Wednesday - October 09, 2002
Our Proper Role is Resumed
There is a new development in the world,
something that hasn't happened for about sixty years or so. Marines in Kuwait
have been killing people that have been shooting at them as they travel on
public roads. It appears that not only have the rules of engagement changed, but
the typical Status of Forces Agreement is not in effect in Kuwait. My Marines
are killers again, and this is a good thing.
When I was on active duty, and for most of the
years since then, and for most of the years after WWII, when Marines visited
other nations that we were not at war with, they were very restricted in how
they carried and used weapons. When the Marine Barracks in Beirut was blown up
by Muslim fanatics in the early eighties, it was because the Marine sentries
were not allowed to carry loaded weapons. The Marine Corps' reaction to this
failure to protect itself was to issue an order that all weapons carried by
Marines at any time were required to be loaded. I was a second lieutenant at the
time and I was amazed that this was a new
requirement.
But that was it. The use
of those weapons was still very restricted, especially in other
nations.
Now, in Kuwait we hear reports
of Marines traveling on public roads being shot at by snipers. The Marines not
only fire back, but chase down their attackers and kill them. In one incident,
they fired at their attackers, probably killing them, and then continued on
their way without pausing. In none of these reports do we hear of the local
police or military being informed or involved until after the dust had long
settled, if at all.
I suppose this new
development is because we are no longer restrained by fear of Mutually Assured
Destruction from the no longer existing USSR. There is one major military power
in this world and it is spearheaded by
Marines.
My Marines can now kill those
that threaten or attack them. No longer are we Diplomats in Green, Caterers to
Starving Populations, Habitat for Humanity with Helmets, or Border Guards with
Amphibious Tractors. We are again killers, honed to locate, close with, and
destroy the enemy with fire and manuever or repel his assault with fire and
close combat.
I'm happy because
oppressive, murderous Islamic peoples are being killed, and my beloved Marine
Corps is at the forefront of doing the killing. I wish I could be
there.
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