"This Letter of Apology"
Was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman, US Marine Corps, Retired:
For good and ill, the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will remain an issue. On the one hand, right thinking Americans will abhor the stupidity of the actions while on the other hand, political glee will take control and fashion this minor event into some modern day massacre.
I humbly offer my opinion here:
I am sorry that the seven times we Americans took up arms and sacrificed the blood of our youth, it was in the defense of Muslims (Bosnia, Kosovo, Gulf War 1, Kuwait, etc.).
I am sorry that all of the murderers on 9/11 were Islamic Arabs.
I am sorry that most Arabs and Muslims have to live in squalor under savage dictatorship.
I am sorry that their governments breed hate for the US in their religious schools, mosques, and government-controlled media.
I am sorry that Yassar Arafat was kicked out of every Arab country and high-jacked the Palestinian "cause."
I am sorry that the USA has to step in and be the biggest financial supporter of poverty stricken Arabs while the insanely wealthy Arabs blame the USA for all their problems.
I am sorry that our own left wing, our media, and our own brainwashed masses do not understand any of this (from the misleading vocal elements of our society like radical professors, CNN and the NYTIMES).
I am sorry the United Nations scammed the poor people of Iraq out of the "food for oil" money so they could get rich while the common folk suffered.
I am sorry that some Arab governments pay the families of homicide bombers upon their death.
I am sorry that those same bombers think pregnant women, babies, children, the elderly and other non-combatant civilians are legitimate targets.
I am sorry that our troops die to free more Arabs from the gang rape rooms and the filling of mass graves of dissidents of their own making.
I am sorry that Muslim extremists have killed more Arabs than any other group.
I am sorry that foreign trained terrorists are trying to seize control of Iraq and return it to a terrorist state.
I am sorry we don't drop a few dozen Daisy Cutters on Fallujah.
I am sorry every time terrorists hide they find a convenient "Holy Site."
I am sorry they didn't apologize for driving a jet into the World Trade Center that collapsed and severely damaged Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church - one of our Holy Sites.
I am sorry they didn't apologize for flight 93 and 175, the USS Cole, the embassy bombings, the murders and beheadings of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, etc......etc!
I am sorry Michael Moore is American; he could feed a medium sized village in Africa.
America will get past this latest absurdity. We will punish those responsible because that is what we do.
We hang out our dirty laundry for the entire world to see. We move on. That's one of the reasons we are hated so much. We don't hide this stuff like all those Arab countries that are now demanding an apology.
Deep down inside, when most Americans saw this reported in the news, we were like - so what? We lost hundreds and made fun of a few prisoners. Sure, it was wrong, sure it dramatically hurts our cause, but until captured we were trying to kill these same prisoners. Now we're supposed to wring our hands because a few were humiliated?
Our compassion is tempered with the vivid memories of our own people killed, mutilated and burnt amongst a joyous crowd of celebrating Fallujahans.
If you want an apololgy from this America, you're going to have a long wait! You have a better chance of finding those seventy-two virgins.
Chuck Pitman
Lieutenant General, USMC
Abu Ghraib is old news but whats going on "over there" isn't--However I felt exactly what the General felt, so here it was.
RIGHT ON!!!
Posted by: LL | January 20, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Good To Go!
Posted by: Joann | January 20, 2006 at 03:04 PM
Interesting.
Posted by: SmileDragon | January 20, 2006 at 05:49 PM
Ha! Go ahead---let them go for those 72 virgins. In fact, I hope they get their 72 virgins...Who the hell would want 72 women without experience? It sounds like chaos to me.
In any case, AMEN TO THIS POST!
Posted by: Deb | January 20, 2006 at 06:22 PM
Great post! That Michael Moore bit was great, 'Ol Chuck called it right.
Posted by: Kyuball | January 20, 2006 at 11:22 PM
LL,
Ten-four!
Joann,
What else would you expect from a Marine wife but Marine words......I still say good to go till very day.
Smiles,
You are too kind :) I know you may have had mixed feelings about that one.
Deb,
You kill me :) "without experience". AAAAmen!
Kyu,
True that, Gen. Chuck is too funny himself.
Posted by: BlackOps | January 21, 2006 at 06:56 AM
I know I come across as an extremist most of the time. It is just that I feel strongly about some issues. I mean, we all know I am against this war, but why, you ask? Because I don't want our boys and girls over there dying. That's why. The war doesn't seem worth our soldiers lives! I can't even watch the news when they talk about the war because it actually makes me hurt inside knowing that we loose our men and women every day. And for what? So that an UNGRATEFUL bunch of people can become more civilized? It just doesn't seem worth it to me.
