I received this email from a friend. She and I both know this Marine's father and have high respect for the dad. I know other members have posted letters and emails from US servicemen currently serving or recently serving in Iraq. I always find it quite interesting to hear about Iraq from people who were there instead of just talking heads or other people who do not have direct knowledge.
As many of you know, I am not a big fan of the media in general and am critical of their lack of balanced coverage and in some cases disgusting fabrications. I include Fox News squarely in this comment as I have not seen their CNN wannabe coverage of events in progress include more coverage of our troops and their successes in Iraq. On 2nd thought, perhaps that is a blessing in disguise as now the troops don't have to worry about Geraldo giving away their unit maneuvers and security again.[:@]
Anyway, I hope you find this letter illuminating and that it provides you with a better insight into the Iraqi war and what is really happening over there.
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No one honestly wants to go to war or see our military involved in hostile action, the following was sent to me by a very angry ex-Marine, from the Placerville area,who wants the truth to be told instead of what our politicians on both sides of the lines, politically censored and spun media give us. Some ofFormer Sgt. Eric Stephensstatements are very telling on why the general population is wanting to end the war today! The knowledge of what is really going on would surely allow us to have honest evaluations concerning our involvement. [/align] As a spouse of a Vietnam war and 21 year careerveteran it is hard not to put my own spin onto this letter, but I have not. [/align] You may delete it if you chose to become uninformed except by 30 second sound bites of the subject and not read the truth from someone who was there, TWO TOURS, or you can read it in it's entirety and know the truth by being more informed. [/align] The choice is yours as was mine to send this out, I believe a lot more is at stake with how we remove ourselves from Iraq. It is puzzling to me why no one is asking for us to get our troops out of ***an, Germany, Turkey, Bosnia, England, and all the other places where we have left the blood of our sons and daughters in the soil and stayed to rebuild the countries and their infrastructure, schools, governments and economies.[/align] [/align] [/align] [/align] [/align] Subject: The Truth: Why We're In Iraq[/align] [/align] Liberal politicians and media join forces [/b] To spread lies about [/b]America[/b]"檚 success in [/b]Iraq[/b][/b]
November 24, 2005
I"檓 former Sgt. Eric Stephens (USMC Honorably Discharged after eight years and two tours of duty in Iraq) and I want you to know the truth about Iraq. Some politicians have joined with media to spread lies about the great successes of our fighting men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, by calling for a policy of "retreat and surrender." Liberal MoveOn.org is preparing a new television ad which they'll be running over the holiday season, called "Home for the Holidays." Their ad exploits the emotions of families with loved ones serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, by showing a family around a holiday dinner table with one empty chair.
A voice-over says, "Their President misled America to send them in and has no plan to get them out... Tell your Representative to support our troops - bring them home."
As a Marine in Iraq fighting in the initial invasion of Iraq and in later my second tour of duty fighting in and around Ramadi, I tell you this is outrageous! The liberals are using the families of dedicated men and women who are giving their all for America. They are lying to Americans just to advance their left-wing "cut and run," "blame America," "bash Bush" political agenda.
FACT[/b]:[/b] There's a lot more GOOD news about Iraq than BAD news. Our fighting forces in Iraq are angry that the media isn't reporting any of the good news. Our troops deserve to have the truth reported about all the good they are doing.
