Powerful pictures. Thanks, Kevin.

hey kevin,
     Thanks for sending back images of marines in battle, it makes us old jarheads proud enough to straighten up a little and remember what it was like to be a young lion.
     you get to carry a weapon?
                            Rock D. (Chicago)

As a mother of a Marine with the 3/1, thank you for all the information and the pictures. Your stories are sometimes hard to read knowing my son is one of those you write about but I also need to know what he's going through.

Kevin - you and I met briefly while you were in Portland Oregon. I have a tough time getting my mind around you standing next to me, my daughter, and grandson at the Nickelback concert, and the things that are happening in your part of the world today. These images make me want to hold my family a little tighter and cry for the mothers in Iraq. Without you and others like you this war would easily get lost in the rush of our daily lives. Thank you for keeping it real. My prayers are with you and all the souls there...

your words are a conduit that every american should be connected to; the grim reality of securing this city half-a-world-removed from the united states of america is necessary to understand in the context of our own safe lives. may god bless you and keep you alive for the ones you love.

Move over Jim Nachtway.

wow - amazing stuff kevin! thanks for showing us the real deal. oh yeah, thanks andy for the link. this blog is required reading! stay safe kevin!

Kevin,
Thank you for posting the pictures and articles. As the mother of a Marine in the 3/1 I scan the internet all day looking for a glimpse of what might be going on in the area my son might be in.

hi kev! great job. mind yourself and keep sending info both visual and text about Irak "the real deal", Cheers mate

Hi Kevin ... I suppose someone has to do what you do, but I hate that anyone has to. Stay safe and be well.

A million times...thank you...

Edited by author 11-13-2004 03:09 AM
Kevin, The street scenes surely look like the "dogs of hell" have indeed been unleashed on Fallujah. We at home are unable to appreciate the anguish and anxiety that surround the visual images you send us. Yet we are deeply thankful that you are there to do that dangerous thing that you do.

As always our hearts and prayers are with you and the brave "Devil Dogs" of 3/1 & 3/5, and especially the Navy corpsmen that always seem to be where they are needed. Hopefully the worst part of this dangerous mission is winding down and you can have some time to recharge in anticipation of the next challenge.

We at home think of you all very often, and pray for you well-being. Stay low and stay safe. We do care and are most interested in your safe return.

Kevin, Thank you for sending picture. The news just does not get close enough or it goes by so fast you cannot really see what is going on. As a soon to be wife to the USMC, these pictures help me keep my sanity. KEEP them coming. Any word yet, if the guys will get a break soon?

Thank you for your bravery in reporting. I send my prayers for our troops and your safety.

 you're all going to hell for this......

Well, god, I hope not...that would not be cool. Maybe you could reconsider?

As always, thank you, Mr. Sites. I can only image the sacrifice that you and others like you give to do your job. It does help to see and hear from someone that walks with them. Vaya con Dios.

PS Wear your helmet.

Kevin...Thank you for what you do! If you happen to run across the path of one bad-ass Marine there in Fallujah who goes by the name of Gunnery Sergeant Christian Wade..please tell him that his bro in Milwaukee says hello and that we're all praying and thinking about him and his men back here in the states.

Thank you Kevin, and your NOT going to Hell for ANY OF THIS. Anybody that is a real christian would know that.The men are fighting for our freedom here in the USA. If they would not be there, more people would have died after 9/11. Tell the MEN we support them 100% and keep sending the pictures Kevin, your a brave men along with my marine I love very much in 3/1. Semper Fi!

Edited by author 11-13-2004 05:48 PM
Kevin,

I admire your spirit, courage, talent, and honesty.
Your biceps aren't too shabby, either. ;)
I look forward to hearing and seeing more and hope for your safety.
Thanks.

Jude
http://iddybud.blogspot.com

Kevin,
Its 5:30 PM PST, and both CNN and Fox are reporting that US Military spokesmen are declaring Fallujah "Occupied" with a few skirmishes still remaining. "Mop-up", is what they are calling it. Please pass om a "Job well done" to the troops, and remind them that we are all thinking of them and praying for their safe return, ALL of them.

As it is still early morning there, We wish you all well, and hope you can get some well deserved rest.

PUT YOUR HELMET ON, Please!

Looks scary as hell there. You are both blessed and cursed by witnessing war up close. I hope for good emotional health as well as physical for all.

kevin is there a web site i can go to find the names of the wounded,getting worried about 1st blt 3rd marine. thanks

Kevin - as a moslem that comes from the Middle East, let me tell you that the Marines are doing a terrific job of uprooting these vermins also known as the Islamists.

