Musings
Letter from a Special Forces Team Leader
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I’m going off-topic here and if this letter upsets you, then click somewhere else.
I received this e-mail from a friend of mine who is serving his fourth tour over in the “sandbox.” I’ve known Brett since the second grade and can vouch for his integrity, intelligence and willingness to do what is right. This letter is not one of those many semi-fictitious e-mails that has been circulating around the Internet from soldiers, priests, etc. This is a heartfelt communication from a soldier to his friends and family.
I’m not asking you to circulate this to anyone else. All I ask is that you read it.
For what it’s worth, I’ve been in the advertising/public relations game for 20 years. I’ve worked closely with many local and national journalists during that period and while I draw the line at calling them all liberals, the majority are definitely left of center on the political spectrum. I have no beef with that as we are what we are. I only have a beef with reporters (mostly those on television who barely qualify as journalists) who can’t see that their own personal biases make it into their work.
I’d rather base my information of what is going on in Iraq from someone who is there and who is trying to solve the problem.
Should we have gone into Iraq? I think Brett and I agree that we should have never gone there in the first place. However, we are there now and the question should be how do we end this the right way and not just bail because it is politically expedient. Hey, I work for politicians and I’ve seen what these people will sacrifice to advance their own political careers. It’ll turn your stomach.
On to Brett’s letter:
Dear Friends,
As I sat in front of the television listening to another Washington reporter explaining how we are losing the war, I decided to write you all a letter so you could hear an opinion from someone actually walking the line in Iraq. Just some things to think about because I know we’re winning here. I think you all know me well enough to know I’m definitely not a Republican. Yet while I have no love for the Republican party, I despise present the Democrats.
What amount of success in Iraq is necessary to quell Liberal America? I have been deployed to the Al Anbar Province for the last seven months and have personally witnessed leaps and bounds. However watching the news, there is an abundance of biased reporting effectively nay saying the efforts and results of the Iraqis and U.S. service members alike. To these people I would like to say:
YES, I AM QUESTIONING YOUR PATRIOTISM.
The Democratic leaders’ un-willingness to condemn the Moveon.org personal attack on General Petraeus is appalling. These people, Clinton, Obama, Murta, Pelosi , are only concerned with one thing, political power. They do not care about soldiers’ lives. Especially Joe Murta, his sellout to politics is especially inexcusable. His use of a former military career to poke holes in today’s campaign borders on sedition.
I feel qualified to speak regarding the war in Iraq, this is my fourth trip here. I am a career soldier of twenty years; the majority devoted to the U.S. Army Special Forces. I don’t fly planes, I don’t sit behind a desk insulated in a Forward Operations Base; I am on the very front lines interacting with the Iraqi populace almost every day. I would gladly go head to head with any of the above mentioned personalities in discussing their negative propaganda concerning the war. My job is difficult enough without all the unqualified blathering I hear concerning the “un-winability” of Iraq. The situation here is not an MTV Real World episode with built in safety nets. It is people, and guns, and bombs, and hatred, and power struggles…and a very far reach for the Iraqis to grasp the not-so-simple concept of democracy.
During his report to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Ambassador Crocker said he was “frustrated every day in Iraq†by the slowness of progress; he wasn’t being negative, he was trying to explain how difficult and tenuous the situation is here. Trying to get the Iraqis to understand democracy is like trying to get someone who is tone deaf to play the violin. It is foreign to them to say the least. And to those who would say “Iraq doesn’t need democracyâ€, I offer this one thought. How many of the world’s functioning democracies have went to war with one another in the last 100 years? None. Democracy is the key to eventual world peace, not turning a blind eye to totalitarian or fascist regimes. America is the “home of the brave†and we will not allow the cowardly far left to high jack it.