Did you know these facts? Below is a list of what our Marines and Soldiers are accomplishing in [/b]Iraq[/b]. I"檒l bet you didn"檛 know any of this:[/b] 路 Five million Iraqi students are back in school (female and male alike), with 51 million new textbooks in circulation free of Ba'ath propaganda 路 Academics forced into exile under Saddam are coming back to teach in Iraqi universities 路 There are now over 200,000 trained Iraqi security forces personnel (and I had the honor of training many of them in the city of Ramadi) 路 The Ministry of Industry has issued 7661 licenses for new businesses 路 There's been a huge boost in economic activity due to tax-cuts 路 A complete rebuilding and renovation of major telecommunications infrastructure is now underway 路 A new sewer system is stimulating the Iraqi economy and improving health conditions 路 Public Health Centers are bringing family healthcare to Iraqi neighborhoods-- some Iraqi"檚 are receiving health care for the first time
The reason you didn"檛 know this is because our liberal media and liberal politicians don"檛 want you to know the truth. [/b] [/b] Liberal politicians want you to believe our military is suffering huge numbers of casualties. [/b] [/b] FACT[/b]:[/b] Before the invasion of Iraq, Senator Ted Kennedy denounced the invasion by claiming 5,000 body bags would flood our shores with our dead soldiers. To date we have not even come close to losing that number of troops. Truthfully, the U.S. troop death toll is half the rate of U.S. training deaths each year during peace time! Senator Kennedy continues to perpetuate his lie regardless of the truth.
Liberal politicians want you to believe Iraqi"檚 don"檛 want us there. [/b] [/b] FACT[/b]:[/b] From day one CBS, the New York Times, and liberal politicians have predicted calamity and searched earnestly for any signs of it. Yet all their predictions failed to materialize. 90 percent of Iraq is peaceful. The majority of all violence is limited to less than 10 percent of Iraq, and surprise, virtually all of the Bush-bashing media's attention is focused on the Sunni Triangle, Saddam's home turf. Never mind that nearly everywhere else in 90% of Iraq, there is no insurgency.
Liberal politicians want you to believe Iraqi"檚 don"檛 cooperate with us. [/b] [/b] FACT[/b]:[/b] Across Iraq progress is everywhere, as Americans and Iraqis together build new schools and rebuild damaged schools, roads, power plants, sewer systems, enhanced security, empowerment through civil participation, and a brighter economic and political future. [/b] Liberal politicians want you to believe Iraqi"檚 don"檛 want a democratic future. [/b] [/b] FACT[/b]:[/b] Iraqis are now doing most of the fighting, and dying, for their new, free Iraq. I know, I personally trained many of them. Now, the Iraqis I trained are training other Iraqi troops to defend their nation. What I find most encouraging and proof they want a free Iraqi, is that millions of Iraqis have twice stood up to terrorist, voting first to elect new leaders and just recently to ratify their new constitution. That includes 105,000 Iraqis in Fallujah, the heart of the insurgency. These same Democrat politicians and liberal media claim President Bush lied about why we went to war despite the fact that Bill Clinton launched Operation Desert Fox in 1998 on the basis of similar intelligence. Also, a majority of Democrats in both Houses voted to go to war using this same intelligence (they conveniently ignore this). [/b] FACT[/b]:[/b] The Bush administration didn't manufacture evidence about WMD: If evidence was manufactured, it was manufactured during Clinton's administration, and the Democrats know this even as they and the media continue their war of disinformation against President Bush and his goals and objectives. If you want to know the truth about why we are in Iraq and what we are accomplishing there, ask a Marine who has been there.
Former Sgt. Eric Stephens, 2nd Bn 5th Mar USMC
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Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
You know, this is all great, and I am sure that there is a lot of good going on in Iraq that does NOT get reported. I think someone said, nobody tells the story of the building that is still standing.
However, I guess this is where I really have to depart from the intent of this letter. While I am sure that this marine is correct, the bottom line is that
none of those things were the reasons we were told we were going to war!
The American people were told that we were going to war because Iraq had strong ties to Al Quaeda, that Iraq had huge caches of chemical weapons, and that Iraq was actively seeking nuclear weapons capabilities.
The truth of the matter, whether you agree with the decision or not to invade, was that the day we went in, Iraq was not capable of any true kind of defensive front. They were using outdated Soviet weaponry and were no match for our army.
If the point of the war was regime change, we accomplished that very quickly, Saddam is gone, will go on trial, and will eventually be put to death. We have discovered that Iraq had no nuclear capabilities, and really, no chemical weapons either. As a threat, they have been eliminated.