These vermins will not hesitate a second to kill innocent civilians such as the 35 children that were celebrating the opening of a sewage treatment plant in Baghdad in October

These vermins want to install Islamic law, with a Taliban sate that enslaves all Iraqis to their rule, complete with kidnapping, torture, and execution of anybody that may dare to disagree with them. These vermins want to subjugate the women, beat them up physically as recommended by the Koran ("beat up your wife if she does not obey"), and brainwash their children into becoming good Islamic believers and fascists.

Please convey my thanks to the Marine and Army men and women who are putting their lives at risk to bring Iraq the liberties and freedoms that are taken so valued in the civilized world, and whom most of the "seletive outrage Islam lover crowds" take for granted. Do not let these Islamists harm the good men and women in any way and capture as many of them as possible so these criminals will be off the streets and never see the light of day.

These Islamists firmly believe that there are 72 virgins waiting for them in heaven, according to Koran Sureh 55:56. That is why they are fighting so recklessly and to the bitter end, because they want to benefit from this greedy promise, which they truly believe in. Therefore when you confront these vermins, if they ever complain, just remind them if they rather wish to join the 72 "fresh and pure pearls" up there guaranteed to them by the Koran.

Likes Of 'J' are amazingly ignorant, what is sad is that this view is shared with many other Americans. Imagine that, Marines killing 'hajis' in Iraq for sake of THEIR FREEDOM in the US!

Kevin, the Marines have got to be exhausted. They are doing a wonderful job. I love my marine from 3/1 and he agrees with why they are doing what they are doing. This is a free country. No wonder so many people want to live in the United States. Take care of the whole gang from 3/1 and tell them prayers in the USA are all across AMERICA for them.

Mr. Sites, my son sent me your blog site so I could see what he & his ban of brothers are going through in the Thundering Third. Thank you for your courage and for being our eyes to what is happening in Falluja now. When I see you on the evening news, I get get chills knowing that you may have come across my son LCPL. Kosicki this day. We're keeping you in our prayers. May God continue sending His angels to look out for all our kids!

K says: "...Marines are killing 'hajis' for the sake of their freedom".

Dear K - obviously you are quite ignorant of Iraq and Islam. These "hajis" want to enslave ALL Iraqis into servitude and make them submit to Islamic rule (with themselves as the rulers).

The "hajis" are being killed in order to free the rest of the Iraqis (the other 98% for your information).

The Marines are doing what any decent human being would do. To liberate their fellow humans from tyranny, and bestow upon them the tenets of human rights. This is heroic, and let us all thank the Marines who put their lives in danger for this ideal.

No K. - the Hajis hate freedoms for ALL Iraqis (and for Americans and the west in general). They dont want democratic elections. The Hajis dont want equality. They dont want freedom of religion. That is why they are fighting - to rule and install Islamic slavery, and hence getting killed by the righteous forces of humanity. You would do the same thing if you were an Iraqi. If you like Freedom, then it is good for Iraqis too and not just yourself, you know.

Dear DrewsMom - may god bless your son LCPL Kosicki and hope he keeps out of harm's way.

The Iraqi people are indebted to him and the rest of the Marines for sharing their freedoms with the Iraqis.

Iraqis have 200 newspapers, the Internet, and 25 independent TV channels and 100 political parties today. They will be voting for the first time in their 10,000 year history on January 27, 2005. This was achieved despite the wishes of the "so-called anti-war selective outrage crowd" who wish to monopolize freedom for themselves and suck up to tyranny and fascism.

Edited by author 11-14-2004 05:48 PM
  Dear Kev, you know how I respect and watch your blog all the time...but this is to some one who is called Monir...you don't know anything about Iraqis and you don't know anything about Islam and you don't know anything about Koran...if you ever thought that you can interpret the Koran as you want and show the other people in the other part of the world that you as you said..."as a moslem that comes from the Middle East"...that you know better let me tell who ever read your message that you are wrong....you should 've said that yes there are parts of the Koran that some people interpret for their own way and do it but you are not allowed in any way to say...that the Koran has recommended that women to be beaten up if they didn't obey...because I challange you there is no part in the Koran that said so...litrary and metaphorically unless you yourself want it to mean that....please from now on when you want to show off that you know better try it away from telling people what you think for yourself...to add one more thing..usually when I read the blog I will be happy...because I know how much work Kevin is doing...and how much risk he is taking to convery the truth...but this time I was so angry...just because of your words...who ever you are Mr. Monir!!!

