I received this letter from the president of the “Warrior’s Fund” supporting the Marines currently under detention at Camp Pendleton.  The letter speaks for itself, so without any further from me:

Help us spread the word.

Thank you,

Rick Van Luvender

The Warrior Fund

http://www.warrior-fund.org

With the recent news regarding the incident in Haditha, and Hamdania Iraq,
a group of former and retired Marines decided to take action to ensure that
our military men are treated like American citizens and considered innocent
until proven guilty.

We have formed the “Warrior Fund” as a designated mission of United American
Patriots (an IRS 501 ( c ) 3 organization) which is run by Major Bill
Donahue USMC (RET). Our goal is to raise funds to defray legal fees incurred
by members of our armed forces as a direct result of their service in
combat. At this time our board of directors consist of me, Captain Don
Greenlaw USMC (RET) and Frank Albano. Certified Public Accountant William H.
Porterfield is our treasurer and he will handle the accounting issues of the
Warrior Fund.

They fought for us, now we shall fight for them.

Please take the time to visit our website and review our bylaws, biographies
of the Board members and the petition for assistance which must be completed
prior to any funds being disbursed.

Even though charges were formally filed, in the Hamdania case, an Article 32
investigation will now begin. It is imperative that the public is made aware
that the filing of charges in no way indicates that these men are guilty,
rather there remains the belief that all men are innocent until proven
guilty, which is a pillar of the American system of justice and a core
principle of the Warrior Fund.

The fact that any service member can be accused of a “war crime” by a
questionable source (We do not intend to disrespect the Iraqis that brought
charges, only to illustrate that we have no idea who they are, or their
level of integrity), and these allegations are taken seriously speaks
volumes about our American system of justice and our belief in the rule of
law. However attempts by the media and a certain irresponsible member of
congress to proclaim the guilt of these Marines without having seen a final
report from the investigators is sickening.

In closing, if you believe that these men deserve to be treated the same as
an average American citizen, please take the time to make a charitable
contribution which you may deduct from your income taxes. Any amount you can
spare will directly benefit these fine American warriors. In addition to
financial support we also need assistance in spreading the word about the
fund. Donations may be made online through paypal, or mailed to the address
on http://warrior-fund.org

Very Respectfully,

Rick Van Luvender
President
The Warrior Fund
http://www.warrior-fund.org

P.S. We would also like to invite all American’s who claim to “hate the war
but support the troops” to prove themselves by donating to the Warrior Fund,
which is a direct method to show that they do indeed support our troops and
their claims are not merely the empty rhetoric it appears to be.

I received this letter from the president of the “Warrior’s Fund” supporting the Marines currently under detention at Camp Pendleton.  The letter speaks for itself, so without any further from me:

Help us spread the word.

Thank you,

Rick Van Luvender

The Warrior Fund

http://www.warrior-fund.org

With the recent news regarding the incident in Haditha, and Hamdania Iraq,
a group of former and retired Marines decided to take action to ensure that
our military men are treated like American citizens and considered innocent
until proven guilty.

We have formed the “Warrior Fund” as a designated mission of United American
Patriots (an IRS 501 ( c ) 3 organization) which is run by Major Bill
Donahue USMC (RET). Our goal is to raise funds to defray legal fees incurred
by members of our armed forces as a direct result of their service in
combat. At this time our board of directors consist of me, Captain Don
Greenlaw USMC (RET) and Frank Albano. Certified Public Accountant William H.
Porterfield is our treasurer and he will handle the accounting issues of the
Warrior Fund.

They fought for us, now we shall fight for them.

Please take the time to visit our website and review our bylaws, biographies
of the Board members and the petition for assistance which must be completed
prior to any funds being disbursed.

Even though charges were formally filed, in the Hamdania case, an Article 32
investigation will now begin. It is imperative that the public is made aware
that the filing of charges in no way indicates that these men are guilty,
rather there remains the belief that all men are innocent until proven
guilty, which is a pillar of the American system of justice and a core
principle of the Warrior Fund.

The fact that any service member can be accused of a “war crime” by a
questionable source (We do not intend to disrespect the Iraqis that brought
charges, only to illustrate that we have no idea who they are, or their
level of integrity), and these allegations are taken seriously speaks
volumes about our American system of justice and our belief in the rule of
law. However attempts by the media and a certain irresponsible member of
congress to proclaim the guilt of these Marines without having seen a final
report from the investigators is sickening.

In closing, if you believe that these men deserve to be treated the same as
an average American citizen, please take the time to make a charitable
contribution which you may deduct from your income taxes. Any amount you can
spare will directly benefit these fine American warriors. In addition to
financial support we also need assistance in spreading the word about the
fund. Donations may be made online through paypal, or mailed to the address
on http://warrior-fund.org

Very Respectfully,

Rick Van Luvender
President
The Warrior Fund
http://www.warrior-fund.org

P.S. We would also like to invite all American’s who claim to “hate the war
but support the troops” to prove themselves by donating to the Warrior Fund,
which is a direct method to show that they do indeed support our troops and
their claims are not merely the empty rhetoric it appears to be.