So, where does that leave us now? We are rebuilding Iraq, which I have to ask....why? THAT was not part of the deal. We removed Saddam, removed the terror threat (if it ever truly existed). I could understand stabilizing the country with troops until a new government can be set up, but why are we building their infrastructure? Why are we building their schools? Why are we supporting their businesses??
Oh, I know the argument that we have to do those things to win the hearts and minds of Iraqi's, and truth be told, you probably DO have to those things to truly win over a population.
However, this decision to rebuild this country, to establish a democracy, to nation build per se, THIS decision, was NEVER, and I repeat NEVER decided upon by the Congress or the constituents of these United States. The President was given authority to take military action, who gave him authority to nation build?
Along these lines, while ultimately our military HAS the most at risk (their very lives), I take great offense when others make it sound like the rest of this country has no stake in this war. On the contrary, every citizen of this country has in some way been affected by this war. It might be the cost of building supplies, or the fact that we are woefully indepted to China, so American manufactoring suffers greatly. My children will have a huge debt to pay off, and their children may as well.
Now, the decision to build a democracy in Iraq may in fact be brillaint, only time will tell. However, make no mistake, this was a small group of men who acted indepdently of the governmetn and certianly pushed the envelope to achieve their goal. What they have done, is in fact, horribly un-American, and goes against everything our forefathers stood for.
No question there is a bias in the media for reporting bad news and a clear bias as well against conservatives in general and Bush in particular. If you want to read the war news closer to the source, try Centcom's website at http://www.centcom.mil/
In Mag's case, it amazes me that a man ...Deleted by CalHunter...has such a preoccupation and hatred of Bush.
Blaming the cost of building supplies, globalization and the national debt on Bush and the Iraq War is truly laughable.
That last paragraph is the best. It sounds like Mag and a lot of other libs are still in a state of denial that W is President. You seem to overlook that as Presdient W is head of the Executive Branch and has full authority to run foreign affairs, command the armed forces and issue executive orders that have the authority of secondary legislation.
Mag, You're gonna have to explain to some of us how the duly elected President and Vice-president operate "independently of government."
[:@]And ask a soldier who is here now!No one wants to but we are here, not only for them, but so those liberals can stand up there and bad mouht the president without ducking a terrorist bomb or bullet! Are they stupid to think that if we weren't hear they wouldn't be in NYC, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston..... let me tell you and it is all I can say, there are some Americans from the US states who are alive and safe from terrorists because of what we are doing here! Like the man says, ask a Marine or ask a soldier, we will tell you!
"Are they stupid to think that if we weren't hear they wouldn't be in NYC, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston..... let me tell you and it is all I can say, there are some Americans from the US states who are alive and safe from terrorists because of what we are doing here!"
You don't think these people would have fought us in Afghanistan?
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Truthfully, the U.S. troop death toll is half the rate of U.S. training deaths each year during peace time! Senator Kennedy continues to perpetuate his lie regardless of the truth.
Is this true? We loose 4,000 a year in training deaths
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Public Health Centers are bringing family healthcare to Iraqi neighborhoods-- some Iraqi"檚 are receiving health care for the first time
In truth many of these people didn't recieve health care because of our embargo.
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FACT[/b]:[/b] Across Iraq progress is everywhere, as Americans and Iraqis together build new schools and rebuild damaged schools, roads, power plants, sewer systems, enhanced security, empowerment through civil participation, and a brighter economic and political future.
Call me heartless but I'd rather see those billions spent here.
__________________
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Thanks for your service, Moore. I and most Americans support the troops unequivocably. No Buts behind "I support the troops" for me. I support the mission, the troops and the C in C on the war effort.
I'm curious to know which region you're in, the predominant tribe and their impression of our efforts and their new democracy. It's good to get an unvarnished version once in awhile.
Truth, President Bush was more then willing to allow Hussein to stay in power.If he disarmed.
