n e r b l e

this will probably irritate a lot of peace-nik types on the board. you may say that this will only breed more problems. but they are the one's who started capturing and killing civilians. you may say that what we did in abu-grahbi is what lead to this. but you will never convince me that putting panties on a man's head is on par with sawing it off. that said, i heard this on the radio today and found the full thing online.


To the terrorists currently operating in Iraq,

I see that you have captured a U. S. Marine, and that you plan to cut off his head if your demands are not met. Big mistake. Before you carry out your threat I suggest you read up on Marine Corps history. The Japanese tried the same thing on Makin Island and in a few other places during World War Two, and came to regret it. Go ahead and read about what then happened to the mighty Imperial Army on Tarawa, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. They paid full price for what they did, and you will too.

You look at America and you see a soft target, and to a large extent you are right. Our country is filled with a lot of spoiled people who drive BMWs, sip decaf lattes and watch ridiculous reality TV shows. They are for the most part decent, hard working citizens, but they are soft. When you cut off Nick Berg's head those people gasped, and you got the media coverage you sought, and then those people went back to their lives. This time it is different. We also have a warrior culture in this country, and they are called Marines. It is a brotherhood forged in the fire of many wars, and the bond between us is stronger than blood. While it is true that this country has produced nitwits like Michael Moore, Howard Dean and Jane Fonda who can be easily manipulated by your gruesome tactics, we have also produced men like Jason Dunham, Brian Chontosh and Joseph Perez. If you don't recognize those names you should. They are all Marines who distinguished themselves fighting to liberate Iraq, and there will be many more just like them coming for you.

Before the current politically correct climate enveloped our culture one of the recruiting slogans of our band of brothers was "The Marine Corps Builds Men." You will soon find out just how true that is. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a bunch of women. If you were men you would show your faces, and take us on in a fair fight. Instead, you are cowards who hide behind masks and decapitate helpless victims. If you truly represented the interest of the Iraqi people you would not be ambushing those who come to your country to repair your power plants, or sabotage the oil pipelines which fuel the Iraqi economy. Your agenda is hate, plain and simple.

When you raise that sword over your head I want you to remember one thing. Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun is not alone as he kneels before you. Every Marine who has ever worn the uniform is there with him, and when you strike him you are striking all of us. If you think the Marines were tough on you when they were cleaning out Fallujah a few weeks ago you haven't seen anything yet. If you want to know what it feels like to have the Wrath of God called down upon you then go ahead and do it. We are not Turkish truck drivers, or Pakistani laborers, or independent contractors hoping to find work in your country. We are the United States Marines, and we will be coming for you.

Andy Bufalo
MSgt USMC (Ret)
USMCstories

AuburnGrad

The only problem this "peace-nik" woman has with this marine's letter is the following quote...

The implication that women are cowards disgusts me.

*Lauren

I also don't see the need for him to criticise the rest of his country as well. Take those two things out, and it would be a wonderful letter.

Monroe

That guy sounds like he is auditioning to be a screen writer for the latest big budget war movie.

Friends4ever7

haha it does sound like hes auditioning

But no in all seriousness, i like the letter except for the bashing of americans ways because i will be the first to admit that i sip decaf lattes :embarrassed:

Sam

Anabela

Isn't that exactly what the terrorists say? God's Wrath yada yada yada... This isn't very original.

StellaSlight

and that's all I have to say.
I had the Power Rangers theme in my head while reading that letter.

ros2nz

Anne -

JohannafromIHJ

What a moron. But hey, all wars need filler-soldiers, the kind whose family won't mind if he's blown to smithereens as long as it's "for the cause".

And the bit about women is just the dumbest ***** I've ever heard (not to mention quite telling when it comes to how neerble views women). Yeah, women go to war, give birth and take dangerous jobs because they're cowards. Sounds to me like this "marine" needs to be put in Guantanamo untill he admits to being a terrorist, because he obviously thinks very highly of them, comparing them to women and all. This guy would be pissing himself in second if he as put face to face with a band of terrorists.

Because all of a sudden Guantanamo doesn't count? They released another CIVILIAN yesterday, a Swedish man who had been held there--like an animal in a cage--for about two years.

But I guess they don't count as civilians if they're not republican Americans.

... like with those bombs in Japan--if you looked real close you could see our brave faces on the horizon.

Unless Bush finally decides to hunt down Osama, in which case we won't be coming for you just yet. By the time we're ready to come for you, we'll convince the US that you are hiding in France, or China or something, because we feel like giving those uppity bastards a round, and then we'll attack them, crating a whole new throng of enemies. Quite frankly, by the time we're done, the people of the US will have forgotten all about you, thus making "coming for you" too much of a hassle to bother with.

UnsilentMajorty

1) How old is this Marine? 18? 19? 20+?

Now that I look closer, he appears to be "retired?" Hmm...

