Troops urged to avoid 'mark of Cain'

Chicago Tribune ^ | March 24, 2003 | Peter Almond

[MrLeRoy]

LONDON -- Tim Collins, a 42-year-old lieutenant colonel in the British army, has become a media hero, famous not for deeds performed in battle in Iraq but for words delivered to his men before they moved against the forces of Saddam Hussein.

Collins, commander of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, addressed his troops at their camp in Kuwait. His words, which reportedly had many of his men close to tears, left admirers calling to mind President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and the "band of brothers" speech by William Shakespeare's Henry V character before the 1415 Battle of Agincourt.

[BSunday]

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[blanknoone]

Can you just post the speech?

[theoriginalgriff]

wow.

[wastoute]

Is there another source besides the (ugh!) Chicago Tribune?

[Notforprophet]

Use username "annoying" password "annoying"

NFP

[Cyber Liberty]

Hey, thanks! Worked fine....

[new cruelty]

"The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that we are bringing about his rightful destruction. There are many regional commanders who have stains on their souls and they are stoking the fires of hell for Saddam. He and his forces will be destroyed by this coalition for what they have done. As they die they will know that their deeds have brought them to this place. Show them no pity.

"There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly. It is my foremost intention to bring every single one of you out alive, but there may be some among us who will not see the end of this campaign. We will put them in their sleeping bags and send them back. There will be no time for sorrow.

"Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send. As for the others, I expect you to rock their world. Wipe them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory. It is a big step to take another human life. It is not to be done lightly.

"I know of men who have taken life needlessly in other conflicts. I can assure you they live with the mark of Cain upon them. If someone surrenders to you, then remember they have that right in international law and ensure that one day they can go home to their family. The ones who wish to fight, well, we aim to please.

"If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer . . . .

"We go to liberate, not to conquer. We will not fly our flags in their country. ... Iraq is steeped in history. It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham. Tread lightly there."

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Excellent article.

[IncPen]

See post 8...

[new cruelty]

missed this last bit...

"You will see things that no man could pay to see and you will have to go a long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than the Iraqis...You will be embarrassed by their hospitality even though they have nothing."

[FirstTomato]

Very stirring speech. Like the Gettysburg address and the Shakespeare's Henry V Agincourt speech, these are words that touch the soul. I didn't really need another good cry, but there ya go, I couldn't help it.

[MrLeRoy]

http://discover.npr.org/features/feature.jhtml?wfId=1200660

[strela]

Stirring words. Thank you for making me aware of them.

[LADY J]

Thanks for posting this.

Our heartfelt thank you to those brave men who stand beside our own warriors.

May God protect them all.

[baseballmom]

bump for a great and historical speech.

[RonF]

Worthy of Shakespeare or Churchill. Bush should hire this guy to write his speeches for him.

[gridlock]

Heh, heh. Worked like a charm.

I wonder if that will work all the time... No reason why not.

It might have to replace Username: Hillary! P/W: isaliar. That one works well, too.

[grumple]

grump bump

[RonF]

Worthy of Shakespeare or Churchill. Bush should hire this guy to write his speeches for him.