Marine describes scene where 24 Iraqis killed

By Thomas Watkins – The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday May 31, 2007 6:30:10 EDT
(Emphasis added)
  
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — An officer who saw the corpses of Iraqi women and children sprawled across a bed in a home said Wednesday in recorded testimony that he believed that “my Marines were doing the right thing” when they killed them.

Marine 1st Lt. Max Frank’s videotaped testimony appeared at the military equivalent of a grand jury, which will determine whether the commander of the Marine battalion accused of killing 24 Iraqi civilians, should stand trial for on charges of dereliction of duty for failing to investigate the civilian deaths. It is the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths in the Iraq war.

“From my perspective at the time, my assumption was my Marines were doing the right thing,” testified Marine 1st Lt. Max Frank, who arrived at the scene about four hours after the attack.

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Submitted by:  Rev Ernie (Smiling Hawk) Tucker
May 30, 2007 (Emphasis added)
 
   Last month, I was blessed with the opportunity to be in Australia during that countries annual AZAC Day on 25 April. For those who don’t know, ANZAC stands for Australian New Zealand Army Corp. 
 
   Given that only a small number of Americans participate in or attend Memorial Day observances, I was amazed by the overwhelming respect and admiration that the people of Australia show their veterans on ANZAC Day. 

   Unlike America, Australia’s tribute to its veterans is far more than an opportunity for businesses to hold sales. Further, with few Americans caring to know and practice the true meaning of Memorial Day, ANZAC Day is far more significant than our Memorial Day, which, as swimming pools open across our land, is viewed by many as the unofficial beginning of summer rather than a time of remembrance.
 
   In Australia everything stops to honor those who served and sacrificed for the freedoms their fellow citizens enjoy today. When I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING! It is not just the banks and all levels of government offices that are closed; stores of all types to include gas stations are closed. And, to the chagrin of teenagers,  the malls are closed as well.
 
   The day begins with sun rise services being held all across Australia from the smallest town to the largest cities. People of all ages gather to pray and pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Then at about 10am the parades start.
 
   Veterans from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the current World War on Terror show up to march in parades across Australia. Some proudly wear the uniforms they wore when they served, others are in civilian clothes. 

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Submitted by:  Rev Ernie (Smiling Hawk) Tucker
May 30, 2007
 
   Something has bothered me greatly since I became involved with “The Gathering of Eagles.” That is when we are mentioned, if at all, by the “Main Stream Media,” they always refer to us as “PRO WAR VETERANS.” I do not know any combat veteran that is “PRO WAR.” However, we veterans know that as one of our earliest patriots, Thomas Jefferson said, “From time to time the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.” We, the combat veterans, know that unfortunate as it is, wars shall and must be fought until the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This sad fact is borne out in Scripture in Jesus’ own words as found in Luke 21:9.
 
   But ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Lu. 21:9. KJV.
 
   With these thoughts in mind, I have a few questions for my fellow citizens of this great nation.
 
   Why is it that only the veterans fully understand that the freedoms we enjoy here have been paid for by the blood and sacrifices of brave men and women for over 230 years?
 
   Why is it that these veterans wake up every morning and thank God that they breathe the fresh air of freedom?
 
   Why is it that these veterans know without any doubt that the freedoms we so cherish can and will be taken away if we as a nation are not willing to fight for them?
 
   Why is it that only the veterans seem to learn from history?
 
   What has happened to the people of this great nation? Most of whom seem to be more interested in “what can I get from this country?” Rather than, “what can I do for MY country! Is it only the veterans who remember the words of our fallen President John F. Kennedy; “Ask NOT what your country can do for YOU, ask instead what YOU can do FOR YOUR COUNTRY!”
 
   I have a suggestion for my fellow citizens. Lets get off the “Appeasement” merry-go-round. This very bad habit started during the Korean War when those who have never fought on the front lines of any war, the politicians, totally ignored this nations history and the advice of one of this nations greatest generals, Gorge S. Patton Jr. General Patton said this about fighting a war;
 
   “If we must fight a war then there is only one way to fight it. You grab your enemy by the collar and kick him in the butt until his nose bleeds. Then you shove an unconditional surrender document in front of him. If he refuses to sign it, you go back to kicking him in the butt until he begs to sign it.”
 
   However, the civilian politicians ignored history and General Patton’s advice, and sat down to talk with the enemy. While brave young men were still fighting and dying, they talked until the enemy was “APPEASED.” That “APPEASEMENT” led the United States into the war in Vietnam where once again, as our brave young men were still fighting and dying the politicians sat down with the enemy and talked. This old combat veteran wrote a poem on this subject some years ago, several lines from that poem apply here.
 
   In Paris the two sides sat at nice big tables and talked while in the jungles and rice paddies we still walked.
 
   While they toasted each other with fine champagne we fought bloody battles in the monsoon rain 
 
   As they partied late into the night my brothers died in firefights
 
   This on going attitude of “political appeasement” has led us to where we are today. So why don’t “WE” the American people tell our elected SERVANTS in Washington, DC to let our military do what we pay them to do? 
   
   That is fight the enemies of our nation until they fully and unequivocally understand they  have chosen to fight with the wrong dog! That American’s will NOT go peacefully into that long good night. The WE, as a nation of freedom loving people, will NOT allow our freedoms to be either taken away, nor given away by our elected SERVANTS! That we the AMERICAN PEOPLE, have placed deep in our collective hearts, and not just the hearts of the veterans, the words of President John F. Kennedy;
 
   “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of LIBERTY!”
 
   Now, I have one last question for you; Does any part of that statement sound even remotely like “APPEASEMENT?”
 
God Bless Our Military
 
God Bless Our Veterans
 
God Bless The USA
 
Rev Ernie (Smiling Hawk) Tucker
SFC US Army Airborne (Ret)
Chaplain Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776
Military Order of The Purple Heart
Scout/Sniper Vietnam 68-69

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COMMENTARY
A must-read for Memorial Day

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers
(Emphasis added)

It’s that time of year again. Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of summer fun for most Americans, and as I’ve done before in this space, I want to pause to take note of the real reason there is a Memorial Day.

It’s meant to honor and pay our respects to those Americans who’ve given their lives in service to our nation, who stand in an unbroken line from Lexington’s rude bridge to Cemetery Ridge to the Argonne Forest to the beaches of Normandy to the frozen Chosin Reservoir to the Ia Drang Valley to the sands of Kuwait to the streets of Baghdad.

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war. Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals.

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Urgent gear doesn’t make it to Marines, document shows

By Richard Lardner – The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday May 24, 2007 20:22:35 EDT
(Emphasis added)
  
The system for delivering badly needed gear to Marines in Iraq has failed to meet a large number of urgent calls for equipment submitted by troops in the field, according to an internal document obtained by The Associated Press.

Of more than 100 requests for critically needed items submitted by deployed Marine units between February 2006 and February 2007, less than 10 percent have been met, the document states. It blamed excessive bureaucracy and a “risk-averse” approach by acquisition authorities.

“Process worship cripples operating forces,” according to the document. “Civilian middle management lacks technical and operational currency.”

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