Noble Cause
Dave Price
"Others have died for my freedom — now this is my mark."
Those were the words of Cpl. Jeffrey Starr, USMC, of Snohomish, Wash, in a letter written shortly before he died in the effort to establish democracy in Iraq, and when they build the memorials for this war I hope those words are chiseled in granite in letters ten feet high somewhere, because no more fitting description of why we're there could be written than Starr's. I know this has been covered before, including the fact that most of it was left out by the NYT, but I think Starr's letter deserves much more attention than it has gotten.
But the war to remove Saddam was over in three weeks, and at a small cost in lives relative to what we've incurred since then. We didn't pack up and head home once that was done. In the years since, our primary goal has in fact been the establishment of freedom and democracy for Iraqs.
Update: Starr's uncle, who objected to the NYT's leaving out his nephew's sentiments on freedom, democracy and sacrifice, is interviewed by MSNBC.
Those were the words of Cpl. Jeffrey Starr, USMC, of Snohomish, Wash, in a letter written shortly before he died in the effort to establish democracy in Iraq, and when they build the memorials for this war I hope those words are chiseled in granite in letters ten feet high somewhere, because no more fitting description of why we're there could be written than Starr's. I know this has been covered before, including the fact that most of it was left out by the NYT, but I think Starr's letter deserves much more attention than it has gotten.
"Obviously if you are reading this then I have died in Iraq. I kind of predicted this, that is why I'm writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances. I don't regret going, everybody dies but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark."Critics often dismiss such sentiments as mere buzzwords, or not germane to the reasons for the invasion. It's true freeing/democratizing Iraq was not the only reason we went to war, perhaps not even the main reason. And it's also true one of the primary reasons turned out to be a mistake, though its hard to see how we could have determined the WMD stockpiles no longer existed without invading, given that 12 years of inspections had failed to do so.
But the war to remove Saddam was over in three weeks, and at a small cost in lives relative to what we've incurred since then. We didn't pack up and head home once that was done. In the years since, our primary goal has in fact been the establishment of freedom and democracy for Iraqs.
Update: Starr's uncle, who objected to the NYT's leaving out his nephew's sentiments on freedom, democracy and sacrifice, is interviewed by MSNBC.
Or among the deranged, they're considered 'propaganda ordered by the neo-con thugs in the White House'.
Sad, really. They just can't - can NOT - believe that a member of the Armed Forces - even a Marine - could honestly believe in what he's doing. Especially an enlisted man, because we all know the enlisted personnel are only in it because Bush stole all the other jobs they could have had.
*stops before he wanders into a bitter diatribe against those who view all military/authority with cynical distrust*
They just set up a memorial to those lost from Fort Carson, Colorado. Over 160 from the Mountain Division so far. And there were parents there that were honored to have their childrens' name included...not that you'll see that in the MSM anytime soon. I mean, they aren't Cindy (I HATE MY SON) Sheehan kind of human filth...sad really.
If you want to see it, and you get up to Colorado Springs, it's just outside the main gate...shortly off of I-25.
I know Cpl Starr won't be there, wrong service, but you can see the names of those that did go freely. As my hubby is now downrange...not because he wants to be, but because he knows that helping other become free is a sacred duty of those of us BORN free. Pity not all Americans earn their freedoms...
"...Cindy (I HATE MY SON) Sheehan kind of human filth..."
Perfect description of that traitor, and succinct. I wish I had written that.
Thank you, Jeff Starr.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI