Request For Help from Marine Serving in Iraq

Marine Corps Counterintelligence Association ^ | 4/21/04 | 1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC

[Feiny]

Hello Everyone, I am taking time to ask you all for your help.

First off, I'd like to say that this is not a political message. I'm not concerned about domestic politics right now. We have much bigger things to deal with, and we need your help.

It seems that despite the tremendous and heroic efforts of the men and women serving here in Iraq to bring much needed peace and stability to this region, we are losing the war of perception with the media and American people. Our enemy has learned that the key to defeating the mighty American military is by swaying public opinion at home and abroad. We are a people that cherish the democratic system of government and therefore hold the will of the people in the highest regard. We love to criticize ourselves almost to an endless degree, because we care what others think. Our enemies see this as a weakness and are trying to exploit it.

When we ask ourselves questions like, "Why do they hate us?" or "What did we do wrong?" we are playing into our enemies' hands. Our natural tendency to question ourselves is being used against us to undermine our effort to do good in the world. How far would we have gotten if after the surprise attacks on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, we would have asked, "Why do the Japanese hate us so much?" or "How can we change ourselves so that they won't do that again?" Here in Iraq the enemy is trying very hard to portray our efforts as failing and fruitless. They kill innocents and desecrate their bodies in hopes that the people back home will lose the will to fight for liberty. They are betting on our perceived weakness as a thoughtful, considerate people. Unfortunately our media only serves to further their cause.

In an industry that feeds on ratings and bad news, a failure in Iraq would be a goldmine. When our so-called "trusted" American media takes a quote from an Iraqi doctor as the gospel truth over that of the men and women that are daily fighting to protect the right to freedom of press, you know something is wrong. That doctor claimed that out of 600 Iraqis, that were casualties of the fighting, the vast majority of them were women, children and the elderly. This is totally absurd. In the history of man, no one has spent more time and effort, often to the detriment of our own mission, to be more discriminate in our targeting of the enemy than the American military. The Marines and Soldiers serving in Iraq have gone through extensive training in order to limit the amount of innocent casualties and collateral damage.

Yet, despite all of this, our media consistently sides with those who openly lie and directly challenge the honor of our brave heroes fighting for liberty and peace. What we have to remember is that peace is not defined as an absence of war. It is the presence of liberty, stability, and prosperity. In the face of the horrendous tyranny of the former Iraqi regime, the only way true peace was able to come to this region was through force. That is what the American Revolution was all about. Have we forgotten? Freedom is not free and "peace" without principle is not peace. The peace that so-called "peace advocates" support can only be brought to Iraq through the military. And we are doing it, if only the world will let us! If the American people believe we are failing, even if we are not, then we will ultimately fail.

That is why I am asking for your support. Become a voice of truth in your community. Wherever you are fight the lies of the enemy. Don't buy into the pessimism and apathy that says, "It's hopeless," "They hate us too much," "That part of the world is just too messed up," "It's our fault anyway," "We're to blame," and so forth. Whether you're in middle school, working at a 9-5 job, retired, or a stay-at-home mom you can make a huge difference! There is nothing more powerful than the truth. So, when you watch the news and see doomsday predictions and spiteful opinions on our efforts over here, you can refute them by knowing that we are doing a tremendous amount of good. Spread the word. No one is poised to make such an amazing contribution to the everyday lives of Iraqis and the rest of the Arab world than the American Armed Forces. By making this a place where liberty can finally grow, we are making the whole world safer. Your efforts at home are directly tied to our success. You are the soldiers at home fighting the war of perception. So I'm asking you as a fellow fighting man: Do your duty. Stop the attempts of the enemy wherever you are. You are a mighty force for good, because truth is on your side. Together we will win this fight and ensure a better world for the future.

God Bless and Semper Fidelis, 1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC Ramadi, Iraq

[Feiny]

This was forwarded to me by a retired Sargent Major in the Marine Corps. It had this written on the forward before he passed it to me:

Forwarded to all, NOT because this is so brilliant and insightful, maybe not even GROUND TRUTH. But this Marine Lt. and his men have earned his right in the hard way to be heard. I would ask in name of fairness that everyone help give this a wider audience and an objective ear.

Very good letter to the American people. Pass it on.

[Feiny]

Also in the email were these links from Goggle.com and found Lt Nofsinger's name on the following web pages:

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/lookupstoryref/2004411113813
http://192.156.19.109/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/6B0469537EECC1A185256E7300348A6F?opendocument
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/AA3034407948929D85256E730055E585?opendocument
http://d6664877.x102.kiwihosting.net.nz/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2934&#27659

[RightOnline]

Bless ya, Lieutenant, but if you're just now figuring out that the media are a bunch of leftist, America-hating droolers who'd like nothing more than to see you and your comrades die in the Iraqi desert.........welcome to adulthood.

