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'You let them know they are taking on the US army and you crush them'
The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 18, 2003 | Oliver Poole

Posted on 03/17/2003 5:28:40 PM PST by MadIvan

The battle flags were unfurled yesterday as the troops who will spearhead an invasion of Iraq gathered in formation at dawn to be told by their commanding officer to prepare for an advance to the border.

Divided into their three companies, each with unit banners held aloft in the early morning breeze, the men from this battalion were promised by their colonel, John W Charlton, that he expected soon "you will all be heroes".

He told them: "You may see enemy units that will fight tremendously hard so don't underestimate them.

"When you go in you take the fight to the enemy.

"You go in there with both barrels and you let them have it. You let them know that they are taking on the US army and you crush them."

The battalion is one of nine from the Third Infantry Division stationed in temporary camps pitched only a short distance from the Iraqi frontier that make up the American front line.

After nine months in Kuwait its soldiers were finally being ordered to complete checks on their weapons and focus their minds on the prospect of war.

Col Charlton described the spectacle likely to greet his men - known throughout the division as "The Dragons" - when the order is given to invade.

"You will see thousands of vehicles attacking. You will see hundreds of aircraft overhead on route to destroy targets in Iraq. You will see Tomahawk missiles flying over us.

"And you will be part of that.

"One day down the road you can look back and say you took part in protecting America, in protecting our allies in the region, and in destroying an evil person who has killed thousands and thousands of his own people."

The men have been briefed about the battle plan. The crews of M1-A1 Abrams tanks have removed the uranium depleted shells from containers and loaded them into their vehicles.

The officers expect they will today receive the order to start uprooting the camp for a move to their forward attack positions.

For the waiting troops there is a sense of relief that finally they can complete their job. Most talk of their pride in being part of a war that they see as making the world a safer place for their families.

The memory of the events of September 11 is still strong.

Again and again one hears that "taking out" Saddam Hussein prevents weapons of mass destruction being placed into the hands of terrorists and thereby helps stop a similar outrage occurring again.

"Why am I here?" says Capt Bill Young producing a photograph of his four-month-old son. "I am doing this for him."

Among the younger soldiers there appears to be some who doubt the morality of the coming war.

While I was walking past one of the mobile mortar units, Pte Gareth Stewart, 20, called me over. He said that he wanted the world to know that not all in the US army support an attack.

"I have no beef with the Iraqis," he said.

"This is Bush's war and I am not alone in thinking that."

Yet, as I walked on afterwards towards the mess hall, his staff sergeant ran up behind me and pressed something into my hand. It was a sticker bearing the logo of the New York Port Authority, the force that policed the World Trade Centre site.

"My brother-in-law works for them," said Sgt Jeff States. "He lost many good friends. When we go north I am going to stick this on the guns so we don't forget what it is we are achieving here."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: blair; bush; iraq; saddam; uk; ukembeddedreport; us
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To: ffusco
What;s with the IRENE thingy?? I saw you mentioned it last night a few times. What gives?
41 posted on 03/17/2003 6:33:31 PM PST by Ann Archy
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To: fourdeuce82d
You might want to see this.
42 posted on 03/17/2003 6:39:17 PM PST by TADSLOS (Sua Sponte)
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To: Ronin
I am sure that he is already being "processed towards the rear".

Just like the pizza I had for dinner last night.

My fellow FReeper, that is the funniest damn thing I have read in a loooong time. Almost choked on supper 'cause I was laughing so hard.

If I were wearing a hat, it would be off to you.

FReep on.

43 posted on 03/17/2003 6:41:21 PM PST by Genesis defender
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To: WellsFargo94
"This is Bush's war and I am not alone in thinking that."

This little stupid Shiite is a Private for a reason. Probably from California. I have a feeling that he's going to be in for a little KP duty when his superiors see this one. If I were fighting in his unit I wouldn't trust this guy for anything.


Take it easy, tough guy. I was a private from California during the first Gulf War, so don't go making silly statements. In fact, given that California has roughly 35 million people and just under half of them are fairly conservative, I'd say there are more loyal, salt-of-the-earth Americans in Cali than most of the other 49. It's just that we're outnumbered here by the hippie trash that congregates along the coastline, as I believe one of my fellow Californians already explained to you. In fact, I believe that the battle for the soul of California will one of the greatest in this overall war for the soul of America, and Western Civilization in general, so cut us some slack.

Having said that, I will say that this pvt sounds like an idiot, but I will remind you that he is still there and we are here, safe in our homes. As long as this misguided freak does his job, and that means killing as many of the enemy as he can and watching his fellow soldiers' backs, he is entitled to his opinion and he deserves respect for serving his country. He will get slapped around for this opinion when his fellow soldiers find out about it (if this guy really exists), but that will be long after the Iraq thing is done.
44 posted on 03/17/2003 6:53:13 PM PST by fr_freak
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To: Gunslingr3
Make those cinders dance.