Sorry Kev, but I couldn't stay calm reading those comments...please take care of yourself...and don't worry..everything will go to a final happy ending hopefully..I liked the pictures...and I'm watching everything through the wheel of death..( as you call it)Stay safe..Old Bro.

Kevin Sites and Luis Sinco: Best journos in Fallujah.

Jana says: "Monir you dont know anything about Iraq or Islam or the Koran ...."

Dear Jana, I was born in the Middle East and went to Islamic school and at one time I memorized parts of the Koran. I am from a neighboring country to Iraq.

The Koran says Sureh 4, Verse 35: Men have authority over women (not just the wife but sisters, daughters, maids, etc.). If they disobey, "first admonish them, then refuse to sleep with them, and then beat them". You can read it for yourself at http://www.light-of-life.com/eng/reveal/ or other sites. Also try http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate/index.html to see the 2nd class citizenship of women in Islam (for example they are counted as half of one witness, or receive inheritence half of a man).

Now Jana you are wrong that this is a matter of interpretation. When the Koran says women receive half the inheritence of a man, then this is not an issue of interpretation. It says Sureh 4:11 - "A male shall inherit twice as much as a female". Now how can you interpret mathematics in multiple ways?

You say that I am "not allowed" (by whom may I ask?) - that I am not allowed to say that the Koran has recommended to beat women or to disinherit women because of their gender. And why cant I say this? What stops me and other open minded people to say that the Koran contains nonsense of this sort? If it offends you that I say this, well then take a cold shower, and if you are a moslem (by the sound of it) then change your religion instead of being so embarrased about it, as I am just repeating what is in there complete with verse numbers and am exercizing my right to free speech, and I can say all I wish about Islam, including facts about the Koran - and this is exactly why the Marines are in Fallujah beating the hell out of these Islamofascists - because they want to stop me from saying the facts, and no Jana, you cannot stop me as those Marines are protecting me, the Iraqis, and ultimately America, and neither can you stop the good Marines who are risking their lives, to bring out the truth about this decrepit religion. You should be ashamed of yourself to undermine our men and women in danger at in the battlezone who are fighting tyranny, while people like you suck up to it.

And all this shmoozing with Kevin to say you are such a good person "respecting Kevin's work and keep safe" turns out to be just another way to win favor and appease your own conscience, and us along with the Marines and Kevin who are at the frontlines and see terror and tyranny in the eyes staring at us, will not get fooled by you.

Jana says: "I challange you there is no part in the Koran that said so...litrary and metaphorically unless you yourself want it to mean that...."

Well Jana, I brought you verses 4:11 and 4:35 directly from the horse's mouth (Koran). Now lets see you refute that. Start with the links I provided.

And if you go to those websites, you will see that the Koran is loaded with crap, in each and every of its 114 chapters. No I am not an Islamic so-called scholar, heavens forbid, to want to "show off" my knowledge, as nobody wishes to show off their knowledge of nonsense.

And if you make the weak claim that Koran should be read metaphorically and not literally, then may I ask what kind of ass was the author that could not write a book so that his people could be enlightened without having to interpret it in wildly different ways, resulting in sectarian wars such as the historic wars between the Sunnis and Shias? Just in the past 10 years 35,000 people have lost their dear life in Pakistan due to such wars of interpretation.

No Jana, your disdain for the Marines and Kevin's work to battle obscurantism and tyranny comes right through your writings. Sorry to see that an American (if you are one) can be so oblivious to the suffering of the Iraqis and so oblivious to the heroism of the US soldiers. I bet you are one of those who dismissed Saddam's 10,000 lives a year torture dungeons as "business as usual".

ok ..this is not an argument field for people like you and I have nothing to say to a fool like you but one thing...you mentioned that I don't know anything about Kevin and the Marins...I have more than you can expect of the Marines as my friends, at least I'm trying hard to make sure that they are safe...at least by checking on them between now and then but what people like you would do...just talking..big mouth.you know nothing about those people who are dying there and fighting for the goodness...they know much better than you...and their families know also....and I'm there, from there...in the fornt lines...have been through so many of war than your small mind can take..so just when u r there you can see the truth as for now...you are a blind person..and I'm not in any way would reply any more to such...nonesense..

Kevin, I saw you do not have your helmet on with the your MSN interview you did. EVERYBODY else does. PUT IT ON. Would like to see more pictures of the 3/1 marines. I know they are doing the best job they can. You are too. Keep up the good work, and my life revolves on what you show, and tell on the news. Thank you so much. SEMPER FI!