[rocky88]

President Bush needs to read this aloud to the American people and the press. It's the only way.

[bellas_sister]

bump

[bellas_sister]

bump

[Peach]

Read Michael Savage's book - he's saying the exact same thing.

[rocky88]

cut and pasted to an email for my entire address book!

[GummyIII]

fyi!

[sonsofliberty2000]

Just put on Patriot Paradox!

---

Patriot Paradox

[Feiny]

Get your ping list ready...

[Feiny]

I know it is preaching to the choir here, but I also know that many liberals monitor this site.

[sonsofliberty2000]

Found here:

http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/smith200404210857.asp

In other regions of the country, Marines and soldiers are delivering much needed food and medical supplies to openly grateful Iraqis. That's not all: School supplies, carpentry tools, sporting goods, even Frisbees — two tons of them — from the Los Angeles-based "Spirit of America" organization are finding their way into Iraqi hands. The Frisbees are emblazoned with the word "friendship" in both English and Arabic.

"We want to make sure the Iraqis know that we are not just a uniform," says 2nd Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger of 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines. "We want them to know that we are not some strange, mythical creatures, but we are people who want to help them any way we can."

---

Patriot Paradox

[familyop]

Sure. I'll publish it to a site with moderate traffic (mostly government, military, universities,...).

...just flamed an English writer who was somewhat in favor of the "Palestinians," thinking he was a neo-Nazi. I was wrong about the neo-Nazi part, as he is against that sort of thing. But the news media in the UK are still really messed-up on the topic of Israel since the British Mandate (1920 or so through 1948, IIRC). After resolving a few things, he has shown himself to be really trying to understand the differences between what we see and what he sees. He told me that he has tactical material that we urgently need from British experiences in various colonies.

He has volunteered to donate British historical military manuals (released-to-the-public type, only) on various "imperial policing" tasks (which we probably already have), analyse the associated histories, and to give the resulting work (which we don't have) to us. ...cool? I'm going to host the material as a debate (on a low traffic and friendly traffic site with certain regions banned) before we can release it. ...gets more material, in the long run.

...any volunteer writers here who will write fairly short, cited rebuttals to points in his work? ...sorry, as we can't affort to pay and are doing this for free, ourselves.

[Feiny]

Sounds like homework...Not for me.

There are plenty of website he can visit about the Isreal-Palestine problem.

[The Mayor]

I'm gonna read this at my Church!

[ladyinred]

At her request, I gave a list of soldiers serving in Iraq to my housekeeper who wanted to write to one herself, and give some names to her friends to do the same. Today while I was in the Antique Store working, she came in and told me that her friends refused the names of soldiers saying, "We don't support this war." My housekeeper doesn't either, but she rightly feels she should support the troops.

Later, I was relating this to a coworker and was overheard by a customer. He came up the counter and said his son was serving in Iraq for Navy Intel. He said you tell those who refuse to support this war that my son who is there said we are fighting those terrorists over there to keep them from being over here killing Americans.

The Father was very emotional and upset at what he heard saying that here his son was over there risking his very life for what seems to be ungrateful Americans and a lying media. Tears were welling up in this man's eyes as he told me how important a job our troops have in Iraq and elsewhere in the war on terror, and how the American people just don't believe it because the media is putting out outright lies to turn us against them.

Sorry for the length, but I promised this man I would put this out in cyberspace tonight after he asked me to please tell as many people as I can what his son said. I kept my promise sir, where ever you might be now.

[The Mayor]

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

God Bless and Semper Fidelis, 1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC Ramadi, Iraq

Amen, and thank you for this post.

Pinging the crew now, and will be back tomorrow to give this letter the attention it deserves.

E-mail addresses to many free American reporters - cut and paste. There may still be a few who will hear, wake up, and join the fight to defend their own families, future, freedom.

[Quix]

THANKS TONS, SARGENT MAJOR,

HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO DO JUST THAT.

Among other things, I plaster my big fishing tackle I take my pottery tools to class in with great FREEREPUBLIC.COM DATA AND CARTOONS to cause the many liberals in my class to think.

If you think of any other specific things you'd like us to try, please let us know.

Blessings, prayer, support, deep affection,

[The Mayor]

PING!

[Keith]

Wow...I can't wait to send this thread to his mom...

