The truth from one MARINE in Iraq

GUEST COLUMN BY NOT RON

About a week ago, I received the below email from a childhood friend of mine that is serving in Iraq. This is not a political post, just a factual one. This guy is a Marine and he is giving us a real snapshot of what is going down in Iraq. I received this email on Saturday April 28, 2007.

I debated at some length to post it or not to post. Given how most readers here (or most blogs) probably have not seen combat, I think the following report from a combat Marine with boots on the ground in Iraq  will open up some eyes just a bit. This Marine's mom is a liberal Democrat and a good friend of mine. I do not agree with my friend's mother politically, but she and her son are as honest as the day is long. What follows is a very real report from a very dangerous place:

"Friends and Family,

I love you and I miss you all. I have attached two pictures of one of my most exciting events of the week. One of the other Marines caught me on a break. The gear is very heavy and after several hours in it your back is killing you. At this point we have managed to see most of the [redacted]province and are beginning to travel into some uncharted places.

We did a walking tour with two of our Generals this week and two months ago we would have never been able to do that. Peace is proceeding rapidly in [redacted], still not the safest place on earth but it is a lot better than it was before. Iraqi Police and Army are taking a lot more responsibility for their areas. In some places volunteers have come out of the woodwork to stand-up neighborhood watches. It is amazing to watch the transformation and to see how excited the Iraqis become over taking back their neighborhoods. I will tell you that the Iraqis are now starting to kill and turnover Al Qaeda members at a rapid rate. Streets are starting to get cleaned, trash picked up, water is restored, shops are opening, schools, and people are starting to feel safe to go about conducting their lives. It is a great sign!

I don't want to be the political pundit for anyone, but mom please pass this information on so that your friends know the truth. It sucks being here, being away from my gorgeous bride and my two angels, but in the long run I think we will rebuild this country and gain an ally in a much larger war (and it is a war to the death) that I do not want my children to have to fight. Leaving here without completing this, in my opinion, will inevitably lead to coming back in 30 years. Remember, we still have Marines in Okinawa, Japan and troops in Germany. I think Iraq will end up the next Okinawa and hopefully someday Marines will be able to take liberty here and feel safe.

Yall take care, I miss you all!"

[The Marine's name who wrote this story is redacted to protect his identity]

 

Comments

Kudos for posting this, NLS. It will not make many of your loyal readers happy, which makes your willingness to do so all the more commendable.

[phriendlyjaime]

Ben, I have a feeling this guy writing posts here has a lot more to do with you losing readers than anything else. Where did you find this guy? OR...do we all know him, but not under this name?

[phriendlyjaime]

It's not that it isn't good news (if it were true), it's just that anyone can post something, call it an anon email, and claim it is true. Seriously, now...

[Pete in Williamsburg]

I enjoyed the motivation and positivity of that Marine. However, one service member's perspective is not kind of evidence that will make or break the Iraq debate. The problems in Iraq and the problems denied by Bush are more complex than just one area of operations described in a letter home.

It's like interviewing a lifeguard who says "Water contamination from poultry farms? That's nonsense? I look at this beach everyday and it's clean and the families swim and play."

In addition, no young hard-charging service member is going to say anything less than "go team go" when polled or quizzed by media, friends or family.

Ben, in my humble opinion, this nice-to-read letter was not enough to base an entire thread for a blog of NLS caliber. Doesn't Not Ron Jeremy have to run this stuff by you before he takes this kind of ride on your hard work and credibility?

[I.Publius]

yeah, what they said. Give us some good anti-Bush, Iraq is a bloodbath stuff.

Give the people what they want!!

Besides, anything purporting to be good news from Iraq HAS to be a lie. Everybody knows that.

[Isophorone]

Ben, THanks for posting this. You may have exceeded the fairness in reporting of most of the broadcast networks!

It will be interesting to see the metamorphosis of the left: From the "unnecessary war," to "the war is lost," to "this can't be a representative view," to who knows what other denial of our progress and victory.

[Not Larry Sabato]

Pete, he can post without me seeing it first.

I'm in the process of finding others to write about Virginia politics- and start to phase out like I said a few weeks ago. Everyone's feedback is important in deciding how to go forward- I appreciate Not Ron giving us some Republican perspective. Now, hopefully he can focus a little more on Virginia. :)

Jamie:

Be advised that I have given the name of the Marine who wrote the email to NLS. Just because you don't want to believe it does not make it false. Just because you have a skewed view of the progress does not impugn the real progress that is happening today in Iraq. Their forces are starting to step up to the plate...this is what folks wanted to have happen and it is happening--thanks, NOTRON

[Pete in Williamsburg]

iPub,

I believe the sincerity of that Marine. However, do you think that one young Marine has the overall perspective on which we should base our views?