*Whew* A bit off the subject there. But, I felt I should justify myself a little. I agree with quite a bit in that letter, believe it or not.
Posted by: SmileDragon | January 21, 2006 at 09:56 AM
"We will punish those responsible because that is what we do." does not justify
" ...made fun of a few prisoners".
"America will get past this latest absurdity"??? I hope not, lest it be repeated.
Yes, we do defend those who maybe don't appreciate it BUT need it. If not us, then who? I'm so proud of this country, that we defend and help those that can not defend themselves. And that we aren't bullied by power hungry bullies. I'm so proud of our military and support them 110%.
But if the statement "when most Americans saw this reported in the news, we were like - so what?" were true, our nation wouldn't stand for what it does. What set's us apart as a country, as a military force is that we don't just protect what is ours, but we defend those who can't defend themselves...it's our HEART. There was no heart shown in the pictures we saw as a nation on television...an 'absurdity'? God help us should we EVER see this being done and think 'so what?'.
With that said, yeah, I agreed with the majoritiy of it and the 72 virgins, like deb said...what a nightmare! But, I'm sorry, this cut me deeply.
Posted by: kathi | January 21, 2006 at 10:42 AM
I'm sorry I ranted.
Posted by: kathi | January 21, 2006 at 11:15 AM
Smiles,
Its all good....you only feel what most of the country and I feel myself. You're really not that different at all. Dont ever feel you have justify your feelings to anyone, a blog, or me for that matter. Here you can say whatever is on your chest and I dont believe anyone is going to make (or should make) you feel like you are wrong.
Kathi,
I am not really sure where your feelings were on this one but whatever they are Im sure you feel right in saying so.....and dammit dont apologize, no need for that here in Gone Underground Free America......I said dont apologize, duh!
Posted by: BlackOps | January 22, 2006 at 01:25 PM
Shit Hot! I like the General's point! I got a size 12 Monkey Stomp Backing him up and feel the same way. MM is an idiot and if I broke his leg gravy would come out. Keep Charging Sir!
Posted by: Capt B | January 23, 2006 at 11:29 AM
Capt, Sir,
Roger all of that!!! That gravy comment was mad funny.
Posted by: BlackOps | January 23, 2006 at 05:22 PM
I just hopped over from JoAnn's site. I'm glad you posted this. Shit hot is right. I hadn't seen this before. It's awesome.
Thanks for posting it.
Posted by: Elaina | January 24, 2006 at 12:39 AM
Just wanted to add...that's JoAnn's "A Marine Spouse" site.
Posted by: Elaina | January 24, 2006 at 12:56 AM
Elaina,
Good, Im glad you enjoyed it, Oh yeah, I know Joanns blog. Thanks for stopping by.
Posted by: BlackOps | January 25, 2006 at 08:35 AM
Heyyyyyyyyyyyy, what happened to the snow in the desert post?!? The extravagent expenditure of our gas money?
Posted by: LL | January 25, 2006 at 09:50 AM
I got rid of it, I didnt think it was that important, anyway not more important than what the General has to say. I figured I'll just leave him there for a few more until I feel its time for another post. Thanks for noticing
Posted by: BlackOps | January 25, 2006 at 10:06 AM
WOW!!!!! That was fantastic!!!!!!!
Posted by: blondage | January 25, 2006 at 12:52 PM
I thought there was something wrong with my puter, I checked in here earlier and that post about the snow in the desert was gone. I didn't know what happened.
Posted by: SmileDragon | January 25, 2006 at 03:58 PM
Blond,
Yeah, I know.
Smiles,
Nope, I deliberately booted it in favor of the General :)
Posted by: BlackOps | January 25, 2006 at 05:47 PM
I don't know if typepad is the same as blogspot, but, if it is.... just change the entry date of the post to a few days/weeks/months from now and it will remain in the #1 spot on your blog.
Posted by: SmileDragon | January 25, 2006 at 06:04 PM
Hmmmm...I will check that out unless I write a new post later. We shall see.
Posted by: BlackOps | January 26, 2006 at 07:54 AM
Sounds good.
Posted by: SmileDragon | January 26, 2006 at 05:38 PM
I really miss your posts, hope you put up something new soon, even if it's sarcastic with smart ass overtones...no, wait...those are my favorites. Just post soon, k?
Posted by: kathi | January 27, 2006 at 07:36 AM
kathi,
LOLOLOLROTFLMAO!!!!
Posted by: BlackOps | January 27, 2006 at 10:25 AM