aka: WRITING TO BILL BENNETTHello Everyone ..,
Yesterday I wrote an e-mail to Conservative talk show host Dr. Bill Bennett.
On Monday in the US (Tuesday here in Australia) the news broke that a US Marine battling the terrorists in Fallujah, Iraq, had apparently shot dead an unarmed and wounded, so called Iraqi 'insurgent' - aka. a murdering terrorist thug by any other name.
Once again, NBC, (a US mainstream news media outlet), rushed to propagandise, sensationalise and cash in on a tragic war time event. Tragic, because the kid who did us all a favour by putting down a rabid dog, is well on his way to being crucified by the self-righteous leftists of the mainstream news media.
The whole situation has left a bad taste in my mouth and a sick feeling in my stomach, and a sensation of impotent frustration and anger at both the mainstream news media, and at those who will probably sacrifice this young Marine on the alter of untrained, self righteous, public (news media) opinion.
Needless to say, my prayers are with this young man right now, and in the coming difficult days/weeks/months, as they 'investigate' what happened in that Mosque that day, and why. My sincere hope is that the 'powers that be' will be fair and just, and that all salient factors and extenuating circumstances will be taken into full account - and that they will not be coloured by the demands of either the mainstream news media, or the UN, or Amnesty international - otherwise, this kid will not get a fair go.
I have watched the unedited video of the incident, and it is confusing to say the very least, and somewhat unclear in regards to what actually occurred, how and why. There's no way any of us, based on this footage, could possibly know the full circumstances, nor make any informed judgement calls.
For the self righteous out there who would condemn this young man - you cannot know what he was going through - you have no right to judge!
Anyway, my letter to Dr. Bill below here probably expresses my feelings the best of all. There is a degree of venting in the following, as it was written in the heat of the moment, and the height of my frustration, during Bill's November 16 Tuesday morning radio show, during which Dr. Bill and his listeners discussed this situation.
* Note: I would like to thank Dr. Bill for both reading out a portion of my e-mail at the end of his show on Tuesday, as well as for the kind note that was sent out to me privately afterwards by his show's producer, Seth. Thank you! :o)
My Letter to Dr. Bill Bennett: Dear Bill ..,
I hope this is the right way to do this, and apologies in advance for the length.
I'm an Australian, living in Sydney, New South Wales Australia, and I've been listening to your show for a little while now, care of KRLA870 on the internet, and enjoy it very much. (I also greatly support your US President, and the Republican party as well, and am very happy and relieved that President George W. Bush won a second term in office).
I'm writing about that young Marine the mainstream news media is trying to destroy with the reports of his shooting that injured terrorist.
My greatest fear is that this young man will be used as a scapegoat, and not given a fair hearing, because of a desire to appease the press or the public in some way, by making a public example of him. i.e. By pursuing what happened in such a vigorous way that this Marine does not get a truly fair representation, due to the fact the 'eyes of the world' will be watching, thanks to the viciousness of the (largely left-wing) mainstream news media, and their collective determination to be judge, jury and executioners. It would be a terrible tragedy if this young Marine's life and career were destroyed by the intense news focus and a desire to appease the public.
By the sound of it, he did exactly what he needed to do, presented with the situation as it was. I cannot imagine that any other Marine would have acted any differently, no matter their level of experience, or rank, when presented with a similar threat, in a combat situation, under stressful circumstances. Like your callers, due to this event, I too question the benefit and the wisdom of 'embedded reporting', especially if, every time a service man or woman acts in the best way they've been trained to act, in the best interests of themselves and their unit, and/or the civilians they are sworn to protect, is stopped and continuously questioned, because it does not fit the news media's untrained viewpoint of how 'they' think things 'should' be done.
War is hell, and the young men and women fighting it are courageous, brave, and remarkable, and it's high time the collective mainstream news media got a clue about that, and started treating them with the respect they fully deserve.
Those serving in Iraq are doing a sterling job, under extremely difficult circumstances, under enormous stress and pressure, where the difference between life and death often is that split second instinct, that hairs breadth between thought and action, and that willingness to do whatever it takes to keep everyone alive.
Personally, I feel terribly sick in the stomach thinking about what is going to happen to this young Marine now. Not only sick, but also, extremely distressed. I've been enormously disgusted with the mainstream news media for a very long time now, but their treatment of this incident is utterly despicable. To take the actions of a Marine, in a war time situation, who did what he needed to do, under extremely stressful circumstances, and use that to besmirch the troops, and rip this kid's life apart in the name of 'good press', or 'getting a scoop', or for 'sensationalism', is both beyond belief, as well as horribly sickening in its perversity.
I have the absolute joy and honour of being in communication with three great Marine's over in Iraq. These young men (and women) are all, without exception, not only the best of the best, but also dedicated, loyal, determined, and very fine indeed. When I think of this young Marine now, I think of the wonderful young men I'm in communication with, and my heart aches for them all.
Just a question: Is there anything at all that we can do to help this Marine out? Is there anyone who can be contacted, so that we can be sure this young man will get a proper and fair hearing of his side of the story? Is there any way that we can help ensure that this young man is not thrown to the wolves, and used as a scapegoat to appease the piranhas of the mainstream news media, who have smelled his blood, and are sure not to rest until they've gone a long way towards ruining this kid, his career and his life? Is there anything we all can do at all? Would writing to the Pentagon help, do you think, for instance?
I guess my questions are borne of impotent frustration... I too believe this young man should not have been relieved of duty... at least, not in the manner he has been, anyway, and that he should be returned to full honour and duty as soon as possible. I'm stunned by what has happened to this Marine, and hope and pray that something can be done...
It's a terrible shame that the mainstream news media, rather than supporting the troops, is doing everything they can to undermine them. This only makes the troops job even that more harder in Iraq. My heart goes out to every man and woman serving in Iraq, fighting not only the terrorist thugs swarming all over the place hell bent on destroying as many lives as possible, especially of innocents, but also having to protect themselves against the blood thirsty sharks of the mainstream news media at the same time.
It's such a tragedy.
Thank you for your time, Bill, and many, many apologies for taking up so much of it. :o)
All the very, very best, indeed.
God Bless...
Christine... xxx / ooo... O:-)
Sydney, Australia...
November 17, 2004...
Post Note: I received an e-mail from Seth, the producer of the Bill Bennett show, asking for my permission to post the above letter on their web site. Of course he has that permission, and if they do indeed chose to post the letter, (there is, of course, a chance that they might chose not to, at the end of the day, as well, which is also really okay), then I would be more than very honoured indeed.
I have more thoughts... but will leave it here just for now, while I sort them out.
Christine... :)Sydney, Australia.
November 17, 2004
