 hour nightly news, and the Sunday morning church service (all about the US Bicentennial) was interrupted by an announcement from the pulpit of the raid/rescue, and I've since seen two docu-dramas (one with Helen Hayes and Richard Dreyfuss) made shortly afterward. Seems to me the terrorists were German Baader-Mainhof. Am I wrong on that, or were they in league with islamists?
But without the European spelling!
Ahhh, well, you must be on active duty!
Dear Ms. Heard,
Your facts may be disproven by a predator drone that was flying overhead during that day and videotaping the events, will you apologize if it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were wrong.
PS, A huge firefight happened less then a third of a mile from the location of this "massacre", it was probibly totally "unrelated" as well.
What Murtha and this piece of trash, as well as some FReepers, don't get is that even if these accusations are 100% true, their behavior to date will be no less despicable.
This b****, Ms Heard is an absoulte disgrace to the jornalism profession. Obviously, she seems to be insistent that Mr. Murtha is the conscience of this country and represents the majority viewpoint of the people of America.
Well, he doesn't and anobydy who says otherwise is a bald faced pathlogical liar
And, Ms. Heard is a bald faced pathlogical liar!!!!!
I happen to have relatives who are in the military and know some folks who have been in combat in some form or another. People who have had to deal with the B.S. and C.F. from people like you.
You know it's awfully easy for goofballs like you to make comments like this. You've never had a real job in your life and obviously you don't know what it's like to have a real job or come back home from a hard days work sweating your butts off like a lot of us do.
I've been a member of Free Republic since 2001. This website clearly represents the majority thought of this country. You see, Ms. Heard, America isn't just made up of people who think like you like you seem to think. There are lot more of us than there is of you. We know what's at stake here in the War on Terror and quite frankly we know a h*** of a lot more than you do.
What is at stake here is our National Security. The people fighting overseas are doing so so that we can rest easily without the fear of more 9/11's. Unlike you and your kind we know who the real enemies are. They are the ones fighting overseas against our troops, not the opponents and political dissidents of your sorry lazy miserable good for nothing Democat party like you seem to think.
Jack Murtha has and is contuing to prove himself to be a complete and total embarrasment not just to the people of his district but to the people of Pennslyvania. His values are clearly in conflict with the people of his district and the values of America.
That is why the people are rallying behind his opponent in the 2006 election. Because she represents the real values of the people of that district, not the values that you and Mr. Murtha claim to represent.
And when all is said and done, not only will Mr. Murtha be out of a job but you and your stupid, idiotic and foolish new organization, Gulf News will be out of business. People like you and your kind do not reflect the real values of this country. Anybody who says otherwise is a bald faced pathological liar.
And you, Ms. Heard, are nothing but a bald faced pathlogical liar!!!!!!
Regards......
One poster's reaction was to "nuke the Middle East"Comments like that typically get nuked themselves around here....for good reason.
-Eric
Yep
One poster's reaction was to "nuke the Middle East" adding "thank you very much Dishonourable Rep. Jack Murtha". He was later to write "if you can't stand behind our troops, stand in front of them".
A person can be conserative and still be an idiot
A few of his co-posters rushed to the website of Murtha's Republican challenger Diana Irey to donate campaign funds.
Sounds like a heck of a idea!!!
The fact that this murdering troop has the support of even those 119 posters is worrisome. Surely, nobody should defend the indefensible based on some false notion of patriotism.
MAJOR assimtion alert!!! IF these guys are guilty they need to spend many many years turning big rocks into little ones.
Linda S. Heard...me thinks she doth protest overmuch.
Gee I wonder how big her E-mail box is?
Let's be honest... this would not be the first time American soldiers have murdered civilians. It is a sad tragedy of war that soldiers sometimes go off the deep end. But it should be noted that the Marines have not even been charged, yet this columnist is already reporting this massacre as proven fact.