This site has many of the talking point memo's from before the war,very interesting read.
Check it out. Or you can go the the whitehouse's site and read them. /17/03# http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-10.html
Global Message
All the decades of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end."
- President George W. Bush, March 17, 2003
Events in Iraq Have Now Reached the Final Days of Decision. the Iraqi Regime has used diplomacy as a ploy. Peaceful efforts to disarm the Iraqi regime have failed because we are not dealing with peaceful men.
* The Iraqi regime continues to conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. It has used weapons of mass destruction. It has a history of reckless aggression and a deep hatred for America and our friends. And it has aided terrorists, including al-Qaida. Using chemical, biological, or one day, nuclear weapons, obtained with the help of Iraq, terrorists could kill thousands, or more.
* The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat, but we will do everything to defeat it. Under UN Resolutions 678 and 687 - both still in effect - we are authorized to use force in ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. This is not a question of authority; it is a question of will.
* On November 8th, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441, finding Iraq in material breach and vowing serious consequences if Iraq did not fully and immediately disarm. Today, no nation claims that Iraq has disarmed.
* Some permanent members of the Security Council announced they will veto any resolution that compels disarmament. The Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities - so we will rise to ours.
* In recent days, some governments in the Middle East have delivered messages urging the dictator to leave Iraq, so that disarmament can proceed peacefully.
Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict.
* In a free Iraq, there will be no more wars of aggression against neighbors...no more poison factories...no more executions of dissidents...no more torture chambers and rape rooms.
* Iraqi military units will receive clear instructions on how they can avoid being attacked. I urge them: If war comes, do not fight for a dying regime that is not worth your own life. Do not destroy oil wells, a source of wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people. Do not obey use weapons of mass destruction.
* Should Saddam Hussein choose confrontation, the American people can know every measure has been taken to avoid war - and every measure will be taken to win it.
* If Saddam Hussein attempts to cling to power, he will remain a deadly foe until the end. In desperation, he and terrorist groups might try to conduct terrorist operations.
* We are acting to protect our homeland. Should enemies strike our country, they would be attempting to shift our attention with panic, and weaken our morale with fear. In this, they would fail. We are acting now because the risks of inaction would be far greater.
* The greatest power of freedom is to overcome hatred and violence, and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of peace. Free nations have a duty to defend our people by uniting against the violent. America and our allies accept that responsibility. 3/19/03# http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319.html
Global Message
Events in Iraq have now reached the final days of decision. Peaceful efforts to disarm the Iraqi regime have failed because we are not dealing with peaceful men.
The Iraqi regime continues to conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. It has used weapons of mass destruction. It has a history of reckless aggression and a deep hatred for America and our friends. And it has aided terrorists, including al-Qaida. Using chemical, biological, or one day, nuclear weapons, obtained with the help of Iraq, terrorists could kill thousands, or more.
The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat, but we will do everything to defeat it.
The UN Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441, finding Iraq in material breach and vowing serious consequences if Iraq did not fully and immediately disarm. Today, no nation claims that Iraq has disarmed.
Some permanent members of the Security Council announced they would veto any resolution that compels disarmament. The Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities - so we will rise to ours.
Should Saddam Hussein choose confrontation, the American people can know every measure has been taken to avoid war - and every measure will be taken to win it.
In a free Iraq, there will be no more wars of aggression against neighbors...no more poison factories...no more executions of dissidents...no more torture chambers and rape rooms.
In desperation, Saddam Hussein and terrorist groups might try to conduct terrorist operations.
We are acting to protect our homeland. Should enemies strike our country, they would be attempting to shift our attention with panic, and weaken our morale with fear. In this, they would fail.
The greatest power of freedom is to overcome hatred and violence, and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of peace. Free nations have a duty to defend our people by uniting against the violent. America and our allies accept that responsibility.
__________________
You're only one post away from a federal watch list.
The Truth: Why We're In Iraq
