When America sends in the marines, it thinks the war's end is in sight

The Independent (U.K.) ^ | 11/27/2001 | Rupert Cornwell

[MudPuppy]

they better remember that it's Marines - always spelled with a capital "M"

Semper Fi BUMP

[river rat]

I believe the Islamic Radical Holy warriors, are about to meet the conductors that will punch their tickets to Paradise...

I guess we should send more virginal sheep....
Semper Fi

[Lexington Green]

From the halls of Montezuma - To the hills of Kandahar - We will kill those evil bastards - With our terrible swift sword

[Don Myers]

I believe that they sent in special forces first. If the Marines are so good, why are they the last to go in? Maybe the special ops guys have something of which they can be proud. I can just sit back and watch the incoming now.

[Mike Darancette]

When America sends in the marines, it thinks the war's end is in sight.

I beg to differ, during WWII in the Pacific island hopping campaign the Marines were the first in and you could only tell it was over when the Marines were relieved.

[curmudgeonII]

I beg to differ, during WWII in the Pacific island hopping campaign the Marines were the first in and you could only tell it was over when the Marines were relieved.

T.O.& E. for a marine squad = eight photographers and one rifleman?

[rickmoe]

I always thought the Marines were to first to go and last to know.

[Dallas]

Thanks Poke...

Just reading it, makes me proud to be an American. I wished more of our tax-money went to the military...

[Redbob]

One small quibble:
"...the American mainland had been inviolate for more than a century and a half. "
I don't call it "inviolate" when German saboteurs were landed on our shores by submarine during WWII, and German subs operated in the Gulf of Mexico.

[SamAdams76]

If the Marines are so good, why are they the last to go in?

How do you figure that? What other branch of the service is in there already? Navy? Airforce? Army? Coast Guard?

[afraidfortherepublic]

and German subs operated in the Gulf of Mexico.

And on the coast of California and Oregon!

[Don Myers]

"I always thought the Marines were to first to go and last to know."

They even had Air Force special ops guys there before they sent in the Marines. Rest easy, gyrenes, the Air Force will protect you. No thanks needed. It is just a normal days work for the United States Air Force. And on Heaven's pleasant shores, the angels rest easy as they watch the planes of the United States Air Corp fly overhead.

[Don Myers]

"What other branch of the service is in there already? Navy? Airforce? Army? Coast Guard?"

If you had been paying close attention to the pictures of those special ops guys who were the first on the ground, you would see Air Force chevrons on their sleeves.

[afraidfortherepublic]

...From the halls of Montezuma - To the hills of Kandahar

Puhleeze, Gentlemen. Doesn't someone have a MIDI file of the Marine Hymn to post right now? Need to hear it on my computer at work!

[the bottle let me down]

Not to mention the shelling of an Oxnard, CA refinery by a Janpanese submarine in WWII.

[Don Myers]

"T.O.& E. for a marine squad = eight photographers and one rifleman?"

Come on, there has been a change. Now it is all cnn reporters. And at sundown, they get together and sing the Marine Hymn.

[Pokey78]

Beter than a midi: Streaming Real Media

[Pokey78]

And as a bonus:

Recruiting clip (Streaming Real Media)

[Hugin]

I don't call it "inviolate" when German saboteurs were landed on our shores by submarine during WWII, and German subs operated in the Gulf of Mexico.

And don't forget an earlier terrorist, Pancho Villa, who invaded Arizona, lined a few dozen Americans against a wall and shot them.