I'm sorry.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

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 last 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 no such call for an apology upon the extremists came after 9/11.

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 dictatorships.

I am sorry that their leaders squander their wealth.

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 no other Arab country will take in or offer more than a token amount of financial help to those same Palestinians.

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 NY TIMES).

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 are brainwashed thinking they will receive 72 virgins in "paradise."

I am sorry that the homicide bombers think pregnant women, babies, children, the elderly and other noncombatant 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 apology from this American, you're going to have a long wait! You have a better chance of finding those seventy-two virgins.

Chuck Pitman

Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret)

[Ja'chyra]

LOL

[Ianofsmeg16]

Give that man a round of applause!
It's people like him that you need at the top of your country's politics

I totally agree Mr Pitman sir!

[Duke Malcolm]

Wonderful! Simply Wonderful! Why is it that it is the Army Officers that seem to be some of the best Orators (although this is a letter...) of our time, what with Colonel Tim Collins of the Royal Irish Regiment and now Lieutenant-General Chuck Pitman of the United States Marines. What an excellent letter!

[Fragony]

I'd kiss him but he would probably kill me

[master of the puppets]

HURAY, now that is a real man, he explains it all. and he is disturbingly correct... that is why we must respect the armed forces, cause there the only thing left to be respected, not polititions, not media, not foreign diplomats, not religios figures...ect...man the world sucks

[doc_bean]

I am sorry that the last 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.).

Hey we told you this time it would be a bad idea

Seriously though, he has some good points, but does he have a good, idea of how we can stop the terrorists and protect the innocent people of those Islamic countries against fundamentalists ? I'd like to hear it then...

[Strike For The South]

I always like it when one of these blogs come out put forth these "Retired marine genral with 3423 purple hearts says F**K the Arabs" I mean I seriously thought these guys could come up with something better. Iraq has brought nothing but death and haterd to America and that wont change not when we leave and after 2 months the goverment falls and Iraq is thrown into anarchy creating a bigger mess. We need to cut and run. Or be faced with more death for something that will eventually become an even bigger shit storm

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

SFTS:
are you getting it on with some MoveOn chick or something?

[Strike For The South]

SFTS:
are you getting it on with some MoveOn chick or something?

Ill move on you

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

I'm sorry but I'm not that way inclined.

[Tribesman]

So now we can add a marine general to the airforce general ,the marine colonel , the army major , the special forces senior NCO , the Captain with the Airbourne.
I wonder who will be attributed to the next right wing blogsphere masterpiece , a navy Admiral perhaps , retired of course .

[Byzantine Prince]

I too am sorry, chuck, I'm sorry for your simplicity, hypocricy, and rip0ff tendencies.

[Ice]

We need to cut and run. Or be faced with more death for something that will eventually become an even bigger shit storm

Cut and run? Brilliant idea, so all the money we spent and lives that were given can go down the shithole? I think not. I'm not saying we should have gone, but have committed, so we should stay.

Edit: Also, if we cut and run, three new countries will declare independence. One of these will be Kurdistan. Now Kurdistan will want to Annex part of Turkey, which said that will never happen. Turkey along with a Shittee/Sunni State coalition with invade and take over Kurdistan. They will then proceed to war with each other. It will be a God damn mess. So no to leaving.

[Reverend Joe]

Cut and run? Brilliant idea, so all the money we spent and lives that were given can go down the shithole?

It will still go down the ****ter if we stay. I mean, do you really expect the ARVNs- sorry, the Iraqi security forces - to keep stability for more than a year, at the most?

[Strike For The South]

It will still go down the ****ter if we stay. I mean, do you really expect the ARVNs- sorry, the Iraqi security forces - to keep stability for more than a year, at the most?

YUP. The goverment is going to fail so I choose the option where not as many americans die for a country which will just break up anyway

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

I love my crystal ball too.


Edit: *scrying away*, woooooooooooo

[Xiahou]

YUP. The goverment is going to fail so I choose the option where not as many americans die for a country which will just break up anyway

That's nonsense. A breakup and civil war are not forgone conclusions. Most Iraqis want democracy to succeed and this current round of elections promises to have an unprecedented turn out. Our forces need to remain to provide stability until democratic institutions take hold. We also need to continue clearing insurgent strongholds and garrisoning them with Iraqi forces.

[Ice]

It will still go down the ****ter if we stay. I mean, do you really expect the ARVNs- sorry, the Iraqi security forces - to keep stability for more than a year, at the most?

