You gotta check...this out. Is Iraq a waste of our precious time, resources and American lives?

This email, originally posted on BlackFive.net: The Paratrooper of Love is a thank you from a Marine Gunnery Sergeant in Iraq.

Just wanted to write to you and tell you another story about an experience we had over here.

As you know, I asked for toys for the Iraqi children over here and several people (Americans that support us) sent them over by the box. On each patrol we take through the city, we take as many toys as will fit in our pockets and hand them out as we can. The kids take the toys and run to show them off as if they were worth a million bucks. We are as friendly as we can be to everyone we see, but especially so with the kids. Most of them don't have any idea what is going on and are completely innocent in all of this.

On one such patrol, our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. This is not normal and is very unsafe, so the following vehicles began to inquire over the radio. The lead vehicle reported a little girl sitting in the road and said she just would not budge. The command vehicle told the lead to simply go around her and to be kind as they did. The street was wide enough to allow this maneuver and so they waved to her as they drove around.

As the vehicles went around her, I soon saw her sitting there and in her arms she was clutching a little bear that we had handed her a few patrols back. Feeling an immediate connection to the girl, I radioed that we were going to stop. The rest of the convoy paused and I got out the make sure she was OK. The little girl looked scared and concerned, but there was a warmth in her eyes toward me. As I knelt down to talk to her, she moved over and pointed to a mine in the road.

Immediately a cordon was set as the Marine convoy assumed a defensive posture around the site. The mine was destroyed in place.

It was the heart of an American that sent that toy. It was the heart of an American that gave that toy to that little girl. It was the heart of an American that protected that convoy from that mine. Sure, she was a little Iraqi girl and she had no knowledge of purple mountain's majesty or fruited plains. It was a heart of acceptance, of tolerance, of peace and grace, even through the inconveniences of conflict that saved that convoy from hitting that mine. Those attributes are what keep Americans hearts beating. She may have no affiliation at all with the United States, but she knows what it is to be brave and if we can continue to support her and her new government, she will know what it is to be free. Isn't that what Americans are, the free and the brave?

If you sent over a toy or a Marine (US Service member) you took part in this.

You are a reason that Iraq has to believe in a better future. Thank you so much for supporting us and for supporting our cause over here.

Semper Fi,

Mark
GySgt / USMC

.......You just can't argue with that. This is something you'll never hear on the mainstream media, unless a Hummer gets a flat tire because Bush failed.


Alan

No, Iraq is not a waste of time. Without this war that little girl would not be sitting in the road, and those kids would probably not be playing with toys. Iraq used to be a country where women were beaten and abused, women could not go to school, people's punishment was to have limbs cut off, and possibly killed, for stealing a piece of bread for his/her family to eat. Without the American soldiers/people Iraq would just be another Haven for terrorists to prey upon the innocent. Sorry, but I feel our President did the right thing. Just as I feel FDR putting us into large a deficit was a good thing, look at us now. We are the only superior power left in the world (that’s why a third of the world hates America). FDR said that Pearl Harbor would never happen again. And it did not. Don’t even bring up the Trade Centers (that was nothing compared to Pearl Harbor). Look at them now the Alquda is just about gone, Sadam and his batter infection are out of power for good, his people are saved by the USA, and now the Iraqi people are able, and did vote for a good President. The first person to vote was a 19 year old WOMAN!!! Women could never do anything in hat country before we took it over. Sadam knew he was in trouble, that’s why he rotated in spider holes for like 2 years, I hope he dies, that guy is a sick-o.

-A loyal Republican of the USA

OOOOOOOH RAHHH!! Gribble, Thanks for passing that along

Tunnelback said: OOOOOOOH RAHHH!! Gribble, Thanks for passing that along

You're welcome, my friend. Louis, I'm very impressed by such an astute answer by someone as young as yourself. You obviously do your homework, and don't fall for all that bilge that passes as daily news on the 3 major networks.

Merry Christmas to all our brothers, and sisters in the service.

Alan

Coming out of a 1 year deployment, one can truly say that there are definitely a population of innocent civilians there that do appreciate their liberation from Saddam's rule. Our hardest job was defining that population.

My platoon was on a"humanitarian" mission passing out food and coats in the late fall of 2003 in a small town outside of Balad (middle of the Triangle), where our base was located. Some of the local farmers were so poor, you really saw the appreciation in their eyes and the thank you was the smile on their face.
Well, that night, haji mortared the sh&% out of our base. we were in bunkers all night while the infantry crossed the wire and snooped around for bad guys.
The following morning, some of my guys went on guard duty, and saw a group of Iraqi's that were detained as there was evidence that they were involved in the previous night's attack. And as my guys looked closer, the very same poor farmers, it turns out, were accepting payment from the real bad guys and were shooting at our base from their farms. Go figure.

I cant tell you how many times the farmers said "give me, mister" as they wanted any aid we had to pass out. If we were on routine convoys and patrols and had nothing, they said, "go back to Amrika!". Go figure.

The kids are pitiful and your heart really goes out to them. We used to give them water bottles and MREs until we found out that the trouble makers were putting the kids out on the main road to beg for them and the kids would bring the food and water backto them. Go figure.

The following day on a convoy, an empty MRE pouch on the side of the road turned out to be an IED and was detonated next to some poor bastards convoy and was either killed or badly injured. Go figure.

I've lost nearly half a dozen comrades in our sister units in the past few months alone. So this may come off as a little bitter. Sorry about that.
At the end of the day, we're doing our job, there is no clearly identifiable enemy and they increase in numbers daily and we cannot even tell.... We will be there for the next several years and continue to take casualties.
My heart and undying support is forever with all of the deployed soldiers overseas fighting to root out terrorism. And if my ticket gets punched again for another trip, so be it.
This marine's story is great but truly an anomoly compared to the day to day that a soldier encounters in this theatre of operations. I hope that more stories like these will hit the news as time moves forward in this war.

At this point, I cant say that I can answer yes to the title question of this string without some reservation.

Luke

I feel what we are doing as American's fromt he homefront, or from the field is right. Even if the country's people don't approve it's the right way to live. We can't blame them its a big change for them. We are swithcing there whole system of goverment, lifestyle. To them it may be the wrong thing, but we know its right, and its the best way to do it. They don't know what freedom is, they ahve never ahd it. But when its all over, you'll see they will love it. I was plaiing on joining the Marines, but my mother doesn't aprove. She says: "I don't want to see you get killed" But hey who knows? Only time will tell.

-Louis

Luke,

First off, let me say, thank you for serving. As a former Grunt in the Army, I know what the real stories of our troops consist of, not just what the mainstream media tells us.

The title of the thread was the title to the e-mail I received. I fully support our troops, and pray for them every night, and for our President. I hope to see all of our kids home, safe and sound, but I know that is impossible in this day and age.


God bless all who serve or has served.

Alan

Thanks Alan. I was in no way implying that this response was directed toward you, just wanted to share a lot of the reality that the public never hears about.

This was a great PR story for the war, however, as I truly felt based on what we encountered day to day out there, a rare occurrance. You know the story, don't mean to be singing to the choir!

I return your salute and thank you for your service!!

BTW, those pipes are starting to oxidize a little sitting outside of my garage. will still clean up quickly and free for your taking if you ever want to take a ride, meet half way, etc....

God Bless America Support Our Troops