Say Anything Blog

American soldiers need better training and better commanders - this is another in a long string of public relations failures going back to Abu Ghraib and even bunker buster bombs, set in motion by a disastrous Iraq strategy (flowers in the street?) on the part of a failed president and a failed defense secretary.

Your knee-jerk criticism of Murtha is baseless.

So you think it is ok for Murtha to come out and proclaim these Marines as guilty before they’ve had the benefit of a full investigation and their day in court?

How would you like if President Bush declared you guilty of a crime you were accused of before you had your day in court?  I’m sure you wouldn’t like it.  Why are you so against extending our troops that same courtesey?

You accuse me of a “baseless” knee jerk reaction to Murtha.  How about yours and Murtha’s knee jerk reaction in assuming our troops are guilty before the investigation is complete?

If these troops are guilty they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.  Because unlike Saddam or the terrorists we fight, we don’t abide this kind of conduct.  But this incident is in no way an indictment of our military as a whole (something you are desperately trying to stretch it into) nor is it an indictment of the Iraq mission as a whole.

These things happen in war.  They are unfortunate and we should take steps to prevent them, but I’d like for you to point me in the direction of a war where misdeeds of this sort didn’t happen.

Here’s a hint: No such war exists.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

American soldiers need better training and better commanders

I’d be interested in hearing what you know about the current training of soldiers (sailors, airmen, and marines), the faults of that training, and how you would improve that training.  I’d also be interested in hearing what you know about army commanders, their faults, and how you would improve those commanders or who you would replace them with.  After all, commanders are soldiers (sailors, airmen, and marines) too.

What is your endstate for when soldiers are trained well enough and commanders are prepared to command?

It is interesting how the enemies of freedom in the middle east, such as Ryan up there, always add these adjectives such as “disastrous” and “failed” to things they don’t like.

Without ever explaining what is “disastrous” about Iraq.

Why, because we haven’t won yet? Because there is still fighting going on - that makes it “disastrous?”

There was fighting going on in 1944 - I suppose that made World War II “disastrous” as well.

As for Bush’s presidency somehow having failed - by what criteria do you even claim that? Because he has low poll numbers?

He has achived far more than Clinton had with either the economy or in foreign policy. If you think Clinton was a good president, that makes Bush a great president.

The Iraqis are not begging us to leave, they are begging us to say. That tells you everything you need to know.

docdave: Nice logic, but nothing will ever get through to the lefties.  They are stuck on stupid.

docdave,

I wasn’t looking for an answer because I didn’t know the answer.  I asked because I was trying to provoke thought.  So often people throw out the “things are terrible” card, but don’t know if things actually are terrible.  If people:
1. Know the situation
2. Identify SPECIFIC short-comings
3. Create possible solutions
4. War game those solutions
5. Choose the possible solution
6. Implement the plan
then they will present USABLE ideas.  Unfortunately, most people can’t get past the first step (many times because they don’t know what it is they are talking about).

I wanted Ryan to consider his statement.  Had he responded, and I had the opportunity to read his comments, I could possibly give validity to his comments or enlighten him on soldiers/commanders. (Since I am a subject matter expert.)

I would dare say that I am more conservative than you, robert108.

Was Rob being facetious?
You mean President Bush isn’t having people held in prisons without being charged, without access to legal representation, and without the opportunity to defend themselves?

As for Miurtha, look at his record.
He has always supported the troops, and hasn’t met a military appropriations bill he wouldn’t whole-heartedly support.
He comes out against the (disastrous) Iraq War, and all the sudden he hates the troops.
Ridiculous.

Finally, let’s reserve judgement on Saddam. If he’s found guilty, then we’ll deal with him accordingly.
Until then, those who villify him are just Saddam-bashers who don’t trust the tribunal courts.

Robert:  The terrorists being held in detention are prisoners of war, enemy combatants who are not citizens of the US, and so are not entitled to “civil rights” in the country that they swore to destroy.  See the difference?

Murth “supported the troops” in Somalia very well.  I refer you to “Blackhawk Down”, where he advised Clinton not to reinforce the troops, and his advice to cut and run from Somalia.  His treason didn’t just start with his cut and run insistence on our defeat in Iraq.  He is a self-promoting traitor, IMO, with a long record of being one.  Like Kerry, he had one short combat tour in Vietnam(very courageous), followed by a long record of being a fool.
You reserve judgement on Saddam; it’s your agenda.