We need America’s support, not your criticisms. To all of those persons who think there is an easy fix, I say, bring your asses over here and show us. Senator Obama’s naïve example of diplomacy should serve as a fair warning. His words regarding unilateral operations and dismissal of Pakistan’s sovereignty nearly toppled Prime Minister Musharraf and his government’s control of their country. Words of an American President are powerful; if not the most powerful in the world. Senator Obama’s haphazard and cavalier statement was as well thought out as twelve year old playing with a loaded handgun. This man’s demonstrated debacle in world politics should serve as a grave warning to those who would support his Presidential bid.
There are still more out there who have said “what about the United Nations?†Allow me you to educate you in what I have witnessed in Bosnia and Kosovo. This is the single, most corrupt institution in the world. The UN is still exists in Cyprus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo… because it is profitable. Hundreds of millions of dollars, mostly American, are wasted every year by this organization. They solve nothing; they set up programs to re-build nations and then simply skim everything off the top. How many times does this organization have to be “outed†before the world actually demands reform. The Democrats deserve a further beating for trying to paint partisan politics when the Iraqi “Oil for Food†scandal broke. This was the smoking gun behind France’s and Russia’s unwillingness to invade Iraq. They were receiving millions of dollars worth of oil in exchange for illegal weapons deals. And when the administration finally appointed John Bolton as the American representative, the Democrats bullied him out of the position. Go back and do the homework, see how many corrupt UN policies and persons were exposed during Mr. Bolton’s tenure. His service was monumental, however, the far left idealist cowards successfully painted him as irate and uncompromising; and the congress would not ratify him. Mr. Bolton should be commended highly for his short but very accomplished term.
I don’t make closing statements, this email was simply the response of watching one too many Washington correspondent pinheads spout their left wing biased garbage. Very little of what is broadcast in the news today is fair, unbiased, or even news worthy. I mean come on, the amount of air time devoted to a pill popping pornographic slut who overdosed and a murderous sociopathic ex-football star is staggering. If Americans would devote half as much energy to staying informed about world politics and events as they do to Anna Nicole Smith and OJ Simpson we could usher in a new age of progress and accomplishments. Instead many Americans simply parrot the opinions of Hollywood actors or worse yet failed actors like Katie Couric who deliberately manipulate the truth to their intended spin.
Wake up America. Start paying attention. My life and another hundred thousand or so rest in your ability to discern the truth and wade through all this political nonsense. If you say you support the troops then you have to support the war. If can’t do that, then start brushing up on the Koran, at least you’ll have a head start.
Brett (last name removed by me for privacy)
MSG, US Army
Discussion
8 comments for “Letter from a Special Forces Team Leader”
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Thanks for posting this great, truthful, moving letter. Unfortunately it is preaching to the choir and the ones that need to be moved by it will either not see it, or worse, ignore it.
So what’s the answer? The letter raises great points about how the war is portrayed in the media, yet I would add that this very same media totally let us down in the lead-up to the war by not questioning our reasons for going in the first place. So you’re unpatriotic if you say we are losing now and you were unpatriotic for questioning the motives for going in then.
In both cases it’s people going along with the popular sentiment either to further their careers or because they don’t want to be bothered to try and figure out what is really going on.
I too am bothered by the current coverage - it’s pretty much negative no matter what is actually going on. BUT someone has to hold our administration accountable for how the war is run and right now the media and some democrats seem to be the only people doing that - however poorly. I for one would rather have that than the alternative - which we seemed to have during the lead-up to the war.
Many thanks to Brett for his service on my behalf. Please let him know that there are many people here who are thankful to him.
Dear Brett,
Sorry to hear that you have yet to see the folly of your brain washed patriotic little mind.
Folly
Inflected Form(s): plural follies
Etymology: Middle English folie, from Anglo-French, from fol fool
1 : lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight
2 a : criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct b obsolete : EVIL, WICKEDNESS; especially : lewd behavior
3 : a foolish act or idea
4 : an excessively costly or unprofitable undertaking
5 : an often extravagant picturesque building erected to suit a fanciful taste
You seem to be just a soldier doing what he is told. How sick.
