The Rock 326

This "Letter of Apology" was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman, US 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)

AFBLUE

Good stuff.

adrenalin

oh no, not another political topic.

jgsmuzzy

Rich, just letting you know that if this thread get's closed, it is because of arguments getting out of hand, not because of the views etc held by the mods etc. I am sorry I had to put this in, but a thread like this is like blue touchpaper when it comes to arguements!

The Rock 326

That's cool. I thought about that after I posted it.

Scothew

Rich just always trying to stir up trouble.

Knight

Whats there to argue? Those statments are almost 100% true... lol

The Rock 326

Paris MkVI

Brother Rich, what you said.

The entire truth is almost never what people want to hear.

There's some blame to go around for everyone regarding the plight of the average Arab, Palestinians, etc. But you don't see anyone else busting their butts trying to do SOMETHING about it like we have.

MTAS

I couldn't agree more. Who cares if the Iraqi prisoners were humilated? You have GOT to be kidding

adrenalin

um, I think a lot of people care and that is why there are rules of war. If they did that to American's I can just imagine how upset people would be.

http://people.howstuffworks.com/rules-of-war.htm

BigDog

Agreed. I'm old enough to have family members and older friends who returned from Viet Nam after encountering the enemy there. You want to talk torture?

In the words of my father-in-law (three and a half tours in SEA, shot down twice), "If torture is having to take your clothes off and pose naked with some girl's panties on your head, well then heck, SIGN ME UP!!"

BigDog

Stupid autocensor.......

MilStang

John I agree about the Rules of War. There is also the Law of Armed Conflict that I and many others have to be very careful with everytime I designate a target near a church, school, etc. LOAC gives U.S. forces and our allies (Canadians, British, etc) even more restrictions that we have to follow. Many of you would be surprised to what lengths we go to in order to not offend the other side or minimize the damage done to areas around valid targets.

The only problem I see is that the extremist do not follow the Rules of War or LOAC. I am not condoning what they did at Abu, far from it. Just wanted to point out the lack of them following those rules. I have seen classified briefings and videos of what they have done to our guys as prisoners, who may live a while or live a very short time.

Now back to the letter. I'm glad that the letter made it out as much of what he says is dead on.

TexaStang

If it wasn't for that nasty "nuclear fallout" business, well, I think you'd know my course of action.

ScottyBoy302

First of all, if Americans dont give a that your own are torturing POWs then how does that make you any better than Saddam?


Now, here comes the interesting part:

ScottyBoy302

Rich, some of the things you said were bang on, some not so much. I apologize if this seems like a personal attack, but some of your statements were unbelievable to hear from a lt. general.

Since no one seems to be saying much, i have some things that need to be said. At the risk of getting banned, here goes:

I am sorry that you think that people like George Bush are smarter than all those whacky PhD holding professors.


I am sorry that you have forgotten about Hiroshima and Nagasaki.


I am sorry again that you have forgotten how much better nukes work. (see above).


I am sorry that you think fat jokes are relevant.


I am sorry that you think any foreign religion is ridiculous. What makes it any less credible than the story of Gods living son taking you to paradise after you die?



It is horribly ignorant to think that any country is perfect. Every nation has committed its share of atrocities. The rest of the world gets angry with Americans (not all of them) preaching from their high pedestals.

And just to let you guys know, im not some punk-hiney antichrist america hating kid trying to **** people off. I lived in the states for a few years when i was younger, i now live in Calgary, Canada, which is probably the most right wing redneck gun-lovin oil drilling place in north america (next to texas), i was raised in a strongly catholic family, and i hate michael moore.

I know some mods wont like this, but hopefully TMS isnt restricting free speech (besides the swear words ) Im done saying what needed to be said, you can start calling me a terrorist now.

The Rock 326

Doesn't seem like a personal attack, because I didn't write the letter, just posted it. His name is Chuck, not Rich.

Read it a little closer, it was a retired Lt. General who wrote it, hence the (Ret) after Lt. General.

ScottyBoy302

O, i see. I thought it was you from the part that said "i offer my opinion..."

MilStang

Rich is a Lt Gen now??!! I guess I need to salute you next time I see you General!!