Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Iraq*But Were Afraid To Ask
Left in the Dust: Abandoning Iraq.
This is the first in a series by an active duty Marine officer, with two combat tours in Iraq under his belt. We decided to keep it anonymous so he could let ‘er rip with no punches pulled. His identity can be verified to responsible media outlets who will also maintain his confidentiality.
There is much ado about the “locking of horns” between Congress and the White House. On one side the Democrats are proposing a funding bill with a lot of unrelated fat and a conditional basis – that we have a definitive date to pull out of Iraq. They have their reasons: Bush is a liar, the war is wrong, and more recently – “the war is lost”. Most people would call that a forfeit. The Republicans stand their ground and remain just as stubborn as their congressional counterparts. They are plagued with the mismanagement of the war and the corruption of private enterprise. Republicans are in it deep, and the media is standing on their heads to see it that they drown. Those who are far right and far left know where they stand. Those of us unallied to either side, or with a slight lean one way or the other, are caught in the middle. We are mere spectators of this power struggle that seems to be more over ego than Iraq.
For those of us who bear the burden of this infighting, we are forced to suffer the outcome no matter who wins. Much like a child who is raised by divorced parents who fight relentlessly regardless of the side effects. The voices of those who fight, the military, have been ignored. Military officers have challenged national policy and strategy before the war, and have made countless recommendations during the war which have been largely ignored. Even the hand selected and top performing General Petraeus has a hard time getting anybody to listen. Pelosi and Murtha can’t be bothered with meeting him. The rest of the democrats give cryptic responses while the Republicans just nod and say, “good job general”. Magnificently, both parties say that his information proves their stance on the war. Politicians, red and blue, have put the good general in the position of the Dutch boy with his finger in the dam. With all the inherent and obvious shortcomings of this conflict, one critical factor has been grossly neglected: the Iraqi.
After the invasion the Iraqi people had high expectations. They were more than happy to have us. We immediately failed them by ignoring Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and let their new “freedom” run rampant which resulted in looting, murder, and civil disorder. Physical security and safety is one of the essential basic human needs and we declined to provide it. This was broadcasted on live television across the world and yet we still walked away. I remember leaving Iraq under the auspice that “all Marines are leaving Iraq” – the war is over. Not quite. The weapons depots were emptied, long standing sectarian hatred divided the country, and the global community of Islamic terrorism moved in. (Eye-witness to the killing or capture of Sudanese, Ethiopian, Chechen, Syrian, and Egyptian fighters) Iraq degraded from a sophisticated state-run genocide campaign to a winner takes all murder fest. We suffered our share of casualties, but they pale in comparison to the numbers of Iraqis murdered at the hands of their fellow Muslim, Arab, and Iraqi brothers. But as we realized the error of our ways, so did the Iraqis.
The Kurds, who were already autonomous, had the security forces already organized and in place. They stayed the course which resulted in no American deaths since 2003, a notable feat. For most of the Shia, who controlled southern Iraq, things were relatively peaceful. Although we had our run-ins with the Madhi Militia, the Shia had so much to gain in this war that by in large the Shia community began to cooperate. The Shia took a willing role in the security effort, making up the large majority of a 250,000 security force a few years ago. They suffered ultra-violent retaliation from Sunni and Al Qeada insurgents. Yet they shouldered on, and in such a dismal state of affairs, it should be considered remarkable. Now the predominantly Shia army have graduated from clearing Falluja, to policing their own ranks by driving out the Shia death squads and Madhi militiamen. The only piece of the puzzle missing was the Sunni. Things have changed.
I left Ramadi, Iraq in 2005. The only Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in the city were Shia battalions and Shia Commando units. The Sunni were no where to be found. A fledgling police force was corrupt and continuously disbanding or being disbanded. Over the next year things would very slowly turn around. One could speculate the reason why Sunni men were joining the ranks of the ISF. Money would be the most obvious indicator, and one could claim that they had an honest interest in their prosperity, but I look in another direction. Even the Iraqis have television and internet, and they have witnessed the growing anti-war sentiment of Americans. Coupled with watching the success of the Kurds, and the rise to power of the Shia, the Sunni have much to lose. And it was time that they became part of the process or face being left behind.
The ISF has since grown to over 330,000 members. Most remarkably is that the Sunni of Al Anbar province, the heartland of the insurgency, has pitched in significantly. The over 5,000 man army unit, “the Sons of Anbar”, continues to grow and by actively operating against insurgents, they positively influence the once hopeless province. While this unit makes up only seven percent of the Army, hundreds of Sunni men volunteer for service weekly, so much that US training elements had to grow in order to compensate for the influx of recruits. This is more than encouraging, not just for the citizen of Anbar, but the US service members whose sole purpose is to build these forces (so we can leave). Their immediate success gained the attention of the insurgents. They have executed numerous Sunni ISF via suicide bombings, firing squads, and beheadings, and captured it all on video. But that has not deterred the brave Sons of Anbar. They continue to grow and the tribes who support these men have become victims of retribution as well. This unfortunate set of circumstances is not without benefit, for it has united the majority of the tribes in Al Anbar against the Al Qaeda terrorists. The once sworn enemies of America are now standing alongside side us and even with the Kurds and Shia – all of us united against Al Qeada. Unseen between news reports of bombings, beheadings, and political infighting, is the hope that Iraq is not lost.
