And now at the airport with the Old man, Molly and her Marine brother.
Thank you for your prayers for my Marine, and all his brothers and sisters on the field of battle against all our enemies.
Posted on 06/08/2006 6:45:26 AM PDT by Miami Vice
On Saturday, Nov. 28, 1987 Tawana Brawley, an African-American teenager who had been missing for four days, claimed she had been brutally assaulted by three white men, at least one of them a police officer.
The Brawley case became national news immediately. "Civil rights" leaders, like Al Sharpton, Alton Maddox and Vernon Mason held rallies denouncing the incident. The three claimed that the entire case was a cover-up. Louis Farrakhan led marchers in support of Tawana. TV talk show hosts, like Phil Donahue, promoted Brawley's cause.
The Brawley incident was eventually revealed to be a hoax.
Recently, the Miami Herald's Leonard Pitts wrote a column claiming that there was racism in the criminal justice system and cited a 2000 study by a nonprofit advocacy group, Building Blocks for Youth as proof. However, the study said only that there was a disparity in sentencing between blacks and whites, and further investigation was needed. It never said racism was the reason for the disparity.
The reason for mentioning these incidents is to illustrate that occasionally false accusations are made against police officers and information about the criminal justice system. It is necessary to keep this in mind when thinking about the alleged atrocity at Haditha.
Some journalists, politicians, and others opposed to the war have acted as judge, jury, and executioner. Take, for example, the callow and sciolistic columnist, who wrote an article titled "The Few, the Proud, the Murderers," which states, "There were no insurgents hiding among civilians. There was no crossfire. The Marines weren't defending themselves. They were out on a rampage, murdering at point-blank leisure, lodging bullets in the heads of women and children ... When you train men not only to kill but to become sub-human drones who dehumanize their enemy in turn, and when you place them in situations where they want to see nothing but sub-human creatures, you can't expect them not to act the part they've been trained to act!"
What, or how, the columnist knows about the Marines' training and its correlation to the alleged incident is never stated. He simply makes the assertion they are murderers and claims to know why.
I do not know if these Marines did what they are accused of doing. However, unlike the inexpert commentators, such as the aforementioned fatuous columnist, I have my own experiences as a cop in a high crime district and the experiences of a friend of mine who received a Purple Heart in Vietnam to which to refer.
We had a conversation once, some of which I used in my novel Sense of Duty, about the differences between his experiences as a soldier in South Vietnam and mine as a cop in Southwest Philadelphia. We concluded that the distinction was he was surrounded by savagery and violence most of the time - while being far away from home. I experienced savagery and violence only occasionally - while being close to home. This meant that he was a part of that savagery and violence - and the accompanying frame of mind needed to cope with it - all the time. I was only part of such a milieu - and concomitant attitude - when on duty. Even then, the required mindset was not necessary all the time because the incidents of "man's inhumanity to man" did not occur routinely. Yet, unlike him, when such incidents occurred, I had to remove myself mentally from them, when I came home.
For example, after he saw someone's head blown off, he went back to the base with others who shared the same experiences. After I saw someone's head blown off, two hours later I am home having dinner.
I would suggest the Vietnam experience is worse; both have their problems though. However, neither excuses murdering innocent people. It may explain it. It does not excuse it.
If the Marines are guilty, they should be punished.
However if they are not, the braying accusers should be exposed and discredited for the sanctimonious hypocrites they are. They are the very same people who are the first to condemn others about abusing civil rights. They are the very same people who have appointed themselves guardians of justice and equality - yet somehow never apply those ideals to law enforcement or military personnel accused of crimes.
Of course, we know that is not going to happen. Liberals never suffer the consequences of their actions - unlike United States Marines.
Michael P. Tremoglie is an ex-Philly cop and author of the new politically incorrect novel Sense of Duty http://www.geocities.com/ddc4010/
Ping aling.
Nice read. Thanks for posting!
Sadly, this never happens. The accusers are allowed to fade into the background until a decent interval has passed, only to reappear at a later time & place. Nobody among the Media ever points out their past misdeeds & how that affects their credibility or objectivity in the present. Everything is just allowed to slide.
Why Al Sharpton is still allowed to walk free is amazing. Some of the stuff this guy has pulled...
Last two paragraphs. Thanks, Peach.
Occasionally? It should read "more often than not".
Thanks for the post. This is why I like FR, no bulls###.
[Mr] T
This seems to be the the original story of this IED attack and the marines actions from Reuterville. Seem a cameraman witnessed the entire thing and made no mention AT ALL of any potential massacre.
If true, Tawana Brawley is indeed an apt analogy.
Last two paragraphs?
This entire episode is a trumped up offensive, launched by the Hate America First crowd, and their plants in the DOD.
When the veil of lies is ripped open, these Marines deserve to face their bloodthirsty accusers in a dark lonely alley- but they would probably have too much honor to retaliate.
You always blow my mind.
Of course, we know that is not going to happen. Liberals never suffer the consequences of their actions - unlike United States Marines.
Yes, very good and well worth highlighting, freema. Sorry for not understanding; I'm a little scattered today.
LOL! Flyboys rock!
Sorry for not being clear. I'm scattered today, too. But neither one of us is as scattered as Z-man!
LOL! Isn't that the truth. It's been a banner day. I feel like I've won the lottery :-)
(Don't mind that the flag isn't right, I haven't finished my first cuppa coffee and I'm short on time!)
(How long was that first hug?)
Thanks for the Ping.
We are so Happy for you.
Welcome Home Marine!!
[Mrs T]
Now that is one handsome welcome home sign.
You must be dancing on sunshine! Buy that Marine a beer for me and give him a huge hug!!!!!!!!!!
That is a great picture of the three of you.
That puts a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.
You have a great Day! I am glad he is home with his love ones at last. Give hugs from DC Chapter.
[Mrs T]
LOL! That's one handsome Marine!
I just might have to hoist a cold one in his honor. Now, how long was that hug, and how many broken ribs does he now have ; )
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