A Letter From a Soldier in Iraq

This is a real letter from a Soldier in Iraq. It was written in regards to Kerry's comments.

I thought I would share it with you all so that you may truly know what the Soldiers, the Active Patriots, think that are ACTUALLY over there.

Yesterday John Kerry said, "You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well, and if you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq” So I wrote him a letter: I am a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I am currently on my second tour in Iraq, a tour in which I volunteered for. I speak Arabic and Spanish and I plan to tackle Persian Farsi soon. I have a Bachelors and an Associates Degree and between deployments I am pursuing an M.B.A. In college I was a member of several academic honor societies, including the Golden Key Honor Society. I am not unique among the enlisted troops. Many of my enlisted colleagues include lawyers, teachers, mechanics, engineers, musicians and artists just to name a few. You say that your comments were directed towards the President and not us. If we were stupid Senator Kerry, we might have believed you. I am not a victim of President Bush. I proudly serve him because he is my Commander and Chief. If it was you who was President, I would serve you just as faithfully. I serve America Senator Kerry, and I am also providing a service to the good people of Iraq. I have not terrorized them in the middle of the night, raped them or murdered them as you have accused me of before. I am doing my part to help them rebuild. My role is a simple one, but important. You see Senator Kerry, like it or not, we came here and removed a tyrant (who terrorized Iraqis in the middle of the night, and raped them and murdered them). And we have a responsibility to see to it that another one doesn’t take his place. The people of Iraq are recovering from an abusive relationship with a terrible government and it’s going to take some time to help them recover from that. We can’t treat this conflict like a microwave dinner and throw a temper tantrum because we feel like it’s taking too long. Senator Kerry, you don’t have to agree with this war. You don’t have to say nice things about those of us who choose to make sacrifices for the rights of every American rather than sit back and simply feel entitled to it. But please Senator Kerry, if you’re going to call me a stupid murdering rapist, stick by what you say. Don’t tell me that I misunderstood or that you would never insult a veteran because you’re one too. Having been there and done that does not give you a free pass to insult me. My suggestion for you, Senator Kerry, is to remember that your speeches are recorded, and broadcast to us simpletons over here. You may want to write down what you want to say before you say it, maybe have somebody look at it before you say it and tell you what others might hear. Remember that we can’t read your mind, if there are any misinterpretations in what you say, it’s because you didn’t communicate clearly. Good luck to you Senator Kerry, if nothing else it’s always entertaining to watch you try and climb out of the holes that you constantly dig for yourself. Sincerely, Somebody who is watching his daughter grow up in photographs so that you can have the right to say whatever you want about him

Nuff Said

Semper

I'm sorry but you are a victim of propaganda spin republican spin. Keith Oberman retorted the comments beautifully.

www.youtube.com...

kerry's comment were about bush being stupid he wasn't insulting the troops he was insulting bush's intelligence.

The one thing that completely negates what you have just said is the letter..

See that was written by a Marine in Iraq, not someone with the qualifications needed to sit here and complain. Someone out doing it.

He was offended.

No Propaganda, just offended...

And to fall for the "It was all about President Bush" is to be sucked into the Politically correct" I'll believe anything as long as a Liberal says it, crowd...

Sorry, I prefer the truth. Something sadly missing in John Kerry...

Semper

semper, the 1 word that was missing was US

you get US stuck in iraq

you do realize how easy it is to gaff a joke with 1 word, right?
especially when you aren't a comedian

this isn't about "the liberals say it's okay, so it is"
it's about how people get all worked up about 1 mistake
MISTAKE
and kerry apologized for the gaff

Other Comments from Kerry...

Are these mistakes as well??

"they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war"

"The Marines say they never leave even their dead. These men have left all the casualties and retreated behind a pious shield of public rectitude. They have left the real stuff of their reputations bleaching begin them in the sun in this country...."

I am a Marine, have served my Country ever since Jan. 1980. This man is a Traitor to My Country...

Semper

so it's wrong to expose war crimes?
to say that you think what your comrades did is wrong?
to speak out against rape, mutilation, torture, desecration of the dead, killing of innocent civilians, and wanton destruction?
it's wrong to say something that you think is wrong is wrong?

if you agree that it's wrong to do all of that: you, my good sir, give a bad name to the marines i know and cherish as friends

i do not see why what he said in the first quote was wrong at all
same with the second

Mod Edit: Big Quote – Please Review This Link.

[edit on 10/12/2006 by Mirthful Me]

[edit on 12/10/06 by madnessinmysoul]

Of course not!!!

But it is wrong to fabricate those stories to gain political favor...

How much of that did he see on a Fast Boat???

I can say from experience... NONE!!!

The few months he was there, prior to pulling himself out, he spent on a Fast Boat... Not "In Country". Those are Historical Facts and his own admission...

He was simply mimicking Fonda, prepping himself for his future political aspirations.

Semper

thanks for sharing

i liked this letter...

but, i felt that this was an over-reaching statement:

Sincerely, Somebody who is watching his daughter grow up in photographs so that you can have the right to say whatever you want about him

how does this soldier fighting in iraq allow us americans to have rights




[edit on 10-12-2006 by they see ALL]

how does this soldier fighting in iraq allow us americans to have rights

That is easy...

All Soldiers. past present and future, embody the American Spirit of the Sacrifice needed to found and secure this Country.

Soldiers won this Country, and have fought and DIED to keep her free. Thus your rights remain...

Without the Soldiers, we would not be here.