The most promising of examples is the success of Ramadi. Over the past few years Ramadi, almost twenty times smaller than Baghdad, has been given the morbid credit of being the most dangerous place in Iraq. A year ago the troop-to-death ratio made Ramadi the deadliest city in Iraq and a close third in total deaths behind Baghdad and the rest of Al Anbar Province. The Sons of Anbar were part of the recent Ramadi “surge” that pacified a raging insurgency in a city of 400,000. A large credit must be given to the Iraqi Security Forces who turned the citizens of Ramadi against the insurgents. In relation to Mao Tse-Tung’s guerilla warfare doctrine, the water in which the fish swim has been drained, and without water, the fish will die.
With these hard earned gains, the ISF face a new enemy, the United States political system. Having politicians declare that the war lost, the Iraqis anxiously await the outcome of a pitched battle in congress. Staying in Iraq will cost us money and resources, including our most precious resource, our children. Leaving Iraq will undoubtedly give the world the perception (and perception is reality) that the super-power of America does not have the courage and willpower to sustain the fight against global terrorism. This will put us along side with the great capitulator – Spain. Political party aside, this change of events could only serve to embolden an already bold and reckless enemy (flying jets into buildings). Flip on the Discovery channel and even your children can see how the reality of life works, the wolf will always attacks the weak and wounded. There is also the debate on the pull-out’s impact on US service members, whose sacrifices in Iraq may be in vain. The suffering nations across the globe will be assured that the great United States cannot be counted on to save them. The beacon of hope that comes with our intervention may be extinguished. All things considered, we must not forget those who will be left behind - the Iraqis.
The people of Iraq have suffered more than we have. Iraq’s children have been taken from her without remorse. Her neighbors are idle to defend them, yet eager to pour gas on the flames. The Iraqi security forces are suffering the most casualties of anyone in this conflict yet their sacrifice goes unnoticed. What is the fate of Iraq if we leave in a year? I guarantee it will not be good. Without fulfilling the basic need of security, the other needs CANNOT be met. This means there can be no civil repair, and certainly no democracy. We must not get ahead of ourselves and pretend that Iraq will be better off without us. The country will spiral into chaos and our hard earned gains will be lost.
We entered post war operations with the foolish assumption that Iraq was not only willing, but capable of forming a democracy. We were wrong. The Democratic leadership insists on calling for a “political solution”. There is no political solution to chaos. It simply does not exist. When we pull out, and Iraq plunges further into despair, we will attest it to the failure of the Iraqi people. We have somehow assured ourselves that we have done everything in our power to set Iraq up for success, when in reality our current course of action will only ensure its demise. But at least it won’t be our fault - we gave them benchmarks..
Iraq has come a long way, but the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We have taken the first big step yet the American attention span and critical shortage of patience will see that Iraq goes no further. What will happen to the blossoming Kurds? What do we say to the Shia who have put so much into rebuilding their country? What is the fate of the brave Sunni? What will the Iraqi army do and whose hands will their weapons end up in?
And what do we say when we turn our back on a struggling Iraq, who may have lost her only chance for a future?
Good Luck.
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And what do we say when we turn our back on a struggling Iraq, who may have lost her only chance for a future?
Good Luck.
That’s pretty much what we said to the Vietnamese isn’t it?
It seem that once again the politicians will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
April 27th, 2007 at 9:04 pmWHO’S IN THE MOOD FOR A DRUNKEN RUMSFELD47 POST? I KNOW I AM, MOTHERFUCKERS!
No excuse, other than it’s my brother’s birthday, and I had to go out tonight. I’m drinking water right now, as a matter of fact, and if you believe that, I have a bitch to sell you.
I’m not going to comment on the above article which I am far to drunk to reid [sic, isn’t it?]. I can only verify that I am too bleary to read all that shit, save that I agree with every word of it, and I advise you freeloading motherfuckers (you know who you are) to pony up for the most bad-ass motherfucking t-shirt you’ve ever seen. I haven’t even got mine yet, but I can tell you–the ladies see that “jihadi-killer” shirt, and they will fuckin’ jump your fuckin’ bones. And that, my friends, is MOTIVATED!
Hold on, the dog has to take a piss. I’ll be right back.
