It’s been posted before and will be again…

Maybe if the “Right” wasn’t so busy chasing after 16 yr old boys in Congress or taking money from lobbyist they might have catured Bin Laden too

I did found this in my email I do agree 100% with LT. GEN.!

This “Letter of Apology” was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired:

“For good and ill, the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will remain an issue. On the one hand, right thinking Americans will abhor the stupidity of the actions while on the other hand, political glee will take control and fashion this minor event into some modern day massacre.

I humbly offer my opinion here:

I am sorry that the last seven times we Americans took up arms and sacrificed the blood of our youth, it was in the defense of Muslims ( Bosnia , Kosovo, Gulf War 1, Kuwait , etc.).

I am sorry that no such call for an apology upon the extremists came after 9/11.

I am sorry that all of the murderers on 9/11 were Islamic Arabs.

I am sorry that most Arabs and Muslims have to live in squalor under savage dictatorships.

I am sorry that their leaders squander their wealth.

I am sorry that their governments breed hate for the US in their religious schools, mosques, and government-controlled media.

I am sorry that Yassar Arafat was kicked out of every Arab country and high-jacked the Palestinian “cause.”

I am sorry that no other Arab country will take in or offer more than a token amount of financial help to those same Palestinians.

I am sorry that the USA has to step in and be the biggest financial supporter of poverty stricken Arabs while the insanely wealthy Arabs blame the USA for all their problems.

I am sorry that our own left wing, our media, and our own brainwashed masses do not understand any of this (from the misleading vocal elements of our society like radical professors, CNN and the NY TIMES).

I am sorry the United Nations scammed the poor people of Iraq out of the “food for oil” money so they could get rich while the common folk suffered.

I am sorry that some Arab governments pay the families of homicide bombers upon their death.

I am sorry that those same bombers are brainwashed thinking they will receive 72 virgins in “paradise.”

I am sorry that the homicide bombers think pregnant women, babies, children, the elderly and other noncombatant civilians are legitimate targets.

I am sorry that our troops die to free more Arabs from the gang rape rooms and the filling of mass graves of dissidents of their own making.

I am sorry that Muslim extremists have killed more Arabs than any other group.

I am sorry that foreign trained terrorists are trying to seize control of Iraq and return it to a terrorist state.

I am sorry we don’t drop a few dozen Daisy cutters on Fallujah.

I am sorry every time terrorists hide they find a convenient “Holy Site.”

I am sorry they didn’t apologize for driving a jet into the World Trade Center that collapsed and severely damaged Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church – one of our Holy Sites.

I am sorry they didn’t apologize for flight 93 and 175, the USS Cole, the embassy bombings, the murders and beheadings of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, etc…etc!

I am sorry Michael Moore is American; he could feed a medium sized village in Africa .

America will get past this latest absurdity. We will punish those responsible because that is what we do.

We hang out our dirty laundry for the entire world to see. We move on. That’s one of the reasons we are hated so much. We don’t hide this stuff like all those Arab countries that are now demanding an apology.

Deep down inside, when most Americans saw this reported in the news, we were like – so what? We lost hundreds and made fun of a few prisoners. Sure, it was wrong, sure, it dramatically hurts our cause, but until captured we were trying to kill these same prisoners. Now we’re supposed to wring our hands because a few were humiliated?

Our compassion is tempered with the vivid memories of our own people killed, mutilated and burnt amongst a joyous crowd of celebrating Fallujahans.

If you want an apology from this American, you’re going to have a long wait!

You have a better chance of finding those seventy-two virgins.

Chuck Pitman, Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret)

We are on the same page jeff, no need to worry there. I know you were stateing something that had to be looked at and i know your not contradicting anything too or disagreeing, were here just to find the facts. you posted that because you seen it was necessary and it was. I understand.

Appreciate the post. I will forward to my kids. My average with the three is now 67%. But one, like some of the respondents seem to have a very shallow understanding of what is going on in this world.

Quote:

---

I support the efforts in the “Invaded” countries but I DO NOT support your President.

---

Damn right he’s my president. He’s yours too.

I’ll make no bones about the fact that I didn’t like Bill Clinton. I think he is an incredibly charismatic person, very likeable, with an exceptional leadership quality. I also think he spent his entire presidency wasting his talent and ability, from ‘gaying up’ the military to his extracurricular activities with “that woman.” On the other hand, how many men on this planet can claim to have used their position as the world’s most powerful man to grope a woman at her husband’s funeral?

It will be a long time before the democrats have another leader capable of implementing meaningful policy change, and he squandered it. The angry ones should be the democrats, yet they defend him.

I didn’t vote for him in either election because I thought his agenda was anethma and he came off like a snake-oil salesman. In retrospect, I firmly believe that he is a rapist and know with certainty he is an adulterer.

Nonetheless: Bill Clinton was my president.

Quote:

---

I really hate it when you are considered UnAmerican when you disagree with your government. Nothing could be MORE American than being able to speak out against your government.

---

Whoever is selected as president, we may disagree with them, we may speak out against them, we may even dispise them. American democracy will not produce a leader for our republic that everyone likes, but we’re all signed up to commit to the choice of the people. Americans share in both their triumphs and defeats as a unified people.

