A Marine Sees What Defeatists Don't

USA Today ^ | May 19, 2004 | Ben Connable

[sean327]

Mod comment: USA Today will only allow article titles and links.

[sean327]

Here's a little morning motivation for everyone. Semper Fi

[proud American in Canada]

Thanks for putting a smile on my face with this post! A great way to begin the day. :)

[FreedomPoster]

Ping

[prairiebreeze]

Printing this must have given USA Today a major case of indigestion.

Prairie

[netmilsmom]

Thanks! We all needed this and God Bless our brave military!

[Coop]

A story way too good not to share.

[tiamat]

That's a good story.

Thanks for posting it!

[wayoverontheright]

The mainstream media are sowing the seeds of their own demise. Soldiers are returning to the US extremely disillusioned, not with their leaders, not about their mission, but with what they perceive to be their most formidable enemy, America's FOURTH ESTATE-FIFTH COLUMN.

And maybe the worm is turning. It is interesting to me that USA Today, which sees the NYT as its major competitor, was once controlled by its Left-leaning ideology, but now seems to be influenced more by the marketplace.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Great letter!

Thank you to USA Today.

Thanks for the post, sean327 - and for your service.

Thanks for the pings, FreedomPoster, Coop.

A word on what today's press claims they "own" - as "news"...

They were given special privileges, because it was understood that an informed populace was necessary for our free nation to flourish - and the rest of the press's fellow Americans are too busy doing the work that makes this country, and reporters' lives, great - comfy, fun - newsworthy - to find and spread the news (though our troops - and many others - are doing the press's job, as well as their own, today).

When creating "new" recipes, a person needs only change one ingredient - quantity, or otherwise, to claim a recipe as their own.

I paraphrased the first two lines, removed words from the quotes.

If USA Today and the rest of the free press is claiming "ownership" - why should they then be given special protection - tax status, access to sources, freedom from accountability?

Thank you, Major Ben Connable - and WE WILL pass on YOUR story, which belongs to the world, and needs to be told.

---

Maj. Ben Connable - 1st Marine Division -  a "foreign-area officer" and intelligence officer, from Ramadi, Iraq..

He's been deployed 3 times to the Middle East...and all 3 times "talking heads" reported us failing, called for us to quit.

"Setbacks and tragedy are part...of war and must be accepted on the battlefield. We can and will achieve our goals in Iraq."

"...as a professional, I have the luxury of putting politics aside...focusing on the task at hand. Protecting people from terrorists and criminals while building schools and lasting friendships is a good mission, no matter what.."

"Nothing any talking head will say can deter me or my fellow Marines from caring about the people of Iraq, or take away from the sacrifices of our comrades.."

[FreedomPoster]

>>Printing this must have given USA Today a major case of indigestion.

Totally unsurprising that they had to go outside of their editorial and reportial staff to get something like this.

Oh, well, kudos to them for printing it. Like you say, there was probably some Pepto-Bismol involved.

[BlueLancer]

"Like you say, there was probably some Pepto-Bismol involved."

Hemlock, more likely.

[The Old Hoosier]

USA Today will only allow article titles and links.

That's ok, the rest of the paper is usually just made up anyway.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[zeugma]

Mod comment: USA Today will only allow article titles and links.

I had about the same thoughts. If they won't at least allow an excerpt, I'm not reading it.

[SAMWolf]

Semper Fi Bump

[jwalsh07]

Another Marine with semper fidelis imprinted on his very soul. Way to go Major.

[Reeses]

I'm not reading it.

It's worth reading! USA Today didn't write this one, just published it.

[Prime Choice]

It's good to see the whole picture for a change!

[TexKat]

Ping

[jjm2111]

USA Today sucks balls.

[jjm2111]

"I was concerned about the bizarre kaleidoscope image of Iraq presented to the American people by writers viewing the world through a soda straw."

Too true.

[bvw]

Rewrite! Thnaks for it. It's the only way to best that sad policy of USA Today. Rewrite the article and post the rewrite. An old tradition in newspapers.

[snippy_about_it]

"Nothing any talking head will say can deter me or my fellow Marines from caring about the people of Iraq, or take away from the sacrifices of our comrades.."

God Bless our Troops.

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Valin]

"As I write this, the supply lines are open, there's plenty of ammunition and food, the Sunni Triangle is back to status quo, and Sadr is marginalized in Najaf. Once again, dire predictions of failure and disaster have been dismissed by American willpower and military professionalism."

What! You mean the media is wrong....again, or maybe I shold say still.

[gilliam]

bump

[CWOJackson]

You will enjoy this.

[Darlin']

Wow. Maj Ben Connable is quite a guy. I can't believe the title, A marine sees what defeatists don't, made it past the editors at USAToday. Maj Connable clearly has a gift for sizing up the situation Fear in the face of adversity is human nature, and many people who take the counsel of their fears speak today. We are not deaf to their cries; neither do we take heed. He has but one simple request, All we ask is that Americans stand by us by supporting not just the troops, but also the mission.

You just know when he says, We'll take care of the rest, that he means it.

BTW, Bush-Cheney 04 liked the article very much.

[writer33]

Thank you for the ping, ma'am.

[VOA]

Bump...this got read on the Hugh Hewitt Show here in Los Angeles today...awesome!

[finnman69]

Fabulous!