One good drink deserves another; I’ve got Jack and Sprite. Actually, that’s not such a good drink, but I’ve already poured it; like I used to say, “if you can’t duck it, fuck it.” Ha ha, motherfuckers, I’m clever.
My only hope is that this post is the first post at the top of the page.
(Ahhh.) Now, I’ve got something to say to all you liberal motherfuckers who cherry-picked this shit off of Drudge or some shit like that: FUCK OFF! Seriously, you’re like a fag who walks into a bar in Texas and starts hitting on fuckin’ cowboys; this ain’t no Brokeback Mountain, so go smoke pot and meditate for peace or something. In a year, I’ll be killing motherfuckers.
Bleg: any advice from any of you salty motherfuckers about the DLAB? I’ve got a shot to be a linguist; my ASVAB is 99, and I have excellent ears. What should I expect?
Hairy Reed, you suck more dicks than every whore in the state of Nevada combined. Your blowjob-to-month ratio outpaces Paris motherfuckin’ Hilton, and that’s saying a lot. What’s up with that Syrian cock in your mouth? Does it taste like sand? I bet you like it like that, you motherfucker.
And Nancy “I’ll use my mother-of-five voice” Pelosi: you obviously need deep dick, but good luck finding it. Thanks for fuckin’ giving everybody in America a minimum-wage hike except for the motherfuckin’ Samoans who fuckin’ pack your fuckin’ Starkist Tuna or whatever. Your pussy smells like tuna, and I’m staying the fuck away from that shit. I wouldn’t cross the street to piss in your mouth, fuck you, bitch.
Ladies, I apologize for the language. If you’re offended, please read no further, it’s going to get worse.
Fuckin’ piece-of-shit cowardly motherfuckers. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A MORE DISHONORABLE ENEMY THAN THE SAND-HEADS WE CALL “INSURGENTS” OUT OF SOME MACABRE SENSE OF POLITENESS. Yeah, I said sand-heads; those motherfuckers’ heads are obviously full of sand, and I call ‘em like I see em, man. In fact, some of you Devil Dog snipers can probably attest to the fact that there is no beautiful “pink mist” when you open one of their skulls the easy way, but just a bunch of sand that flies out their child-molesting noggins. Fuck that shit.
Mr. Worf from Star Trek, the Next Generation would say some shit like, “They will lose because they have no honor.” I fuckin’ stand with Worf on this shit, guys. Worf was a Spartan. Worf was a motherfuckin’ Marine, as far as I’m concerned. He beat the shit out of motherfuckers for a fuckin’ living, you know what I’m saying? That is HARD-CORE NINJA SHIT, dog.
The Democrats are shopping this “alternative foreign policy” around, like a fuckin’ $20-handjob street whore. “I jerk you off, 20 dolla!” Fuck you, you fuckin’ pieces of shit. Tell you what MY idea of foreign policy is: how about we don’t suck the dicks of terrorists? Just an idea.
I apologize for the length of this post, and it’s lack of decorum. I am ready to fight, I am ready to kill, and I am ready to put myself through 12 weeks of hell just for the privilege of fuckin’ wiping the world’s ass clean of fuckin’ camel-fucker scum.
ALL YOU LEFTISTS CAN GO CIRCLE JERK AT THE HUFFPO. THAT’S WHAT IT’S THERE FOR, YOU FUCKSTICKS.
Fuck!
Sincerely,
Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Drunkenness (retired)
April 27th, 2007 at 9:04 pmThank you for your service and thank you for your report and advice. I trust you a whole lot more than I trust others. There is not a thing that I can say without having had the experience. My wife and I are definitely behind you, writing our delegation, whitehouse and party leadership of both the majors. I have been hung out in the breeze before but not like you guys. I’ve notified all the local news media about all of you but have not heard a damned thing yet.
April 27th, 2007 at 9:06 pmI only vote for those who support you and defy those who are allied in way shape or form with those who do not.
LOL…Damn Rummy, yer in rare form tonight.
April 27th, 2007 at 9:12 pmHave another drink and keep going Rummy, that was a riot.
Rummy, check out this pic, I made it with you in mind.
http://f3.yahoofs.com/blog/4629081czaf5d3b12/2/__sr_/2891.jpg?mgAKvMGB9Oh0CzLM
April 27th, 2007 at 10:31 pmGotta agree with all you’ve said Rummy. Yes, you are in rare form… must be the Jack & Sprite. I even enjoy the cussin’ when it’s done by someone like you!
I’m the old lady of the group … 77 years young and a very frustrated warrior. I’m the only one in the family who turned out this way .. until my twin grandsons came along and joined up right out of High School…spring of 2002. One went into the Navy and one into the Army. 101st Airborne. He’s doing his third tour now. Navy is wishing he had gone the Marine route.