We aren't going to leave anytime soon. I predict we will have bases and mass troop numbers for 50+ years. If we leave, shit will break lose.



STFS SAID

I havent seen any democracy loving Iraqis. Everyday its "Suicide bombing, ambush, beheading." Sure there are probably some but its not enough. We are just breeding more hate from the Iraqis towards us towards the ethnic groups in the reigon. Hell these guys are fighting eachother now with us there. Sure we can kill insurgents but we will never get all of them. I say leave and let them sort it out its not if but when and I perfer we leave now

The insurgents and bombers dont speak for all Iraqi people, just like Islamic terrorists dont speak for all of Islam. You actually haven't see any democracy loving Iraqis? I'm pretty sure that day they tore the statue of Saddam down, there were some people cheering there. They sure as hell weren't dictator loving people. They want to go to school, run businesses, and live without fear just like the rest of the world.

[Strike For The South]

The insurgents and bombers dont speak for all Iraqi people, just like Islamic terrorists dont speak for all of Islam. You actually haven't see any democracy loving Iraqis? I'm pretty sure that day they tore the statue of Saddam down, there were some people cheering there. They sure as hell weren't dictator loving people. They want to go to school, run businesses, and live without fear just like the rest of the world.

Yes they hated Saddam and they hate us to. They may want to do all that Ghost but provided a couple things

1.No Americans
2.Domianice over the other ethnic group

They majority dont wont democracy they want power. I refuse to sit here and allow America get in the crossfire of a barbic civil war

[Divinus Arma]

I always like it when one of these blogs come out put forth these "Retired marine genral with 3423 purple hearts says F**K the Arabs" I mean I seriously thought these guys could come up with something better. Iraq has brought nothing but death and haterd to America and that wont change not when we leave and after 2 months the goverment falls and Iraq is thrown into anarchy creating a bigger mess. We need to cut and run. Or be faced with more death for something that will eventually become an even bigger shit storm

This was worth coming out of hibernation for.

SFTS, a few months ago you quoted me in your sig. Can't remember what it was, but it was pro-war. You have taken a turn down a sad sad road my friend.


You see, the liberals and Democrats would have all of us believe that this war is unwinnable. They tell the Amercian public, "We cannot win, we must surrender." Withdrawl now IS surrender, because the infant Iraqi government is incapable of defending itself.

The liberals see America as the world's greatest problem. The liberals want us to believe that we will fail and that we must give in to the terrorists of Iraq. The liberals say this because it will help them politically. Because this is all they have left. They have no platform. They have no argument. All they have to offer is American defeat. The Democratic Party, this once great party of Truman, JFK, and Roosevelt, has become irrelevant and stands against America.

Because what is bad for America... Is good for the Democrats.


I am deeply saddened to see you take this road SFTS. But you are a Texan. And an American. And I also know that you are still formulating your view of how our country should be led.


There is NO wrong in questioning our leadership. There is NO wrong in voicing your beliefs. There is NO wrong in making your points heard.

But we must never, ever, ever play to the enemy in order to make gains politically. We must NEVER pursue American failure to promote a political ideology.

And make no mistake: The Liberals want America to fail. If America fails, then the Republican party fails. And if the Republican party fails, then the Democrats will increase their power.

The failure of America is Democratic Party policy when conservatives lead the nation.

[Lemur]

Really, is there anything wrong in the world that we can't blame The Liberals for? I think not.

So DA, what percentage of Americans do you believe are rooting for America's failure? Just curious. I'd love to hear a number, and not just about The Liberals, whom you seem to have an intimate understanding of.

[Xiahou]

You see, the liberals and Democrats would have all of us believe that this war is unwinnable. They tell the Amercian public, "We cannot win, we must surrender." Withdrawl now IS surrender, because the infant Iraqi government is incapable of defending itself.

Well that much is accurate- at least when it comes to the Democratic leadership and the "liberals" on this board.

Because what is bad for America... Is good for the Democrats.

This is also true. Failure in Iraq? - good for their party. Recession? -good for Democrats. I'll leave it up to the reader to do the math themselves on Iraq, but no doubt, economically Democrats have been striving to paint a negative picture despite strong growth in almost every statistic and low unemployment.

Clearly, any opposition party benefits when things go bad for the majority party. The question is, are they rooting for failure? Personally, I think Democrats would be doing much better if they were making real suggestions or constructive criticism rather than just being negative.

