Myths About Afghanistan
Victor Davis Hanson on whether Afghanistan is really the "graveyard of empires ..."
Most of the DoD establishment is outraged over the recently divulged incident of Marines urinating on dead Taliban fighters. Much of it is faux outrage, but these Marines won’t be very happy with the outcome of the inquiry. Ever the one to point out the different standards for different people because of different political needs, I’ll mention that there is no way – no way – to square the burial of Bin Laden at sea with Islamic law (not that it really matters to me whether we followed Islamic laws concerning his burial; we could have treated him like they did Mussolini as far as I’m concerned — either way, he’s in hell.). Additionally, the public display of Zarqawi’s bloodied and bloated body caused an outrage among Muslims across the world. It’s okay to desecrate the dead as long as the DoD sanctions it. It’s not okay to do it if you’re a Marine under fire in the Helmand Province. Come back to me when you get some consistency. Until then, I think I’ll turn my attention to other, more important things.
Speaking of Marines under fire, we should mention some recent heroics.
The secretary of the Navy next week will present the Navy Cross to the family of a Marine from Camp Pendleton killed while saving the life of other Marines in Afghanistan, officials announced Tuesday.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is set to present the medal Jan. 17 to the family of Lance Cpl. Donald Hogan in a ceremony at Camp Pendleton. The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor for combat bravery by Marines or sailors.
Hogan, 20, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was killed Aug. 26, 2009, by a buried explosive device after pushing a Marine to safety and yelling warnings to other Marines. Hogan was on a walking patrol in Helmand province, long a Taliban stronghold.
According to the Navy Cross citation, Hogan spotted a trigger wire for a buried bomb and hurled himself into the body of the nearest Marine to push him away from the imminent blast.
Hogan then “turned in the direction of the Improvised Explosive Device and placed himself in the road so that he could effectively yell verbal warnings to the rest of his squad-mates. This desperate effort to warn the rest of the patrol bought the remaining Marines valuable seconds to begin moving away,” the citation reads.
And some recent heartbreak.
A Wilmington Marine has been seriously injured in Afghanistan.
According to a report from the Wilmington News Journal, Cpl. Josh Sams, 27, was on routine patrol Wednesday when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). He was taken to a hospital in Afghanistan where both legs were amputated above the knee.
Sams’ mother, Barbara Regan, told the Journal that Sams was serving his third and final deployment and scheduled to come home for good on Feb. 7.
Sams is currently at a hospital in Germany also suffering from a broken pelvis and arm. He is in stable condition and will hopefully return stateside by Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.
He serves with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, H&S Company, Scout Sniper Platoon.
Sams is married to his wife, Lindsey, who lives in Jacksonville, N.C., where Sams is stationed.
Sams’ younger brother, Logan, died in an ATV accident in 2008.
Our men are still at war people. Take a deep breath and recalibrate your perspective.
On January 16, 2012 at 11:27 am, Charles Thornton said:
The reaction to Marines urinating on Taliban bodies tells me that 99% of Americans still don’t understand anything about war. Most combat Marines and soldiers, I believe, would greet that video with a shrug. So what. They’re dead. When you kill people trying to kill you, there’s a great release of tension, almost euphoria. And enemy bodies … I’ve saw ‘em pissed on 40 years ago, some guys were against it, but at least we had better sense than to share a video.
On January 16, 2012 at 11:43 am, Warbucks said:
Lt. Col. West says it well enough, “The Maines are wrong”, he says ….. “As for everyone else unless you have been shot at by the Taliban, shut your mouth, war is hell.”
I can only hum after the first verse anyway.
On January 16, 2012 at 11:47 am, Warbucks said:
Hum, referring to part of West’s recommended discipline to sing all the verses in full dress uniform in front of the entire assembled outfit.
On January 16, 2012 at 11:49 am, Warbucks said:
The Marine Corp anthem of course:
From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.
Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev’ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job–
The United States Marines.
Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.
On January 16, 2012 at 12:16 pm, NC said:
THREE verses, compiled into two, but a good job.
As to in front of their own men,
whoo boy, now that would be embarassing !!
SF
NC
On January 17, 2012 at 11:24 am, pa said:
Curtis LeMay said, “Every soldier thinks something of the moral aspects of what he is doing. But all war is immoral and if you let that bother you, you’re not a good soldier.”
Too many people approve of war, when they believe it is needed, and do support the troops — but they are unrealistic if they think the peacetime standards of morality can be upheld, especially on the battlefield.
On January 17, 2012 at 5:04 pm, Sando said:
Video of LCpl Hogan’s Navy Cross Ceremony and BEQ Dedication can be found here: http://www.dvidshub.net/video/135067/navy-cross-ceremony#.TxXhfZh5lSU