Posted on 02/26/2003 7:29:32 AM PST by Toidylop
CAMP COYOTE, Kuwait ---- Some of the Marines kicked the dirt, turned away or cursed the "damned liberals" on hearing news of global anti-war demonstrations.
"When I was in boot, that was my worst nightmare," said Jared Hubbard, a 20-year old lance corporal from Fresno and a member of the Camp Pendleton-based 5th Marine Regiment. "Going to war and coming home to a country that doesn't want you. God."
Other Marines who've been camped out here seemed disinterested in the rights or wrongs of a war with Iraq and said they were not bothered by world opinion and just want to get "it" over with.
"We just want to step off and get this thing done," said Lance Cpl. Ryan Clapp, 22, of Salem, Ore.
Stationed in the Kuwait desert just 25 miles from the Iraqi border, the Marines are usually the last to hear international news. Some were disheartened by reports of anti-war protests held worldwide this month; they said the demonstrations hurt morale.
But one of those protesters, Hal Brody from northern San Diego County, said it would be wrong for the Marines to equate his opposition to the war as a lack of support for the troops.
"No one supports troops more than war protesters," Brody said Tuesday. "We, more than anyone, want them home, alive and intact."
"I wish each sailor, airman, soldier and marine could understand that war protesters do what they do out of a love of humankind," he added. "And that it IS patriotic."
Brody said the "only possible excuse for going to war is survival."
"If some country attacks your country, or is obviously about to, then people have a right to defend themselves," he said. "What we are seeing around the world is that no one believes that this is the case with Iraq. No one believes that Iraq is about to attack the U.S. We all think that this war is about to be fought for purely economic reasons."
In Kuwait, however, many Marines say their esprit de corps is high, they are ready for war and they are confident that their mission is righteous.
"We're not really going there to kill people," said Sgt. Kevin Thompson, 24, echoing a thought repeated by many Marines in the field. "We're going there to free people."
Thompson, who was supposed to finish his tour with the Marines two weeks ago, said he was fine when he was told his country needed him for one last mission.
"No problem," the Utah native said when he received a letter from the Marine Corps late last month saying he would be deploying to Kuwait instead of heading off to college as he had planned. Thompson said a dozen or so men from his 100-man rifle company were involuntarily extended in the Corps for the deployment.
"I didn't take it as bad as other people did," Thompson said. "I love my country. I figure if my country needs me to fight for them, I'll go."
Others in Clapp's company ---- "Kilo Three-five" as they refer to it ---- say they, too, just want to hear the word "go" and then get home.
Some started a pool to see who could pick the date of "line of departure" ---- the day they cross into Iraq and begin a ground war.
Each of about 30 members of 1st platoon put their names into a helmet, and as their gunnery sergeant drew the names, they were placed in order of draw on a calendar that runs through the end of March.
"Five bucks a square. It's a $160 pool ---- all purely speculation," said Navy corpsman Kyle Yates, 29, of San Diego. "It helps break the monotony until someone says 'go.' "
Thompson, like many others, said that if he could pick a date for war, it would be sooner rather than later.
"All we are is a bunch of people who love our country," he said. "If we don't do this, then some other poor guy's gonna have to do it for us 10 years from now. We just don't want to sit out here and wait. We wish Bush or someone would make a decision and get this over with. We're ready to fight. Everyone's ready. We want to get it on."
2/26/03
God bless, and keep you. Thanks for being there for me.
"protesters do what they do out of a love of humankind,"
When they spit on you as you return; it will be a pleasure for me to be upside their head for you.
"All we are is a bunch of people who love our country," he said. "If we don't do this, then some other poor guy's gonna have to do it for us 10 years from now...Can you see what kind of people these marines are? Some of these are my personal buddies... God Speed, bro
Your "support" causes the soldiers who are willing to sacrifice everything, EVERYTHING, for YOUR safety and freedom feel like this: "Going to war and coming home to a country that doesn't want you."
You Saddam-lovers are justifying your actions with lame excuses and you're diluting yourselves if you think you are being supportive. These men and women in uniform are brave, honorable and deserving of our support, our REAL SUPPORT. Not your brand of pseudo-support. You're not fooling anyone, except maybe yourselves.
Worried about women and children? How about worrying about the women who are raped in front of their husbands in order to get them to confess. How about the children who's eyes are plucked out in front of their parents? Do they count?
How about the women and children of Halabja? I didn't see even one of them on the streets protesting the massacre of 5,000 women and children.
Don't try to give me that crap about them being "pro-life". They only value the morally warped.
If we wait until the attack occurs, then it's too late, and this country will have failed to protect those who will die as a result. We should have learned this from Pearl Harbor, and I hope we did learn this from 9/11/01.
As far as this "obviously about to" line, Iraq is still in a state of war with its neighbor Israel and has in the past demonstrated a propensity for sneak attacks (Iran and Kuwait). Do we wait until Hussein launches missles at our ally before we feel compelled to do something? Not only will it be too late for Israel, but what kind of message will we be sending to other countries that are likewise alligned with us? Sorry guys, but you'll have to wait until an enemy is actually killing your citizens before we'll do anything to honor our end of a mutual defense treaty. That sort of weak-kneed mind-set might be acceptable to other countries, but it isn't how America got to be at the top of the international mountain...
I am often dis-heartened by the sniveling left, and the prominence given them by Peter Rather-Brokaw. Often, I become full of myself as a ridiculed, but still standing, lone patriot.
Then...along comes a marine to elegantly illustrate how full of sh*t both Peter & I am.
Related ArticlesMarxist Groups in the Anti-War Movement
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: February 25, 2003; Author: Paul M. WeyrichAnti-war Protestors: Shades Of Stupidity
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: February 21, 2003; Author: Rachel MarsdenWho's Paying for It All? [re: anti-war demostrations]
Source: INSIGHT magazine; Published: February 18, 2003; Author: J. Michael WallerAnti-War Protestors Are Warmongers for Our Enemies
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: February 11, 2003; Author: Alex EpsteinReds Still [re: The story no one wants to hear about the antiwar movement]
Source: National Review; Published: January 23, 2003; Author: Byron York
There are so many fine people in this country, so many....
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