Anyway, you can’t get too nasty for this old lady… so carry on.
April 27th, 2007 at 10:38 pmrumsfeld47, Worf is my man, main guy. He’s the ringer on my cell phone! “Captain, we are being hailed by the enemy vessel!”
Do it to it, Rummy. Good posting…
April 27th, 2007 at 10:58 pmjust got back in from drinkin pabst blue ribbon at a bonfire we had in the backwoods of idaho. after reading rummy’s post… i have to laugh my ass of and grab another PBR. thanks, rummy. now… to actually read this post.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:37 pmThere are many kinds of warriors, and many faces. Rumsfeld47 - you’re one kind, and we need guys like you. Piss and vinegar, that kind. The Marine officer that wrote that article is showing another face, that of the warrior-scholar. The warrior that knows his enemy, knows his history, knows how to win the war, and not just the firefight. We have more of those kind of guys than you probably know, they just aren’t blessed with the same talent for communication as this one is. Well done, keep it up.
April 27th, 2007 at 11:58 pmRummy-
The DLAB is something you can’t really prepare for. It’s uses made up words and a kind of “fictional language”. The test measures your ability to understand different rules of grammer and language structure. Just look for patterns. The test itself is pretty easy, as long as you paid attention in English class.
I know you’re all excited to be Infantry, but if you get the chance to be a Linguist take it. There aren’t enough of them to go around, and that’s a VERY critical skill nowadays.
April 28th, 2007 at 12:54 amWhat sickens me is that we even have to fight this war at home.That tells me that we are losing our society and a way of life.It’s scary to think what it’s going to be like for our children.It’s should be a no brainer to fight until we win.
Rummy,One day I will fuckin buy you a beer,fuck that I will buy for the night man.I promise you that!!
April 28th, 2007 at 5:05 amSide note:I just got my Jihadi killer t-shirt yesterday.I get to wear it today for the first time….kids soccer game!
April 28th, 2007 at 5:08 amRummy, if you choose to be a linguist, make sure you develop your craft, because a cunning linguist is always appreciated.
+ 
= 
April 28th, 2007 at 5:34 amDan, I just wanted to know what to expect–will I need aural recognition, vocal repetition, and written comprehension? Is it like a big written test? Multiple choice? Et cetera.
April 28th, 2007 at 7:05 amOh, and I’ll be a Linguist in a heartbeat–as long as they’ll still pull my arm out of socket in SERE school!
April 28th, 2007 at 7:11 amJordan, I hate to say it, but I’ve got it all. You just haven’t read enough of my posts yet, like the one where I compare Shakespeare’s Titus to our current situation in Iraq.
And NOTHING is on the news radar that passes me up. History, check. Classical musician, check. Good with computers, check. Able to fine-dine, check. Wine-knowledge, check. Huge cock? Check.
I’m so good I support cloning myself!
April 28th, 2007 at 7:15 amOnce I’m through commending you for this realistic presentation of what is really happening in and about Iraq, I will e-mail you website to all in my address book.
April 28th, 2007 at 8:58 amMany weak politicians, most from my generation, only look for the 51% solution to issues. It’s not about whats ‘right and proper’. It’s about ‘How do I get re-elected’.
You are the modern day ‘300′. You stand at the 21st century ‘Hot Gates’. Only this time, I pray that your ‘Battle of Plataiai’ is also happening now.
Be strong and believe that the majority of Americans will (and are) rally to support the great endeavour, in which, our troops are currently engaged. Nothing less that civilization is at stake. God Speed!
We need to get back on-topic, the essay of this thread.
That was a masterpiece of truth and analysis that needs to be branded in fire on the scrawny back of every Congressman and Media-Traitor in the land.
And all of us need to learn from it, and go forth and use it to educate our fellow good-hearted-but-debilitated-by-MSM-agitprop citizens, and bring them around so we can WIN THIS WAR.
[And Rummy, you know I love ya, man, but of all the threads to go off on a drunken tangent with…sheeesh! But I look forward to your commentary when you’re lesh plashtered…]
April 28th, 2007 at 9:01 amHow can we get this out to the media? Fox? People must read this narrative. And Rummy, you are a keeper
April 28th, 2007 at 10:03 amThe media have this information but…they don’t want to tell the story objectively.
They are predisposed to having America defeated politically in Iraq. Why? I don’t have a freakin’ clue. Maybe it strokes their egos and makes them feel important. I think they are treasonous vipers. They must have some sympathy for their cause at some level or they woudln’t be some terrorist friendly. Heck, they could be mistaken for the official propoganda outlet for al Qaeda. What they say sounds to me just like the lies and propoganda coming out of Teheran now and Baghdad before the war.
http://americanpatriot.townhall.com/g/3c156744-a0e6-4606-8515-612a34164d67
April 28th, 2007 at 10:45 amFAAAACKKK! Rumsfeld, that was some of the most adroit, succint drunken profanity I’ve read in a long time. General Patton said you can’t run an army without profanity. I predict you will excel at your given MOS, with flair!