I only question his maturity because when you are young and brought up with "the wrath of God" -- aka, the most advanced weapons known to mankind at your disposal -- It doesn't take much to pump yourself up (have a big opinion of how indestructible and righteous you are) even when you are wrong.

2) Is "Andy Bufalo" his real name? Sounds made up to me...

3) Wow. I'm "shaking in my boots" when they "come for me."

Aren't you all?

--------

I have the UTMOST RESPECT for our fighting men and women.

I grew up in a military family (Father, Uncle, Cousins (male and female) served/are serving -- which might shock all of you given my very open anti-war views...

But that's just it.

REAL military men and women with EXPERIENCE (aka maturity) and their families know this isn't some "rah, rah, go get'em!" type deal when they are called up and deployed into a theater of duty.

The soldiers and families of the armed forces are REAL people with REAL lives -- husbands, wives, children, brothers and sisters -- And the possibility that when they ship out they may never see their loved ones/families again is a very REAL thing and something I do not wish upon ANYONE unless absolutely necessary because...

The war in Iraq was NOT necessary.

In addition, there IS a very proud tradition in ALL our the U.S. Armed forces that is based on principles of duty, honor, loyalty, service to others and other noble things.

This letter makes a complete MOCKERY out of all of those things ANd those who sacrificed their lives in previous wars that were for just causes (like WWII).

Truly.

However, as with all things in life, you can't judge -- SHOULD NOT judge -- A an entire group by a few "bad apples" like this guy appears to be (a war-mongering Hawk) because believe it or not...

If I was ever in a life, or death situation... I'd stake my life on the Marines to get me out (as a civilian) if the ***** really hit the fan.

Honestly.

---------

I am a so-called "peace-nick" and proud of it

Ironically, it is probably because I do come from a military family where again, I know the realities of what can happen once the "We need revenge for 9/11!" and "Let's get those rag heads once and for all!" propaganda hurtles our troops into harms way. And this stuff hasn't stopped since Osama Bin Laden -- The REAL ENEMY; not Saddam Hussein -- Attacked the United States on Sept. 11th, 2001.

But guess what, folks?

It's July 9, 2004.

It is not Sept. 12th, 2001.

We are in a war now that WE started and that has no end in sight and that IS a daily reality for those both serving and those waiting here at home with baited breath to see if their loved ones are EVER coming back because whenever you hear "X number of U.S. soldiers were killed today and X wounded..." on the nightly news...

Just remember that half of those wounded are so baddly injured that they die moments later AFTER the official WIA (Wounded in Action) list is compiled, thus they really don't "die" in the official sense...

But the reality the families have to deal with once they find out is something that no one should ever experience. Ever.

If you've lost a loved one to just old age or other causes... Then you KNOW that PAIN of loosing someone is a reality and isn't something to be just shrugged off in some "Power Rangers, Ho!" speech like this guys is giving.

Jerry D

I have such mixed feelings about everything, because while I’m proud to be an American, and I served my country in the United States Marine Corps Reserves for six years, I think that we were wrong to start a war with Iraq, especially since it’s been proven that the reasons for going in were fabricated, and I think it’s wrong that we’re staying in Iraq, and it saddens me beyond words that American soldiers are still being killed or held hostage like this every single day because of the Bush Administration’s macho posturing that shows an incredible amount of disdain for the rest of the world, and in my opinion, it’s undone all the good will we garnered in the aftermath of 9/11. I’m proud that I’m a former Marine, but this kind of jingoist claptrap just makes this country look incredibly arrogant in my humble opinion, and if this is a real person, does he think that this letter will “strike fear into the hearts” of these brutal and vicious terrorists? I think not.

UnsilentMajorty

JerryD

First off...

As corny as this sounds... I want to personally thank you for serving our country.

Like I said before, I have the utmost respect for people whose job it is to take up arms and defend my/our freedoms if and when the time comes.

I could never do that (at least, I don't think I could do that) in the sense that I could never raise a weapon against another human being -- let alone kill them -- unless there was absolutely no choice... and even then, I don't know if I would freeze up or not.

I'm not going to take up some macho-internet-tough-guy-persona and say that I could do it if it ever came down to between me and another person because believe it or not... Even that enemy IS another person even if they have no problem in wanting to kill me.

I don't care if this makes me "weak" in the eyes of any of the Hawks reading, but again, I'm not some 18 year old right out of Boot that has been pumped up to believe they are indestructible and morally righteous in their cause(s).

Again, as cheesy as some may say this looks/sounds, I want to personally thank you on behalf of everyone else for serving your country.

Second...

Not to sound arrogant or persumptious, but of course you have mixed feelings about everything.

What Bush has done (as a President) is basically... The unthinkable to be blunt.

He's used the worlds most powerful military as well... Pawns... In a power-grab attempt (oil) that has cost thousands of lives on every side and for nothing else. This war was never about "the war on terror" that it SHOULD have been/be about.

That is NOT the tradition of what the U.S. Armed forces is built upon. It isn't. It is a painful fact... But this is the reality of the current situation, unfortunately.