I just can’t stand watching the Beltway Boys with Fred and Mort any more.  Fred is not conservative, and Mort is not liberal.  They are both rather vanilla, centrist pundits who make rather vanilla, centrist and uninteresting observations.  When discussing the Utah congressional primary contest between Chris Cannon and John Jacob a few days ago (the race that saw Tom Tancredo weigh in and donate money), both Fred and Mort opined that if a district as conservative as this cannot put an immigration-control candidate in office, then no district can.  Thus, the so-called “comprehensive” solution was the winner (I just hate that term “comprehensive” when referring to immigration; it is so dishonest.  It doesn’t mean “comprehensive.”  It means amnesty for those who are here and legal immigration to an extent that would make illegal immigration unnecessary).  So with a shrug of the shoulders and ten seconds of talky-talk, both pundits dismissed this vote as a non-starter.

In fact, I don’t think Mort and Fred could have missed the boat any more than they did on this issue.  Consider.  A district which has an otherwise unobjectionable candidate (Cannon) votes 44.1% to overthrow the incumbent (who was also supported by Bush) over a single issue — immigration, and this with a candiate who has made some significant political errors.

Now the GOP has to wonder if it will be able to mobilize a large percentage of its base (and its more conservative part of the base, I might add).  The inability to mobilize the base will be lethal to the party.  If Jacob had gotten 5% of the vote, it might have been an interesting little sidebar tidbit for political junkies ten years from now to discuss when playing political trivia.  If Jacob had gotten 20% of the vote, the GOP’ers at headquarters should be worrying over what had gone so wrong and whether they will be able to mobilize the base.

But Jacob got 44% of the vote.  In political terms, this is a seismic event.

Prior:

• Twelve posts on immigration.

***** UPDATE *****

I think that the usually brilliant Michael Barone is dead wrong on this.  I don’t think that there is life in the “compromise” plan.  But as always from Barone, a good read.

Read here.

In response to my post below on Camp Pendleton 8 Update (I think the comment might have been intended for my post on Room Clearing), Mike at Cop the Truth says:

“Stacking” is merely the way a team lines up “as***** to appetite” in preparation for storming a building, room, bus, plane, etc. The “stack” helps the assault team stay together, thereby cutting down on “friendly-fire” incidents. It also assigns specific areas of responsibilty to each man, according to skill level, assigned weapon, leadership role, etc. It provides for the maximum efficiency and safety of every member of the team, and the team, itself, and is used both by the military and the police, especially SWAT teams.

My response: Exactly!

You never know how much detail to include, and besides, I really don’t know how completely what the Marines do matches up with what a SWAT team does, for example.  There might be additional elements of the military version in use in Iraq that is not in the SWAT version, or vice versa.

Either way, the point is still the same.  “Room-clearing” is a rapid, deadly and precise procedure with the intent to kill those in the room.  It is not an opportunity to enter a room, sit with the occupants, and discuss their political or religious views.

We should all remember that war is a rough, deadly business when we see collateral damage resulting from it.  When we send our boys to conduct war, they will conduct war.  They are doing what we — through our elected leaders — have told them to do.

In response to my post below on Camp Pendleton 8 Update (I think the comment might have been intended for my post on Room Clearing), Mike at Cop the Truth says:

“Stacking” is merely the way a team lines up “as***** to appetite” in preparation for storming a building, room, bus, plane, etc. The “stack” helps the assault team stay together, thereby cutting down on “friendly-fire” incidents. It also assigns specific areas of responsibilty to each man, according to skill level, assigned weapon, leadership role, etc. It provides for the maximum efficiency and safety of every member of the team, and the team, itself, and is used both by the military and the police, especially SWAT teams.

My response: Exactly!

You never know how much detail to include, and besides, I really don’t know how completely what the Marines do matches up with what a SWAT team does, for example.  There might be additional elements of the military version in use in Iraq that is not in the SWAT version, or vice versa.

Either way, the point is still the same.  “Room-clearing” is a rapid, deadly and precise procedure with the intent to kill those in the room.  It is not an opportunity to enter a room, sit with the occupants, and discuss their political or religious views.

We should all remember that war is a rough, deadly business when we see collateral damage resulting from it.  When we send our boys to conduct war, they will conduct war.  They are doing what we — through our elected leaders — have told them to do.

A ragged copy of Ernie Pyle’s “Here is Your War

I want to give a brief perspective on “room-clearing” procedures of the type used in Falujah (and apparently in Haditha, and I would guess in the future in Ramadi).

