Swamppundit

Dear Salam,

The news media is saying some U.S. Marines murdered innocent civilians in a town called Hidatha. I would like to be able to tell you to not believe it; that it is all a crock; that U.S. Marines would never do such a thing. I can’t tell you that because I wasn’t there. I can tell you this though, between a Marine and a reporter, believe the Marine. Between a Marine and average citizen of Hidatha, believe the Marine. This is not an insult to Hidatha. Between a Marine and an average citizen of Omaha, Nebraska (one of our most honest cities), believe the Marine.

Are Marines perfect? No, but they are damned good. You know what I would most like, Salam? I would like reporters from Al-Jazzera to follow Marines around for a few weeks. Honestly report on the typical Marine day – not the best, not the worst, but the typical day, week or month. You would be favorably impressed by such a report, Salam, I know you would.

Am I saying Hidatha doesn’t count? Should be ignored? No. Marines are as good as they are because they believe in accountability. If the Marines did not investigate and hold any wrongdoers accountable, they would do a disservice to their fellow Marines.

Salam, this shouldn’t have to be said, but of course the killing of non-combatants is wrong, and the intentional killing of non-combatants is abhorrent. Does anyone where you live really think Americans don’t believe that? Does anyone there really think Americans are indiscriminate killers? Really? Are your people really incapable of distinguishing between the norm and the aberration? Are you really unable to distinguish between the outburst of an overstressed squad and the cold blooded orders of a ruthless leader? Really?

If you can’t, Salam, I am sorry. For if you can’t, these letters are a waste of our time.

While I don’t know what happened at Hidatha, Salam, it appears women and children died, and for that I am sorry regardless of how or why they died. The death of Iraqi women and children brings only sadness to Americans – Americans in uniform over there, as well as Americans out of uniform over here.

To continue stating the obvious, permit me to say all War is Hell and part of that hell is the death of innocents. Throughout history societies have had to choose between submitting to the aggression of others, or resisting aggression and inviting the Hell that is War. Because submitting to aggression often leads to a longer, more prolonged Hell of its own, many societies choose to resist. Let us be clear, Salam, the aggressors in Iraq are the ones who kill women and children by design. Only one side does that, Salam, and we don’t need a final report from Hidatha to know which side that is.

This was an unpleasant letter. I look forward to more pleasant topics.

Love,
Clarence