Best of luck.
Greg
April 28th, 2007 at 4:53 pmRummy-
Unless they changed it in the past 2 years, it’s mostly a written miltiple-choice test. There’s an aural recognition part, but it’s short. For the written part, they’ll explain the structure for each sub-section of the test (adjectives before nouns, like in English, or nouns before adjectives, like in Spainish, etc.). Then they’ll give you a phrase of gibberish words like “DKLAH ROMHG PHORMA” and ask you things like “What color is the ROMHG?”.
It’s actually really easy, and it only takes about an hour or so. They’re interested in your ability to learn a language quickly. Like I said, if you paid much attention in high school English class you should do fine. Pay more attention to the patterns than the words themselves.
April 28th, 2007 at 6:55 pmI totally agree with the marine’s assesmant of the whole situation.
April 28th, 2007 at 8:39 pmThe politicians are armed with more ego than reality, and thats an opinion from far away on a different locality, where I can see from a different personal perspective.
The casualties are definatly greater on the Iraq side, almost all of these are caused by the murderous terrorists,of whom the worst are the Al Queida brain dead who arrive in Iraq from wherever to cause the huge mahem and blood loss of the Iraqis for a cause that noone in the west could ever believe in. A caliphate!!!
We must remember that democracy is a frail plant that needs lots of nurture. The Iraqis have started down this path, and will take a lot of time, even given the goodwill of all, which is not whats happening.
As the marine says, the Kurds have their security in hand and there have been minimal deaths there, the Shia and Sunnis in the south, even though they have traditional hatreds going back centuries, can and will cooperate with one another if they are given a chance. The terrorists know this, its happening slowly right now, with the help of the coalition and US military, who are training the Iraqis security forces to help themselves.
Whats not needed is the puffed egos of the American politicians, whose hatred of GWB and all the right has almost made them as brain dead as the suicide bombers. The statement from Harry Reid (may no peace be apon him) that “the war is lost” then that” if general Petreus says that we are winning in Iraq I will not believe him” is not conenetious, its plain wrong and stupid as well. If an old man in washington knows more than the General on the front line, then its time to reintroduce the draft and make Harry the number one candidate.Then well see if he thinks the war is lost, after he has had a little patriotism shoved up his fundamental.As we would say here, look mate he’s no cobber of mine.
And to rummy, the water seems to have done wonders get back on
I get 10-20 emails EVERY day from
Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342
There are GREAT successes taking place in Iraq… the msm REFUSE to report it… Patraeus WILL succeed !!! The Iraqi people are turning in the MURDERING TERRORISTS by the hundreds EVERY day…. The Iraqi people WANT their country back from the terrorists that are killing Iraqi people by the hundreds !!!! hairy reid knows NOTHING !!! he is a media whore and is sucking up to the FAR left loonies to impress soros for his money… plain & simple - reid KNOWS that President Bush WILL VETO any bill with the billions of pork & with timelines…. If the dems have learned anything in 6 years, it is that WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS SOMETHING - HE MEANS IT… NO BACKING DOWN TO THE COWARDS THAT WANT TO PULL OUT BEFORE THE JOB IS FINISHED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 28th, 2007 at 10:00 pmDan, thanks, bro.
GregW–yeah, rereading my post, I think there was only one grammatical mistake: when I wrote “I wouldn’t cross the street to piss in your mouth, fuck you, bitch.” I should have used a semicolon after “piss in your mouth; fuck you, bitch.”
I was typing a million words a minute, didn’t check over that stuff either. Maybe I should be constantly drunk from this moment forward; I’m surprisingly coherent when I type drunk!
April 29th, 2007 at 7:35 am
Since I might be going to Iraq I decided to get much information from certain websites that will have the complete truth instead of half truths. Their are only a few websites that are dedicated on showing how Iraq really is. I tried to go on military.com and its discussion forums to get some ideas, sometimes the FOX News and a few other websites that are military affiliations. My best source of News is my Son who is in Iraq, He has only been in country two months now and already he has been involved a couple of firefights and one or two IEDs. I be a complete idiot if I am not worry about my Son getting hurt but I have to accept that he is over there and wants to complete this “Surge” mission. If I do go I will be with a certain Army National Guard unit that will pull security in Iraq. I do not want to say more because we got A$$ holes Islamic Fascist Insurgents listening and reading websites to get the latest info on US!
April 29th, 2007 at 4:29 pmSorry for getting off track the subject above but I do totally agree with the author. Are “Cut and Run” politicians seems to forget that it takes TIME to rebuild a country infrastructure when it is almost totally destroyed. Just take a look and Germany and Japan, they still have troops there and I don’t see are stupid politicians saying pull out!