Last night I finally received the call I had been waiting so patiently (or moreso impatiently for). The phone rang at 10:30 pm and when I answered it, I heard the voice of my 20 year old son, who is a proud member of the Thundering Third. He called to say he was okay but, as a Mom, I could hear in his voice that the stress and challenges have taken its toll. I would hope that if our boys can obtain access to this website, that they will be welcomed by positive energy and prayers sent by their extended families and friends. There is absolutely no possible way that we can fathom the mental, emotional and physical stress this is placing on them. We need to stay strong for them and let them know that we are united in our support and will be here anxiously awaiting their return with open arms!

Semper Fi!
Proud Marine Mom of
L/Cpl Ryan Branch
3rd BN, 1st Marines

Kevin I just watched your report on NBC News, from Edinburgh Scotland, and I have never heard so many excuses given for COLD-BLOODED MURDER in my life.
Iraqi killings of Americans are never, rightly, rationalized, nor is the killing of unarmed Israelis. But why is a report on the shooting of an UNARMED, WOUNDED, Iraqi caked with so many excuses? If an Iraqi life so worthless?
Aren't these the people your country went there to "liberate"?
Amazing.

Gee, PO'd, I guess thats one point of view.

War is Hell, all of it!

Julie, I got my phone call yestreday also from my soon to husband. He is pretty high rank there so I will not say who. He sounded tired also, but he also sounded very, VERY proud of what they did. He was hurting with the rest of his fallen marines, but really said everyone was doing there job wonderful. He went back into Fallujah today, so he told me it would probably be another week, but yes I agree with you. They are exhausted, hungry, and needing of a bath, but yes very proud of their job they did. We should back them up 100%. And Kevin kep up the good work nomatter who says what. SEMPER FI~

wow..., you Americans are really something, as a European I haven't heard such language since the Nazis in the 40s. History does repeat itself.

and what exactly is in Fallouja to exhaust all these Marine if not their heavy-laden consciences. It's certainly not the hard work of blasting rag-tag Arab militia, armed with 10yr old AK-47s, by an armed force that costs over 400 Billion dollars a year.

hey Mike how do you know? You weren't there were you?

I think the Marines, being exhausted, and American, are probably overweight from all the junk food sent in the carepacks. SEMPER FI...with large fries.

They killed an UNARMED MAN, wow...how brave is that dude? He'll probably get a medal and run for Congress......

small rat U r just really stupid or just dont have antthing else to do. if the man was innocent he wouldnt have been where he was at

an UNARMED, WOUNDED< MAN. I know he was only an AyRab, but he was still a MAN, even the Bible says so.

so Mikey....the Americans must be guilty as hell. Being soooo far away from home and all.

AND HE wasnt armed until they shot him yesterday, they just didnt finish the job until today or did u miss that part of the story

Small Rat with his small mind and small cock. Show yourself small rat...who are you u fuckin pansy ass

what the Hell business have Americans in Fallouja!!!! GO HOME!!!! Don't you get it? THE IRAQIS DON"T WANT YOU THERE!!! GO HOME!!!!!

When the people who chop off american heads r caught we will leave. have you seen those videos unedited?

I lived through the 2nd World war, and looked up to Americans all my life, I went to University in Texas, and loved it, I was and will always be grateful for America liberating Europe, but now you guys are like the Nazis in Poland...

Mike, relax. Tomahawk, stop being rude!
Both of you show some repect for the soldiers and the innocent communities in Fallujah who are caught up in the fighting between our soldiers and the insurgents.
War is war, and it is dirty. At the same time we have certain international obligations to conduct war in a proper way. These are enshrined in the Geneva Convention. The Geneva Convention was largely a gift to the world, from the free and democratic USofA. We have an obligation to both combatants and non-combatants under this convention.
Our principles of fairness and justice are what we shine to the world. If we start treating everyone in Iraq as an enemy combatant, and we don't follow the agreed rules of engagement, then we are no better than the terrorists who attack the innocent and behead prisoners, and any soldier who cannot see that is in the wrong country and should get the hell out.

just like the Nazis in Poland. It makes me weep.......what is next, concentration camps, gas chambers? and before you start with the anti-semitic jibes, I'm not jewish okay.

Thank you, Kevin, for daring to report things as they happen. What scares me, though, is the reaction of people like this Fred and this Pissed Off. I am beginning to understand how it must have been in Nazi Germany, with locals like Fred cheering on their SS, or at least getting offended when someone dared to question what they were doing.

YADA YADA YADA. HOW

yADA YADA YADA how bout u go and fight we will see how u react and i would pray if i was religiou that u two dont live in the US