There will be time for condemnation *IF* the Marines are convicted. In fact, if it turns out to be true, these Marines should be put in front of a firing squad for war crimes and dishonoring the hundreds of thousands of servicemen and women who have served with distinction and honor.
Iraqi Propaganda machine is at work here... The Insurgents and terrorists have no qualms about killing Iraqi civilians to make propaganda points... Prove that a Marine shot those women and children beyond a reasonable dobut first... Until then all of our troops have my 100 percent support.
John Murtha trying to make political hay out of this issue is dead wrong and what's worse he of all people should know that.
Suspect early onset of Alzheimers.
I'm not even going there. Dementia would relieve Murtha of responsibility for his treasonous behavior. I'm not letting him off that easily.
Let's be honest... this would not be the first time American soldiers have murdered civilians.
True, but it is the exception that proves the rule.
It's a shame that the drive-by media doesn't give anywhere near the coverage about the REAL story from Iraq
(example)
Letter from Iraq you won't find in the MSM
February 15, 2006 | Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID
Posted on 02/15/2006 1:33:30 PM CST by PlainOleAmerican
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1579166/posts
From: Mayor of Tall ‘Afar, Ninewa, Iraq
In the Name of God the Compassionate and Merciful
To the Courageous Men and Women of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who have changed the city of Tall’ Afar from a ghost town, in which terrorists spread death and destruction, to a secure city flourishing with life.
To the lion-hearts who liberated our city from the grasp of terrorists who were beheading men, women and children in the streets for many months.
To those who spread smiles on the faces of our children, and gave us restored hope, through their personal sacrifice and brave fighting, and gave new life to the city after hopelessness darkened our days, and stole our confidence in our ability to reestablish our city.
Our city was the main base of operations for Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. The city was completely held hostage in the hands of his henchmen. Our schools, governmental services, businesses and offices were closed. Our streets were silent, and no one dared to walk them. Our people were barricaded in their homes out of fear; death awaited them around every corner. Terrorists occupied and controlled the only hospital in the city. Their savagery reached such a level that they stuffed the corpsesof children with explosives and tossed them into the streets in order to kill grieving parents attempting to retrieve the bodies of their young. This was the situation of our city until God prepared and delivered unto them the courageous soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, who liberated this city, ridding it of Zarqawi’s followers after harsh fighting, killing many terrorists, and forcing the remaining butchers to flee the city like rats to the surrounding areas, where the bravery of other 3d ACR soldiers in Sinjar, Rabiah, Zuma and Avgani finally destroyed them.
I have met many soldiers of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment; they are not only courageous men and women, but avenging angels sent by The God Himself to fight the evil of terrorism.
The leaders of this Regiment; COL McMaster, COL Armstrong, LTC Hickey, LTC Gibson, and LTC Reilly embody courage, strength, vision and wisdom.
Officers and soldiers alike bristle with the confidence and character of knights in a bygone era. The mission they have accomplished, by means of a unique military operation, stands among the finest military feats to date in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and truly deserves to be studied in military science. This military operation was clean, with little collateral damage, despite the ferocity of the enemy. With the skill and precision of surgeons they dealt with the terrorist cancers in the city without causing unnecessary damage.
God bless this brave Regiment; God bless the families who dedicated these brave men and women. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the families. They have given us something we will never forget. To the families of those who have given their holy blood for our land, we all bow to you in reverence and to the souls of your loved ones. Their sacrifice was not in vain. They are not dead, but alive, and their souls hovering around us every second of every minute. They will never be forgotten for giving their precious lives. They have sacrificed that which is most valuable. We see them in the smile of every child, and inevery flower growing in this land. Let America, their families, and the world be proud of their sacrifice for humanity and life.
Finally, no matter how much I write or speak about this brave Regiment, I haven’t the words to describe the courage of its officers and soldiers. I pray to God to grant happiness and health to these legendary heroes and their brave families.
NAJIM ABDULLAH ABID
AL-JIBOURI
Mayor of Tall ‘Afar,
Ninewa, Iraq
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