This Is What I know

This Is What I Know

More Of What I Know

November 28, 2004

I know that the Marine who shot the insurgent in Fallujah because he was "faking" it not only could have been my Marine, he was my Marine. I claim him.

(If I've told him once, I've told him a thousand times "Shoot FIRST - we can talk about the rest of it later, but only if you're alive to talk with me.")

I am hoping the Marine Corps is going to be smart about it --- that young Marine did exactly and precisely what he was trained to do --- trained by the Marine Corps. I'm hoping that the MC has spirited him away to a safe place to tell him he did right, and good, and exactly what the MC was paying him to do. (I'm glad I don't have to be the one who decides about imbedded reporters - I guess I'll just let the Commandant handle that one. God, I hate that word! Commandant! Is this where we all clap our heels together and say, "Sig Heil!?" Not!)

Anyway, war is hell. Really. I don't suppose we have that phrase just because it's ‘cute’. I believe we have that phrase because it's true. But that Marine's been through enough, and I hope his commanders are smart enough to protect him now. (Especially since he's been protecting us - or more precisely, the Marines with him, which is the same thing, actually.)

Remember the story of the sheepdogs? We can't sacrifice this one just because one of the sheep had a camera, and most people don't know the story (ies - any of them, apparently.)

FWIW
Me