Falluja-Why?
UPDATE: The linked letter is of a series, the beginning of which can be found here: http://www.thegreenside.com/TwoCol.asp?SID=5549&N=Second%20Tour%20Emails
Some of us have thought a mistake was made when the Marines were pulled back in April, leaving the insurgents to do what they were. When I saw the video last evening, with the Iraqis taking the hospital without a shot, looking very much like video of American military, I'm reassured. I hope it is so with the Iraqi people.
(via INDCJournal, http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/001274.php ) This letter from a Marine to his father puts Falluja in perspective, why there and why now.
Now, their own ignorance and arrogance will be their undoing. They believe that they can hold Fallujah. In fact, they have come from all over to be part of its glorious defense. I cannot describe the atmosphere that exists in the Regiment right now. Of course the men are nervous but I think they are more nervous that we will not be allowed to clean the rats nest out and instead will be forced to continue operating as is.
Its as if a window of opportunity has opened and everyone just wants to get on with it before it closes. The Marines know the enemy has massed and has temporarily decided to stay and fight. For the first time, the men feel as though we may be allowed to do what needs to be done. If the enemy wants to sit in his citadel and try to defend it against the Marine Corps and some very hard Soldiers... then the men want to execute before the enemy sobers up and flees.
It may come off as an exceptionally bellicose perspective but where the Marines live and operate is a war zone in the starkest reality. When the Marines leave the front gate on an operation or patrol, someone within direct line of sight of that gate is trying to kill them. All have lost friends and watched as the enemy hides within his sanctuary that has been allowed out of what one must assume is political necessity. The enemy has been given every advantage by our sense of morality and restraint and by a set of operational rules that we are constrained to operate under. The Marines feel like their time has come and we will finally be ordered to do what must be done and be given the latitude to do it. Even though the price will be high, there is not a man here that would chose status quo over paying the price.
Read the whole letter...
Some of us have thought a mistake was made when the Marines were pulled back in April, leaving the insurgents to do what they were. When I saw the video last evening, with the Iraqis taking the hospital without a shot, looking very much like video of American military, I'm reassured. I hope it is so with the Iraqi people.
(via INDCJournal, http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/001274.php ) This letter from a Marine to his father puts Falluja in perspective, why there and why now.
Now, their own ignorance and arrogance will be their undoing. They believe that they can hold Fallujah. In fact, they have come from all over to be part of its glorious defense. I cannot describe the atmosphere that exists in the Regiment right now. Of course the men are nervous but I think they are more nervous that we will not be allowed to clean the rats nest out and instead will be forced to continue operating as is.
Its as if a window of opportunity has opened and everyone just wants to get on with it before it closes. The Marines know the enemy has massed and has temporarily decided to stay and fight. For the first time, the men feel as though we may be allowed to do what needs to be done. If the enemy wants to sit in his citadel and try to defend it against the Marine Corps and some very hard Soldiers... then the men want to execute before the enemy sobers up and flees.
It may come off as an exceptionally bellicose perspective but where the Marines live and operate is a war zone in the starkest reality. When the Marines leave the front gate on an operation or patrol, someone within direct line of sight of that gate is trying to kill them. All have lost friends and watched as the enemy hides within his sanctuary that has been allowed out of what one must assume is political necessity. The enemy has been given every advantage by our sense of morality and restraint and by a set of operational rules that we are constrained to operate under. The Marines feel like their time has come and we will finally be ordered to do what must be done and be given the latitude to do it. Even though the price will be high, there is not a man here that would chose status quo over paying the price.
Read the whole letter...
posted by Am I Conservative or Lil' Libertarian? | 1:37 AM
<< Home