Posted on 06/07/2006 5:20:26 PM PDT by SE Mom
GEN. HAGEE: Good afternoon, and thank you all for coming this afternoon.
First, I would like to talk briefly about what it is to be a Marine and what we Marines hold dear.
You know, we recruit some of the best young people in America. We only promise them one thing. If they are good enough, morally, mentally and physically, they could become a Marine. They too could wear the eagle, globe and anchor. They too could join the most elite military organization the world has ever seen.
We severely challenge them in boot camp and in officer candidate school. Those who succeed in becoming Marines know we have high standards on the battlefield, off the battlefield, on liberty, on leave, wearing the uniform, discipline. We really want to be the best at whatever we do.
Our recruits are taught -- and it is constantly reinforced -- that an important part of being a Marine is accomplishing the mission while adhering to our core values of honor, courage and commitment.
Our high standards, mission focus and selfless service are what enabled Marines to attack successfully in the Belleau Wood in June of 1918, after being told that the war was lost and their attack was futile.
These same military virtues resulted in the successful assault on Iwo Jima in February of 1945.
They're also what enabled the 1st Marine Division to conduct a successful withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir when surrounded by 10 Chinese divisions during the Korean War.
And since 9/11, they have also enabled an estimated 180,000 Marines to perform so superbly in the very dangerous, complex and stressful environments of Iraq and Afghanistan.
They do, it's a shame most government agencys fail to list questioners by name, only Q.
I never thought of that. I LOATHE the media.
My daydream is for Gen Honore to take questions from these media types...:)
Do we know the name of the reporter who asked the resignation question? I want to contact him/her. I'm getting so sick and tired of these disrespectful, arrogant, a$$hole, POS reporters.
For them to treat the leader of the very men who guard their freedom of the press with such disrespect is disgusting. (Can we still use disrespect as a noun rather than a verb?)
They don't name reporters on these transcripts. The General called him Bob but I'm not familiar with the Pentagon news bunch. Their names might be listed somewhere but I don't know where. Wish I knew too.
I haven't yet used it as a verb- so far, so good!
You know, I respect the idea of a vigilant press and believe it is a necessary part of a free society. I also believe they are obligated to ask tough questions.
At the same time- the EXACT same information they were given by the general could have been obtained with sober and respectful questioning.
They don't see...how small they look.
If I was asked
" Q Thank you, General. You mentioned a number of times your own accountability for training and for what happens in the Marine Corps. And I'm wondering, given the gravity of what's come to light thus far in the two cases you cited, why shouldn't you resign as an acknowledgment of failure of leadership?"
I would answer.....
While you are wondering about the gravity of a situation you know absolutely nothing about, and in light of the fact that you implied I should resign, I seriously doubt your ability as a press reporter and suggest you go into the editorial commentary department, unless you can produce a valid question worth answering, one that is not an attempted accusation....next
BTTT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1645495/posts
Dana Milbank...WaPo ever reliable cynical view of our military and the briefing yesterday.
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