Hell, we have been there over 60 years! And look at Korea, I did two tours over there and we still have troops there (over 50 years now). To rebuild a country it takes decades not months and if these politicians don’t understand then we should all go back to be isolationists and wait for the next big Pearl Harbor attack to wake us up again. Except this time the Iranian Islamic Fascists will have the “A” bomb and they will be using it against us! I recommend reading “Showdown with Nuclear Iran” by Michael D. Evans. His books give a chilling account on how they will get the bomb and how they might use it against us and Israel. If we pull out like the Stupid Senator Harry Reid wants it will only embolden the Iranians to start up their ancient Persian Empire under the guise of the perverted Muslim religion. Most of Iraq will be taken over and from their the Iranians will use their newly built missiles to attack Israel and will put their “A” bombs inside a container to be ship to a seaport either in New York or Los Angeles seaport! This is not fantasy but fact! We better wake up America because if we don’t War will be coming Home to us!
Sometimes I wonder if the war is a magnet for terrorists, and whether we can truly win. I’m not saying we can’t win though, I just wonder about it.
Maybe Schwartzkoff was right when he said we should have marched right into Baghdad during Desert Storm…
April 29th, 2007 at 8:39 pmGre…oh, to hell with that…
Some of these posts need to be put into a book or something. Call it ‘Letters from Iraq’ or something.
If I had the money and connections (and wasn’t considered such an obnoxious jerk that I wouldn’t have the Sunni, Shi’ite and Kurds joining together to all kill me, I would go there and write the story that isn’t being written.
Does anyone remember the story about the Swamp Arabs and the refilling of the swanp in southern Iraq and how it was an ecological success and how Science Magazine didn’t want to pring it (or was it Nature) because it showed the war effort in a good light?
The above article and the many others like it need to be put down before the dust of history obscures it.
I am happy, Rumsfeld47, that you can get drunk. My Mohawk genes mean I get sick and not drunk. I don’t smoke and apparently I am Rumsfeld’s complete opposite when it comes to women so all I can do is be sarcastic and hope for the best.
Soldier on, Anonymous.
Tim Roesch
April 30th, 2007 at 5:36 amCommand Private Major
‘this close to being kicked out of socnetcentral.com’
What can we doto get this out?
Call our local talk radio station and tell them about Pat’s site. Ask them to link to it or to mention it on the air. Send email to them. Try something. Just do it.
I’ve tried talking to the moderates and leftists and its a waste. Strength in numbers matters.
April 30th, 2007 at 6:30 amThis article is great, as previously mentioned, this officer is one of the Warrior Scholars. Rummy had a great rant, we truly will miss your posts whjile you are in Diego. I loved that place, and hated it as well. When I was there, they took us over and showed us some of the Quonset huts they had used when filming Gomer Pyle USMC. I hope those are still there, even though it was mostly fictional humor, ther were some factual additions here and there, but it was just neat to see those huts, and that the Corps was keeping them, in great shape and looking like they did on the show as closely as possible.
Anyway, Rummy, easy on the drinks, you are trying to lose weight, remember?!?! Each shot or drink is 200 calories, that helps nothing, but then again you are young enough to recoup from a binge easier than old farts like myself.
Back to the article, I pray that someday the MSM will pass this on to the public, and start supporting the nation that has allowed them to prosper, for the sake of our troops, and our way of life.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:48 am“When I was there, they took us over and showed us some of the Quonset huts they had used when filming Gomer Pyle USMC.”
Hell, we lived in those damn things. I must be getting old
April 30th, 2007 at 8:39 amI wonder if there is something else I could be doing.
Pat, you need any help compiling this stuff into a PDF so it can be published somehow (publishing laws not withstanding…)?
I am offering help…not just telling you what to do.
Tim Roesch
April 30th, 2007 at 9:09 amCommand Private Major
Brad, are you suggesting I be an asshole and not share one last drink with my brother on his birthday right before I ship off? I had a total of three drinks. The reason I was so drunk was because I DON’T DRINK!
Dick.
Oh, and guess who got a 116 on his fuckin’ DLAB? DERKA-DERKA, MOTHERFUCKERS, I’M A LINGUIST!
April 30th, 2007 at 10:55 amGramps. you are not getting old, just more experienced
I just had to throw the quonset huts in as anecdotal. one of those better than average memories of Basic.
