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October 31, 2005Every Day HeroesBy GreyhawkIt's often said that it's difficult to cover the entirety of the Iraq war from a hotel in Baghdad. The truthfulness or fairness of that statement is debateable. But regardless of effort, motivation, or lack thereof, given the thousands of potential stories to tell it's no surprise that many are overlooked. For instance, enter "Lance Corporal Joshua Butler" in the search window at ABC News and you'll get this response: No results were found for "Lance Corporal Joshua Butler". Try the same at the New York Times: Your search for Marine Corporal Joshua Butler in all fields returned 0 results. That's unfortunate. Because in a rather baffling story last summer the NY Times bemoaned the fact that there were no stories of heroes in the media coverage of the Iraq war. They blamed the Pentagon. (Full text here.) For bloggers this was the equivalent of tossing a lamb chop into a den of lions. Follow the links and trackbacks in this story and you'll find numerous examples of heroism, outstanding acts of courage, and ample evidence that the generation at war in Iraq is no less deserving of accolades then their fathers and grandfathers before them. Since most of those blog reports rely on military news sources for their information we can dismiss that "Pentagon reluctance" to acknowledge heroism and instead ponder why the media has been reluctant to do so. After all, they waste little time in detailing the failures of those same all-to-human troops. Among the many heroic stories the Times missed is that of Marine Corporal Joshua Butler. Corporal Butler was serving with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team-2 in Husaybah, Iraq, near the Syrian border. On April 11, 2005, they were attacked: That morning a group of four mortar rounds flew over the base.Meanwhile, the attack intensified. Under suppressing fire from small arms and RPGs, a white dump truck approached the Marine's position: Corporal Anthony Fink, a 21-year-old Columbus, Ohio native and Lance Cpl.s Joe Lampe and Roger Leyton were manning a M-240G medium machinegun when their bunker was hit with an RPG knocking them to the ground. The dust and sand from the busted sandbags clouded their view of the oncoming truck and small arms fire forced them to keep their heads down.The first truck was intended to blast a hole for the larger one to follow: A couple of seconds later, a red fire truck cleared the smoke the previous truck left heading toward Butler and his post at about 40 mph.The attack had failed, but the battle wasn't over... As Butler stopped the SVBIED attacks, the assault on Fink?s post continued from multiple directions. Taking fire and returning it, Fink and Leyton began firing 40 mm grenades from a M-203 grenade launcher as 1st Sgt. Donald Brazeal, the company first sergeant, arrived at their position to find out where they were taking the heaviest amount of fire.As USA Today noted in their coverage, this was one in a series of defeats for the enemy in Iraq: The daylight attack on this remote U.S. military base fits a pattern of recent insurgent attacks on U.S. military strongholds. On Saturday, a mortar attack at Camp Ramadi killed three servicemembers, and there was a coordinated assault two weeks ago on the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison on the outskirts of Baghdad.The Abu Ghraib attack was very similar in execution and outcome to the Husaybah assault: The insurgents used small and medium arms fire as cover fire for a suicide car-bomber as he drove his way towards the perimeter wall near the southeast tower. Marines returned fire, causing the vehicle to explode before it reached the wall. Shortly thereafter the story of Corporal Butler was forgotten - at least in the media. But last week, following the return of Butler's unit to the States, he was honored in the US Congress by Bill Shuster (R - Pa): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and distinguish one of America?s finest ? United States Marine Lance Corporal Joshua Butler of Altoona, Pennsylvania. Butler, who dreamed of being a U.S. Marine since he was four years old, protected hundreds of his fellow comrades from suicide bombers mounting an attack with trucks, explosives and no regard for human life.No doubt Americans would be proud of Corporal Butler and the many like him, but once again, here's the New York Times coverage of the story. We'll assume he didn't meet the Times criteria for that hero they were looking for. If you read far enough into the AP story headlined U.S. Military Deaths Reach 2,000 in Iraq you may experience a bit of deja-vu: [Al-Qaida in Iraq] also said it was behind the three suicide car bombs aimed at the Palestine and Sheraton hotels in Baghdad. Deputy Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Hussein Ali Kamal said 17 people were killed - mostly hotel guards and passers-by - in Monday's attack, which involved bombers driving two cars and a cement truck.For saving a hotel full of reporters from certain death, Spc Green was named ABC News Person of the Week. It's often said that it's difficult to cover the entirety of the Iraq war from a hotel in Baghdad. But if you wait there long enough, eventually the war will come to you. Posted by Greyhawk / October 31, 2005 5:55 PM | Permalink 2 TrackBacksThe Greyhawks went a couple of days without posting and I figured they must have gone on a weekend excursion of some sort. Based on today's deluge of lengthy posts, I wonder if they were having technical problems and saving Read More The Greyhawks went a couple of days without posting and I figured they must have gone on a weekend excursion of some sort. Based on today's deluge of lengthy posts, I wonder if they were having technical problems and saving things up to post when they ... Read More 13 Comments |
November 18, 2009Dawn Patrol 11/18/2009 [Mrs Greyhawk]
Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.Refresh for updates.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTANBoondoggle -- [3rd Time, New Country - in Afghanistan] Clinton in Kabul for Karzai's inauguration -- [Foreign Policy - AfPak] The war of leaks -- [Foreign Policy - AfPak] Ridding Afghanistan of Corruption Will Be No Easy Task -- [Los Angeles Times] Afghan Minister Accused of Taking Bribe -- [Washington Post] Vision for Victory, Part I -- [Washington Times] U.S. Turns to Local Guns-for-Hire to Guard Afghan Outpost -- [Danger Room - Noah Shachtman] NATO Chief Confident Afghanistan Will Have More Troops -- [Voice of America] Germany to extend Afghanistan mission another year -- [AP] Pakistani Successes May Sway US Troop Decision -- [New York Times] Where are Taliban and al Qaeda commanders, US media asks Pak -- [Daily News & Analysis] Pakistani Army Shows Off Captured Taliban Posts -- [Washington Post] IRAQIraqi Kurds Warn of Election Boycott in Dispute Over Seats - [Washington Post] US has time to reconsider Iraq drawdown plan-Odierno -- [Reuters] A few words from medics for the 41st Brigade -- [The Oregonian] Goodbye to Iraq, and thanks -- [The Oregonian] U.S. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLDUS, China in Strained Diplomatic Embrace -- [Wall Street Journal] Obama: 'We've restored America's standing' -- [CNN] Somali Pirates : Maersk Alabama Attacked, Fights Back -- [Eagle Speak] Iranian COS Warns Russia: Your Security Is Tied To Ours -- [Memri Blog]
WAR ON TERROR /TERRORISMSuspected Fort Hood Shooter Believed to Be Self-Radicalized -- [Wall Street Journal] Guantánamo Won't Close by January, Obama Says -- [NY Times] SUPPORTING THE TROOPS...OR NOTNo Man Left Behind -- [Knottie's Niche] LTC Tim Karcher Update -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany] Support SA while Christmas shopping this year! -- [Soldiers' Angels Germany] Trees for Troops: Helping Military Families -- [AdAge.com] FOX 5 Special: I-Team VA Loans -- [FOX News] A FOX 5 I-Team investigation uncovered allegations of a nationwide scheme by banks and mortgage companies to defraud U.S. military veterans. The scheme, spelled out in court documents, claims banks are overcharging veterans on home refinancing loans. The question raised in a racketeering and class action law suit is how many of those loans involved banks defrauding U.S. military veterans. MILITARYMuslim discrimination in the U.S. military. Not. -- [Castra Praetoria] Time to revisit firearms policies on military posts -- [Atlanta Journal Constitution] Army's Record Suicide Rate 'Horrible,' General Says -- [Washington Post]
WELCOME HOMEVeterans' descendants welcome troops home to Fort Campbell -- [Clarksville Leaf Chronicle] 'Greywolf' Among First CAV Troops to Return Home -- [DVIDS] THE MEDIAWhere are Taliban and al Qaeda commanders, US media asks Pak -- [Daily News & Analysis] Army officials said that they have killed as many as 550 Taliban militants a month after the military began its campaign into the lawless territory, yet they acknowledge that hundreds, perhaps thousands more have melted away.
POLITICSRepublicans Criticize Obama's Call to Delay Hill Inquiries on Fort Hood -- [Washington Post] HUMOR / SATIRE
Iraq, Afghanistan, War, Terrorism, Military, Politics, Media, MilBlogs, dawn patrol Mudville
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The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
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Hey Greyhawk, ain't it just so much fun for you to highlight all the hero stories? Is that why you people are perfectly okay when your War Criminal in Chief lies his way into Iraq and threatens more of the same in Iran and Syria? Hoping for more hero stories, even if -- oh what the hell, you say -- we now have 15,000+ American wounded (half permanently disabled) and 2,025 dead.
Not to mention the tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed and God only knows how many maimed. Yup, it's their freedom we did this for. That's why our government had to order soldiers to commit acts of torture and perversion on them in the name of America.
So tell me, what's the Republican position on perversion? From where I sit, it would appear that you are against it unless our soliders are doing it to the people who's "freedom" they are "protecting." Please explain that twisted right-wing logic. Maybe you're "patriotic" friend Blackfive can help.
While you're at it, you can tell us why 42% of Iraqis approve of attacks on Americans; why 85% of them want us out of their country; why significant majorities of Americans think the war is a failure and that it was never worth it to begin with.
You wouldn't be ginning up these hero stories -- Jessica Lynch, anyone? -- to distract people from the realities, would you? Oh no, that would never happen.
...and the meltdown of Wilson Kolb begins.