I commented in an earlier post that I didn’t know what a “stack” was (pertaining to the term as used by the NYT article on Haditha).  I still don’t, because a stack is not something that is, it is something a team does.  It is not a noun — it is a verb.

I use the term because it came up in the context of the Haditha incident.  Apparently, room-clearing procedures were used in Haditha.

Folks, let me be as clear as I can be on this.  Listen carefully for a moment.  I will be brief.  If Marines feel threatened and believe the enemy to be in a house or room, and the order is given to “clear” the room, well then … the Marines will clear the room.  They will do it the way that they have been trained to do it.  This method, this protocol, these procedures — they are designed to kill the enemy and protect Marines.  It is a fast and furious and deadly thing.

The procedure is executed within a couple of seconds.  No, I did not say it begins within a couple of seconds.  I said it is executed within a couple of seconds.  Finished.  Past tense.  Then on to the next room.

There is no protocol, no time, and no provision (AND THERE NEVER CAN BE) to identify and delineate friend from foe.  Such a thing does not comport with room-clearing.  Any attempt to delineate friend from foe would result in the countless deaths of Marines.  The entire protocol presupposes that there is enemy in the room to be cleared.

There is a moral to this little story.  Do not unleash the Marines unless there is a true need.  And when the Marines are unleashed, they will follow their protocol and do what they are trained to do.  It is to be expected, and frankly, I would have it no other way.

From time to time, this will result in the deaths — however tragic — of innocents.  Another result?  The protection and safety of Marines.

I want to give a brief perspective on “room-clearing” procedures of the type used in Falujah (and apparently in Haditha, and I would guess in the future in Ramadi).

I commented in an earlier post that I didn’t know what a “stack” was (pertaining to the term as used by the NYT article on Haditha).  I still don’t, because a stack is not something that is, it is something a team does.  It is not a noun — it is a verb.

I use the term because it came up in the context of the Haditha incident.  Apparently, room-clearing procedures were used in Haditha.

Folks, let me be as clear as I can be on this.  Listen carefully for a moment.  I will be brief.  If Marines feel threatened and believe the enemy to be in a house or room, and the order is given to “clear” the room, well then … the Marines will clear the room.  They will do it the way that they have been trained to do it.  This method, this protocol, these procedures — they are designed to kill the enemy and protect Marines.  It is a fast and furious and deadly thing.

The procedure is executed within a couple of seconds.  No, I did not say it begins within a couple of seconds.  I said it is executed within a couple of seconds.  Finished.  Past tense.  Then on to the next room.

There is no protocol, no time, and no provision (AND THERE NEVER CAN BE) to identify and delineate friend from foe.  Such a thing does not comport with room-clearing.  Any attempt to delineate friend from foe would result in the countless deaths of Marines.  The entire protocol presupposes that there is enemy in the room to be cleared.

There is a moral to this little story.  Do not unleash the Marines unless there is a true need.  And when the Marines are unleashed, they will follow their protocol and do what they are trained to do.  It is to be expected, and frankly, I would have it no other way.

From time to time, this will result in the deaths — however tragic — of innocents.  Another result?  The protection and safety of Marines.

Kathi makes a comment that I thought was worthy of a post (it was too hidden as a comment). Here it is. Thanks to Kathi.

Don’t know if someone has already passed these on? But here are sites set up for 7 of the 8.

HM3 Melson A. Bacos http://www.patriotdefensefund.com/

LCPL Tyler A. Jackson http://www.fightingfortyler.com/

PFC John J. Jodka http://innocentmarine.com/

CPL Marshall L. Magincalda http://www.helpdefendourmarine.com/

LCPL Robert B. Pennington http://www.defendrob.com/

CPL Trent Thomas http://www.defensefundformyhero.com

LCPL Jerry Shumate http://friendsofjerry.blogspot.com/

End of comment. Editorial remark: See also:

http://journals.aol.com/kasee267/SupportingtheTroops/entries/524

Prior:

http://www.captainsjournal.com/2006/06/22/the-camp-pendleton-8/
http://www.captainsjournal.com/2006/06/16/not-far-enough-camp-pendleton/
http://www.captainsjournal.com/2006/06/15/my-phone-discussion-with-camp-pendleton-and-marines-in-shackles/

Thanks to each and every one of you for your interesting comments and kind words on my posts. I read and ponder each one, even if I don’t have the time to respond to all of them.

School of Infantry Graduation was an unremarkable ceremony. It lasted fifteen minutes and within one minute after graduation the Marines were taken by bus and picked up by the fleet at Camp Lejeune. I have many comments on things I have learned recently, but all in good time.

Here is a picture of my son Daniel immediately after graduation. After thirteen weeks of Boot Camp at Parris Island, and two months of SOI at Camp Gieger, he is glad to lose the status “student,” go to Camp Lejeune and join the fleet. It has been a hard five months.