This is one of the former students from my school (we called him RobNof) and he is not a latecomer to a proper view of the world.

This young man is everything you would want your son to be...principled, extremely intelligent, moral, brave, and God-loving.

Thanks for all the nice comments, I am sure he would be happy to hear from any freepers...add him to the canteen list...

[DollyCali]

I just got this letter in an emai lfrom a NON FR person.

good one

[MHGinTN]

"If the American people believe we are failing, even if we are not, then we will ultimately fail." LtNofsinger, the democrat party has pinned their hopes for regaining control over America on the very thing you note is the ONLY way to defeat the American military efforts. For that treachery, I shall pledge to work tirelessly to bury the deceitful bastards this November. Thank you for writing home to US, Lt Nofsinger. We need to hear from you Soldiers daily, to cleanse the air of the lies spewed by the army of democrats and their media goonsquad!

[JustAmy]

I hope you told him about our Friday nights and the amount of support we get from the motorists.

FriendAnn sent me the address of her great-nephew who is serving in Iraq (Fallwhatever). She send me two phone cards to add to a package that I have ready to send to him.

Please everyone, pray for our military.

Thanks for the ping, LIR

[USMCBOMBGUY]

Thanks for the help, see if this works.

[Mo1]

The Father was very emotional and upset at what he heard saying that here his son was over there risking his very life for what seems to be ungrateful Americans and a lying media.

He has every right to be upset at the way the media is reporting what our Troops are doing over there

I use to say this war was nothing like Vietnam .. I was wrong .. the Liberals in the Media are trying like hell to make it a political war just like they did back then

I for one won't allow that to happen

Our Military deserves better then how the liberals are treating them

[familyop]

"But the news media in the UK are still really messed-up on the topic of Israel since the British Mandate (1920 or so through 1948, IIRC)."

BTW, that comment on my part was not even fair. He did tell me that our more well known journalists (and we know who they are) show up at conferences and feed news to their news companies. If it weren't for our left/liberal journalists being the only source of what the British see of our country's security affairs, the populace over there would most likely see more of what we see. The truth (that is, what can be gleaned from perspectives of all sides for the viewers/readers to form opinions from) of today could overshadow the humiliations of yesterday.

He told me that the perception given to the UK about Iraq casualties, for example, is that we are as demoralized about "body bags" as we were during the Vietnam conflict. Our journalists are also giving UK news organizations the usual squishy relativism regarding contrived perspectives of Palestinians, Israelis, et al.

To sum it all up, British people do not often see terrorist leaders threatening us, threatening the Jews or sending their children to do their dirty work. They see reports that we're helping Israelis to oppress Palestinians. Israelis are portrayed as insidious manipulators of all.

We need to have conservative journalists going over there.

[wingster]

Everyone deserves better than how liberals are treating them!

Just remember SGM, more Americans support you than not!!!

These pinhead libs are running themselves outta office!

[thoughtomator]

Our armed forces have 'lost' only the media, not the American people. It's the media who are losing the American people!

[sport]

Bump

[TEXOKIE]

This letter along with post 17 has been sent out to my email list! Thanks so much!

[Valin]

That is why I am asking for your support. Become a voice of truth in your community.

We do our best.

[djreece]

Emailed & bumped

[TrueBeliever9]

Thanks for the ping RC

x you might like this

[JohnHuang2]

MEGA PING!

[ASOC]

I know just how he feels. My son is a Bagh-daddy right now and it twists my shorts to hear people trash the Marines.

I just ask if it means they supported Saddam - and if they waffle, point out the horrific number of people killed in the most brutal of ways by the fomer dictator.

Rather that we fight them there than here!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Stop the attempts of the enemy wherever you are."

Hanoi Kerry at his "moment of glory."
What a piece of ******
The media WILL NOT mention this book.
I will!
The cover is a insult to Iwo Jima vets,
then it gets worse towards Viet Nam vets.
I was there the same time Hanoi Kerry was.
I served on a Destroyer which supplied PBR's
and gave gunfire support in North AND South Viet Nam.
My ship may have even supplied Hanoi Kerry's boat.
I VOW I will do everything I LEGALLY can
to keep this traitor from being elected.
I owe it to those who gave their all.

[merry10]

ping

[Freedom4US]

Bingo!

I realized immediately that this war would be won here in the US, not on the battlefields "over there"; that's not to say that the enemy is not organized and is not a formidable foe on the micro level, BUT WHY GIVE THEM ENCOURAGEMENT IN A NEGATIVE MANNER?

