HAPPY 229th UNITED STATES MARINES!
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mons meg
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Ok, so who on this board would qualify to cut the cake? I'm still (only) 35... 
Rich K
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Semper Fi 1974-1978-0311
http://www.intel-dump.com/archives/archive...html#1100108594
Phillip Carter, Wednesday November 10, 2004 at 12:43pm EST
229 years, and still going strong
The United States Marine Corps celebrates its 229th birthday today. In recent years, they've been quite busy, serving both as America's 9-1-1 force and its lethal vanguard in the war on terrorism — from the mountains of Afghanistan to the streets of Iraq. Today, the U.S. Marines are engaged in a bloody fight for the city of Fallujah, on whose outcome the fate of the entire Iraq war may rest. As Ralph Peters wrote in yesterday's New York Post:
[BLOCKQUOTE]
Expect 'round-the-clock ground and air operations that give the terrorists no rest and deprive them of the initiative. Our troops know how important this battle is. They'll fight ferociously. The Marines, especially, are itching for revenge after being deprived of victory for political reasons last April. They only need to be allowed to do the job right this time.
It's up to President Bush not to let them down. No matter what happens, no matter who complains or balks, no matter the false accusations from Al-Jazeera and the BBC, our president needs to stand firm until the job is done. By quitting in April, we created the terrorist city-state of Fallujah. Now we need to shut it down for good.
* * *
The truth is that war is cruel. And difficult. And complex. It's never as smooth as it is in a film or a video game. In real life, heroes get killed, too — sometimes by friendly fire. Mistakes are made, despite rigorous planning. The enemy shoots back. And sometimes the enemy gets lucky. Tragedy is war's inseparable companion.
We cannot foresee all the details of the combat ahead. The fight for Fallujah may prove easier than we feared, or tougher than we hoped. Time will tell. Meanwhile, don't let your view be swayed by the crisis of the hour. Have faith in our troops and their leaders.
In return, I can promise you one thing: If we don't fail our troops, they won't fail us.
[/BLOCKQUOTE]
Right on. I find a certain symmetry in the fact that the Marines are celebrating their birthday at a time when their warrior brethren are decisively engaged in Fallujah. Warfighting, after all, is what the Marines exist for. They are capable of low-intensity combat, of peacekeeping, and of humanitarian assistance. But the reason we have a Marine Corps today, just as in 1775, is to fight and win America's wars. On the base of the Iwo Jima memorial, you will find the names of all the places where Marines have fought and died in our name. The list is longer than you'd think, because Marines have often fought in brush-fire wars too small or too remote to make the headlines or the history books. Today, we should remember those endeavors, and say a prayer of thanks for the U.S. Marine Corps. For more than two centuries, our democracy's survival has depended on the willingness of young men (and increasingly, young women) to put themselves in harm's way. It still does today.
(Photo Credits: Sgt. Kevin R. Reed, U.S. Marines; Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Klein, U.S. Marines)
Post Script: Bing West, a former Marine and former Assistant Secretary of Defense, is downrange now with the Marines assaulting Fallujah. He has a series of dispatches beginning today in Slate. Check it out.
Phillip Carter, Wednesday November 10, 2004 at 12:43pm EST
229 years, and still going strong
The United States Marine Corps celebrates its 229th birthday today. In recent years, they've been quite busy, serving both as America's 9-1-1 force and its lethal vanguard in the war on terrorism — from the mountains of Afghanistan to the streets of Iraq. Today, the U.S. Marines are engaged in a bloody fight for the city of Fallujah, on whose outcome the fate of the entire Iraq war may rest. As Ralph Peters wrote in yesterday's New York Post:
[BLOCKQUOTE]
Expect 'round-the-clock ground and air operations that give the terrorists no rest and deprive them of the initiative. Our troops know how important this battle is. They'll fight ferociously. The Marines, especially, are itching for revenge after being deprived of victory for political reasons last April. They only need to be allowed to do the job right this time.
It's up to President Bush not to let them down. No matter what happens, no matter who complains or balks, no matter the false accusations from Al-Jazeera and the BBC, our president needs to stand firm until the job is done. By quitting in April, we created the terrorist city-state of Fallujah. Now we need to shut it down for good.
* * *
The truth is that war is cruel. And difficult. And complex. It's never as smooth as it is in a film or a video game. In real life, heroes get killed, too — sometimes by friendly fire. Mistakes are made, despite rigorous planning. The enemy shoots back. And sometimes the enemy gets lucky. Tragedy is war's inseparable companion.
We cannot foresee all the details of the combat ahead. The fight for Fallujah may prove easier than we feared, or tougher than we hoped. Time will tell. Meanwhile, don't let your view be swayed by the crisis of the hour. Have faith in our troops and their leaders.
In return, I can promise you one thing: If we don't fail our troops, they won't fail us.
[/BLOCKQUOTE]
Right on. I find a certain symmetry in the fact that the Marines are celebrating their birthday at a time when their warrior brethren are decisively engaged in Fallujah. Warfighting, after all, is what the Marines exist for. They are capable of low-intensity combat, of peacekeeping, and of humanitarian assistance. But the reason we have a Marine Corps today, just as in 1775, is to fight and win America's wars. On the base of the Iwo Jima memorial, you will find the names of all the places where Marines have fought and died in our name. The list is longer than you'd think, because Marines have often fought in brush-fire wars too small or too remote to make the headlines or the history books. Today, we should remember those endeavors, and say a prayer of thanks for the U.S. Marine Corps. For more than two centuries, our democracy's survival has depended on the willingness of young men (and increasingly, young women) to put themselves in harm's way. It still does today.
(Photo Credits: Sgt. Kevin R. Reed, U.S. Marines; Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Klein, U.S. Marines)
Post Script: Bing West, a former Marine and former Assistant Secretary of Defense, is downrange now with the Marines assaulting Fallujah. He has a series of dispatches beginning today in Slate. Check it out.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
Semper Fi
75-79
75-79
DRZinn
Member
A bit of USMC trivia: (Though I don't know if it's true or not.)
The term oo-rah comes from the Turkish word "Urrah" meaning, of course, "Kill!"
The term oo-rah comes from the Turkish word "Urrah" meaning, of course, "Kill!"
SemperFi83
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Happy Birthday Brother Leathernecks!
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