Just look at how the media portrayed the military back then, and I do not mean the goofiness of Gomer, but as a whole. from the sixties up until Clinton, they started to be less respectful but after Clinton took office and slashed the military, the media and Holloywood liberal facist elitists went ape shit to see who could make the military look the worst. I despise the MSM and the liberal facist hypocrits…
April 30th, 2007 at 11:12 amRummy,
I would never suggest you not celebrate with your bro. Geez, I’d have to turn in my eagle globe and anchor if I ever did that. Did not know you had only 3 drinks. I assumed from your post and from past experiences that you had consumed copious quantities of fermented beverages. And before anyone lectures, I totally understand the definition of assuming. Anyway, most good Marines are going to tipple now and then… I was known to on occassion, such as the sun rose, the beach was nearby, the bar was open, the beer was cold, the fish were hitting, the fish were not hitting….
May 1st, 2007 at 11:00 amWow…great post Captain Insano. You demonstrate the precise amount of mental clarity I would expect from someone who idolizes Donald Rumsfeld. I don’t even think the real Donald Rumsfeld thinks that highly of himself. You should go give him a hug, it would make his day.
You guys all realize why this Rummy is like the exact sort of kill hungry person we want in a military, but probably the last sort of person we ever want representing the US when interacting with foreign persons abroad? Al Qaeda isn’t bringing people into Iraq, it’s types like you that are pissing people off there.
May 1st, 2007 at 8:11 pmBotulism - ” You guys all realize why this Rummy is like the exact sort of kill hungry person we want in a military, but probably the last sort of person we ever want representing the US when interacting with foreign persons abroad?”
Yea, we should have someone as president who doesn’t have a set of balls. Oh wait, Kerry and Gore tried…sorry. Surely we need someone portraying a weak image, botox’d up, and wearing a pink shirt that likes to give hugs so people will love us. I would vote for them never.
“Al Qaeda isn’t bringing people into Iraq, it’s types like you that are pissing people off there.”
Uh, you may want to read up on current events pal. If we are really pissing them off there, that’s awesome. It will keep them away from here. Why should any American ever apologize for being a citizen of the greatest country ever?
Wanna try again?
May 1st, 2007 at 8:48 pmGreg USA -
It may take big balls to purchase and drive around in a Hummer, but the thing of it is, a Hummer is really hard to miss coming down the road. I always see almost every Hummer that drives by. So does everyone else, and this is good and bad. Before that guy even steps out of his truck, everyone has already formed an opinion of him. For 75% of people, this opinion is “rich douchebag”, for 24% of people, it’s “he should have bought a Japanese SUV that won’t fall apart or at LEAST one of the original Hummers by AM General” and for 1% it’s “can I lick your balls, daddy?”.
The subtle point here is that not everyone you meet is impressed by people that like to whip their balls out every chance they get. Sure, there’s the occasional ass-hat that needs a beat-down once in a while, But now that it’s been revealed that the ass-hat we’re beating down is really a kid with Down-syndrome, why are we still punching? Because we don’t want him to turn into an ass hat later and come over to our house and beat us up?
If you want to know how Democrats work, here it is:
In almost 6 years, we’ve gone from being the most loved nation on earth to being the most universally hated and despised. A defeat in Iraq is not a success because people want to see the US defeated or troops killed. It’s because they see it as the fastest way to force the Bush camp to end the nonsense and bring troops home. The perception is that the military option is failing / has failed and that we’ve let Bush try every option for 5 years, and nothing has worked. The perception is that nothing will ever work, and that we should just cash out and go home, even though we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to.
I think you could argue that we haven’t really “won” anything since WWII. But let’s face it, not everyone can be the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Hell, people still root for the Vikings and they’re awful!
May 2nd, 2007 at 7:16 pmBotulism - I have no idea what the fuck you were referring to with buying a Hummer. I guess my highly educated mind, with higher than average IQ, just can’t figure that one out. Where exactly did you get your percentages?
“If you want to know how Democrats work…”
Oh, we see every day on TV how they work. If you let someone show you who they really are they will, and they are doing a great job at pushing for defeat.
“In almost 6 years, we’ve gone from being the most loved nation on earth to being the most universally hated and despised.”
Did you take a poll? Show me proof of this. Give me real, hard numbers with back up. Wow, Bush was able to change the entire perception of the world in just a few years huh? I am going to ask you the following questions and I want your answer on each one.
1 - Who was president when the WTC was attacked in 1993? Did those attacking love or hate the US?
2 - Who was president when the USS Cole was attacked in 2000? Did those attacking love or hate the US?
3 - The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 happened eight months after Bush was sworn in. How long did it take the terrorists to plan that attack?
4 - What can the US do to ensure the rest of entire world loves us?
Give me some real answers.
“It’s because they see it as the fastest way to force the Bush camp to end the nonsense and bring troops home.”
Meaning, the fastest way to tuck tail and run home in defeat. Hell, why not bring everyone one of our troops back to the US from everywhere on the planet? Why just stop with those in Iraq? Give me a real fucking answer.