[Brad's Gramma]

WOW!!! BTTT for later!!

God bless our troops!!

[fly_so_free]

"Our military deserve better than how the liberals are treating them"

Well said. This makes me SO ANGRY!!!!!.

No one in our military should have to worry about what the treasonous, traitorous media and democRAT party are doing. They have a hard enough job over there.

I like the idea of President Bush maybe addressing this problem directly i.e reading this letter to the people, or just telling the POS media that they should do their utmost to be fair and balanced, stop only reporting bad news, or trying to help RAT candidates by calling it Vietnam.

Speaking of Vietnam, I am outraged at what the traitorous blimp Kennedy, and the cretin Byrd have been saying on the floor of the senate -"Vietnam, quagmire, " blah, blah, blah... and then hearing those same statements being parroted by the islamofascist's in Iraq, as they attack our troops.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrr How about this for an idea, while we're sending flyswatters to Kerry on the total-joke-biased-waste-everybody's-time 9/11 commission -

Why don't we send rolls of duct tape to Traitor Ted Kennedy and senile Byrd and any other RAT who can't keep its treasonous mouth shut while our troops are engaged in a war. Enclose these instructions:

Attention Senator RAT:

Since you can't seem to refrain from encouraging our enemies to attack our troops with your false treasonous statements
-Remove duct tape from package
-Tear off large-very large piece
-Place tape firmly over mouth
-Do not remove until troops are out of harms way and your stupid, false, lying statements can't endanger them.

Better yet people of Mass. and West Virginia

RECALL!!!

Send the the drunken blimp back to the blimp hangar. Send the senile senator to the rest home. Then no one will have to worry about them spouting off.

Heh heh heh- that would send the Rats the message once and for all don't you think?

PS If we have any weapons to test why don't we use Aljeezera's transmitters for target practice..

Rant = OFF

[jamaly]

BUMP

[kayak]

The following was posted on a thread yesterday ... it's apparently from a blog from someone else in Iraq. I found it to be quite touching ... and I hope it will be an inspiration to all who read it, especially those serving in our armed forces. [The emphasis is mine.]

IRAQ THE MODEL
Wednesday, April 21, 2004

http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/

A routine day in Iraq.
Today is a special day for me, it's my birthday I woke up early, had many things to arrange, it was a lovely sunny day. One should enjoy looking at April flowers and not stay at home at all, and I will celebrate it just as I should.

Then I heard the news; tens of people killed in terrorist attacks in Basra with many children among them. Omar, my brother, is still in Basra, and we were very worried and didn’t rest until we called a friend there to have some information about the attacks. We still haven’t heard from him, but that's because he doesn't have a telephone or access to the internet in the small town where he works, and we know that he doesn’t usually go downtown at such times.

This is my daily ‘routine’ thoughout 35 years; wars, meaningless death of innocent people, armed people terrorizing us, relatives and friends get killed or disappeared, close gunshot or explosions awaken me from sleeping, our laughs and talks get lost amid sounds of jetfighters in the sky and noise of tanks in street reminding me where I’m I and where I live. It seems that it’s not allowed for me to live a normal life like others do.

I believe in the bright future ahead but I’m upset now and I came here to write and release some of my frustration. I can't bear it alone. why me? Why my country? All that we need is a moment of peace. I really need it now. Why should I bear it with my people? When will it be over and when can we live in peace at last?

The hardest thing is that I have to fight more, and I will, but God, please give me the strength. Why should I be strong while watching others run away; Spain, Honduras, Thailand, human organizations, the UN and all the others who want (and it’s their right I must say) to avoid the dangers. But why did they disappoint us? Why abandon us in this moment when we really need them? Will they come back when conditions improve? Most likely, but who will need them then!!? We don’t need doctors and engineers. We have enough of those and large numbers of Iraqi doctor, teachers and engineers are working abroad. We do export minds, and some of those have returned and are doing their job and some are on their way back. We need political, financial and military support, and once we get rid of the terrorists, WE will show you what we can do, and we will not forget those who helped us, they will remain as friends and allies, that’s from a political point of view. As for me, they will remain as my real family, my brothers and sisters.

One of our friend was angry when he saw the former slaves burn the flag of their liberators (and he has all the right to feel so), but I saw my country being destroyed for 35 years and I’m not desperate because I have faith that it will be rebuild one day. Still, why am I supposed to be the 'superman' who is never allowed to feel angry, sad or frustrated?

Others ask me to demonstrate and show my support to the coalition. Ok I’m with the coalition but I can’t do it my friends. I’m surrounded by armed criminals who wouldn’t hesitate for a minute before shooting me for just speaking out, yet I do speak, and not only on this page.