Simple Fact

Semper

Originally posted by semperfortis
That is easy...

maybe it is...

but the words from this soldier's letter made it sound like him being in iraq somehow affects our freedom here at home (which isn't the case, even though politicians may spin this fact around to make it seem like it does)...

am i right???

they see all.

the war in IRAQ is purely political and for money that's it that's all
they tell everyone its because ot the terrorists. bush even admitted "AL CI ADA" had no connection with Saddam (who being found in a hole was a hoax, i don't know if i believe that one or not).

The military was supposed to be build to defend their freedom at home. so poorly defensive. over time they took it elsewhere for political and monetary reasons.

It's a complicated subject.

maybe Canada should have stayed when they went and burned down the white house...

To take from one soldier, the respect and admiration for representing all soldiers is something I am not inwardly prepared to ever do. Those are not the things I want to go down in history as having stood for.

However I will say this.

The fact that we have a strong military, willing and able to combat evil anywhere in the world for the cause of all that is good and right; keeps us free. Yes. I believe that with all of my heart and soul.

Semper

Originally posted by semperfortis
The fact that we have a strong military, willing and able to combat evil anywhere in the world for the cause of all that is good and right; keeps us free. Yes. I believe that with all of my heart and soul.

i respect that you have so much admiration for the army

but i disagree with what you have stated here

As is your right.

One I have defended and continue to defend each and every day...

So keep on "a disagreeing"!!!

It's what makes us great and gives Soldiers a purpose..

Semper

Originally posted by semperfortis
As is your right.

One I have defended and continue to defend each and every day...

So keep on "a disagreeing"!!!

It's what makes us great and gives Soldiers a purpose..

Semper

wait, you fought in WW2?
or did you fight in the Civil War?
or the war of 1812?
or were you in the Revolutionary War?
the Mexican-American War?
Spanish American war?

those are the only wars that could be related to the defense of american rights in any way, and since you said you've been a marine since 1980, that means you have not defended those rights

now, don't get me wrong, i'm not anti-soldier, i'm anti-war
i believe that MOST war is pointless
but, i'd be fine with you, semper, if you didn't naively think you were defending the rights of americans in any war over the last 26 years

tell me, what war did you defend my rights in?

They havent directly defended our rights for some time now.

Theyve been dying to defend other peoples rights.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

I'm sorry but i guess you fail to see the big picture.
Saddam was trained by the USA and then put into power, the USA sold him the WMD's Donald rumsfeld had a little something to do with it.

how come no one seems to realise that all of this started because the USA tries to make money off war. the people who run the USA back then and now make money from all of this. why can't people see that?

because the Alphabet news teams don't tell you, that's why.

HAHA!

Making money off of war is working out great!

What are we, like 7 trillion in debt.

Those gas prices are nice and low too.

Oh, I forgot. Its so Donny and the rest can PERSONALLY make money.

Wouldnt it be alot easier to just adjust the interest rate or enter a "sin" heavy mutual fund and kill all the "sin" taxes? Or maybe legalize the drugs and tax them to high heaven?

Seems like there are alot of easier, simpler ways to make a buck.

Im not saying we didnt put Saddam in power or contribute money and weapons to assholes all over the world but just to make money? C'mon.

I'd like to see where John Kerry, for all his faults, claimed that all soldiers in Iraq are "stupid murdering rapists"

I recently read another letter from a soldier in Iraq that may shed a little more light than heat on the debate: A Soldier's Story by MAJOR BILL EDMONDS

For just a minute or two, step into my life. I am an American soldier in the Army Special Forces. I have just returned from a one-year tour of duty in Iraq, where I lived, shared meals, slept and fought beside my Iraqi counterpart as we battled insurgents in the center of a thousand-year-old city. I am a conflicted man, and I want you to read the story of that experience as I lived it. In the interest of security, I have omitted some identifying details, but every word is true.

...

American soldiers are angry and frustrated with Iraqis. Iraqis are angry and frustrated with Americans. Many Iraqis just want American soldiers to go away, and I struggle within myself not to agree. Day after day I observe the interactions of Americans with Iraqis and am often ashamed. I see that required classes given to all American soldiers on cultural sensitivity do not work; 100,000 or more American soldiers daily interacting, engaging and fighting Iraqis within their own society for more than three years will inevitably create a wellspring of citizen hostility. In this war, none of us can change who we fundamentally are.

American military culture interacts with Iraqi Islamic culture like a head-on collision. And massive deployments of American soldiers fighting a counterinsurgency now hurts more than it helps. When we focus on the military solution to resolve a social problem, we inevitably create more insurgents than we can capture or kill. As a consequence, real "Islamic terrorists" subverting their own tolerant religion will use this popular anger and sense of resentment to their advantage. As much as they hate and fear us, they also say that we cannot just leave the mess that we have made.

...

American soldiers now patrol the streets with extreme caution and quick reflexes. They have come to think that every Iraqi who runs a red light or does not yield is a terrorist. They shoot at or accidentally kill civilians, which then creates one more insurgent and three more insurgency supporters. I know this cause-and-effect explanation is simplistic for an immensely complicated situation, but you get the picture. I will never fault American soldiers for their actions and reactions; it really is dangerous out there, and no other nation could ever ask for such service and sacrifice from its citizens. Yet I also try not to fault Iraqi civilians, for their truth is just as valid to them as is mine to me.

I encourage everyone here to read the full letter, it's quite enlightening.


[edit on 12/11/06 by xmotex]

I encourage everyone here to read the full letter, it's quite enlightening.

That was a really great read.