[oldie]

A Plea from a Marine in Iraq

Hello Everyone, I am taking time to ask you all for your help.

First off, I'd like to say that this is not a political message. I'm not concerned about domestic politics right now. We have much bigger things to deal with, and we need your help.

It seems that despite the tremendous and heroic efforts of the men and women serving here in Iraq to bring much needed peace and stability to this region, we are losing the war of perception with the media and American people. Our enemy has learned that the key to defeating the mighty American military is by swaying public opinion at home and abroad. We are a people that cherish the democratic system of government and therefore hold the will of the people in the highest regard. We love to criticize ourselves almost to an endless degree, because we care what others think. Our enemies see this as a weakness and are trying to exploit it.

When we ask ourselves questions like, "Why do they hate us?" or "What did we do wrong?" we are playing into our enemies' hands. Our natural tendency to question ourselves is being used against us to undermine our effort to do good in the world. How far would we have gotten if after the surprise attacks on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, we would have asked, "Why do the Japanese hate us so much?" or "How can we change ourselves so that they won't do that again?" Here in Iraq the enemy is trying very hard to portray our efforts as failing and fruitless. They kill innocents and desecrate their bodies in hopes that the people back home will lose the will to fight for liberty. They are betting on our perceived weakness as a thoughtful, considerate people. Unfortunately our media only serves to further their cause.

In an industry that feeds on ratings and bad news, a failure in Iraq would be a goldmine. When our so-called "trusted" American media takes a quote from an Iraqi doctor as the gospel truth over that of the men and women that are daily fighting to protect the right to freedom of press, you know something is wrong. That doctor claimed that out of 600 Iraqis, that were casualties of the fighting, the vast majority of them were women, children and the elderly. This is totally absurd. In the history of man, no one has spent more time and effort, often to the detriment of our own mission, to be more discriminate in our targeting of the enemy than the American military. The Marines and Soldiers serving in Iraq have gone through extensive training in order to limit the amount of innocent casualties and collateral damage.

Yet, despite all of this, our media consistently sides with those who openly lie and directly challenge the honor of our brave heroes fighting for liberty and peace. What we have to remember is that peace is not defined as an absence of war. It is the presence of liberty, stability, and prosperity. In the face of the horrendous tyranny of the former Iraqi regime, the only way true peace was able to come to this region was through force. That is what the American Revolution was all about. Have we forgotten? Freedom is not free and "peace" without principle is not peace. The peace that so-called "peace advocates" support can only be brought to Iraq through the military. And we are doing it, if only the world will let us! If the American people believe we are failing, even if we are not, then we will ultimately fail.

That is why I am asking for your support. Become a voice of truth in your community. Wherever you are fight the lies of the enemy. Don't buy into the pessimism and apathy that says, "It's hopeless," "They hate us too much," "That part of the world is just too messed up," "It's our fault anyway," "We're to blame," and so forth. Whether you're in middle school, working at a 9-5 job, retired, or a stay-at-home mom you can make a huge difference! There is nothing more powerful than the truth. So, when you watch the news and see doomsday predictions and spiteful opinions on our efforts over here, you can refute them by knowing that we are doing a tremendous amount of good. Spread the word. No one is poised to make such an amazing contribution to the everyday lives of Iraqis and the rest of the Arab world than the American Armed Forces. By making this a place where liberty can finally grow, we are making the whole world safer. Your efforts at home are directly tied to our success. You are the soldiers at home fighting the war of perception. So I'm asking you as a fellow fighting man: Do your duty. Stop the attempts of the enemy wherever you are. You are a mighty force for good, because truth is on your side. Together we will win this fight and ensure a better world for the future.

God Bless and Semper Fidelis, 1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC Ramadi, Iraq

Thanks USS La Salle - Regards - Oldie

[columbo]

[Ciberblade]

[slickoe]

the lies of the enemy

Who is the enemy? Anyone who puts out casualty stats at odds with those of the Pentagon? I would like to see some open letters from enlisted men, the lower ranks, non-lifers. I bet they would be a lot different.

[Wino]

Originally Posted by slickoe

the lies of the enemy

Who is the enemy? Anyone who puts out casualty stats at odds with those of the Pentagon? I would like to see some open letters from enlisted men, the lower ranks, non-lifers. I bet they would be a lot different.

Iraq returning Reservist Marine Sgt. I spoke with said no way would he go back - his stint in reserves is over this summer - they wanted him to re-up and return, and according to him, he is in hot water for refusing - not sure what they can do to him. Said he would never return to the most screwed up mess he had ever seen.

[slickoe]

It is EXTREMELY RARE nowadays you will see ANY impromptu interview, print or video, with ANY GI, when they do not know in advance what the answer will be. Once NPR's Ira Glass went with his "This American Life" tape recorder onto an aircraft carrier, and for some perverse reason they let him interview young first term enlistees volunteers about their opinions on Navy life. It was no recruiting poster I'll tell you, and this was before 911.

[columbo]

Who is the enemy? Anyone who puts out casualty stats at odds with those of the Pentagon? I would like to see some open letters from enlisted men, the lower ranks, non-lifers. I bet they would be a lot different.

Don't forget: Any news organization that show pictures of the coffins of dead U.S. servicemen and women is also "the enemy".

Maybe they were taken for President Bush's benefit? How else would he know what a dead soldier looks like (considering he won't attend any of their funerals)?

[WarC]

Thanks for bringing this piece to light, oldie!

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by Wino

Iraq returning Reservist Marine Sgt. I spoke with said no way would he go back - his stint in reserves is over this summer - they wanted him to re-up and return, and according to him, he is in hot water for refusing - not sure what they can do to him. Said he would never return to the most screwed up mess he had ever seen.

What the Reservist Marine Sgt said is more in line with what the people I talked to had to say about that place.
When I asked a friend what he would do if he was told he had to go back, he said Canada was looking like a nice place to live.

[oldie]

Don't overlook Debbie's http://www.pbase.com/sms/101st_airborne

Oldie

[bassetman]

Hehe, here is a quote from one of the forum threads there!

re: Bush Haters Abound
i tink geedubya is a greet prezedent and reel smart tooo

Oldie, do you get roalties from that site?

[plschwartz]

Colombo:
Maybe the sight of blood makes him nauseous and a dead person makes him puke

[oldie]

Originally Posted by bassetman

Hehe, here is a quote from one of the forum threads there!


Oldie, do you get roalties from that site?

One or maybe more of your guys are in hospital here, where they are receiving specialist medical care. Particularly with detached retinas and the like

Much feed back from the Brit guys. Not for the consumption of TSG members however

Oldie

[LANMaster]

Originally Posted by oldie

Don't overlook Debbie's http://www.pbase.com/sms/101st_airborne

Oldie

Excellent Gallery - Excellent letter.

Amazing to me that some people actually seem to take offense with a patriot like the 1st Leutenant.

I can even smell the spite and vitriole in this forum from those who so loathe to hear any good news reports from US military personnel that they feel that they must counter the good news with some bad reports just to dilute the good.

Shame.

[slickoe]

We don't want bad reports to dilute the good; we resist propaganda. We would like accurate reports to reflect the reality in Iraq and those are hard to come by. Of course flagwaving rousing letters by a career officer are going to get more exposure than a letter from a miserable e-2 or e-3 writing to his mother how scared, p****d off, or disilussioned he is, or how he feels his government let him down. Why aren't we hearing any of those letters?