Dean's World

As I noted the other day (see below), the victory in Fallujah was a simply incredible accomplishment. So of course our press either ignores it completely or focuses on the devastation. If we'd had this kind of press during World War II, we would have surrended to the Germans and the Japanese by the end of 1943.

Still, thanks to the internet, soldiers in the battlefield can now report to people directly. Case in point: this amazing presentation on the accomplishments at Fallujah, put together by our very own boots-on-the-ground people. If you're a bit squeamish you might want to brace yourself, but you should view this if at all possible--and if you have a weblog, might I suggest that you link it?

John Donovan, a career military man himself, has some important commentary related to this.

Then, of course, there's this:

I am also a professor at a military-related institution, and my little brother is an enlisted Marine (a sniper with 1-3) in Fallujah. This weekend he called for the first time since the battle began. He informed us that a large number of the residents of Fallujah, before fleeing the battle, left blankets and bedding for the Marines and Soldiers along with notes thanking the Americans for liberating their city from the terrorists, as well as invitations to the Marines and Soldiers to sleep in their houses. I've yet to see a report in the media of this. Imagine that.

Additionally, he said their spirits are high, but they would certainly appreciate any "care packages" that folks in the States would care to send their way (preferably consisting of non-perishable food items, candy, deodorant, eye-drops, q-tips, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lip balm, hand/feet warmers, black/dark undershirts, underwear & socks, and non-aerosol bug spray)

And then, of course, there's this.

At Operation Give, we're hoping to do a special collection drive for the people of Fallujah very soon. Stay tuned.