MUST READ:A NOLA USMC Sgt in Falluja tells Frank Rich & the NY TIMES to "piss up a rope"(my title)

NY Times Opinion section.. | 9/11/2005

[ken5050]

This morning I was skimming through the NY Times Editorial/Opinion section, and just happened to see the letter-to-the-editor that follows. It's a gem, an absolute jewel. You want cheer, and cry at the same time.. It speaks for itself, so please give it a read...

[ken5050]

This is real world, not the "ivory tower" blatherings of the liberal MSM, who haven't a clue. And please note the last paragraph, especially, two sentences which I have bolded.

To the Editor:

I am an infantry Marine with 12 years of service, and I am presently stationed in Falluja, Iraq. I am also a New Orleans native and my parents live in Mandeville, which is on the North Shore of Lake Ponchartrain. They have lost everything.

I take issue with "Falluja Floods the Superdome," by Frank Rich. Falluja is doing quite well. I know because my Marines are out on the streets every day. We've been here for almost seven months, and the difference is night and day since we got here.

Secondly, I have 20 other Marines in my battalion who are from Louisiana, and not one of us considers himself a "have-not." In fact every Marine in this battalion is proud of what we have accomplished, and we are proud to be Marines. Military service was a choice, not a last resort for us.

(Staff Sgt) JEFF HARILSON
Falluja, Iraq, Sept 5, 2005

Notes:

I refuse to post from or link to the NY Times, on general principals, so I have taken the time and effort to retype this verbatim.

I did not read the Frank Rich article in question. I haven't read Rich's drivel in years. Was it posted here last week? Perhaps someone can add a link, and/or explain the "have-not" reference in the letter.

[ken5050]

FYI..

[ken5050]

FYI

[ops33]

God Bless the common enlisted man, he can always recognize BS when he sees it!!

[Bahbah]

I have taken the time and effort to retype this verbatim.

For which we thank you. It is a great letter. I did not see the Frank Rich article to which he refers.

[skimask]

Semper Fi...need I say more.

[IronJack]

Dontcha know that in the Marxist dialect, there are only two classes: the haves and the have-nots? If there are any victims of anything anywhere, they are have-nots, and have been exploited by the haves.

If you've EVER read Frank Rich, you've read all you need to know. He's a journalistic round-peg/square-hole kinda guy.

[John Jorsett]

Thanks for posting this.

[Plutarch]

I'd have loved to be a bug on the wall as the Op-Ed types were discussing whether to publish that letter.

[cubreporter]

God bless you Sgt. Harilson and the other memberes of your group. Especially those far from home witnessing the destruction of their city as others point fingers and play the blame game while people suffer.

We are proud of you and your other Marines. The AMERICAN people are proud of you and your other Marines. It's the media and the dem/lib/lefties that try to stir opinions against the good we are doing in Iraq. You have our support. The ones who don't don't count anyway. Never have cause they've never contributed one ounce of themselves in the cause for others.

Good job Marine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[prognostigaator]

at least the sargeant's letter was published.......

[operation clinton cleanup]

WOW! They actually printed that? Someone was asleep at the switch.

[kstewskis]

He's a journalistic round-peg/square-hole kinda guy.

I've always considered him as the square peg/round hole type, if you catch my drift.

[righttackle44]

"(Staff Sgt) JEFF HARILSON
Falluja, Iraq, Sept 5, 2005"

Right on target, Sergeant! My cousin was nearly killed in the second battle of Fallujah. Thank god for the Navy corpsmen who kept him alive. My cousin was on life support for two days. His injuries were bad enough that he apparently has decided me must leave the Marines. He tried to get strong enough to deploy with his company this month, but he was severely wounded. God bless Sgt. Harilson.

(I have not served. My tagline honors my son and my cousin.)

[Exit148]

It was probably their 'token' pro-right letter for the day. I can't believe that the imbalance of letters is not well planned.

[secret garden]

Here is the link to the archives but I don't recommend paying for the privilege of reading his rants.

