OpEdNews » Beyond Gettysburg: Consecrating the death of two Marines in Iraq, April 2008

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Tag(s): 2008 Election Presidential Primary; Baghdad; Basra; Exxon; Iraq Exit Solutions; Iraq Sunni Militia; Iraq War; Iraqi Government; Marines
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April 23, 2008 at 18:52:41

Beyond Gettysburg: Consecrating the death of two Marines in Iraq, April 2008

by Jane Stillwater Page 2 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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PS: How do I know so much about jails? In my down-time from being a globe-trotting hard-hitting (unpaid) investigative reporter, I work in one.

PPS: I just applied for permission to embed with the Marines in Ramadi in May. I want to find out what the Marines are doing to counteract the insurgents' spill-over into Anbar from Baghdad and Basra. I bet they gots lots of interesting plans -- unlike Bush, Cheney and Maliki.

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Stillwater is a freelance writer who hates injustice and corruption in any form but especially injustice and corruption paid for by American taxpayers. She has recently published a book entitled, "Bring Your Own Flak Jacket: Helpful Tips For Touring Today's Middle East". According to Ms. Stillwater, "It's a fabulous and entertaining book. I loved writing it. And I hope that you will love reading it too." It's available at http://www.amazon.com/Bring-Your-Own-Flak-Jacket/dp/0978615719 or you can special order it at any independent bookstore.

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2 comments

Brett Paatsch is an Australian born secular humanist with degrees in management and science and an interest in politics. He is a former pro-American that wishes to be pro-American again and thinks the impeachment and repudiation of President George W Bush for the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 is necessary to reestablish trust in American signatures on international treaties and confidence in the global rule of law.
Brett PaatschBrett Paatsch is an Australian born secular humanist with degrees in management and science and an interest in politics. He is a former pro-American that wishes to be pro-American again and thinks the impeachment and repudiation of President George W Bush for the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 is necessary to reestablish trust in American signatures on international treaties and confidence in the global rule of law.

Fine words

Fine words.

But the Marines were in Iraq. You grieve for the Marines, it is, perhaps, altogether appropriate that you should do so, but my sympathy is with the Iraqis. The Iraqis were entitled to trust that Americans would not break their word on treaties like the UN Charter and add to their troubles.

The Marines take an oath of service too. I'm pretty sure it mentions the Constitution before the President but in a way that must make it very difficult in practice for a person of duty to know what to do when they have to chose between Constitution and President.

What stands out for me is the difference in standards expected of oathtakers in the armed services and oath takers in high political office. Lions for lambs.

by Brett Paatsch (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 1041 comments) on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 2:16:57 AM

Aka "Peace Brother", I am a health professional and writer interested in promoting global peace and justice.
Kris MalmquistAka "Peace Brother", I am a health professional and writer interested in promoting global peace and justice.

Excellent Peace

Excellent article. Unfortunately, as much as I would like to believe otherwise, I fear these two Marines' lives have indeed been lost in vain, just as my oldest brother's death at the age of 19 in Vietnam. Our leaders seem incapable of learning from history and continue to send these patriotic men and women off on misguided military adventures on their slightest whims. Our powerful, greedy and unwise policy makers just don't seem to get it!

I had hoped that my brother's death and the whole Vietnam experience taught our country a lesson about getting involved in conflicts in far away places. Unfortunately, it is painfully obvious that Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld and the other co-conspirators were not paying attention when that lesson was being taught.

by Kris Malmquist (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 39 diaries, 101 comments) on Friday, April 25, 2008 at 4:38:01 AM