[AntiochusIII]

Well that much is accurate- at least when it comes to the Democratic leadership and the "liberals" on this board.

Perhaps, just perhaps, it's because, the war is unwinnable?

Just playing with you.

[Addressed to others] But I'll have to get back to my gay porn now, and to finish the Communist Manifesto. In fact, I might need to print out another dozen of the Che posters with my welfare money.

Liberals, sir, can be blame for anything. For we are the progressive ones. We change, and for that, we are hated.

Now, that sounds cool.

This is also true. Failure in Iraq? - good for their party. Recession? -good for Democrats. I'll leave it up to the reader to do the math themselves on Iraq, but no doubt, economically Democrats have been striving to paint a negative picture despite strong growth in almost every statistic and low unemployment.

Clearly, any opposition party benefits when things go bad for the majority party. The question is, are they rooting for failure? Personally, I think Democrats would be doing much better if they were making real suggestions or constructive criticism rather than just being negative.

Some of what you said is certainly true, but others are not necessarily so. If Iraq fails, and the Dems win the election for president (which, if Iraq fails, is likely, unless they face a magical Republican spin -- ha! A realistic possibility considering America's majority idiotic voting blog who seems more concerned with women and their wombs and how God should be prayed (or not) than economic and political issues in an increasingly hostile world), they will inherit the problem at its worst. The economy is a natural tactic.

The Dems would not be realistically doing much better by giving constructive criticism if only because the dominating Republicans will not hear them in the first place. Remember: the Republicans control the government; the Supreme Court, the House, and the Presidency. And they won't like to show themselves as weak to (some of) their voters who "hate the traitorous Left."

[Divinus Arma]

So DA, what percentage of Americans do you believe are rooting for America's failure? Just curious. I'd love to hear a number, and not just about The Liberals, whom you seem to have an intimate understanding of.

I am, of course, refering to the public figures within the Democratic Party. There are exceptions, such as Lieberman.

The "grass roots" liberal is usually just a social liberal and simply desires more civil liberties and a little oversight of capitalism. I believe that many of these individuals would actually find themselves to be constituionally conservative.

After all, if you are a strict constitutional conservative, then you will almost automatically become a social liberal. Why? The constitution does not define marriage. So let polygamy and homsexuality be embraced. The constitution grants the Federal government enumerated powers. The bastardization of the Commerce clause via the Supremacy clause has resulted in the "enumeration" of a limitless power to interfere in State Affairs. Gay marriage, drug laws, prostitution, pornography, laws of indecency: These are state affairs and the federal government has no place here.

Most "liberals" fear and distrust Republicans and the blanket term "conservatives" because they view them as socially conservative only. I too take issue with social conservatives because they are willing to rape the Constitution in order to force their existential values upon others. These social conservatives are blind liberals under the banner of conservatism. They don't even realize that they are liberals all the while screaming about how they hate liberals!

From now on, I will address apples as apples and oranges as oranges. Never again will I put the fruit in the same basket. This discussion has shown me the error of this thinking. I will define my issues with conservative/liberal cultural-constitutional perspectives in mind.

[Slyspy]

This was worth coming out of hibernation for.

SFTS, a few months ago you quoted me in your sig. Can't remember what it was, but it was pro-war. You have taken a turn down a sad sad road my friend.


You see, the liberals and Democrats would have all of us believe that this war is unwinnable. They tell the Amercian public, "We cannot win, we must surrender." Withdrawl now IS surrender, because the infant Iraqi government is incapable of defending itself.

The liberals see America as the world's greatest problem. The liberals want us to believe that we will fail and that we must give in to the terrorists of Iraq. The liberals say this because it will help them politically. Because this is all they have left. They have no platform. They have no argument. All they have to offer is American defeat. The Democratic Party, this once great party of Truman, JFK, and Roosevelt, has become irrelevant and stands against America.

Because what is bad for America... Is good for the Democrats.


I am deeply saddened to see you take this road SFTS. But you are a Texan. And an American. And I also know that you are still formulating your view of how our country should be led.


There is NO wrong in questioning our leadership. There is NO wrong in voicing your beliefs. There is NO wrong in making your points heard.

But we must never, ever, ever play to the enemy in order to make gains politically. We must NEVER pursue American failure to promote a political ideology.

