Blue Collar Muse

If you all are not subscribed to The Patriot Post, or at least regular readers, you really are missing out! From Friday’s Patriot Post Digest:

Warfront with Jihadistan: Shi’ite fight

A tenuous truce is barely holding in Iraq between Iraqi government forces and the Iranian backed Mahdi Army militias of Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, with sporadic firefights and bombings still occurring, especially around the southern Shi’ite stronghold of Basra. Last week saw major battles erupt between al-Sadr’s militias and the Iraqi army. U.S. forces continue to assist the Iraqis with air strikes targeting militants around Baghdad and Basra. Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki promised a “final and decisive battle” with al-Sadr’s forces if they did not cease fighting. Possibly fearing a rout, al-Sadr agreed to the Iranian-brokered ceasefire. Recognizing the delicate situation, Britain froze its plans to withdraw about 1,500 soldiers from its 4,000-strong contingent around Basra this spring, waiting to see how the situation develops.

The Surrendercrats in Congress have harped on al-Maliki for years for being a weak and ineffective leader who was unwilling to use the Iraqi Army against fellow Shi’ite militants. Now that he is waging a campaign against said Shi’ite militants, the Democrats say Iraq is in a hopeless civil war, so the U.S. should quit and come home. Our troops have secured huge areas of Iraq, routed al-Qa’ida strongholds, significantly reduced civilian deaths and injuries, and given the Iraqi Army a fighting chance at securing their country on their own, so naturally the Demos want to quit. Just remember, though, that they Support the Troops! And don’t dare question their patriotism.

Profiles of valor: Navy Petty Officer Monsoor

On 8 April, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a SEAL, will become the first sailor and only the third service member overall to receive the Medal of Honor for heroism in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unfortunately, it was Monsoor’s heroism that cost him his life. In September 2006, Monsoor and a group of SEAL snipers established a rooftop position in southern Ramadi in an effort to take out an insurgent hold. As four armed jihadis came into view, the SEALs opened fire, killing one and wounding another. Mosque loudspeakers urged an insurgent rally and the SEALs soon found themselves under attack, though they stood their ground protecting troops clearing the area below. During the fight, a grenade hit Monsoor in the chest, bouncing to the roof. “Grenade!” he yelled as he jumped onto the grenade. It detonated underneath him and he died about 30 minutes later, though he saved the lives of his three teammates. Lt. Cmdr. Seth Stone, Monsoor’s platoon leader, said, “He made an instantaneous decision to save our teammates. I immediately understood what happened, and tragically it made sense to me in keeping with the man I know, Mike Monsoor.” The official summary of action read that Monsoor “distinguished himself through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life.” Indeed, he paid the ultimate price for his country and we are both grateful and humbled for his sacrifice.

Another Marine cleared in Haditha case

Though you wouldn’t know it from Leftmedia accounts or films like “Redacted” and “Battle for Haditha,” the case against the “Haditha Massacre” Marines has been falling apart for a couple of years now. In the most recent development, all charges were dropped against Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum without explanation (read: lack of evidence). He is the third Marine to be exonerated, leaving only one to face court martial. “Lance Corporal Tatum wants to make it clear to the Marine Corps—especially other Marines—and everyone else that there were no deals in this decision,” said attorney Jack Zimmermann, a former military judge and retired Marine. “I have never had a client who would have more preferred to have a trial rather than have the charges dismissed in a deal. He has believed all along he did nothing wrong and was prepared and anxious to stand trial.” Somehow we doubt that Hollywood or Rep. Jack Murtha (D-“in cold blood”) will be apologizing for their rush to judgment.

But the media reports the news so we have all the information on which to base our decisions. Riiiiiiight …

Blue

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This entry was posted on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 at 5:00 am and is filed under Censorship, Homeland Security, US Military, War on Terror. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.