In analyzing the Haditha situation, one thing is clear:  Full and complete knowledge of what happened is not presently available.  The other side of the story is just trickling out, and none of it has been subject to cross-examination in court.  The question, then, is why is the coverage the way it is?  Who benefits from the present MSM coverage?  It’s not the Marines, not the President, and not the American people.  Does it advance the cause of justice or the war on terror?  No to both.  Right now, all we can see is that the antiwar people benefit, the antimilitary people benefit, and those who want us to cut and run from Iraq, which includes the Dems and lefties in thei country and the terrorists all over the world, benefit greatly.  So again, why is it happening the way it is happening?

More bad reporting?  The miserable MSM again?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13090111/

BREAKING NEWS
NBC News and news services
Updated: 28 minutes ago
SAN DIEGO - Military prosecutors plan to file murder, kidnapping and conspiracy charges against seven Marines and a Navy corpsman in the shooting death of an Iraqi civilian in April, a defense lawyer said Thursday.

The eight men are being held in the brig at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base north of San Diego, said Jeremiah Sullivan III, who represents one of the men.

The men served in Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, and are members of the battalion’s Kilo Company. The highest-ranking serviceman is a staff sergeant

Sullivan said he learned from Marine Corps attorneys that the charges have been drafted and official charging documents could be given to the men as early as Friday.

The Iraqi man was killed west of Baghdad on April 26. His death was unrelated to the shootings of as many as two dozen civilians in the western Iraqi city of Haditha. The Pentagon is investigating troops from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment in that case.

The Marine Corps and Pentagon spokesmen have refused to comment on any aspect of the Iraqi man’s death since an investigation was announced May 24.

However, a Pentagon official said Thursday that charges are expected to be brought “very soon.” The official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss charges before they are filed, could not confirm the specific counts.

Sullivan said the eight men are being held in solitary confinement.

NBC News broke the story on May 25, when military officials told NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski that seven Marines were believed to have dragged an innocent Iraqi man from his home in April, killed him in cold blood and then tried to conceal the crime

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Are U.S. Marines friggin’ nuts????????  Or just a casualty of an immoral war on an innocent population?

Tell us, do you have to say"Flame On” before typing?

I’m not the one who is killing innocent civilians.  See, they’re the ones in solitary confinement for doing it, not me.  They’re the ones who blow 2-year-old heads off their bodies allegedly and will be tried for it, not me.

They’re the murdering bastards if it’s true...not me.

And if you support it, you’re much the same.

Flame on,,Flame off,,Flame on,Flame off, Flaming Asshole. Thank you, Ron Popeil.

Ron Popeil to Boy:

“Slice and dice yourself and then throw yourself into this handy dandy rotisserie oven and cook until well done, Boy”

Do you use mirrors to reflect that light onto your keyboard? Or is the flame large enough to illuminate the entire room?

Doc,...There are alot of Tokyo Roses out there today all over the radio, television etc. Demoralizing the troops is the thing to do in all the liberal commie circles these days.

Welcome back, Zsa in Wonderland.

It’s only gotten better since your departure.
You add such loveliness to our happy little family.

ZZ!!! Can I sling some profanity at Dhimi, in order to make you feel at home. Please?

I haven’t actually moved yet. We are buying another house and close on June 30th. My golden retriever Wilbur died. I am really sad, but I know he is out of pain. He had cancer. I really have missed you all and am very glad to see all the cool posts and comments…

Twohotel...Go for it. BUT, try to be gentle.

We’ve discovered Boy has Tourettes, Zsa.

It was painful but at least he’s diagnosed now.

What? No comment on the new gravatar? I finally got it to work again.

I should explain:  Boy is what we call him, short for HotelBoy.  Takes less effort and he’s not worth the effort.

He’s also revealed himself to be Idiot Savant. The two conditions are rather ugly when both are in play.

Well..you’ll see for yourself.

(And I am truly sorry about your dog.  I’ve had dogs since I was a kid and they really are part of the family.)

Touretts syndrome would be such a wild disease to have. It would be kind of fun, for just the right occasion!

Oh, it’s a laugh a minute for poor Boy.  He can’t seem to control it.  He wets his sheets quite a bit when it gets too violent.