And make no mistake: The Liberals want America to fail. If America fails, then the Republican party fails. And if the Republican party fails, then the Democrats will increase their power.

The failure of America is Democratic Party policy when conservatives lead the nation.

Does the Republican Party equal America now then? I can remember another superpower in which the ruling party was held to be the nation, and that nation was not the land of the free.

[Reverend Joe]

This was worth coming out of hibernation for.

SFTS, a few months ago you quoted me in your sig. Can't remember what it was, but it was pro-war. You have taken a turn down a sad sad road my friend.


You see, the liberals and Democrats would have all of us believe that this war is unwinnable. They tell the Amercian public, "We cannot win, we must surrender." Withdrawl now IS surrender, because the infant Iraqi government is incapable of defending itself.

The liberals see America as the world's greatest problem. The liberals want us to believe that we will fail and that we must give in to the terrorists of Iraq. The liberals say this because it will help them politically. Because this is all they have left. They have no platform. They have no argument. All they have to offer is American defeat. The Democratic Party, this once great party of Truman, JFK, and Roosevelt, has become irrelevant and stands against America.

Because what is bad for America... Is good for the Democrats.


I am deeply saddened to see you take this road SFTS. But you are a Texan. And an American. And I also know that you are still formulating your view of how our country should be led.


There is NO wrong in questioning our leadership. There is NO wrong in voicing your beliefs. There is NO wrong in making your points heard.

But we must never, ever, ever play to the enemy in order to make gains politically. We must NEVER pursue American failure to promote a political ideology.

And make no mistake: The Liberals want America to fail. If America fails, then the Republican party fails. And if the Republican party fails, then the Democrats will increase their power.

The failure of America is Democratic Party policy when conservatives lead the nation.

Divinus,

You are a rather intellegent fellow, and I respect you. But this last post of yours is shocking and grotesque. I remember when I first wandered, half-drunk, into the backroom, and early on, you encouraged me to really think for myself. (Admittedly, you thought that I could be converted to conservatism by using this method.) Back then, I would actually make a coherent post in the backroom, this being before I became so burnt out on political crap that I just decided to spam at random. Strike still tries to make sense, and care about the issues that come up back here. In fact, he is finally thinking for himself politically, and he is formulating his own political ethos. And now, you try to discourage him from taking his own course of action, and scare him away from individualism. Do you not see what is wrong with that?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Then again, if he had started left, and had slid to the right, I would be rooting for whoever tried to scare him back to the left. But still consider what you are doing.

[Strike For The South]

[/QUOTE]

This was worth coming out of hibernation for.

SFTS, a few months ago you quoted me in your sig. Can't remember what it was, but it was pro-war. You have taken a turn down a sad sad road my friend.


You see, the liberals and Democrats would have all of us believe that this war is unwinnable. They tell the Amercian public, "We cannot win, we must surrender." Withdrawl now IS surrender, because the infant Iraqi government is incapable of defending itself.

The liberals see America as the world's greatest problem. The liberals want us to believe that we will fail and that we must give in to the terrorists of Iraq. The liberals say this because it will help them politically. Because this is all they have left. They have no platform. They have no argument. All they have to offer is American defeat. The Democratic Party, this once great party of Truman, JFK, and Roosevelt, has become irrelevant and stands against America.

Because what is bad for America... Is good for the Democrats.


I am deeply saddened to see you take this road SFTS. But you are a Texan. And an American. And I also know that you are still formulating your view of how our country should be led.


There is NO wrong in questioning our leadership. There is NO wrong in voicing your beliefs. There is NO wrong in making your points heard.

But we must never, ever, ever play to the enemy in order to make gains politically. We must NEVER pursue American failure to promote a political ideology.

And make no mistake: The Liberals want America to fail. If America fails, then the Republican party fails. And if the Republican party fails, then the Democrats will increase their power.

The failure of America is Democratic Party policy when conservatives lead the nation.

Alright brotha I hear ya. First of all I dont want to see America fail in Iraq I just dont see even if we stay for 10 years and leave that the country will be able to support itself. If we stay I think a large amount of troops for a long time will be necesarry. I just dont think thats feasable or our country has the stomach for it. We are a milatary not the popo

But you are a Texan

Which means me Redleg Red Harvest and soon you are 121312423 times better than anyone else here... I still got my Texan pride

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

SFTS:

I may join your special club in the not too distant future too.
I'll invite you over for a beer/cup of tea if I do.