“The perception is that the military option is failing / has failed…”
The very posts on this website prove we are not failing. Why do you choose to believe what is filtered and spoon-fed to you on a nightly twenty-two minute basis instead of reading the words from our own people who fighting for you in Iraq?
“…and that we’ve let Bush try every option for 5 years, and nothing has worked.”
Here is another question I want an answer from you on. Tell me exactly how long any war should last and how much money should be spent. Tell me exactly how many times anyone should change strategies when one doesn’t work or doesn’t have the desired outcome before they give up and surrender. Give me exact fucking numbers with solutions that are 100% guaranteed to succeed so that everyone agrees and is happy all along the way.
“The perception is that nothing will ever work, and that we should just cash out and go home, even though we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to.”
You speak of perception as if everyone thinks the way you do. Don’t fucking speak for me or anyone else who is in this to make sure we win. You are a defeatist. Why do you even get up in the morning and do anything? You might fail so why the hell even try?
Here is one final question for you; what didn’t we accomplish that we wanted to do? Chances are you wouldn’t even exist if someone in the past didn’t accomplish what they wanted to do. Hell, they should have given up, right?
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:43 pmRe-read the post once you graduate from journeyman to assistant furnace repairman.
May 3rd, 2007 at 5:35 amBOTULISM-
Thanks for proving that you are an idiot, you respond to a logical challenge of ideas with name calling. You ignorant fuck. See I can call names also, so am I now as smart and educated as you? Can I fix a furnace now?
Also cock breath, your entire carbon foot print is a waste of resources, therefore I suggest you buy enough carbon credits to effectively compensate for your existence on this planet. I sure daddy will pay for it if you ask.
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:06 am“”The subtle point here is that not everyone you meet is impressed by people that like to whip their balls out every chance they get. Sure, there’s the occasional ass-hat that needs a beat-down once in a while, But now that it’s been revealed that the ass-hat we’re beating down is really a kid with Down-syndrome, why are we still punching? Because we don’t want him to turn into an ass hat later and come over to our house and beat us up?”"
I’m going to say you’re one of those asshats. Rummy might piss people off, but EVERYONE pisses people off. If I hadn’t come under the impression that you are so pathetic (after the attempted analogy between Ball slapping and hummers; and what I think your referring to is Iraq?) so suddenly you would piss me off.
Now, argue that we didn’t really “win” in Grenada and Panama. The military has been doing it’s part since before 1776; we crushed the Imperial Germans, we crushed the Nazis and Japs, the Korean war is still on (and N. Korea is paradise isn’t it? :roll:) we won the tactical war in Vietnam, kicked Saddam’s ass twice (both times outnumbered), ended Serbian aggression in the Balkans thus ending genocide and putting the region on the road to healing, kicked the fucking PISS out of the Taliban (and didn’t quite crush them because aforementioned asshats refused to deploy effective ground forces in the quantity to track and exterminate our targets in Tora Bora) and have killed and untold of number of Jihadis and Islamic extremists. I’m pretty sure that if you pop into your local VFW you’ll find some geezers (maybe even Gramps) sitting around. Why not ask a couple if they ever CARED whether they pissed off the guys they were there to kill? I think you’re missing the idea behind this warfare thing.
Also, remember that you are an American too (on paper at least) and that if we’re losers, so are you. So how about rooting for the team that brings home the gold every time instead of bitching about how angry the guys who didn’t place must be?
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:30 amVFW: Troops Need Support, Not Political Rhetoric
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:12 amhttp://www.vfw.org/
Botulism - “Re-read the post once you graduate from journeyman to assistant furnace repairman.”
Good job not answering the questions and just name-calling. The MSM and Defeat-o-crats have taught you well. Why can’t you just answer the questions? If you can give real, intelligent answers with facts to back it up I may be converted. Wanna try again?
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:03 amRepublican Debate - Slightly off topic, but can anyone find the email address we can send questions to? I have asked PMSNBC but they just delete my emails.
May 3rd, 2007 at 2:26 pmBy the way, statistically botulism has the stats wrong, I live in Korea, and the people here love as much as they ever did. its thhe same assholes who hate us, that sympathize with Kim jong il and who generally dont work for a living(or as liitle as possible) when they finally get a job reality sets in , that if the US military werent protecting their asses the investors would pull out and kim jong il would move in permananetly to bring his special form of utopia with him.(starvation anyone.
I’ll bet botulisms poll stats are from europe, the bastion of liberalism and muslim fundamentalism.
I know an Iranian here who cant stop singing the praises of GW bush. he realizes that the only way to protect your freedom is to fight for it. he chose to leave iran but eventually will go back to fight the mullahs he despises.
bottom line: the people who hate us, always hated us, even when clinton was in the white house. If anything since bush came we have gained admirerers.
May 4th, 2007 at 4:20 am