------

Something that is a little off topic, but related to this letter nonetheless.

I recently talked to a friend who is 33 and who served in Desert Storm.

He is afraid that the Gulf War will be the "forgotten war" because it came after the Vietnam War and before 9/11 and the current conflict.

He is "afraid" that he and those who served in DS will be forgotten -- not out of arrogance or wanting to share in the glory of war -- But because of exactly what Jerry D said in that the current war is very devisive in not only between those who support it (and/or the President), but also the fact that many more of our troops ARE being killed than in DS.

He opposes the current war -- This is someone who was IN actual ground combat and actually in the city of Fulujah in 1991 -- Mainly because like a lot of people, he realize the reasons we are there are NOT justified and not what the U.S. Armed forces stand for (fighting for real freedoms and for those whom can't fight for themselves regardless of what nationality they fall under).

The thing he is most upset about is that as much as Bush and Rumsfeld love to claim this isn't Vietnam all over again...

My friend said that from his analysis, it is EXACTLY like what happened in Vietnam in the sense that if you compare the objectives that he served under -- Destroy the Iraq forces and eject them from Kuwait -- Versus now -- Complete control of a country the size of California -- And HOW they are going about completing those objectives, this is exactly what is costing American lives (both civilians and soldiers) and why we failed in Vietnam.

In other words, he said that the big difference between DS and IF is the actual WAY the wars were/are being fought.

He said that in DS... They actually USED the technology that our government loves to brag about in press conferences and because of that, it DID minimize the amount of casualties on our side.

They aren't doing that now, believe it or not.

I think a prime example of this is when he told me that as he and the his forces were converging on Fulujah, whenever they spotted the enemy -- either in a bunker, or in outter-lying buildings -- They would immediately hit the deck and call in air support like A-10 Thuderbolts and Apache helicopter gunships... And these were the ones who did most of the fighting in that they anihilated these positions with such force that by the time he and his squad reached the positions on foot... There would be NOTHING left but big, smoldering holes in the ground.

Once again, we appear to NOT being fighting the war this way now because one of our objectives is to preserve the infrastructure -- Buldings, roads, oil pipelines -- Which, to be honest, there is nothing left of anyway, so what's the point?

To solidfy the differences I am trying get across and why it is a more costly war this time...

My friend said that if we were fighting IF like we did DS... All the problems in present day Fulujah (w/all the insurgents and Saddam loyalists) would NOT be happening because... There would not BE a Fulujah left standing if we were fighting this war the way we're trained too to be blunt.

I think that is a very telling and something that I don't think most of us wold even consider UNLESS someone like my friend who had BEEN in Desert Storm explained it to me (us).

So... My point in this little anecdote is that as much as I am anti-war...

If we are going to war then we should do it the "right" way to where we DO use all of our resources and have the right objectives in mind...

Which again, is where a fundamental flaw in why this war was even started once again rears its ugly head (for oil; thus we can't destroy everything in sight because we NEED the infrastructure to keep the oil process flowing).

Jerry D

Thanks Unsilent Majority. I grew up in the Vietnam era, and I think that this situation is a lot like Vietnam in that we seem to be in a quagmire that we can’t get out of, and where there’s no clearly defined enemy, and the troops don’t know who to trust or who might be waiting to kill them.

With Operation Desert Storm, Iraq had invaded another country, and the world pretty much united against them, and the actual ground fighting was minimalized by the use of the sophisticated weapons that you described, and once the coalition forces achieved their goal of ousting Iraq from Kuwait, they ended their mission and wrapped things up.

With Operation Iraqi Freedom, however, we invaded a sovereign country and toppled their government under spurious pretexts, and most of the world was dead set against us doing this, but we did it anyway, and this mission doesn’t seem to have any end in sight, as the situation there is still untenable, and people are still getting killed. Granted, Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator, but there are other brutal dictators in the world, and I still don’t think it was right to invade Iraq. We haven’t found one Weapon of Mass Destruction that was used as a pretext for this war (at least that I know of) and it wasn’t proven that Saddam provided any support to the group that was responsible for 9/11, so I still don’t feel we were justified in starting this war.

In Fair Verona

If that isn't really part of a script for a bad B-action movie, I don't know what is.

This guy sounds arrogant to be honest. There is a difference between confidence and arrogance and this guy is plain arrogant. It sounds as if he thinks that he is better than the American people he is supposed to be defending. And was adding the names of Moore, Dean, and Fonda even necessary? As if the terrorists really care about his political views.

What really bothered me was how the author keeps saying "go ahead and do it" as if he wants these terrorists to kill the Marine, just so that the rest of the Marines can come to save the day and look like heroes. If I were writing a letter I would be writing about how I would like them to spare his life or even offer my own up in exchange - that is somebody's husband/wife, brother/sister, son/daughter, mother/father. I wouldn't say go ahead and do it. I don't care how wimpy it sounds I would plead for the man's life to be spared.