We live in interesting times.

45 posted on 03/17/2003 7:04:30 PM PST by Jonathon Spectre (who is interesting)
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To: WellsFargo94
Apology accepted. :)
46 posted on 03/17/2003 7:12:48 PM PST by John123
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To: Ann Archy
The call sign for the start of the battle in Black Hawk Down. Must See.
47 posted on 03/17/2003 7:35:37 PM PST by ffusco ("Essiri sempri la santu fora la chiesa.")
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To: fr_freak
"You go in there with both barrels and you let them have it. You let them know that they are taking on the US army and you crush them."

Man, this motivates me...thanks for posting it Ivan, any idea oh now the British troops are getting motivated, I imagine they are as ready as we are.

oh, and that little private...if I read the article right is in the same division that my buddy Daniel is in. He's a Sgt and a cav. scout, so keep him in prayer. I get the feeling that the private in question will not be seeing combat, probably much to his joy.

48 posted on 03/17/2003 7:37:27 PM PST by Blue Scourge (If a man hasn't found something he is willing to die for, he is not fit to live. - MLKjr.)
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To: KaiserofKrunch
I would bet heavily that Pvt. Stewart ISN'T in the United Sates Army, but lives only in the imagination of the Telegraph reporter.
49 posted on 03/17/2003 7:40:58 PM PST by Mr. Lucky
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To: Stopislamnow
Not a "career enhancing move", eh?
50 posted on 03/17/2003 7:43:12 PM PST by Thunder 6
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To: Mr. Lucky
For grins I did a web search on Gareth Stewart. This turns out to be an entirely British name. I think you hit it. The reporter went to make up a name, and used his own little data base to pick from. Unfortunately, it was filled with UK names.
51 posted on 03/17/2003 7:53:09 PM PST by gcruse (When choosing between two evils, pick the one you haven't tried yet.)
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To: MadIvan
See #53. Whaddya think?
52 posted on 03/17/2003 7:55:14 PM PST by gcruse (When choosing between two evils, pick the one you haven't tried yet.)
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To: gcruse
Ack, 53=51.
53 posted on 03/17/2003 7:57:40 PM PST by gcruse (When choosing between two evils, pick the one you haven't tried yet.)
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To: Travis McGee
Anybody have "St. Crispin's Day" handy?

This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

54 posted on 03/17/2003 8:01:05 PM PST by strela ("a' poppin' off at Pop's Sodium Shop")
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To: LibWhacker
I would not want Pte Gareth Stewart watching my back.
55 posted on 03/17/2003 8:15:53 PM PST by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get)
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To: Cultural Jihad
"Pte Gareth Stewart, whom it must suck being, does not get it."

I can only hope, before it's done, he does get it.


56 posted on 03/17/2003 8:17:34 PM PST by philetus (Keep doing what you always do and you'll keep getting what you always get)
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To: Travis McGee
Anybody have "St. Crispin's Day" handy?

Ask, brother, and ye shall receive. The greatest war speech ever, courtesy of Wm. Shakespeare.

For those who don't know, St. Crispian is the patron saint of shoemakers, and his feast day is 25 October. The speech is set at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where an exhausted, bedraggled, sick force of 5-6,000 Englishmen faced a French army that outnumbered them five to one. It was a fairly desperate situation. I've posted the entire exchange, since it's well worth reading.

Henry V, Act Four, Scene Three

[Enter King Henry.]

Westmoreland:

O! that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!

King Henry:

What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? - No, my fair cousin:
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O! do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say - 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloster,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap, whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.


57 posted on 03/17/2003 8:18:13 PM PST by Snidely Whiplash
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To: WellsFargo94
Pte. stewart will surely get it in the back for running away in the face of the enemy. Cowards always die this way.
58 posted on 03/17/2003 8:20:20 PM PST by desertcry
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To: MadIvan
I suspect the Iraqis will be terrified into immediate surrender.

I expect they will surrender as fast as they can.

For their sake, I hope so. I don't really have a gripe with the poor, pissant Iraqi private who was conscripted at gunpoint.

The Iraqi leadership is the focus of evil in Iraq. I hope that we kill every last one of them.

59 posted on 03/17/2003 8:21:57 PM PST by LibKill (The UN is of less use than dog doo in the gutter.)
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To: MadIvan
You let them know that they are taking on the US Army and you crush them.

Rooo-hah!

60 posted on 03/17/2003 8:27:45 PM PST by LouD
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