[aculeus]

This ex-Times reader bumps a great letter.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

I might remind the American people, that the American military forces are our only strength and saviors in time of war and peace. The fact the the Democrat "Traitor/Treason" Party hates the USA military should be reason enough that any common sense American would never vote for this anti-American political party!!!

[G.Mason]

Here is the article that this Marine is referring to.

[secret garden]

He ought to stick to movie and theater reviews. He certainly has a flair for fiction and the dramatic.

[skinkinthegrass]

Thank You, for the post. :)

[dighton]

Thanks for posting that letter.

.
Incompossible, adj. Unable to exist if something else exists. Two things are incompossible when the world of being has scope enough for one of them, but not enough for both -- as Frank Rich’s columns and God’s mercy to man.

-- The Devil’s Dictionary, slightly altered.

[mass55th]

I wonder how much the Times edited the good Sergeant's letter. They always like to cut out the best parts.

Bless this Marine and all the men and women who protect us.

[Frank_2001]

Exactly!

[Bushbacker1]

O'Reilly would love to see this! He hates Rich more than he hates the French!

[stan_25]

Here we go again, saying that President Bush was asleep at the switch again. He suggested to the Governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans to evacuate the whole of Southern Louisiana two days before Katrina hit. Just like Nero, they fiddled around, while their world was tumbling down around them. I do not see Frank Rich, Maureen Loud and any of their left wing ilk, hurrying down there to help in the rescue. No way would they do that. They would rather sit in that ivory tower, that is the New York Slimes building and spew their hatred for anyone that thinks different than they do.

[RedRepublic]

Thank you very much for posting this letter.

[aBootes]

Bump for somebody to send this thread to the LA Marines in Fallujah...

[kjo]

You don't need to read it. It is the usual drivel. Rich is a self-absorbed jackass whos background is that of a threater critic. And he wasn't very good at that.

I suspect he got the job as political columnist because he is willing to carry water for the wacky left. He doesn't do that very well either.

Good for the Marines!

[dighton]

Mr. Insufferable Finds His Tinfoil Hat

[aworldtrader]

BTTT

[cubreporter]

Thank you.

[JOE43270]

God Bless all of our people in uniform. They are the BEST of the BEST.

[NickatNite2003]

And that is what Frank Rich *is*....a sdmelly
stinking, steaming, pile of lying B*llSh*t.
(...and spawn, of two smelly stinking lying
piles of B*LLSH*T!)

[Eva]

I have no idea what the Rich article said, but one of my liberal friends did mention that some of the liberal media were criticizing the administration for sending recruiters into the relief areas, offering military service as a simple solution to being homeless and jobless.

[SE Mom]

It doesn't get any better. The character and caliber of our armed forces is unknown in circles of the PC world.

Reminds me of a quote from Peggy Noonan- she was speaking to Chris Matthews - right after we went to Afghanistan. He said something "nice" about our military and she said -You shouldn't be surprised Chris, you meet a better class of person in the military. (paraphrase)

[Shery]

Thanks!

[eyespysomething]

Here's the line from the article the letter writer is referring to:


This Titanic syndrome, too, precisely echoes the post-9/11 wartime history of an administration that has rewarded the haves at home with economic goodies while leaving the have-nots to fight in Iraq without proper support in manpower or armor.

[G.Mason]

"He ought to stick to movie and theater reviews. He certainly has a flair for fiction and the dramatic."

Sgt. Jeff Harilson and a few Marines have a place they would like to stick him.

[aculeus]

I shoulda pinged you at 17!

[Itzlzha]

G_d bless your cousin, righttackle...and G_d bless all our men and women in uniform!

I hope he recovers well enough to either resume his duties, or come back home and enjoy his family and our undying gratitude!

[righttackle44]

"I hope he recovers well enough to either resume his duties, or come back home and enjoy his family and our undying gratitude!"

Thank you, Itzlzha. I'll pass on your words of encouragement.

[ken5050]

As discussed, FYI..regards