I still remember when motivated troops were interviewed in Bosnia in 1999, the Republican pundits cried foul and said "what else will our brave troops say about their mission? You're exploiting them for political gain!"

Of course, back home, plenty of Republicans were criticizing the Commander-in-Chief while we had troops in the field. But, back then, if you criticized the president and the mission, you were a Great American! No, you're a Great American! No, you are!

[Kevin]

But where in Iraq? I know you have to protect where it's from on some level but I could give you a glowing letter about how safe Georgetown is while all hell is breaking loose in NE and SE DC. It's all about perspective.

[phriendlyjaime]

Kevin-logic has gone completely out the window at this point. Good luck.

[Chris]

Pete in Williamsburg hit the nail on the head.

For every letter like this one, you can find one saying just the opposite.

I don't doubt this Marine's sincerity. I'm glad this area of Iraq is doing better.

People, Iraq is a very, very big country. So big that we had to send in the NATIONAL GUARD. Get that? NATIONAL. National as in states, like, say, I don't know...Kansas?!

[Rowhey]

Jaime,
I think that you need to avail yourself of the various military blogs out there. They are written by soldiers and marines on the ground. This particular marine's account is not entirely different from other anecdotal tidbits that I am receiving from some of my friends.

He is likely referring to Anbar Province where Marines largely operate. That being said, this isn't an easy job. But, the war is not lost. The reality is somewhere between Bush's statements and those of Harry Reid.

[Sullivan]

Really, Jamie, it depends on what Ben wants this Blog to turn into.

Does he want it to be a place where people of all partisan stripes can go to discuss politics and share in the analysis of what is happening on the political scene -- primarily in Virgina?

Or, does he want this to become a place that only people of one political affilitation frequent.

If it is the latter, then by all means shut down those who express an opposing viewpoint.

I for one hope Ben wants this blog to be open to everyone. And in that vein, I say keep opinions like Not Ron's coming.

[SWAC Girl]

This sounds very much like what we have been hearing from all the military people in our area and elsewhere. It's just that it doesn't make the news so, unless there's a military connection, people don't know. These guys are there. They know and see what's going on. They sacrifice by leaving their families. The ones on the ground in Iraq say we are definitely winning this mission.

We just saw the 116th Stonewall Brigade leave out of Staunton last Friday -- almost 150 men and women heading out for a 13-month tour of duty to Iraq. They left spouses, children, parents, friends behind. They were sad, as any of us would be to leave ... but they were also proud because this is what they do. This is what they train for. They protect "We the People" ... but they need to know that "We the People" are behind them while they're putting their lives on the line for us. All I can do is humbly say "thanks."

[Bubby]

Looks like this letter got through the censors...

Army Regulations 530--1: Operations Security (OPSEC) restricts more than just blogs, however. Previous editions of the rules asked Army personnel to "consult with their immediate supervisor" before posting a document "that might contain sensitive and/or critical information in a public forum." The new version, in contrast, requires "an OPSEC review prior to publishing" anything -- from "web log (blog) postings" to comments on internet message boards, from resumes to letters home…

[notron]

Cute Bubby...you truly are not so sharp...this is from a MARINE...and Army regulations don't apply. Additionally, the email is marked unclassified.

[I.Publius]

Two possibilities, Bubby.

One, he's a Marine, so Army regs don't apply.

Two, nothing in the content of his email home violated a comparable Marine reg.

[Pete in Williamsburg]

Ben, you're being too generous with NRJ. Diverse opinions are great, but you've gotta be careful of quality control. You've put a lot of sweat into your product just to let minor-leaguers ride your coattails.

I even like these national level topics, but an entire thread about how NRJ's friend is gung ho for the mission? Everyone has friends who have deployed or are currently deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. That letter is very nice, but we all receive such letters and emails. NRJ seemed to have posted it as if he thought he was giving us a rare peek. It just seems to reinforce my perception of him as a moped blogger playing on a motorcyle blog.

[blue south]

are we gonna get the email about painting a hospital or school later in the week?

[Not Ron Jeremy's Thesaurus]

The bravery of this Marine in serving our country and the consideration that he displays in sharing his account with us does not change the fact that Not Ron Jeremy is a clown who cannot write.

[Phil Chroniger]

This letter, to me, is more than "a soldier who is for the war".

This letter (and many others I have read) describes something many people intentionally refuse to latch onto...and that is progress in Iraq.

It's more than a "I'm alive and I love my country" letter.

[TLM]

Ohh, you touched my Tralala.

[Kevin]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/07/iraq.sunnithreat/index.html

That's not good...

"Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), declared that it was "like a normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/04/04/surge/

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4782848.html

Progress...

[Dannyboy]

This DOES provide a bit of the other side of the story. However, I was under the impression that the major focus of this blog was STATE issues, rather than national. I think this is a little bit out of place.