Seems to me that if all this heroic carnage is to be noted, then it's only fair to note that its taking place in a losing war entered into on false pretenses and led by a group of war criminals. This takes nothing away from the heroism itself, but rather renders it more tragic than it otherwise would have been.
The Republican right-wingers don't see it that way, of course. To them, our military personnel are merely matchsticks to be burned in service of partisan glory. I'd like to say that it's a shame, but you can only really say that to people who have any shame.
The meltdown in progress is the meltdown of a great nation betrayed by its leaders.
Kolb here are some real statistics.
Less than 1% of Iraqi's participating in the insurgency. Estimates range from 10,000 to 200,000, while the real number lies somewhere in between I'll accept the top one for arguments sake. Voters in the last two elections equal around 33% of the populace. 8 million plus in each of the last two elections. That's a third of the entire populace, over half of te eligble voters. 8 million Iraqis for democracy, .2 million against.
What about republican right wingers in the military? Are you suggesting we are ALL on the verge of self immolation?
Patrick
Isn't it weird to see him pretend there isn't a detailed look at the Abu Ghraib torturers just a few posts back?
Wilson - actually, of the 15k wounded, over half were returned to duty within 72 hours. More here:
http://www.mudvillegazette.com/archives/003274.html
Thanks Greyhawk! I was thinking about that numbskull NY Times reporter just last week, and wondering if anyone has followed up on that.
I hope all milbloggers plan something big for the Easongate anniversary next January.
As for the detractors, they're not much different than the peace movements prior to WWII (like the "American Peace Mobilization"). Their side just hasn't been hit yet.
John
I see your point, and it's a good one. But to set the record straight, if there were 200,000 people in the insurgency you'd see multiple US bases overrun. They don't lack the 'nads to try it, as the above story makes clear. They just lack the numbers. It doesn't take a large number of "troops" to accomplish what the insurgents have done over the past couple years. I'm willing to bet even that 20k number might be too high by a factor of 10.
Greyhawk: I'm more amazed at the projection inherent in the accusations he flings at you and other people.
Btw, is Wilson using the same IP as Willysnout, or are you just noticing that his writing style is very similar to that previous commenter? (Right down to the insults and accusation towards those who disagree with Kolb here.)
Chester
As Confusious* once said: The Innernets is small in it's largeness, and even larger in it's smallness. Seek your answer here:
http://www.addiestan.com/2005/09/diaspora-in-seattle.html
(*not to be confused with the Chinese philosopher of similar name)
Mr. Greyhawk.
20,000 is probably a good high end estimate. It's the one I use in private conversation. Liberals often trying to overwhelm us the legitimacy of their cause and the futility of ours use higher numbers. The highest I've yet heard is the 200,000. I use that merely for arguments sake, since .9% or .09% is still statistically equivalent to zero when compared to the massive turnout for elections. The moonbats would have to increase their estimates anoter fivefold before they really
In 2004 we never saw anything larger than a platoon size element. And then only once. I'm not sure how many bases would be overrun, I know the attempt would be made, but I have to believe in most cases we'd mop the floor with them. Plus if they ever massed in those numbers the Air Force would be happy to remind them why they keep F16s in country still.
But no doubt 200,000 insurgents, is a liberal fantasy.
I've been following the story of SPC Green since that AP Story first appeared, and I found some sources with a lot more detail:
http://fuzzilicious.blogspot.com/2005/10/rest-of-story.html
http://fuzzilicious.blogspot.com/2005/10/update-to-rest-of-story.html
Mr.Kolb, I suggest you read the following from the ReligionofPeace.com
But let’s put the numbers in perspective…
Eighteen times as many Americans die from alcohol-related incidents. In fact, the death rate from terror in Iraq is about eight times lower than the number of Americans dying from tobacco-related causes even taking the population disparity into account. This is also true for obesity-related mortality, which is poised to overtake smoking as the top cause of preventable death.
The residents of fourteen of the eighteen Iraqi provinces enjoy a much lower crime rate than nearly any American city, and the other four provinces average fewer murders than New York City’s worst year under David Dinkins.
Though the number of Iraqis dying from terror attacks is both tragic and preventable, it is almost incomparable to the number of those killed under Saddam. The people in the West who use the attacks for their own propaganda purposes (in exactly the way that the terrorists intend) are playing directly into the hands of those whose intention is to turn Iraq (and the Middle East) into a genuine disaster that will have enormous consequences for the rest of us.
GreyHawk,
Well done here. I hope that you and BlackFive will compile as many of these heroic stories as you possibly can for the MilBloggers book. I am sure it would be many hundreds of pages of our heroes' stories. And millions of folks would probably buy it.
I pray that my son will one day be worthy of their dedication to duty and their perseverance in the face of the treasonous slander of the media. If not for you and BlackFive and others like you, we would lose hope that our country had any heroes left.
Subsunk