Thanks Diane. I miss him so much…

Sorry to hear about Wilbur. We have a german shepard that is nearly 14. I expect Gunther to start the decline soon, and I do not look forward to digging that grave. She is big. An excellent judge of character and loves children.

Zsa, I’ve been through it and my hub and I just went and cried together to his favorite place.
You never forget them.  I wish you comfort.

An excellent judge of character

She must have to be muzzled when you’re around, I’d assume.

This was written by an old man named Luis.  I won’t link it because others here don’t bother with links.

HADITHA COVER UP AND MORE.

The Marines massacre at Haditha is becoming known now, after been kept under wrap for about six months hoping it would go away like as if it never happened.

The worst part of all this, the cover up, perhaps all the way up the chain of command to the president of United States , as it was stated thaaaat Bush had been kept informed, didn’t say when he was informed, you can bet Rumsfeld knew about it months ago and also Cheney.

Good thing Time magazine brought it out in the open; this administration will try to hang some reporter in the news media for leaking this story out and making America look bad.

The other bad part about this is that this massacre is one of many that have taken place out in the field , in the dark of the night, in the streets from Fallujeh and many other engagements; just yesterday two women were shot to death while going to the hospital to deliver a baby.

Win the hearts and minds of the people by shooting pregnant women and massacring whole families in the middle of the night. You’re looking good America; how many more insurgents will be added to fight Americans world wide, because of the stupidity and the lack of leadership up and down the chain of command of he armed forces. How many, Mr. President?

Why is this happening ? First it’s failure in the leadership within the Armed Forces, from the top of the chain of command to the low ranking soldier who will be left holding the bag and going to jail while those in high ranks will get away with murder.  Just look at what happened with the Abu Ghraid tortures; General Sanchez and General Mad dog Miller from Guantanamo are still free as a bird—-and of course the top dog, Rumsfeld, still has his job, when all these bastards should be in jail for war crimes.

Looks like no one learned any thing from the Vietnam war; of course you can excuse Bush for not learning any thing about Nam, as he was AWOL shoving stuff up his nose at the time, My Lai happened because lack of leadership.  There also a cover up took place and the low ranking were left holding the bag, for over 500 Vietnameses that were murdered. And the same thing happened here (coverup).

Now Bush says that all troopers in Iraq will be taught how to behave in time of war, now is a little too late after the many massacres that have taken place. Just like always-- everything he touches turns to a pile of crap.

If Bush had balls he would fire Rumsfeld and court martial a few Generals in he chain of command. Instead you will see some low ranking Marines being put in the altar of sacrifice and go to jail while the real guilty ones will go free.

As I see it thru the eyes of an old man.

Luis

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Luis always nails it, doesn’t he?

Twohotel...German shepherds are great. 14 years old is getting up there. I used to know a blind man who had a german shepherd. They are super smart and beautiful. Do our armed forces use dogs in Iraq?

Hi Zsa Zsa!

Hi Ken!… Your new name is Ken Franklin. I am American Indian so I have renamed you! Do you like it?

Yes they do, K-9 teams are used for guard and explosive detection. And are excellent for keeping prisoners in control.

Only if you call me Ken Ben Franklin.

I like it!

Zsa, do you mean Native American?  If so, what tribe?

I am a card carrying Creek Indian 1/16th. I don’t look like it though. I am a blond with greenish blue eyes.

So Zsa Zsa, does that mean you cashed in on all that cold, hard casino cash???

I only wish!...Not really. I have never used my Indian bloodline for anything. I don’t hunt or fish but if I did I might use it for that??? Ken Ben Franklin, Will just called me!

Tell Will to GET HIS ASS BLOGGING AGAIN!

1/16th won’t qualify you for any gambling proceeds then if the Creeks are into it or get into it.

I’m Norwegian/Romanian/Austrian but my husband is Cherokee on his dad’s side.

His eyes are green-blue depending on what he’s wearing.  Gorgeous man.  Looks alot like George Clooney.

I didn’t say it quite that way. BUT, I did and he said he knew and was going to work on it. I told him to take a picture of Heidi with Mr. Lincoln.

Heck Diane! I was really hoping to cash in.

Zsa, I think it’s 1/4 but I’m not sure.

P.S.  I’m proud to be your wicked stepsister, Cinderella.