You, there in the free world, cannot witness against criminals without witness protection programs. We have nothing of this. Just under trained and half corrupted policemen and few newly graduated army soldiers and the law system, we inherited from Saddam and haven’t really changed it yet, is far from being efficient.
Why do others get discouraged easily? Don’t mistake me. I’m upset but will NEVER run away like some people did.

I wasn’t like this before. I was afraid most of the time. I have always looked for safety above all. I lost faith in the whole world and I wasn’t ready at all to make the slightest sacrifice for the sake of others. I was trying to leave my country and find a better job in a safe place, BUT, The brave solders (who don’t hold shares at Halliburton or Bechtel) who crossed seas and oceans and came to my country to fight for our freedom -and don’t anyone dare say the opposite, as I met so many of these soldiers and had hundreds of letters from them and there families and I know their motives; they fight for their country’s safety and for our freedom and they are proud of what they are doing- gave me the faith and showed me that man should not care only about himself, his family or his country, these are not enough to make a human being. These guys are MUCH better than me because I have to fight for my issue and they fight for me. They deserve the respect of the world and so do the people who support them. They always give me hope to go on no matter how difficult it seems.

I think I’ll have to skip celebrating my birthday this year, but that will not make me less determined than before, and I know that even if other countries pull out of Iraq, we will always have the strongest and greatest nation on our side, the wonderful people of the USA, together with the UK, Italy, Japan and the rest of the coalition forces. We owe you a lot and I pray, and I’m sure, that one day we will be able to return some of your favors and I’m talking about the people not the politicians although I don’t deny those the credit they deserve for doing their job as good as they can. When that day finally comes, you will know for sure that the great efforts and sacrifices you’ve made were not in vain.

-By Mohammed.

- posted by Omar @ 18:20

9 posted on 04/21/2004 10:35:17 AM EDT by Valin (Hating people is like burning down your house to kill a rat)

#9 on this thread .. Car Bombs Leave 60 Dead in Southern Iraq

[Smartass]

"God Bless and Semper Fidelis, 1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC Ramadi, Iraq"

Dear Lt. Nofsinger. We love, all of our military.
You're all American heroes.

Unfortunates, we're in the middle of one the most
dirtiest presidential elections that I have ever seen.
Further, we unfortunately have people here that
claim to support our military, but in reality have
a different agenda, then the Bush administration.
In my opinion, the American people are getting a good
taste of traitors at their best. As an American, I'm
ashamed of these disgraceful people. Reports that we
hear about Iraq, make us proud of all of you. Keep up
the good work. Most, if not all Americans support you
110%. don't let the minority whiners and complainers
get you down. There is no finer or dedicated military
in the world than you. Semper Fidelis.

God Bless America and Our Troops

[dixiechick2000]

Bump!

[Mo1]

Good Rant

[Smartass]

"God Bless and Semper Fidelis,
1st Lt. Robert L. Nofsinger USMC Ramadi, Iraq

Dear Lt. Nofsinger, please accept my apology. I owe you all a Prayer

I pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

I pray for peace in your hearts, to show others how to find their own peace.

I pray for your safety, that you might return to your families and friends.

I pray that your hope, courage and dignity will remain in tact, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ... Today, Tomorrow and Always

[fly_so_free]

I like your post Kayak, it's a good reminder that not all the Iraqi people are against us-Another lie the media is trying to put over on the public so they won't support the war effort.

The Iraqi's have taken many casualties too, along with our soldiers-may they rest in peace). Every day the fanatics attack ,or try to attack a police station, not to mention the assassinations of government officials.

I just pray that our country, allies, and the people wanting freedom there, can all stick together, and tough this out. Eventually, the fanatic's will be rounded up. Then Iraq can move on toward democracy- if everyone can overcome the propagandists and fear-mongers, that's what we all have to do. (You know I'd like to see president Bush read both of these letters to the public)

I've stated it before, but, I think Iraq could benefit from "neighborhood watch" type programs , or at least the mentality to be more alert, watch for anything unusual, or any people who are new to the neighborhood, exc.. and have a way for people to report it- even anonymously. Point out to them, that our troops don't speak the language, can't be everywhere, the Iraqi's have to learn to watch over themselves too.

[Cate]

This man should thank God for Free Republic. By the vast knowledge of the participants on this forum, we are all able to give good sound reasoning on why this war is important and just. I can honestly say that everytime I sign on, I learn something of importance and the majority of information on this website is usually of a positive note.