Realpolitik,
It is simplistic to say that the choice is defeating terrorists in Iraq or letting the Islamofascists take over. This is the type of argument which is used to shut up any criticism over the way the war is being conducted.
Let's be completely clear: the way the war is being conducted, with cluster bombs being dropped on cities, with a heavy-handed bombing and killing of tens of thousands of civilians, the destruction of Fallujeh, etc. are creating grudges and animosity against the US. Yes, we need to win a military war but for our long term security we need to win the political battle for the hearts and minds of the people.
On that count we are failing terribly.

Charlie Horse

I agree that we all need to start seeing this problem with a tri-partite solution. Maybe some sort of loose federation. The obvious question is who has the oil. I don't know. Maybe you do. Aren't each of the three groups going to want a fair (or more) share of the oil? Can it easily be proportioned?

I'm sure some can appreciate the "justification of war" dabate going on in this forum, but if you read most of the past postings, that's not the bulk of the interest.

I've not been educated on the topic of history nearly as thorough as some of you, and I'm sure some of your viewpoints have credibility; however, the majority of persons contributing to this have friends or family fighting RIGHT NOW, and are extremely concerned for them, whether they agree with the war or not.

Please, conduct your diatribe elsewhere, on you own topic-head, and allow these family members to express love and hope to Kevin and their soldiers/Marines.

Thanks

I am sorry edman if I have in any way contributed to what you see as a "diatribe". You are correct that some of us do not have family in Iraq. However as a committed Christian I am concerned about everyone in Iraq and especially the communities of Fallujah who are suffering under both sides.

Bryan,

You didn't "contribute" to a diatribe. You wrote one. A series of unbased assertions concerning a situation about which you "know", as in having facts in hand, nothing. At the very least you could profer the discredited Lancet survey. Then you could be subjected to the ridicule that you have so profoundly earned. As it is, and since you neglect the "In my opinion" which is all that you profer, readers are left thinking that all you have demonstrated is an ability to type without resorting to conscious thought.

We are not "making enemies", we are killing enemies.

Thank you Kevin Sites.... for bringing much needed photos & news on our Marines. May you all return safely, healthy and with as few emotional scars as possible. Our hearts and prayers are with you all.

you call these people admirable? people who take delight in killing "hajis" and read the bible in between snuffing out lives?

Hello Edman

Diatribe is a bit rough, and an airing of opinions is legitimate. Clearly, Kevin offers a great opportunity for family members to communicate with those soldiers, and that's wonderful and legitimate too. Shutting off debate though is not productive however, and trying to understand why these men are there and what they are up against is. You talk of wholesale attempts to shut one side down in a debate and vice versa, and this is cheap. Do you know for a fact that these men wouldn't also appreciate that people back home are concerned for their moral compass as well as their hides? That's what the study of history, and the proper evaluation of the situation offer, a belief system to hold on to when the bullets are flying, a core understanding of why you're there.

Bryan,

The United Nations gave a one week notice to the citizens of Fallouja to clear out or be subsequently considered enemy combatants. Anyone still there is either itching for a fight, living under a rock, and unfortunately in a bad spot. You are absolutely correct about hearts and minds, but first a peace must be secured.

Someone earlier said that Islamo-fascism isn't the equivalent of Nazism, and I couldn't disagree more. Both share a militant ideaology, and of the most virulent form, and their removal from the global stage is vital through a hearts and minds campaign as you suggested. I believe we have food aid and infrastructure programs underway, if only foreign and Iraqi insurgents wouldn't keep destroying them.

In any case, Edman did have a point, this site is valuable for the families sending messages to the soldiers, so I won't burden anyone with my reading of events and history, but I offer a final and I believe valuable point (for the soldiers that is), that history justifies their mission in the long-term and they are doing the right thing. I believe they will be looked upon as heroes just as the men of Omaha Beach. Good luck to them all, and god bless.

I so appreciate finding this account, the photos, and the descriptions, of what is transpiring in Fallujah. I will use this forum to extend a message of gratitude:

To all the families with soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan -- you have my deepest admiration and respect for the sacrifice you have made, and the effort you are undertaking. I have a neighbor who has been in both theatres, as part of ISG and in leading SF for the past 2 years, he is a real leader and is coming home to a wife and two children who love him and have missed him very much.

No doubt his replacement will be equal to the challenge, and will widen the road paved before him.

You are Americas finest. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!

Realpolitik:

Thank you for sharing your views. If you have time, can you post a reference link for further research that you find relevant? Particularly regarding historic timelines in Persia, Ottoman Empire, LONations, formation of Mid East, et al.

I will honor Edman's request to take any discussions like this offline.

Best to all...

Last message, promise.

Charley Horse, you point out of valid points about ethinic and sectarian distribution amongst the Kurds, Shias and Sunnis, as well your note about Baathists. I truly hope that Iraq does not balkanize, but it seems that every little 'tribe' wants their own nation. I fear tribalism, and I think it is encouraged everywhere. This could be a long discussion about traditional societies vs. globalized culture; or post-nationalism vs. increasingly fractured ethic secessionist movements. The problems are there, and then again, so are the answers if cooler heads prevail, and all start to see our foreign neighbors as brothers, rather than a market to be exploited.

Rick, you are rude and your last message is a diatribe if I ever heard one. For Thankful American, and others who might be interested in further analyses of the situation, I recommend the site of Juan Cole, Professor of History at the University of Michigan: http://www.juancole.com/

Kevin,

Thank you for this report. Your writing is actually the best war journalism, I've seen to date.

Thank you, keep safe, and tell the Marines our prayers are with them.

Thanks for your efforts. My son (stepson), Justin Hale was a Sargeant with 3/1/1 India Co. during IOF. When he visits later today, he may post some hello's to friends still in theater.

To those of you who advocate "quitting" and pulling out in the middle of what will be a very long battle in the mid-east, your comparisons to Vietnam are off the mark. Keep in mind that wherever you are, you're on *their* soil (Theo van Gogh found that out).

It's preferable for our finest and bravest are on *their* soil, doing what they are trained for - taking the fight to the enemy. You can deal with it now, or you can deal with it later, but there's no running away from this global war - and to abandon the 80% plus of Iraqis who would prefer to live with the peace and freedoms we take for granted would be a disaster in the long term.

The slightest hint of "surrender" is the worst message we could send, and that's why the re-election of Bush sends such a strong message to the jihadi and others of their ilk.

To those of you who claim "you can't force democracy with point of a bayonet", I suggest you look at the flip side of your argument: "you can force totalitarianism", unless brave men stand in your way.

God bless and protect these kids, and the innocents who get caught in the middle when totalitarians use them as shields.

semper fi, and stay safe.

The neutralization of Fallouja ranks in military exploits to a fifty year old victory on the Eastern Front in WWII: the heroic expungement of the Warsaw Ghetto. As then the future of True Western Christian values rests in the hands of young principled soldiers.

Realpolitik - Why not Balkanize? Seriously, why not? Isn't the goal to eliminate Iraq as a regional threat and a future globle threat through weapons of mass destruction, while at the same time bringing some democracy to the area. Wouldn't splitting up the country achieve those goals. The only country I see being harmed by this arrangement is Turkey. Frankly, they had a chance to be involved and effect the outcome, they gave that up. Where is the downside? WHat am I missing?