Strong Language, but right on the mark

[Zenchan]

Subject: Fw: This Letter of Apology was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman, US Marine Corps, Retired:


"For good and bad, the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will remain an issue: On the one hand, right thinking Americans will harbor 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 Yasir 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
US Marine Corps (Retired)
Semper Fi

[ROY H]

good read this guy is awesome.

[Jedburgh]

Lieutenant General Charles H. Pitman was the former Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

General Pitman enlisted in the Naval Reserve in October 1952, and subsequently enlisted in the Marine Corps. Entering flight training as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1954, he received his wings in August 1955, and joined Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron 363, Santa Ana, California. The following January, he deployed to the Pacific Proving Grounds, where he served for seven months aboard the USS BADOENG STRAIT (CVE-116).

Returning to the United States in September 1956, he was transferred to the Marine Corps Auxiliary Air Station, Mojave, California, where he performed duties as airfield operations officer, search and rescue pilot and Provost Marshal. In January 1958, he returned to Pensacola for jet transition. Upon completion, he was assigned to the Multi-Engine Training Group as a flight instructor. He was later assigned as officer-in-charge, Third Cadet Battalion, U.S. Naval School, Preflight.

Following his promotion to captain in January 1960, General Pitman attended Photographic Reconnaissance School, transferred to El Toro, California, where he was assigned to Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron 3. In November 1962, he deployed to VMCJ-1, flying the RF-8 and EF-10 on reconnaissance missions throughout the Far East.

Returning from overseas in November 1963, he joined VMCJ-2 at Cherry Point, North Carolina. A year later, he was assigned as Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing.

He was promoted to major in 1966, and reported to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 at New River, N .C., for duty as operations officer and then executive officer, flying the CH-46. Leaving in November 1966 for Vietnam, he served initially as maintenance and later as operations officer in HMM-265 at Marble Mountain, Phu Bai and Khe Sahn.

He transferred to Washington, D.C., in February 1968, for duty as a weapons systems analyst in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OP-05W), where his assignments involved evaluation of tactical air capabilities, both U.S. and foreign. While assigned to OPNAV, he returned to Vietnam in October and November 1968 to evaluate several new airborne detection systems.

In January 1970, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College. Graduating in June, he transitioned to the UH-1, and attended the Army's Cobra School. By then, a lieutenant colonel, he returned to Vietnam, where he commanded Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron, flying UH-1s and CH46s. While transitioning to the CH-53, he was wounded while flying in Laos as part of Operation LAM SON 719. After being stabilized at Kuhe Hospital, Okinawa, he was evacuated to the Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

After recovering, he assumed command of Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment, New Orleans, in July 1971, again flying the CH46. He held this assignment until leaving to attend the Air War College in June 1973. In conjunction with this assignment, he completed his B.S. degree in Business Administration at Troy State.

Transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps in May 1974, he served two years as Aviation's Program Coordinator. After being promoted to colonel in October 1976, he served two years with the Secretary of the Navy's Office of Program Appraisal.

General Pitman transferred to Okinawa in July 1978, where he assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 36. The following year, he returned to Washington where he was assigned as Marine Corps Aide to the Secretary of the Navy, and later as the Marine Corps Member, Chairman's Staff Group, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as his advisor on the Middle East, Africa, South/Central America, Counterterrorism and the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force.

In June 1981, General Pitman assumed duty as Commanding Officer, Marine Aviation Training Support Group, Pensacola, Florida. While serving in this capacity, he was selected for promotion to brigadier general. He was advanced to that grade on May 11, 1982 and assigned duty as the Assistant Chief of Staff, C-5, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command in Seoul, Korea.

In August 1984, he returned to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS El Toro, California, where he served as Assistant Wing Commander until advanced to major general in April 1985. He then proceeded to Okinawa, Japan, where he commanded the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing from June 12, 1985 until his transfer to Headquarters, Marine Corps on Sept. 9, 1987. He then served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation until assuming the position of Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation on May 1, 1988. General Pitman was advanced to lieutenant general on July 7, 1988.

His personal decorations include: the Silver Star Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster in lieu of second award; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross with gold stars in lieu of second, third and fourth awards; Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; Purple Heart; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal with gold Numeral 3 and bronze Numeral 62; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V"; the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with silver star; and the Korean Order of National Security Merit, Cheonsu Medal.

[usa320]

Badass. Call it racist, call it bad, but its the truth.

[b33f]

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

Great post, thanks!

[Lokos]

While I respectfully disagree with some of the points General Pitman makes, let it be known that I dig his jive talkin'.

Regards,
Lokos

[BigBaribal]

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.).


Yes, as a european, thank you very much :|

It's always fine when an "ally" helps muslim fundamentalists or kosovar mafiosos a few hundreds of kilometers from where you live!


http://img150.exs.cx/img150/5030/koss05.jpg

[exoninja]

woot

[Top Gun]

For someone who graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College he sure missed the part about knowing your enemy. They don't want your help, and your "making fun" was a disgrace worse than death.

[CG51]

Amen...this cat has balls...hope he runs for president... :P

[Uncle Sam]

For someone who graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College he sure missed the part about knowing your enemy. They don't want your help, and your "making fun" was a disgrace worse than death.

May the Fleas of a Thousand Camels infest one of your Erogenous Zones.

[nott]

what's a Daisy cutter? nuke?

[LazerLordz]

Thermobaric fuel bomb.Napalm in high-pressure.Also known as MOAB(Mother of all bombs).

[Lazy Lob]

Thermobaric fuel bomb.Napalm in high-pressure.Also known as MOAB(Mother of all bombs).

I may be wrong but the daisycutter has nothing to do with a thermobaric bomb. The daisy cutter was first designed to clear jungle LZ's in Vietnam (I think) with a conventional explosive devices. Shrapnel cleared the trees.

The thermobaric or fuel-air bomb has blast effects like a micro A bomb. It disperses fuel as tiny droplets, once the fuel-air mixture has reached the correct explosive ratio it ignites the fuel cloud. It uses up all the air in the area and gives off a crushing blast.

[futurepilot2004]

Thermobaric fuel bomb.Napalm in high-pressure.Also known as MOAB(Mother of all bombs).

nope, the MOAB is a different weapon.Much newer and more powerful, same idea though.

[Warlord]

Can't blame him for feeling like this.

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