Republicans, democrats, independents, libertarians alike must all acknowledge that once the selection process is complete, whoever is chosen is our president. Infighting and backstabbing on the public stage will kill our country faster than any president could, regardless of party.

Disclaimer: I recognize that this is one of those coy little jabs that intensifies the debate. While those on this site use these little pokes in fun, there are others who seriously feel that voting against someone absolves them of any requirement for loyalty to our president, running their lives – and their mouths – as such.

---

Damn right he’s my president. He’s yours too.

---

Regardless of your views, John makes a valuable point. We all live here, and for a nominal fee, your income tax, every year, we are allowed to continue to live free, a luxury which many don’t have, in the greatest, wealthiest nation in the world, a luxury which only we have. Love the man, hate him, be indifferent for all I care, I won’t share my views on him, or the war in Iraq, but I spent a year in Baghdad April ’03 to April ’04, and support our soldiers and their cause, along with our government. Right wrong or indifferent, if one reaps the benefits of living in such a wonderful place as the United States of America, then one has a moral obligation to support the institution that makes this place what it is.
‘Nuff said.

Okay, I had decided to leave this one alone, and stumbled on this little nugget which I could not leave unanswered.

Quote:

---

Reasen #3, the Iraqi people wanted to be liberated….they did?
And since we are on the subject, when our fearless cowboy landed on the aircraft carrier and proclaimed, “Mission Accomplished”, exactly what mission was that?

---

Yes, the Iraqi people did want to be liberated. From April until June of ’03 the streets of Baghdad were filled with revelers, we couldn’t patrol downtown because people mobbed our squads, offering food, kissing hands and cheeks. Damn right they wanted to be liberated. I’ve got pictures of a guy standing on his roof with a sattelite dish that Saddam had outlawed for years, he must’ve been the happiest fella on the planet. Gary talked about the Kurds, before you ask such a bold question, ask someone from Kurdistan how they feel about being liberated. Those people feel a sense of unrepayable Debt to the US for the removal of the regime that killed their families. Second, the mission that WE accomplished, I and my brothers, at a cost which you obviously don’t understand and probably never will, was to remove Saddam Hussein and his B’aathist Regime from power, which we did. We have another mission to stablilize Iraq and attempt to make possible an even better quality of life than the Iraqi people have currently, which is the best quality of life they’ve experienced in generations. Not angry, just a little irritated, tough not to personalize that completely uninformed statement, sorry to break out the old cliche, this debate has been pretty good so far, but those two questions shouldn’t have been brought up unless your boots chewed the same sand as mine.

I don’t really care what forum this is posted in, And i will not say who i agree with. Its all irrelevant…The post was not meant to be a political post, it had absolutely nothing to do with George Bush or Bill Clinton. Why does everything have to turn into an argument?? I feel bad that this really awesome post had to be turned into this BS….

Thanks for the post Fishahollik!!!!!

Thank you Cade….Your Dad should be proud, you are certainly becoming a fine young man.

Cade,

Unfortunately, in your life there are going to be tragic events that will be emblazened in your mind forever. A young man like yourself may have been too young to remember that day 5 years ago. I was right behind O’hare airport in Chicago and wondered what was next. I also remember that all I wanted to do was be with my wife and kids, but I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere. As I type this, I remember that day as though it was today. With every fiber of my being, I hope and pray that you and my sons never ever have a tragic event such as this one that you remember and endure.

Of course i remember that day. I was almost 10 years old. I remember it very well also. The terror of the event may not have been as strong as it was for you, Jeff, but I was scared and worried and angry . I may have not had a political grip on what was going on 5 years ago, but I sure do now. Like I said, I will not state my opinion, but I have a very strong one. I am not stating my opinion, not for fear of being different, but just because I don’t care to hear what everyone else has to say about it. You guys can keep up the debating but hopefully we can look past the arguing and realize what the post was meant to be.

-Cade Laufenberg

PS-
Guys, how’s the fishin’?

Wow! Leave for a weekend..
I see a difference in stating a difference of opinion, and arguing. An arguement means that one person is right (Or thinks they are..) and the other wrong. A difference of opinion can be done with class and and a point can be articulated and debated. Sometimes with fire and passion. But when the line is crossed and names are called, the debate turns into character assault of the other person(s). And that will not be tolerated. This post comes close. But as mentioned, this is a very good debate IMHO. I think it is healthy. It is good that it is being talked about. I have heard points mentioned by the “Other side” of the opinion I hold, and agree with some. I do not agree with most of it. But I respect the “Other side’s” right to have an opinion as I do. And that they may feel as passionate as I do about it in a different or opposing way. Rivereyes had a great point. There is a Ying and Yang way of life within the political system. There will always be swings to the right, and swings to the left. There will always be debates on who is “right” or who is “wrong”. And that is fine by me. I try to keep my views what I consider “Centrist”. Some of my Liberal friends may disagree. But I will take the system the way it is. We can all say what we feel. The alternative is communism.

So is this the wrong time to ask if anyone has an open seat at Mille Lacs this weekend? j/k

Heck no! I am sure you will find a ride!

I thought I would throw in a moment of levity.

Trig;
I would be more than willing to share a boat with you to chase fish!!!!!!

Thanks Gary.
This forum is like old time bar room brawls. Everyone is fighting and when the smoke clears you find a room full of guys drinking beer and laughing.