SnarkUnder Fire

[Fenian_Bastard]

http://www.time.com/time/world/printout/0,8816,1543658,00.html

Wow.

 

[Duane Postum]

Oh my god, what moving, revealing stuff. Thanks.

Great last line in the Best Chuck Norris section.

 

[poindexter]

Ugh.

Most Profound Man in Iraq — an unidentified farmer in a fairly remote area who, after being asked by Reconnaissance Marines if he had seen any foreign fighters in the area replied "Yes, you."


"We will be treated as liberators."

 

[alleyallen]

Moving stuff there.

 

[hondo]

I admire Time for pointing out that both sides would be surprised at the letter. I admire the kid's sense of duty.

By the way, I want the Chuck Norris guy to run for mayor of my town.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Great letter.

 

[goalmouth]

I don't believe that was written just by one person, and I also question its validity. But that's me.

 

[alleyallen]

Without turning this into a pissing match or a debate, what can we do to make it better over there? What can we do to cut down the death rate among U.S. troops? What can we do to make our raids and intel better (without resorting to torture, that is)? What can we do to maybe let more people like this Marine make it home to his family?

 

[Duane Postum]

I don't believe that was written just by one person, and I also question its validity. But that's me.

Why?

 

[alleyallen]

I don't believe that was written just by one person, and I also question its validity. But that's me.

Why?

Yeah, I'm with you Duane. Not sure why you'd doubt the validity. If you put that thought out there, it's kinda appropriate to maybe give a reason why.

 

[Lester Bangs]

I don't believe that was written just by one person, and I also question its validity. But that's me.

Why?

Because every thread that goes up has to have somebody question its validity -- a sign of the sad times we live in. So many liars that it's impossible to believe anybody has integrity and turns most of us into insufferable cynics. BTW, I share Goalmouth's thoughts, just because it's damn near impossible not to.

That said, great stuff.

 

[JR]

Great letter.
Loved the midget part.

 

[farmerjerome]

Most Surreal Moment — Watching Marines arrive at my detention facility and unload a truck load of flex-cuffed midgets. 26 to be exact. We had put the word out earlier in the day to the Marines in Fallujah that we were looking for Bad Guy X, who was described as a midget. Little did I know that Fallujah was home to a small community of midgets, who banded together for support since they were considered as social outcasts. The Marines were anxious to get back to the midget colony to bring in the rest of the midget suspects, but I called off the search, figuring Bad Guy X was long gone on his short legs after seeing his companions rounded up by the giant infidels.

 

[spnited]

Without turning this into a pissing match or a debate, what can we do to make it better over there? What can we do to cut down the death rate among U.S. troops? What can we do to make our raids and intel better (without resorting to torture, that is)? What can we do to maybe let more people like this Marine make it home to his family?

Sad to say, Alley, probably nothing.

Thanks, F_B, for posting that. Incredible stuff there

 

[Bob Cook]

The stuff about the visiting dignitaries sounds like something straight out of a MASH episode. I guess it's universal that the visiting dignitaries will always be a pain, and always fail to see what's right in front of them.

Also, George Bush (and, hell, the rest of us) better thank his lucky stars that these troops would be even one-tenth as committed, brave and honorable as this Marine reports them being. It's amazing that after all the hell that they themselves acknowledge, that so many troops would be willing to re-enlist to complete what is an almost impossible mission.

 

[alleyallen]

The stuff about the visiting dignitaries sounds like something straight out of a MASH episode. I guess it's universal that the visiting dignitaries will always be a pain, and always fail to see what's right in front of them.

Also, George Bush (and, hell, the rest of us) better thank his lucky stars that these troops would be even one-tenth as committed, brave and honorable as this Marine reports them being. It's amazing that after all the hell that they themselves acknowledge, that so many troops would be willing to re-enlist to complete what is an almost impossible mission.

I used to be in military public affairs and I can tell you this Marine's account of dignitaries is spot on accurate. The "reality" they build based on their perceptions is flawed.

 

[qtlaw]

Unique account. The view that the US are the "foreign fighters" really highlights the view of the US over there.

The most amazing part was how committed the Marines are. Truly touching.

Thanks for the find.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Without turning this into a pissing match or a debate, what can we do to make it better over there? What can we do to cut down the death rate among U.S. troops? What can we do to make our raids and intel better (without resorting to torture, that is)? What can we do to maybe let more people like this Marine make it home to his family?

I don't know. Reading that letter gives you the impression that the raids and intel that sets them up are one of the few things that seem to be going right. It's the rest of the operation that needs work.

 

[Columbo]

I don't believe that was written just by one person, and I also question its validity. But that's me.

Nothing great was done by committee.

 

[unwitty]

Biggest Outrage — Practically anything said by talking heads on TV about the war in Iraq, not that I get to watch much TV. Their thoughts are consistently both grossly simplistic and politically slanted. Biggest Offender: Bill O'Reilly.

This might be the least surprising part of that letter.