Wed, 17 Nov 2004 23:12:48
Before you judge, you should read
From Powerline, an email from a Marine in Fallujah. The moral? Be careful who you call a war criminal.
This is one story of many that people normally don’t hear, and one that everyone does.
This is one most don’t hear:
A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with Ak-47’s and RPG’s. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, “Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!” He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles. The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.The Marines’ remains are gathered by teary eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag.
But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.
This is the story everyone hears:
A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47’s and RPG’s. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insugent can be heard saying, “Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!” He is badly wounded. Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.
The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, “He’s moving, he’s moving!”
The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for commiting a war crime. Unlawful killing.
And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, i too would have done the same.
For those of you who don’t know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think
it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man’s actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of your recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I’ve seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.
I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other.
Posted by JimK at 11:12 PM on November 17, 2004
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Categories: The Fourth Estate, War, U.S. Military, The Middle East
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#2 Posted by ironmaiden 
on 11/18 at 12:50 PM -
This Marine did the right thing. In this war, it is shoot first and you will be saving lives. Probably the lives of the reporter and his cameraman. No further comment needed because these are terrorists and they don’t care who they kill.
#3 Posted by The Phantom 
on 11/23 at 03:12 PM -
It’s not completely the marines’ fault, I bet they’re very nervous and scared and I can’t blame them. But the red cross recently published some announces telling how in falluja and in every part of iraq there’s a total depreciation of human rights and humanitarian international laws.
The marine you talk about shouldn’t have been on duty if he was still shocked. The bigger matter is he shouldn’t have been there at all, like the rest of american and britain troups, but it’s a another problem and I bet you don’t wanna hear about it.
You know, when I hear phrases like “in war you shoot first and check then” I ask myself why the us should have signed the un geneva conventions…
#4 Posted by The Phantom on 11/23 at 03:39 PM -
*sorry, the word is not depreciation but disdain, I got a bad translator...
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#1 Posted by Grey Coyote
on 11/18 at 12:24 PM -
Damn straight, Since we aren’t there, it’s not really our place. The Military will take care of it’s own situations and for anyone who thinks the Military Justice System is an easy time, it’s harder than anything in the civilian world.
Let’s let the people on the ground handle this.