My heros are the soldiers who found that they had a conscious and would not just do what they are told and were men enough to face the punishment. Lt. Watada, Kevin Benderman Camilo Mejia, Cindy Sheehan & Ann Wright.
General Smedley Butler was one of the most celebrated leaders of the Marine s. After he retired, he reconsidered his career, describing it as follows:”I spent 33 years and 4 nonths in active military service..And during that period I spent most of my time as a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a recketeer, a ganster for capitalism.
In short read something Brett besides the recommendations of Limbaugh or O’ Rielly and turn off Fox News because it ain’t!
I do not support any person in the armed services and you are definetly not fighting for my freedom you are helping the US goverment take it from am and and the peoples freedom whose land you occupy.
PEACE OUT
peace out
Term used to encourage military members to become conscientious objectors “peace” and get “out” of the military. Started during the Viet Nam War by “Peaceniks” and hippies. Turned into a term for saying goodbye, used primarily within ethnic groups. Has been receiving renewed popularity because of the U.S.’s involvement in yet another unpopular war.
Army Vet served 1970 -71 One year 9 months and one day and not proud of it.
rich paul
Rich,
I’m glad to see that your heart is open and you are for peace among our fellow mankind. Unfortunately, the world does not operate that way, nor will it ever. People have been butchering each other for centuries in name of religion, politics and simple greed: I want what you have.
For a brutal reminder of that, just watch “Apocalypto.” Would you have been one of the villagers that just rolled over on your back when the raiders came and made slaves of your wife, your friends and orphaned your children?
Now, for people like you, there’s no war. Do you walk around with a big sign on your chest that says, “Here I am. Take what you want. Take my wife. Take my children. I’m a pussy who just wants to be your friend.”
Do you have a sign on your front lawn that says “Owner not armed. Take what you want”?
What? I’m being rather simplistic in my view of you? You’re doing the same to people like Brett.
Forget that I served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Forget that I’ve lost friends in wars and various training accidents. The last thing I want is war. It’s senseless and my friends die. I agree that the reasons our men and women get sent overseas are often to do the bidding of the politicians that WE ELECT to represent us. But when that call to duty comes, I will serve. Even if I don’t like it. Even if I hate it. Why? Because it’s my job.
But to compare our soldiers, airmen and sailors to knuckledragging morons who only take orders, well, my friend, it’s apparent you were drafted with others who had no business serving in the military. It’s not for everyone. Having people like you who want a free ride on the freedoms our country (as imperfect as it can be) provides serve in our Armed Forces is a drag on unit morale. You don’t want to be there. And we don’t want you there either. When the shit hits the fan, I don’t want to bet my life that you’ll be there for me instead of crapping your pants and wishing your were back home.
We have a volunteer military and it should stay that way. I bet you didn’t know that most Special Forces enlisted men, like MSGT Brett, have master’s degrees? Somehow I don’t think they’re brainwashed morons blindly carrying out orders.
“It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.”
- Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, Sergeant, USMC
Brett, thank you for fighting so I don’t have to.
OK…OK…let’s keep this civil here. We can all agree to disagree, but no name calling. That just degrades everything.
Rich…we’ll agree to disagree. It takes a very special kind of courage to go into a hot zone, knowing that there’s a good chance you or your friends could get maimed or killed. Yet, you still go in.
TriScooter: Great quote you shared. Very true. It says it all.
Kevin: Good points. I think what we should do is focus our energies on the politicians, not the soldiers. By saying we’re losing the war and trying to get our troops out before the job is done is hurting their efforts and endangering their lives. The bad guys (I use that term loosely because I don’t want to name all of the various insurgent groups, or could I) are playing that up with our media. If you look at our history, the politicians used the soldiers as pawns during Vietnam and Americans at home also used them as pawns during the peace movement. Ask any Vietnam vet about the affect that had on their ability to do their job and you’ll be surprised. I think the same is in play here and is what Brett is trying to get at. Politicians are using the soldiers today to achieve their political goals and now the American people are using them the same way to get back at Bush. The only people getting hurt are the ones squeezed in the middle: the soldiers.
The last election, and it unfortunately looks like the next one as well, was simply a choice between the lesser of two morons. It’s like asking, “Do you want your leg amputated above the knee or below the knee?”
I don’t know the answer either and am trying to see if I can get Brett to come back here and help us out a bit.
richpaul: Dude. Go roll another joint.
If you put those signs in your yard, can I come have your tri bike? I hope it’s one of those new Cervelos. I want one of those babies!
Dear Rich Paul,
Before your write comments that are extremely condescending and insulting, perhaps you should use a spell-check? Posting the definition of folly, implying that Brett wouldn’t understand such a big word (sarcasm) is underscored by all of your later spelling errors. If you want to pretend to be a pretentious dick, at least try to do it in style.
Dear folks:
“It Is The Soldier” was authored by Charles M. Province It has been featured on my military page for many years. Originally, I too mistakenly credited Father (Sergeant Veteran) O’Brien, a WWII Marine, as author. At one time (maybe still), O’Brien was / is chaplain of the 1MARDIV Association. He used the poem in a Memorial Day dedication many years ago. ==> page.
“Webmaster’s Note: Mr. Charles M. Province has contacted me with the request that due credit be given to his authorship of the poem, “It Is The Soldier“, which has, to my knowledge, for several years been attributed to Father Denis Edward O’Brien, USMC. Mr. Province has advised that Father O’Brien once sent a copy of the poem to “Dear Abby” and it was printed erroneously giving credit to Father O’Brien for writing it. It is at that point that the authorship became clouded, and I reproduce this information in the hope of ensuring Mr. Province receives full, appropriate and most deserved credit for his wonderful piece.” –web page (http://www.iwvpa.net/provincecm/)
break, break
Mr. “rich Paul”:
The quote you put, attributed to Smedley Butler (rip), MajGen, USMC is often used by our left. I would be curious to know the context and time he said that. Sure, same as Eisenauer he was aware of the “military / industrial complex”.
Question: When in ancient or modern history has it not existed?
Back to Butler:
“My personal views about him trying to answer John Heelan’s question is that he was the epitome of a Marine officer, leader of Marines and the ultimate warrior. He was the recipient of two Medals of Honor for heroism in Vera Cruz, Mexico and Haiti. After retirement he considered war a racket. However, as a Marine Corps officer he took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the US. He was told to follow all lawful orders and, when orders came down from higher authority to send in the Marines. he will comply as the country and the President are asking him to do so. If he can’t follow those orders then he should resign. Continuing on to Major General and 30 plus years in the Corps, as Gen Butler did, means to me that he agreed with the orders and policies at that time.
General Butler was exposed to a whole new, civilianized world of politics and big business upon retirement. He believed after his new found enlightenment involving American foreign policy that many of the policies that he helped enforce were detrimental to the people of those countries. He then spoke out against war, American big business and American foreign policy. He was a true patriot because he had the spirit of his convictions both in the Corps and after retirement from the Corps.” –Ronald Hilton
Freedom isn’t free and there are corruptions round about the way to it.
“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility
of servitude greater than the animating contest
for freedom, go home from us in peace.
We seek not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and
lick the hand that feeds you and may posterity
forget that ye were once our countrymen.” –Samuel Adams
Yeh, and the Barbary Pirates… once upon a time we cleared the Mediterranean of them for “Big Business”, the business of making the world a better place for more people. It took about 40 years. What timeline did President Bush put for winning the current “War On Terror(ism)” …forty years?
I want to be free for free trade …so i enlisted for 4 years of “indentured servantness”.
“I do not support any person in the armed services and you are definetly not fighting for my freedom you are helping the US goverment take it from am and and the peoples freedom whose land you occupy.” –rich paul.
Yes indeed. Thank god “we” got here first, before the Nazis and Tojos.
Well (and it’s deep!), gotta go. Thanks for the space here—space for my little ramble, Mr. Hak.
–erl, Veteran Marine, ‘67-’71
my page